College players of the week recognized by TSWA

October 22, 2019 Forrest Freeman

FOOTBALL: Memphis’ Gainwell, Maryville’s Cumby earn TSWA weekly awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Memphis freshman Kenneth Gainwell and Maryville College’s Trenton Cumby were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from October 14-20.

Gainwell became the first player in Division I/FBS since 1997 to record a 200-yard receiving and 100-yard rushing game in the Tigers victory over Tulane. The Yazoo City, Miss., native rushed 18 times for 104 yards and one touchdown and posted nine catches for 203 yards and two TDs. His 307 all-purpose yards ranks third in a single-game in Memphis history.

Gainwell has rushed for 830 yards and eight touchdowns and also leads the Tigers with 440 receiving yards with three TDs this season.

Cumby registered five tackles with 3.0 sacks in Maryville’s 21-13 win against Methodist University. The Cookeville, Tenn., native accounted for one sack in each of the first three quarters and added a pair of tackles in the fourth period. Maryville limited the Monarchs to six total rushing yards and 213 yards of total offense, racking up six total sacks.

Cumby has 26 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in six games this season.

2019 TSWA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
September 4 – Bailey Fisher, Tennessee Tech (Offense); Wanya Moton, UT Martin (Defense)
September 10 – Asher O’Hara, Middle Tennessee (Offense); Rondrow Peebles, Carson-Newman (Defense)
September 17 – Jacob Bunch, Maryville College (Offense); Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay (Defense)
September 25 – Bailey Fisher, Tennessee Tech (Offense); Wesley Porter, University of the South (Defense)
October 2 – JaVaughn Craig, Austin Peay (Offense); Darius Williams, Carson-Newman (Defense)
October 9 – Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis (Offense); Jovante Moffat, Middle Tennessee (Defense)
October 16 – John Bachus III, UT Martin (Offense); TJ Jefferson, UT Martin (Defense)

MEN’S SOCCER: King’s Delisle named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – King University’s Ben Delisle earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Soccer Player of the Week accolades, posting three goals in two matches for the Tornado.

The Montreal, Quebec, native netted two scores versus North Greenville, scoring the first goal of the match in the fifth minute on an assist from Zubair Taylor. The junior collected a second goal against the Crusaders in the 67th minute.

Delisle evened the match versus Chowan University in the 67th minute on an assist from Carlos Saavedra. He has eight goals and two assists in eight matches this season.

2019 TSWA MEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
September 4 – Ben Siri, Cumberland University
September 10 – Tobias Solem, Carson-Newman
September 17 – Kai Miettinen, Maryville College
September 25 – Ben Delisle, King University
October 2 – Johnny Rakhmonberdiev, Maryville College
October 9 – Sofian Maghouz, Carson-Newman
October 16 – Niccolo Dagnoni, Belmont

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Maryville’s Frizen garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Maryville College’s Taylor Frizen registered Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Soccer weekly honors, registering two goals with an assist in the Scots only match of the week.

The Knoxville, Tenn., native assisted on Shannon Reagan’s goal in the 49th minute, evening the match versus Covenant College. The sophomore put the Scots ahead for good in the 71st minute on an assist from Macy Lindsey and added her second goal in the 77th minute on an assist from Kelly Allen.

Frizen has 10 goals and five assists in 14 matches this season.

2019 TSWA WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
September 4 – Haley Hopkins, Vanderbilt
September 17 – Shannon Reagan, Maryville College
September 25 – Addie Roemershauser, University of the South
October 2 – Taylor Frizen, Maryville College
October 9 – Niki Clements, Belmont
October 16 – Shannon Reagan, Maryville College

VOLLEYBALL: Memphis’ Flowers named TSWA Player of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Memphis junior Hannah Flowers garnered Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Volleyball Player of the Week honors, recording 36 kills with seven digs and nine blocks in two victories for the Tigers.

The Wildwood, Mo., native posted a career-high 22 kills while tying his career-best with six blocks in a victory against Connecticut. She followed that with 14 kills in 17 attacks for an .824 attack percentage in a win versus Temple. Flowers added five digs and three blocks against the Owls.

