Blakes, Ralph garner TSWA women's basketball player, coach of year awards

NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes and Shea Ralph earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Player and Coach of the Year honors, respectively, as announced Wednesday by the organization.

Mikayla Blakes averaged 27.0 points, 4.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game this season, shooting 45.8 percent from the floor and 36.1 percent from behind the arc. Her 27.0 points per game led NCAA Division I in scoring and set the Vanderbilt single-season scoring record. Her 918 points are the most scored in a season in SEC history and set the NCAA’s all-time sophomore scoring record.

Blakes posted 13 games with 30 or more points, which led the nation and is the most 30-point performances by an SEC player this century. She averaged 30.5 points per game in SEC play while shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 39.8 percent from behind the arc. She is the first SEC player this century to average over 30 points per game in league play. She recorded 10 of her 12 30-point efforts in the SEC, which includes a season-high 38 points at Mississippi State.

Blakes earned First Team All-America accolades from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, The Athletic, USA Today, ESPN and The Sporting News. The sophomore guard was named SEC Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC by both the league’s coaches and USA Today. Additionally, she was a finalist for the Wooden Award, the Honda Award, the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year and the Wade Trophy.

In her fifth season, Ralph led the Commodores to their most successful regular season in school history, guiding the team to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 17 seasons. Vanderbilt posted a 29-5 overall record, including 13-3 in SEC games. The squad’s 29 wins are the third-most in program history while the 13 SEC victories set the school record for the most conference victories in a season.

The Commodores earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and hosted March Madness games in Memorial Gymnasium for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign. Vanderbilt concluded the SEC regular season tied for second place, matching the best conference finish in program history. Ralph led Vanderbilt to a Top 5 ranking in both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll for the first time since the 2001-02 season. The Commodores spent five weeks inside the top five, while Vanderbilt was ranked in the top 10 in both polls for 12 consecutive weeks.

Vanderbilt recorded a perfect 18-0 mark at Memorial Gymnasium, marking the first time in program history that the Commodores went undefeated at home in a season. The team opened the campaign by winning a school-record 20-straight games. Vanderbilt posted seven wins against ranked foes this season, the most in a regular season since 1995-96.

Tanner, Byington named men's basketball player, coach of year by TSWA

NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner and Mark Byrington earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player and Coach of the Year accolades, respectively, as announced Tuesday by the organization.

Tanner became just the second player in Vanderbilt history to score over 700 points in a season, racking up 702 to join Scotty Pippen, Jr., in the exclusive club. He earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from the Association Press and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, averaging 19.5 points, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game in his sophomore season.

Tanner was the only player in the country to average better than 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals and only the eighth player in the major conferences to hit those averages in the past 30 seasons. He garnered First Team All-SEC accolades by both the league coaches and AP. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game over the 18-game SEC slate, just the third high-major player to reach those marks in the past 30 seasons, joining Jay Williams (Duke) and Jason Terry (Arizona).

Tanner also garnered SEC All-Defensive Team recognition while setting the Vanderbilt school record for both assists and steals in a single season. His 184 assists surpassed Atiba Prater’s 180 in 1999-00 while his 86 steals eclipsed James Strong’s 77 swipes in 1998-99. Tanner is the only high-major player to score 700 points with at least 180 assists and 85 steals in the past 30 seasons. He’s the first player in college basketball to hit the marks since Steph Curry and David Holston in 2008-09.

Byington led Vanderbilt to a 27-9 record, notching the second-most wins in program history and becoming the first Commodore head coach to win at least 20 games in each of his first two seasons with the program. He guided Vanderbilt into the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season and the program’s first tournament win since 2012.

Byington also guided the Commodores to their first SEC Tournament championship game appearance since 2012. The club spent 14 weeks ranked in the AP Poll and climbed as high as No. 10 for the first time in an in-season poll since 1992-93. Under his tutelage, the 2025-26 Commodores became the first team in program history to eclipse 3,000 points in a season and the team also finished with the second-most assists and fourth-most steals in program history.

TSWA announces college players of the week - May 5

NASHVILLE – Trevecca Nazarene’s Sarah Kinderdine and UT Martin’s Payton Harris were named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, as announced Tuesday by the organization.

Kinderdine batted .667 (6-for-9) with two doubles, two homers, six RBIs and three runs scored in three games against eighth-ranked Auburn Montgomery. She posted two hits with a solo home run in the first game of the series and collected four hits with two doubles, five RBIs and a walkoff grand slam in the second contest.

