Athletes Beyond Bartow: College and pro updates for more than three dozen locals
- Staff
- Feb 6, 2023
- 10 min read
This week’s Athletes Beyond Bartow report includes updates on more than three dozen competitors with Bartow County connections in three professional leagues and seven different collegiate sports.
Former Cartersville High quarterback Trevor Lawrence made his first-ever NFL Pro Bowl Games appearance while Ashton Hagans (NBA G League) and A.J. Mosby (NBL-Canada) continued their roles with their respective professional basketball teams.
The college basketball regular season enters the final few weeks as those teams begin to gear up for tournament play while local wrestling standouts move closer to their post-season tournaments as well.
Meanwhile, several spring sports have launched for local athletes in golf, tennis, track & field, baseball, and softball.
NFL
TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL, 2nd-yr. pro; Clemson; Cartersville HS … the second-year NFL quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars was selected to his first Pro Bowl Games and got things started last Thursday night putting up a respectable 19 points in the Precision Passing competition. The 23-year-old’s performance was part of a 71-55 win for the AFC. In the flag football competition, Lawrence threw a pick-six on his first drive before redeeming himself with a short TD pass to Davante Adams of the Raiders and a 45-yard touchdown pass late in the game to the Bills’ Stefon Diggs. Those two scoring passes helped the AFC win the second flag football game of the day, 18-13.
PRO BASKETBALL
ASHTON HAGANS — Greensboro Swarm (NBA G-League; 3rd-year pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … scored seven points and had six rebounds and 11 assists Sunday afternoon in a 133-122 home win over the Windy City Bulls. Last Friday in a 123-107 home win over the Grand Rapids Gold, Hagans scored three points with four boards, four assists, and one steal. Greensboro (6-9) will host the Salt Lake City Stars Wednesday night and the Fort Wayne Mad Ants Friday night.
A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (6th-year pro; NBL-Canada; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … finished with eight points, three rebounds, and six assists Sunday afternoon in a 104-102 loss at the London Lightning. Saturday night, Mosby contributed three points, four rebounds, and one assist in a 99-85 loss at the Lightning. The next game for The Five (4-3) is at home Sunday afternoon against the Newfoundland Rogues.
BASKETBALL
BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (So., Cass HS) … a starting guard, Benham scored five points and added four rebounds, four assists, and one blocked shot Friday night in a 92-66 win over Millsaps College at The Cage Center in Rome. Sunday afternoon he again scored five points with five boards, five assists, one blocked shot, and two steals in a 91-71 home win over Birmingham-Southern College. Berry (20-2, 11-0 Southern Athletic Association) is currently ranked fifth in D-III’s Region 6 and is just outside d3hoops.com's national Top 25 with the 27th most votes.
ZAYLAN CHANEY — Lincoln Memorial University (Fr., Cartersville resident; Legacy ECHS) … has seen action in 14 games this season for the D2 8th-ranked Railsplitters. Chaney, who played grades 9-11 at Cass High School, is averaging 2.9 points and 1.6 rebounds as a freshman reserve. LMU (22-2, 12-1 South Atlantic Conference) hosts Emory & Henry Wednesday night and Coker College Saturday afternoon in conference games.
CLAIRE DAVIS — Palm Beach Atlantic University (Fr., Cass HS) … coming off the Sailfish bench in both games last week, she scored six points with 10 rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals in a 72-66 loss Wednesday at Nova Southeastern University. On Saturday, Davis did not score but had eight rebounds, two blocked shots, one assist, and one steal in a 60-44 home loss to 3rd-ranked Tampa University. PBAU (9-12, 5-10 Sunshine State Conference) travels to Daytona Beach Wednesday to play Embry-Riddle and goes to Melbourne Saturday to play at Florida Tech.
JUSTICE HAYES — Point University (So., Cass HS) … scored 18 points with four rebounds, one assist, and one steal this past Saturday in a 74-72 loss at Johnson University (Tennessee). Last Tuesday, Hayes did not score but had four rebounds in a 60-58 loss at Reinhardt. The Skyhawks (12-12, 12-9 Appalachian Athletic Conference) travel to St. Andrews University (North Carolina) Thursday and host Southeastern Baptist Saturday afternoon.
DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Jr., Woodland HS) … scored 28 points with five rebounds and one blocked shot in a 91-77 loss last Tuesday at Truett McConnell University. Thursday in a 74-65 home win over Bryan College (Tennessee), Heathcock scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds. On Saturday, he finished with 17 points and grabbed four rebounds in a 78-62 win at home over Milligan University. The Rams (12-11, 11-9 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Reinhardt Tuesday night and travel to Union College (Kentucky) for an afternoon game Saturday.