The .824 attack percentage is the second-highest for a match by an AAC player and the highest by a player in a conference match this season. She has 245 kills (3.36 per set), 35 service aces and 44 total blocks in 19 matches this year.

2019 TSWA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
September 4 – Kaela Massey, East Tennessee State
September 10 – Julie Ward, King University
September 17 – Hannah Flowers, Memphis
September 25 – Meredith Bonee, Maryville College
October 2 – Maggie Mathews, Maryville College
October 9 – Meghan Delaney, Union University
October 16 – Marnie Streeter, Carson-Newman

TSWA announces 2020 Hall of Fame class

October 17, 2019 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its newest members of the TSWA Hall of Fame on Thursday, including Tommy Bryan (Lebanon), Teresa Walker (Associated Press) and Mark Wiedmer (Chattanooga). The three individuals will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 9, 2020, at Cumberland University.

Tommy Bryan – Lebanon
A 43-year veteran of the newspaper industry and founding member of the TSWA, Bryan is a 1975 graduate of Lebanon High School. He graduated from then Cumberland Junior College in 1977 and worked in sports information at Cumberland, Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee and Trevecca Nazarene. Bryan started writing for the Lebanon Democrat in 1977 as a sports writer until switching to news beat writer in 1979. He became owner and publisher of The Wilson World newspaper in 1981 through 2003, overseeing daily operations, front page design while also working as sports writer and news editor. He hosted numerous sports talk shows on WANT-FM and has served as master of ceremonies at athletic-related events for 40 years. He has been the voice of the Lebanon High Blue Devils for more than 33 years and Cumberland football for more than 10 years. He's also responsible for online content and social media outlets for Main Street Sports, a group of eight weekly newspapers, for the past six years. A founding member of the Lebanon-Wilson County Sports Council, Bryan was inducted into Cumberland's Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

Teresa Walker – The Associated Press
A native of Homestead, Fla., Walker is a two-time Tennessee Sportswriter of the Year and won an APSE for feature writing in 2015 for a story from the Masters. A graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in June 1987, she went to work as a news reporter for The Daily Times in Maryville. She covered one high school football game and wrote one sports column and a feature on Hoosier racing tires while mostly covering education, courts and the police beat. Hired by the Associated Press in Nashville in December 1989, Walker wrote college football and basketball games from around Tennessee by phone for the first two years. She became Tennessee sports editor in June 1992 and has covered five Olympics, three Super Bowls, a handful of Southeastern Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, several NCAA Tournaments and regional finals and the 2014 Women’s Final Four in Nashville. She covered the relocation of the NFL’s Houston Oilers between 1995 and 1997, taking over as beat writer upon the team’s arrival in Nashville in July 1997. Walker became one of the AP’s Pro Football Writers helping cover the NFL in 2014 and is the first president of the Pro Football Writers Association’s Nashville chapter. She also is a past president of the TSWA. She has covered the NHL’s Nashville Predators, including the 2017 Stanley Cup Final; Vanderbilt football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball; the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and the Memphis Tigers.
Walker becomes the first female sports writer selected for the TSWA Hall of Fame and only the third female elected by the association. The other two, June Stewart and Debby Jennings, are both from the Sports Information field.

Mark Wiedmer – Chattanooga Times-Free Press
A native of Hopkinsville, Ky., Wiedmer has spent 35 years at the Times-Free Press after starting as a graphic artist. He was so poor on his first day at the paper, Valentine’s Day of 1983, he borrowed money from his new boss to buy his wife a Valentine gift. Wiedmer transitioned to writing after filling in for a co-worker who became sick while covering a district baseball tournament. Within two years, Wiedmer took over the UT-Chattanooga basketball beat and has been a columnist since 1987. Over that time, Wiedmer has been a two-time TSWA Sports Writer of the Year, won several Green Eyeshade Awards, a few Football Writers Association honors and totaled more than 75 total writing awards. He covered 28 straight Final Fours between 1988 and 2015, as well as two Super Bowls, six Masters, 14 Kentucky Derbies, one Olympics, two U.S. Opens and two PGA championships. He's also covered 31 Area 4 Special Olympics in Chattanooga.

TSWA honors college players of the week - Oct. 16

October 16, 2019 Forrest Freeman

FOOTBALL: UT Martin’s Bachus III, Jefferson earn TSWA weekly awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – UT Martin’s John Bachus III and TJ Jefferson were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from October 7-13.

