PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Brown selected to TSWA all-state team
Tennessee High junior guard Colin Brown has been chosen to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association's All-Class 3A boys basketball team.
Also chosen as the Upper Lakes Conference player of the year, Brown tallied 21 points, three assists and three steals per game for the Vikings, which advanced to the Class 3 sectionals before falling to eventual state champion Knox Fulton.
PREP COLLEGE SIGNINGS
Tennessee High, Patrick Henry host college signings
A trio of Tennessee High seniors took part in a signing ceremony on Wednesday at Viking Hall to continue their education and athletic endeavors at the next level.
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That includes Cainan Meyers (Milligan baseball), Nolan Hutson (Maryville cross country, track & field) and Abigail Littleton (women's soccer, Pacific Union).
The Patrick Henry football duo of Camron Goodspeed and Will Dunn committed to Kentucky Christian on Wednesday. Amaura Laudie will run cross county at Southern Virginia.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
ETSU hosts Ballad Health Spring Game on Friday
East Tennessee State football will wrap up spring practice under new head coach Tre Lamb with the Ballad Health Spring Game on Friday at William B. Greene Stadium in Johnson City.
The game is free and open to the public. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
ETSU finished 3-8 last season under George Quarles, who was relieved of his duties after two seasons with the Buccaneers. Lamb, who was successful most recently during a four-year stint at Gardner-Webb, was hired to take his place.
ETSU opens the 2024 season on Aug. 31 at former Southern Conference rival Appalachian State. The Bucs will host the University of Virginia's College at Wise for its home opener on Sept. 7.
That will be followed by a Sept. 14 home tilt with FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. The Bison have won 17 national championships, nine in the Football Championship Series and eight in the NCAA Division II ranks. Since 2011, the Bison have played in 10 FCS national title games, winning an amazing nine of them.
MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
ETSU brings in Mizzou transfer
Missouri transfer Curt Lewis has committed to play for East Tennessee State, according to media reports.
Lewis, who has also played at East Kentucky, John A. Logan and Missouri, contributed 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 23 games for the Tigers, who became the first Southeastern Conference school to finish winless in conference play.
WOMEN'S COLLEGE GOLF
King places second in Conference Carolinas
Three King women's golfers finished in the top-10 as the Tornado placed second in the three-day Conference Carolinas Championship that was completed on Tuesday at Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg, S.C.
Jasmine Sachdev finished fifth, followed by Lucy Holbrough in seventh and Julianna Go in eights. North Greenville won the title.
*In other area women's golf news, East Tennessee State won the Southern Conference title by 13 strokes over Samford in Hilton Head, S.C. ETSU, which was led by Sophie Bert's second place finish, earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals on May 6.
Tennessee High graduate Madeline Simcox is a member of the ETSU program.
*Emory & Henry finished 11th in the South Atlantic Conference Championship in Salisbury. N.C. Abingdon graduate Katie Hall was the top finisher for the Wasps with a tie for 22nd. Abby Bradley from Castlewood finished 43rd. UVa-Wise placed 13th, led by Julia Kessler, who finished in a tie for 50th. Anderson won the SAC team title.
COLLEGE MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
King stuns Erskine, advances to C/C semis
Warren Davis delivered 23 kills and digs to lead King to a 22-25, 25-21, 27-25, 27-25 Conference Carolinas tournament quarterfinals victory at Erskine on Tuesday night.
King (7-20) will visit No. 2 seed North Greenville on Thursday. The Tornado defeated the Crusaders to capture the Conference Carolinas last season in the championship match, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament where they traveled to Ohio State.
AJ Drooker had 14 kills and Kellan Kennedy had 10 kills, while Aiden Olson dished out 48 assists. Justin Sawyer contributed nine digs and Chinen Gannon had seven digs in the win.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Senators beckon Danner
King University men's and women's volleyball assistant coach Julie Danner has been named the new women's volleyball coach at Davis & Elkins College. She will begin her tenure with the Senators on April 22.
Danner is one of the most decorated Tornado women's volleyball players in program history, as she led the Tornado to their first Conference Carolinas Tournament title in the spring of 2021. At the time of her graduation, Danner was King's NCAA era leader in attack attempts and total points. She also ranked in the school's top 10 in 12 other categories, including second in kills, points per set and reception percentage.
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Deadline approaching fast for Pappy Thompson nominees
For the 43rd straight year, the Bristol Herald Courier will present the Gene “Pappy” Thompson Award for Excellence. Letters have been sent to principals at more than 60 high schools in Virginia and Tennessee
The deadline for nomination is Saturday, April 27, with the list of nominees slated to run on May 4. Features on the five finalists and the eventual winner will run later in May.
Forty-two senior student-athletes from 26 schools have been represented in the award’s history. Abingdon has had the most winners with five, followed by Grundy with four and Patrick Henry with three. Eight schools no longer in existence have had winners over that time span as well.
Eddie Hall of Graham was the first winner in 1982. Last year’s recipient was Jessi Looney from Grundy.
For questions, send an email to bwoodson@bristolnews.com or contact via twitter @BHCWoodson.