T.J. HORTON — Georgia Highlands CC (So., Cartersville HS) … scored five points with five assists, four rebounds, and two steals last Wednesday during an 83-63 home win over Gordon State CC. The Chargers also won 91-81 Saturday at Albany Tech but stats were not available. GHC (13-8, 7-0) hosts Central Georgia Tech Wednesday night.
KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (Fr., Cass HS) … scored two points and had two steals and one rebound last Thursday in a 63-50 home win last Thursday over Bob Jones University. She also had one blocked shot and one steal last Tuesday in a road win at Bob Jones. The Screaming Eagles also had a 67-48 home win Saturday over Southeastern Baptist College but those stats were not available. Toccoa Falls (17-6, 7-1 NCCAA) hosts Pensacola Christian Tuesday night.
JAYLON PUGH — Lander University (Grad student, Cartersville HS) … scored 13 points and had one assist last Wednesday in a 73-68 Bearcats’ loss at Young Harris College. This past Saturday, he scored two points with two rebounds and one assist in an 82-68 win at USC-Aiken. Lander (16-6, 8-4 Peach Belt Conference) has a home game with Augusta University Wednesday night and travels to Dahlonega Saturday for a matchup at the University of North Georgia.
LONDAISHA SMITH — Alderson Broaddus University (So., Cass HS) … scored 13 points with six rebounds and two steals last Wednesday in a 93-79 road loss at Davis & Elkins College. In a home game this past Saturday, Smith finished with five points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal as the Battlers beat West Virginia Wesleyan, 63-57. ABU (5-16, 4-12 Mountain East Conference) travels to Frostburg State Wednesday and entertains Fairmont State Saturday afternoon.
NAKIYAH WASHINGTON — Piedmont University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … played only five total minutes as the starters were rested in a pair of one-sided wins over Agnes Scott College and Wesleyan College last week. Washington, who is averaging more than 15 points and seven rebounds per game this season, did have a pair of steals in Saturday’s win. Piedmont won 96-37 at Wesleyan last Tuesday and topped visiting Agnes Scott 76-39 this past Saturday. The Lions (12-8, 8-3 Collegiate Conference of the South) play at LaGrange College Tuesday night and will host Covenant College Friday and Berea College (Kentucky) on Saturday.
WRESTLING
CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (Fr., Woodland HS) … 8th-ranked nationally in the 149-pound division, Henson was dominant in his performance over Duke’s Patrick Rowland. Henson was offensive from start to finish with an 18-3 tech fall. The freshman picked up four takedowns, eight back points, and a reversal in an offensive flurry for his 17th win on the season as the Hokies beat the Blue Devils last Friday night, 45-0. Virginia Tech wrestles at North Carolina this Friday night.
JORDAN MITCHELL — Life University (R-Jr., Cass HS) … finished the Cumberland (Tennessee) University Open this past Saturday with a 5-1 record and placed third in the 141-pound division. He also won a major decision last Tuesday in the Runnin’ Eagles’ 51-0 home win over St. Andrews (North Carolina) University. Life also beat 3rd-ranked Southeastern University on Friday. LU wrestles Friday at Brewton-Parker College and heads to West Palm Beach, Florida Saturday to face off against Keiser University and St. Thomas University.
JABRIL WILLIAMS — Midway University (So., Cartersville HS) … went 0-2 in his bouts this past Saturday in the 165-pound division of the Cumberland (Tennessee) Open. The Eagles return to competition on February 18 in the Mid-South Conference Championships in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The meet doubles as a qualifier for the NAIA National Championships.
GOLF
BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … was not part of the UGA team scoring but placed 22nd as an individual at the Southwestern Invitational on January 30-February 1. The tournament was conducted on the 7,017-yard par-72 Lakes/Oaks Course at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, California. Brumlow, who would have contributed a third-best score for the Bulldogs, fired rounds of 70-79-71 to finish 4-over-par. Georgia finished seventh of the twelve teams in the event that was won by Texas. Pepperdine, Arizona State, Oregon, Washington, and UCLA finished ahead of UGA. Next for the Bulldogs is the Puerto Rico Classic on February 12-13 at Rio Mar Country Club in San Juan.
TRACK AND FIELD
BILL ARCHER — University of Montevallo (So., Cartersville HS) … placed 17th Sunday in the one mile run in 4:18.79 at the indoor South Alabama Jaguar Invitational in Birmingham. The Falcons run next at the Gulf South Conference Indoor Championships on February 14-15 in Birmingham.
TENNIS
EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … won her Line 3 singles match 6-3, 6-0 as the Mountain Lions lost 4-3 last Wednesday at home to Mars Hill University. In that same match, she partnered with teammate Joselyne Chapui and lost 6-1 on Line 1 doubles. YHC travels to Tusculum University (Tennessee) Saturday evening to face the Pioneers.