Bachus III completed 16-of-22 pass attempts for 331 yards and five touchdowns in a victory at Tennessee Tech. The Pulaski, Tenn., native tossed scoring throws of 22, 24, 73, 21 and 66 yards while compiling career-highs in yards and touchdowns. He added four rushes for 20 yards in the contest, improving the Skyhawks to 4-2 for the season.

Jefferson tied his season-best with 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks, as UTM shutout the Golden Eagles for more than 50 minutes of the contest. The Nashville, Tenn., native collected his third game this year with 12 stops, limiting Tech to season-lows in points and total offense. The Skyhawks defense also held its third straight opponent to less than 100 rushing yards.

MEN’S SOCCER: Belmont’s Dagnoni named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont University’s Niccolo Dagnoni earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Soccer Player of the Week accolades, collecting his first career hat trick for the Bruins against Wofford.

The Milan, Italy, native put Belmont ahead, 2-0, with goals in the 17th and 40th minutes, the second one on an assist from JP Armbruster. The sophomore added the Bruins final tally of the match in the 55th minute from Ares Marlonsson. Dagnoni leads the club with six goals and three assists through 12 matches.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Maryville’s Reagan garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Maryville College’s Shannon Reagan registered Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Soccer weekly honors, posting three goals and two assists in a pair of wins for the Scots.

The Tullahoma, Tenn., native tallied an assist on a Lexi Hill goal in the 56th minute versus Huntingdon College and followed that with a hat trick and another assist against Agnes Scott.

The senior netted Maryville’s first two goals of the match on assists from Taylor Frizen in the eighth and 21st minutes and found Hill for a score in the 52nd minute. Reagan and Frizen hooked up again in the 58th minute for Reagan’s third hat trick of the season. She leads the USA South Conference in goals and assists and ranks 20th nationally in goals (14) and 36th in assists (7).

VOLLEYBALL: Carson-Newman’s Streeter named TSWA Player of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Marnie Streeter was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Volleyball Player of the Week, recording 55 kills and 35 digs in four matches during the South Atlantic Conference-Peach Belt Conference Crossover for the Eagles.

The Goldvein, Va., native registered 12 kills against Georgia College and posted 15 kills and nine digs versus USC Aiken, ending a 16-match winning streak to start the season by the Pacers. The senior followed that with 19 kills and nine digs against Augusta University and finished the two-day event with nine kills and 12 digs versus Lander University.

She has 186 kills (3.00 per set) and 165 digs (2.66 per set) this season.

College players of the week named by TSWA - Oct. 9

October 9, 2019 Forrest Freeman

FOOTBALL: Memphis’ Gainwell, Middle Tennessee’s Moffat earn TSWA weekly awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Memphis running back Kenneth Gainwell and Middle Tennessee’s Jovante Moffat were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from September 30-October 6.

Gainwell broke the Memphis freshman single-game rushing record with 209 yards on 14 carries in a 52-33 road win at UL Monroe. The Yazoo City, Miss., native posted TD runs of 40 and 68 yards and now leads the American Athletic Conference in rushing yards (620) and all-purpose yards. Gainwell and DeAngelo Williams are the only Memphis freshmen to post three 100-plus yard rushing games.

Moffat collected 14 total tackles, including 13 solo stops, with two interceptions in a 24-13 victory over Marshall. The Union City, Tenn., native’s first INT set-up the team’s first touchdown of the game in the opening quarter and his second interception sealed the win in the fourth quarter. The senior safety also made the tackle on a fake field goal on a 4th-and-10 in the fourth quarter.

Moffatt now has 26 tackles in the last two games after registering 12 stops at Iowa.

MEN’S SOCCER: Carson-Newman’s Maghouz named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Sofian Maghouz earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Soccer Player of the Week accolades, posting a pair of goals in two outings for the Eagles.

The London, England, native netted the first goal of the match against Queens University in the 19th minute on an assist from Evan Harr. The freshman then registered the game-winner in the 85th minute, this one from Tony Saldana in a 2-1 victory. Maghouz has three goals in seven matches this season.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Belmont’s Clements garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont University’s Niki Clements registered Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Soccer weekly honors, tallying four goals with a hat trick in two outings for the Bruins.