Kinderdine is hitting .341 with five doubles, six homers, 20 RBIs and 17 runs scored in 34 games this season.

Harris posted two wins in two appearances, allowing no runs on three hits with six strikeouts and accomplished the rare feat of winning twice on the same day. In the series opener, she got the final two outs in the seventh, allowing a walk and one hit in a 4-3 victory, with the Skyhawks scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

In the second contest, Harris tossed a two-hit complete game shutout, walking two and striking out a career-high six in a 1-0 win. She limited opponents to a .120 batting average in her 7.2 innings of work.

Harris upped her record to 6-4 this season with one save in 22 appearances, pitching 60.0 innings and giving up 51 hits with 29 strikeouts.

BASEBALL: Tennessee Tech’s Jorsixt Jimenez and Carter Casabella were named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.

Jimenez batted .588 (10-for-17) in four games with two doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs and eight runs scored. He posted two hits with two runs scored and two RBIs in a win at Lipscomb to start the week.

He followed that with multiple hits in each of the weekend series games at Southern Indiana. Jimenez was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs in the opener and collected two hits with a homer and three RBIs in the second contest.

Jimenez capped the week with a 3-for-5 performance, smashing another homer and driving in two more runs. He ranks third nationally in slugging (.859), fifth in total bases (152), eighth in batting (.407) and RBIs (66), 13th in home runs (19) and 17th in hits (72).

Casabella allowed three runs on five hits in a seven-inning victory at Southern Indiana, walking two and striking out five. He retired the side in order in the first and second innings and worked around a single in the sixth with a doubleplay as well as stranding a runner in the third after a leadoff single.

He improved his record to 2-5 this season in 14 appearances and seven starts, striking out 41 in 59.1 innings.

2026 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 10 | Shay Hollingsworth, Trevecca Nazarene (Player); Maya Johnson, Belmont (Pitcher)
Feb. 17 | Avary Makarewicz, UT Martin (Player); Taylor Long, Chattanooga (Pitcher)
Feb. 24 | Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman (Player); Kayleigh Smith, Bryan College (Pitcher)
March 3 | Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman (Player); Maya Johnson, Belmont (Pitcher)
March 10 | Sydney Tackett, Sewanee (Player); Chelsey Stonesifer, Tusculum University (Pitcher)
March 17 | Ashley Capelouto, Tennessee Tech (Player); Sami Scholtz, UT Martin (Pitcher)
March 24 | Carly Ward, UT Martin (Player); Addison Abell, Tennessee Tech (Pitcher)
March 31 | Ansley Giffin, Sewanee (Player); Atiana Stamper, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
April 7 | Baileigh Pitts, Chattanooga (Player); Chelsey Stonesifer, Tusculum University (Pitcher)
April 14 | Grace Gregory, Carson-Newman (Player); Chelsey Stonesifer, Tusculum University (Pitcher)
April 21 | Ava Saul, Bryan College (Player); Natalie Kreuziger, UT Martin (Pitcher)
April 28 | Addy Grace Summers, Trevecca Nazarene (Player); Maya Johnson, Belmont (Pitcher)
May 5 | Sarah Kinderdine, Trevecca Nazarene (Player); Payton Harris, UT Martin (Pitcher)

2026 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 17 | Cohl Proctor, Cumberland University (Player); Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee (Pitcher)
Feb. 24 | Will Curcio, Bryan College (Player); Logan Baskin, Cumberland University (Pitcher)
March 3 | Jacob Sitton, UT Martin (Pitcher)
March 10 | Zach Fortman, Sewanee (Player); Logan Harrell, Trevecca Nazarene (Pitcher)
March 17 | Denajh Williams, Bryan College (Player); Christian Henderson, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
March 24 | Cole Johnson, Austin Peay (Player); Kolton Casson, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
March 31 | Layne Akers, Middle Tennessee (Player); Cole Lannom, Union University (Pitcher)
April 7 | Wilson Then, Cumberland University (Player); Logan Harrell, Trevecca Nazarene (Pitcher)
April 14 | Evan Goins, Tusculum University (Player); Evan Blanco, Tennessee (Pitcher)
April 21 | Cade Martin, Trevecca Nazarene (Player); Cole Torbett, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)
April 28 | Blaine Brown, Tennessee (Player); Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee (Pitcher)
May 5 | Jorsixt Jimenez, Tennessee Tech (Player); Carter Casabella, Tennessee Tech (Pitcher)

Pavia, Lea voted TSWA football player, coach of year

NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia and Clark Lea earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Football Player and Coach of the Year honors, respectively, as announced Monday by the organization.