EMILY SURCEY — Mississippi State University (So., Cass HS) … won her Line 6 singles match 6-1, 6-1 and paired with teammate Chloe Cirotte for a 6-4 doubles victory as the Bulldogs defeated Memphis Sunday, 4-1. Also on Sunday, she collected a 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) Line 5 singles win and joined Cirotte for a 6-2 Line 2 doubles win as MSU blanked Jackson State, 7-0. Last Friday, Surcey lost her Line 6 singles match 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 0-1 (10-5) as the Bulldogs fell at 14th-ranked Iowa State, 7-0. Mississippi State (8-1) hosts Belmont University and Alabama A&M this coming Friday.
BASEBALL
COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … entered in the fifth inning this past Sunday for his initial collegiate appearance. He worked into the seventh inning for no decision allowing a pair of unearned runs on two hits and two walks. He struck out one of the 11 batters he faced in the Flames’ 8-7 loss to visiting Hillsdale College. Lee (1-2) hosts Lincoln Memorial University Wednesday and has a three-game home series with Mars Hill University Friday and Saturday.
DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … through the Stallions' first seven games, Rothschild has four starts and is 5-for-12 at the plate with a double, two runs scored, one stolen base, and three RBIs. ABAC (2-5) won two of three this past weekend over Roane State CC after being swept in a four-game series the previous weekend at St. Johns River State CC. The Stallions travel to Tallahassee CC Tuesday and have a home weekend series with USC-Salkehatchie.
COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … entered as catcher off the bench last Friday in a 6-4 home loss to Indiana Wesleyan. He was 0-for-2 at the plate but threw out 1-of-2 would-be base stealers. The Grizzlies (2-1) host a doubleheader with Taylor University (Indiana) Friday and have a three-game series with St. Ambrose (Iowa) over the weekend.
PRESTON WELCHEL — Tennessee Wesleyan University (So., Cartersville HS) … saw action as either DH or in the outfield in each of the Bulldogs’ three wins last weekend over visiting Saint Xavier University. Welchel was 1-for-4 at the plate. TWC (3-0) hosts a three-game series Saturday and Sunday with the 22nd-ranked University of Northwestern Ohio.
JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … starting all three games at first base, Wilkie was 6-for-11 at the plate as the Jaguars dropped two of three games last weekend at the University of West Georgia. His hits included a two-run homer and four RBIs. He also scored three times. Augusta (1-2) hosts Erskine College Tuesday and UVA-Wise in a weekend, three-game set.
SOFTBALL
COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-4 this past Saturday in a Hawks’ 7-5 home loss to Young Harris College. Shorter was swept in the three-game series. The Hawks are scheduled for six games Friday through Sunday at the Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout.
SKYLAR CHAPPELL — Cottey College (Sr., Woodland HS) … went 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs playing in a pair of one-sided wins by the Comets over Jarvis Christian and Southeastern Baptist. Cottey (3-1) hosts MidAmerica Nazarene in a doubleheader Saturday.
ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … made a start at third base in the Eagles’ season opener Sunday and finished 0-for-2 at the plate with one RBI in a 6-2 loss to Middle Georgia State. Reinhardt (1-1) plays a doubleheader Thursday at LaGrange College.
SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (So., Adairsville HS) … entered defensively in the sixth inning last Friday to catch in an 11-0 win over visiting Spring Hill College. The Nighthawks went 2-1 last weekend at the Gulf Shores Invitational with a win over Florida Tech and a loss to West Alabama. UNG will host the Surf ’N Turf Classic Saturday and Sunday in Dahlonega. The Nighthawks will play both King University and Florida Southern twice during the tournament.
ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … was 3-for-6 with one walk, one RBI, and one stolen base Sunday as the Eagles split a pair of games with visiting Middle Georgia State. Reinhardt (1-1) travels to LaGrange College Thursday for a doubleheader.
RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (Fr., Cass HS) … went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a solo home run, and four runs scored in the Commodores’ doubleheader sweep Saturday over Enterprise State CC. Through her team’s first seven games, Lee is 9-for-21 with three RBIs and eight runs scored. Gulf Coast CC (6-1) has games against Central Alabama CC, Florida Southwestern State CC, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, and Gordon State CC this weekend in Dothan, Alabama.
LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … saw action at catcher in all five of the Wolves games last weekend as they went 1-4 facing Lander, Florida Tech, Rollins, Spring Hill, and Saint Leo. McElhaney was 0-for-8 at the plate with one walk. West Georgia (1-4) has a doubleheader Saturday at USC-Aiken.
HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … had a pinch-hit single and scored a run in a 7-5 home loss to Young Harris College last Friday. Shorter (0-3) plays this weekend in the UA-Huntsville Charger Chillout.
ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … was utilized as a pinch runner in two games for the Hawks over this past weekend. Shorter (0-3) travels to Huntsville Friday through Sunday for six games in the Charger Chillout.
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