The Perkasie, Pa., native netted the game-winner in the 50th minute on assists from Mackenzie Firek and Kameron Ziesig in a 1-0 victory against Tennessee Tech. The senior then posted the first hat trick in 10 years for Belmont versus Jacksonville State.

Clements found the back of the net in the 24th minute and put the Bruins ahead for good with a goal in the 57th minute. She added her third score of the match in the 83rd minute in a 4-1 Belmont triumph. She has four goals and one assist in 13 matches this season.

VOLLEYBALL: Union’s Delaney named TSWA Player of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union University’s Meghan Delaney was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Volleyball Player of the Week, recording a pair of double-doubles in conference victories for the Bulldogs.

The Aurora, Ill., native collected 16 kills and 13 digs in a five-set win versus Mississippi College. The sophomore followed that with 19 kills and 11 digs in a five-set victory at West Alabama, improving Union to 4-1 in Gulf South Conference play, the program’s best league start since moving to Division II.

Delaney has 258 kills (3.97 per set) and 157 digs (2.42 per set) in 17 matches this season.

TSWA recognizes softball all-state teams for 2019

October 4, 2019 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its All-State teams for softball for the 2018-19 academic year on Friday for classes A, AA and AAA in Division I and one team in Division II.

CLASS A
C: Zoey Neal, Gibson County, So.
IF: Kaci Fuller, Huntingdon, Jr.
IF: Kennedy Chatman, Columbia Academy, 8th grade
IF: Jenna Brazier, Summertown, So.
IF: Kailey Snell, Cascade, Jr.
OF: Karli Quillin, Columbia Academy, Fr.
OF: Maddie Jordan, Whitwell, Jr.
OF: Haley McGowen, Tellico Plains, Sr.
UT: Hailee Stevens, Greenback, So.
P: Brittany Adair, Columbia Academy, Sr.
P: Anna Yell, Whitwell, Sr.
P: Macie Stanfield, Sale Creek, Sr.

CLASS AA
C: Morgan Carter, Macon County, Jr.
IF: Josie Willingham, South Side, Sr.
IF: Laura Mealer, Forrest, So.
IF: Kennedy Gillespie, Forrest, Sr.
IF: Alana Collins, Greeneville, Sr.
OF: SieAnna Cameron, Alcoa, Jr.
OF: Josie Huff, Gibbs, Sr.
OF: Kelci Cantrell, Greeneville, Sr.
UT: Jacy Weaver, Lexington, Jr.
P: MacKenzie Turner, Sequatchie County, Jr.
P: Sara Muir, Marion County, So.
P: Kayla Beaver, South Side, Sr.

CLASS AAA
C: Cheyanne Sales, Ooltewah, Sr.
IF: Caitlyn McCrary, Siegel, Sr.
IF: Taylor Smart, Collierville, So.
IF: Laney Harris, Walker Valley, Jr.
IF: Makayla Alvey, Jefferson County, Jr.
OF: Kendall Andrews, Blackman, Sr.
OF: Presley Leebrick, Siegel, Sr.
OF: Jazmine Geary, Heritage, Sr.
UT: Jenna Johnson, Page, Sr.
P: Sophie Golliver, Siegel, Jr.
P: Allison Farr, Powell, Sr.
P: Catelyn Riley, Jefferson County, So.

Division II
C: Sophie Piskos, Baylor School, Jr.
IF: Bryliegh Carneal, University School of Jackson, Jr.
IF: Reagan Weekly, The King’s Academy, Sr.
IF: Aubrey Barnhart, Goodpasture Christian, So.
IF: Sydney Feistner, Grace Christian Academy-Knoxville, Jr.
OF: Anna Grace Fox, Zion Christian, Sr.
OF: Makayla Packer, Baylor School, Jr.
OF: Madison Webber, The King’s Academy, Sr.
UT: EC Taylor, St. Benedict at Auburndale, Sr.
P: Syd Berzon, Baylor School, Fr.
P: Hannah Sanders, Girls Preparatory School, Sr.
P: Kaylan Cole, The King’s Academy, Jr.