Pavia was named the National Player of the Year by The Sporting News, CBS Sports and Premier Player after finishing as the runner-up in voting for the Heisman Trophy. He was voted the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner and was a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Maxwell Player of the Year and Manning Awards.

Pavia garnered First Team All-America accolades from The Sporting News, CBS Sports and On3 and was selected Second Team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated and USA Today. He was voted SEC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC by the league’s head coaches and the Associated Press.

Pavia completed 71 percent of his passes (267-of-378) for 3539 yards, 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 13 contests. He also rushed for a team-leading 862 yards, 5.2 yards-per-attempt), and 10 TDs, helping the Commodores average 463.1 yards per game in total offense with 66 touchdowns for the season. Vanderbilt also converted 51.1 percent on third downs, which ranked sixth nationally in FBS.

Lea was named the FWAA Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and the American Football Coaches Association Region 2 Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Walter Camp, AFCA, George Munger, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Awards. He was selected SEC Coach of the Year by both the league’s head coaches and the Associated Press, leading Vanderbilt to back-to-back postseason bowl appearances for the first time since the 2011-13 campaigns.

The Commodores finished the season 10-3 overall and 6-2 in the conference, setting program records with both win totals. Vanderbilt posted victories over four nationally-ranked teams throughout the season, including three – South Carolina, LSU and Missouri – that were among the Top 15 in the polls at the time of the matchup.

TSWA names wrestling all-state teams

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association named all-state teams for wrestling Friday, which includes two teams in Division I and one in Division II for boys and one total team for girls.

BOYS WRESTLING
Class A
106
Germain Velasquez, Seymour, Sr.
Phillip Steelman, Signal Mountain, So.
Wesley Sudderth, Montgomery Central, Fr.
Jaime Sanginez, Springfield, Sr.

113
Nate Graham, Station Camp, Sr.
Luke Myhan, Soddy-Daisy, Jr.
CJ Weaver, Tullahoma, Fr.
Luke Higdon, Signal Mountain, Sr.

120
Jacob Stinnett, Upperman, So.
Jay Hill, Station Camp, Sr.
Carter Hostetler, Spring Hill, Jr.
Harold Ward, Greenbrier, Sr.

126
Ian McCallie, Signal Mountain, 8th grade
Kyle Nielsen, Spring Hill, Sr.
Brylan Rhodes, Greeneville, So.
Matthew Pennington, Eagleville, Sr.

132
JoJo Uhorchuk, Signal Mountain, Sr.
Tyson Flavin, Soddy-Daisy, Sr.
Tristen Fowler, Alcoa, So.
Kiivon Butler, Tullahoma, Jr.

138
Zedediah Hulet, Anderson County, Jr.
Noah Eller, Gibbs, Jr.
Elving Vera, Spring Hill, Sr.
Derrick Bolden, Millington, Jr.

144
Christian Davis, Signal Mountain, So.
Ayden Jenkins, Soddy-Daisy, Jr.
Lukas Pratt, Pigeon Forge, Sr.
Hayden Harrell, Anderson County, Sr.

150
Colin Bull, Soddy-Daisy, Sr.
Tamarion Johnson, Montgomery Central, Sr.
Austin Glass, Volunteer, Sr.
Max Cable, Pigeon Forge, Jr.

157
Braylan Cosper, Hixson, Sr.
Jake Laxton, Soddy-Daisy, So.
Vincent Ward, Greenbrier, Jr.
Duke Delozier, Seymour, Jr.

165
Ayden Hood, Pigeon Forge, Sr.
Nathan Highland, Spring Hill, Sr.
Lincoln Rich, Station Camp, Sr.
Kaden Weitzel, Livingston Academy, Sr.

175
Deamion Leavell, Anderson County, Sr.
Cole Neal, Fairview, Jr.
Landon Shaw, Livingston Academy, Sr.
Thomas Solomon, Eagleville, Sr.

