Athletes Beyond Bartow | Beasley, Falcons to host NFC title game
Vic Beasley, Jr. and the Atlanta Falcons have advanced to the NFC Championship Game to highlight this week's edition of Athletes Beyond Bartow. This update also includes locals in European pro basketball, college track and field, college swimming, college wrestling, and college basketball.
NFL
VIC BEASLEY, JR. — Atlanta Falcons (2nd year pro, OLB, Clemson, Adairsville HS). . . Beasley was credited with a pair of tackles Saturday in Atlanta’s home 36-20 playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks. The Falcons advanced to the NFC Championship Game with the victory to host the Green Bay Packers. The Packers eliminated the top-seeded Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. Beasley led the NFL in sacks (15.5) this season, has forced six fumbles, returned a fumble for a touchdown, and defended two passes while totaling 39 tackles. He appeared to aggravate a shoulder injury early in the game Saturday, but missed very little time.
TRACK AND FIELD
AUBREE COLE — Jacksonville State University (Fr., Cartersville HS) . . . placed 11th overall in the 5000 meter run January 14 at the UAB Vulcan Indoor Invitational in Birmingham at the Crossplex Arena. Jax State travels to Winston-Salem, NC January 29 for a dual meet with UNC-Greensboro.
MILES BEARDEN — Kansas State University (Sr., Cartersville resident, Darlington HS) . . . placed second with a high jump of 2.06m January 12 in a meet with Wichita State and Kansas at the Wichita Heskett Center. Kansas State is back in action Friday-Sunday as they host the Deloss Dodds Invitational.
BLAKE PERRY — Jacksonville State University (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . finished 7th with a triple jump of 37-04.50 January 14 at the UAB Vulcan Indoor Invitational in Birmingham hosted at the Crossplex Arena. The Gamecocks travel to Winston-Salem, NC January 29 for a dual meet with UNC-Greensboro.
SWIMMING
ELISE HART — Air Force Academy (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . swam the third leg of the winning 200 yard medley relay (1:46.69), placed third in the 100 yard butterfly (1:00.10), and was ninth in the 100 yard backstroke (1:01.56) as the Falcons defeated Seattle University 132-85 January 14 to improve to 7-4. She was on the Falcons’ 4th place B 400 yard medley relay team, was 10th in the 50 yard freestyle, and was on the Falcons’ 6th place B 200 yard freestyle relay team in a sweep of Northern Colorado and Seattle January 13. Air Force is back in action with a dual meet against UNLV Saturday in Las Vegas, NV.
WRESTLING
EVAN COLE — Cumberland University (Jr., Cartersville HS). . . won by major decision in the 149-pound weight class January 14 as the 17th-ranked Phoenix defeated 19th-ranked Southeastern Univeristy in Lakeland, FL. He also lost to his opponent from 14th-ranked Lindsey Wilson January 12 in Columbia, KY. Cumberland went 2-1 for the week by also defeating Ouachita Baptist (AR) while in Lakeland. The Phoenix (10-3 in dual matches) travel to Marshall, MO this weekend for the two-day Missouri Valley College Invitational before returning to Mid-South Conference action at home January 27 against Truett-McConnell.
SAMMY ROSARIO — Cumberland University (Sr., Cass HS). . . pinned his opponent from 14th-ranked Lindsey Wilson January 12 in Columbia, KY, then won both matches against opponents from Ouachita Baptist (AR) and 19th-ranked Southeastern University January 14 in Lakeland, FL. Rosario is the fifth ranked wrestler nationally in his 133-pound division. As a team, 17th-ranked CU lost to Lindsey Wilson but defeated Ouachita Baptist and Souteastern University to go 2-1 for the week. The Phoenix (10-3 in dual matches) travel to Marshall, MO this weekend for the two-day Missouri Valley College Invitational before returning to Mid-South Conference action at home January 27 against Truett-McConnell.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
SYDNEY BOYD — Brewton Parker College (Soph., G, Woodland HS) . . . scored six points and grabbed three rebounds with one assist and two steals in an 84-69 home loss January 12 to Faulkner University. Boyd is averaging just over six points and three rebounds in 17 minutes per game. The Lady Barons (5-6, 2-5 Southern States Athletic Conference) host College of Coastal Georgia Monday and travel to Brenau (GA) and Middle Georgia State on Thursday and Saturday.
A.J. MOSBY — Alcorn State University (Jr., G, Cartersville HS). . . scored 16 points with four rebounds and two steals in a 67-62 loss at Grambling January 9. Finished with 11 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in a 63-50 win at Jackson State January 11. Totaled 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in an 84-77 home loss Saturday to Mississippi Valley State. The Braves (5-11, 2-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference) host Arkansas-Pine Bluff Monday and travel to Alabama State Saturday.
DARIUS THROWER — Truett McConnell University (Fr., G, Excel Christian Academy) . . . played two minutes January 11 in an 87-65 loss at NAIA 2nd-ranked Union College (KY). The Bears also defeated Tennessee Wesleyan Saturday to improve to 9-10 overall and 5-6 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. The Bears host Fisk University (TN) Tuesday and Bryan College (TN) Saturday.
COREY TOBIN — Reinhardt University (Jr., G, Cartersville HS). . . scored 14 points Saturday with seven rebounds and an assist in an 82-80 home win over Bryan College (TN). He totaled 12 points with five rebounds, two steals, and an assist in a 110-82 win over Milligan College January 11. He also contributed three points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals January 9 in an 89-88 loss at Truett McConnell. Tobin is averaging seven points and three rebounds per game. Reinhardt (13-5, 7-4 Appalachian Athletic Conference) travels to Point University Wednesday and hosts Bluefield College (KY) Saturday.
CARROD WATSON — University North Georgia (R-Fr., F/C, Woodland HS). . . played 13 minutes, scored two points, collected three rebounds, and blocked three shots in the Nighthawks’ 84-72 Peach Belt Conference win at Francis Marion University. UNG (9-6, 5-1) plays at North Carolina-Pembroke Monday, hosts Clayton State Wednesday, and travels to Georgia Southwestern Saturday.
HAKEEM WINTERS — Point University (Soph., F, Cartersville HS). . . grabbed ten rebounds, scored eight points and added two steals and a block January 9 in a 94-86 loss at Milligan College (TN). Totaled eight points, six rebounds, a block and a steal January 11 during an 84-60 home loss to Montreat College (NC). Contributed six rebounds, two points, and a steal in a 90-73 loss at Bluefield College (KY) Saturday. Point (2-18, 0-6 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts conference opponents Reinhardt University Wednesday and Union College (KY) Saturday.
PRO BASKETBALL
EMMANUEL HOLLOWAY — UU Korihait, Finnish Pro League (G, Illinois State ’09; Woodland HS). . . scored 12 points with three rebounds and one assist as Korihait lost 81-63 to the first place Helsinki Seagulls January 11. It was his team’s seventh straight loss. Holloway leads the team in scoring at 13.6 points per game. UU Korihait (4-15) hosts KTP January 20.
ADRIAN RODGERS — Malbas Oresund, Swedish Pro League (G, Cartersville resident; Southern University ’16; Centennial HS). . . scored 13 points, collected four rebounds, and blocked a shot in a 97-58 loss at Uppsala January 10. Rodgers is averaging just over 16 points per game. Malbas Oresund (1-15) hosts Jamtland January 20.
Did we miss someone this week? If we did, please let us know. Use the 'Contact' link at the top of this page or send an email to: bartowsportszone@comcast.net. A full listing of local athletes is available on this website on the Athletes Beyond Bartow page.