190
Trevor Burney, Chattanooga Central, Sr.
Evan Prewitt, Anderson County, Sr.
Logan Rawlinson, Soddy-Daisy, Sr.
Hayden Moore, Greeneville, Jr.

215
Houston Retting, Eagleville, Sr.
Darius Sudderth, Alcoa, Jr.
Pete Laxton, Soddy-Daisy, Sr.
Elijah Whitby, Millington, Sr.

285
Tyson Click, Samuel Everett, Sr.
Rogelio Gonzalez, Cheatham County, Sr.
Christopher Graver, Marion County, Jr.
Mathew Fowler, Red Bank

Class AA
106
Gabriel Nettleton, Arlington, So.
Carson Gambill, Page, Fr.
Q Dyer, Bradley Central, So.
Logan Raske, Cleveland, Fr.

113
Noah Watkins, Dobyns Bennett, So.
Emanuel Claybrooks, McGavock, Sr.
Boone Maughon, Cleveland
Joseph Marcin, Arlington, Sr.

120
Jose Cordero, Cleveland
Andrew Workman, Blackman, Jr.
Brooks Ryan, Dobyns Bennett, Fr.
Blaise Masi, Summit, Sr.

126
Dominic Cordero, Cleveland, So.
Devin Corbin, Collierville, Jr.
Chase Smalling, Science Hill, Sr.
Nolan Barton, Nolensville, Sr.

132
Mason Jakob, Dobyns Bennett, Sr.
Colt Maughon, Cleveland, Sr.
Aiden Rowe, Clarksville, Jr.
Damian Aponte, Germantown Houston, Sr.

138
Reed Loeffel, Brentwood, Sr.
Tristan Collier, Green Hill, So.
Kendall Lewis, Science Hill, Fr.
Logan Woodard, Clarksville Northeast, Sr.

144
JD Longley, Ravenwood, Jr.
Landon McLean, Blackman, Sr.
Trapper Lippincott, Nolensville, Jr.
Kaden Clopton, Science Hill, Jr.

150
Kellen Sanders, Cleveland, So.
Ryan Dietrick, Ravenwood, Jr.
Brandon Harris, Bradley Central, Jr.
Eli Goodin, Blackman, So.

157
Zachery Little, Summit
Luke Louzensky, Kirkwood, Jr.
Maddox Eskew, Ravenwood, Sr.
Trevor Sexton, Knox Halls, Sr.

165
Jonah Little, Germantown Houston, Sr.
Matthew Anderson, Ravenwood, Sr.
Gary High, Cleveland, So.
Leo Roberts, Independence, Jr.

175
Brodie Melzoni, Nolensville, Sr.
Barrett Whaley, Knox Halls, Sr.
Braylon Pulley, Cleveland
Elijah Reams, Riverdale, Sr.

190
Yamil Rashid, Stewarts Creek, Sr.
Wiley Suskawicz, Bradley Central, Sr.
Syre Jones, Bartlett, Sr.
Peter Wilson, Kirkwood, So.

215
Joshua Pulley, Cleveland, So.
Ahmed Shahin, Knox West, Sr.
Jake Sentell, Nolensville, Jr.
Henry Drazek, Brentwood, Sr.

285
Gabe Moore, Cleveland, Sr.
Dewantae McMillion, Bradley Central, So.
Haiden Cox, Science Hill, Sr.
Charlie Wilson, Dobyns Bennett, So.

Division II
106
Colten Calvin, Father Ryan, So.
Dominic Simpson, Montgomery Bell Academy, 8th grade
Triston Mouton, Baylor School, Jr.
Jonathan Comes, Lakeway Christian, Fr.

113
Tanner Tran, Father Ryan, Sr.
Riley Alcantar, Baylor School, Fr.
Cash Waymire, Brentwood Academy, Sr.
Knox Ritchie, McCallie School, Fr.

120
Gabe Swann, Baylor School, Sr.
Payne Walker, Christian Brothers, Fr.
Ryley Correll, Brentwood Academy, Fr.
Brody Connell, McCallie School, Sr.

126
Samuel Comes, Lakeway Christian, Sr.
Axel Ritchie, McCallie School, Sr.
Christopher Phillips, Baylor School, Jr.
Joseph Drewry, Christian Brothers, Jr.

132
Jaxon Lane, McCallie School, So.
Braxton Eason, Father Ryan, Jr.
Cayden Fowler, Friendship Christian, So.
Carlton King, Montgomery Bell Academy, So.

138
Malachi Puckett, Baylor School, Jr.
Cooper Mariakis, McCallie School
Trenton Casto, Lakeway Christian, Jr.
Joseph Kennedy, Chattanooga Christian, Fr.

144
George Emendorfer, Baylor School, Sr.
William Hamilton, McCallie School, Jr.
Jack Quigley, Knox Webb, Sr.
Jax Crolley, Father Ryan, Jr.

150
Dylan Villers, McCallie School, So.
Kohlton Vargas, Christian Brothers, Jr.
Nick Toth, Father Ryan, Jr.
Brooks Kopp, Pope John Paul II, Sr.

157
Oliver Phillips, Baylor School, Sr.
Cainan Williams, McCallie School, So.
Ruger Pennington, Montgomery Bell Academy, 8th grade
Kaden Dressell, Lakeway Christian, Jr.

165
Titus Norman, Baylor School, Sr.
Jon Cross, McCallie School, Jr.
Leland Hardcastle, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr.
Kyler Cook, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Sr.

175
Findley Smout, Christian Brothers
Zaydan Morgan, McCallie School
Donnis Boochie, Chattanooga Christian, Jr.
Noah Anliker, Grace Christian Academy-Franklin, Jr.

190
Dylan Reel, Baylor School
Brody Belville, Brentwood Academy, Sr.
Jordan Crouch, Pope John Paul II, Sr.
Cooper Ledbetter, McCallie School, So.

215
Cooper Gentle, McCallie School
Tyre Brown, Chattanooga Christian, Jr.
Rock Shurette, Baylor School, So.
Kai Slater, Father Ryan, Sr.

285
Ryder Smith, Chattanooga Christian, Sr.
Deantowan Malone, Father Ryan, Sr.
Cannon Voiles, McCallie School, Jr.
Luke Skelton, Brentwood Academy, Jr.

GIRLS WRESTLING
100
Easton Dadiomoff, Cleveland, So.
Alexandra Erb, Clarksville, Fr.
Ella McKeown, Kirkwood, So.
Bailey Leatherwood, Stratford, So.

107
Cora Finstad, Gibbs, Jr.
Evelyn Norman, Dobyns Bennett, Fr.
Johanna Pantojas, Riverdale, Sr.
Doria Hamlet, Independence, So.

114
Senna Grassman, Cleveland, Sr.
Tatiana Pena-Corona, Clarksville, Sr.
Gracie Voorhies, Seymour, Sr.
Jenna Ladd, Ooltewah, So.

120
Nataleigh Shane, Bradley Central, Sr.
Kailee Miller, Cleveland, Fr.
Ellen Anderson, Bartlett, So.
Kayleigh Angona, White Station, Sr.

126
Nevada Wildheart, Rossview, Jr.
Audreyona Perkins, Cleveland, Sr.
Mya Bundy, Stewarts Creek, Jr.
Gabbie Newton, Jefferson County, Sr.

132
Carolline Hilton, Cleveland, So.
Emery Wilson, Ravenwood, Jr.
Lexi Dean, West Creek, Jr.
Lily Lentz, Maryville, Sr.

138
Mariana Bowen, West Creek, Sr.
Delilah Queen, Maryville, Jr.
Adsila Holman, Rockvale, Sr.
Alice Gizzi, Independence, Fr.

145
Trinity Roberts, Heritage, Sr.
Ava Johnson, Clarksville, Jr.
Laura Gupton, Independence, Sr.
Shelby Williams, Gibbs, Sr.

152
Sawyer Ward, Science Hill, Sr.
Audrey Levendusky, Montgomery Central, Sr.
Emma Husser, Clarksville, Sr.
Maria Parra, Bartlett, Fr.

165
Sally Johnson, Clarksville, Sr.
Irelynn Laurin, West Creek, Sr.
Samarah Tafiti, East Ridge, Sr.
Ellysia Jennings, Coffee County, Jr.

185
Lakeria Kelly, Pearl-Cohn, Jr.
Jonna Patterson, Blackman, Sr.
Aiden Pilarowski, Cleveland, Fr.
Josephine Fisher, Riverdale, Jr.

235
Julia Parrish, Knox Halls, Jr.
Samantha O’Leary, Summit, Sr.
Anjolina Rosario, Clarksville Northwest, Sr.
Shilo Bryan, Moore County, Sr.