Athletes Beyond Bartow: Collegiate conference races are heating up in basketball and wrestling

January 20, 2025

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

College basketball and wrestling have hit mid-season strides, and conference races are heating up for many of our Bartow County athletes nationwide. 

In addition to college hoops and wrestling, this week’s update includes professional basketball from China, college tennis, gymnastics, and indoor track and field.

CHINA — CBA PRO BASKETBALL

ASHTON HAGANS — Xinjiang Flying Tigers (5th yr. pro; Cartersville native; University of Kentucky; Newton HS) … totaled 10 assists, nine points, nine rebounds, and one steal in wins last week over Jiangsu 92-82 and Guangzhou 116-97. The Flying Tigers (22-9) are fourth in the 20-team league standings. Xinjiang hosts Qingdao and visits Jilin and Shenzhen this week.

WRESTLING

ANGEL BANDA  — Reinhardt University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … won his bout at 133 pounds by pin at the 3:47 mark as the host Eagles blanked Emmanuel University last Thursday, 50-0. Reinhardt heads to Marshall, Missouri, for the Missouri Valley Open on Saturday.

LEE CAMP — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) …won his bout at 125 pounds by pin at the 4:41 mark as the host Eagles shutout Emmanuel University last Thursday, 50-0. Reinhardt heads to Marshall, Missouri, for the Missouri Valley Open on Saturday.

KYLE GOLLHOFER — University of Northern Iowa (R-Sr., Woodland HS) … finished with a 2-2 mark in the 125-pound division of the Iowa State Cyclone Open this past weekend. He lost a 6-4 decision to the eventual runner-up from Nebraska in the opening round before defeating opponents from Wisconsin and Oklahoma. He fell short of the fifth-place match in a loss to a second opponent from the University of Nebraska. Fifth-ranked UNI hosts third-ranked Oklahoma State on Friday night and 20th-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday in Big 12 Conference duals.

BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall College (Jr., Cass HS) … won his 141-pound bout by major decision this past Saturday, but the Diplomats lost to visiting Binghamton University 36-4. Franklin & Marshall hosts Sacred Heart University on Saturday night.

QUESTAPHA LEWIS — Midway University (Sr., Woodland HS) … lost his bout at 133 pounds in the Eagles’ 38-3 loss this past Friday at the University of the Cumberlands (KY). Midway wrestles at Campbellsville University (KY) on Monday night and will participate in the Missouri Valley Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

TYLER-XAVIER McKNIGHT — Davidson College (So., Cass HS) … won his 149-pound bout with a 5-0 decision Saturday as the Wildcats defeated Brown University 41-3. He also suffered a loss to his University of Arkansas-Little Rock opponent in a 38-9 team loss. Davidson also lost to Morgan State 26-13 in the quad match. Davidson (3-6, 1-0) hosts Southern Conference foes The Citadel and Gardner-Webb University on Friday and Sunday. The Wildcats will also face Air Force in a non-conference dual on Sunday.

Jaxon Smith

JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Jr., Woodland HS) … ranked No. 13 as an individual in the 184-pound weight class, Smith won a 14-3 major decision last Friday in the Terrapins’ 24-13 Big Ten home win over Wisconsin. Maryland (8-5, 3-0) hosts 9th-ranked Illinois on Friday.

Anetra Witherspoon

ANETRA WITHERSPOON — Life University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … won her bout pinfall last Wednesday in a home team victory over Lindsey Wilson College (KY). The Running Eagles also defeated Presbyterian College on Wednesday. Life (9-1) travels to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for the Indiana Tech Warrior Duals and Warrior Open this weekend.

BASKETBALL

Braxton Benham

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (Sr., Cass HS) … totaled 45 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, and seven steals in a Vikings’ wins over Oglethorpe University at home and Millsaps College (MS) in Jackson this past Wednesday and Saturday. Berry (10-7, 3-1 Southern Athletic Association) has road conference games on Friday at Hendrix College (AR) and Rhodes College (TN) on Friday and Sunday.

NA’YEL CAMPER — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … a starter for the Lady Eagles, Camper totaled eight rebounds, four points, and four assists in conference losses at Brenau University and Montreat College last Wednesday and Saturday. Reinhardt (13-5, 9-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Wednesday and Saturday conference games with Tennessee Wesleyan University and Columbia College (SC).

CLAIRE DAVIS — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … in brief floor time during a road win at Sam Houston University and a loss at Louisiana Tech last week, Davis recorded one blocked shot. The Owls (6-10, 1-4 Conference USA) host New Mexico State on Thursday and UTEP on Saturday afternoon.

JA’KA’YAH DRAUGHN — Chattanooga State CC (So., Cartersville HS) … totaled 23 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals in losses last week to Roane State CC and Columbia State CC. The Lady Tigers (10-7, 6-3 TCCAA) play at Dyersburg State CC on Thursday and host Volunteer State CC on Saturday.

Zion Hayes

ZION HAYES — Weatherford CC (Fr., Cass HS) … scored a career-high 15 points last Saturday in a 105-69 win at Southwestern Christian College. She added three rebounds and two assists. Hayes also posted four points and three rebounds last Wednesday in a 110-69 win at Hill College. The Coyotes (9-7, 2-2 North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference) play at Grayson College on Saturday afternoon.

ZYON HEATH — LaGrange College (Fr., Woodland HS) … saw action in two of the Panthers’ three games last week. He scored five points with four rebounds, two assists, and one steal in a 110-82 loss at Piedmont University on January 14. He also scored three points with five boards and two assists this past Saturday in a 105-69 home win over Asbury University (KY). LaGrange also dropped a 67-52 home game to Maryville College (TN) last Friday. The Panthers (5-13, 1-5 Collegiate Conference of the South) host Huntingdon College on Saturday afternoon.

HALEY JOHNSON — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … had two rebounds, one assist, and one steal in the Eagles’ road losses last week at Brenau University and Montreat College. Reinhardt (13-5, 9-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Wednesday and Saturday conference games with Tennessee Wesleyan University and Columbia College (SC).

KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (Jr., Cass HS) …  made a start this past Saturday and scored three points, four assists, one rebound, and one steal in a 97-28 home win over Mid Atlantic Christian. She also totaled nine points, seven assists, two blocks, and four rebounds in two home losses earlier in the week to Truett-McConnell University and Pensacola Christian College. The Screamin’ Eagles (5-9) have road games at Warren Wilson College (KY) on Monday and Bob Jones University (SC) on Tuesday before hosting Southeastern Baptist College (MS) on Saturday.

T.J. PRINTUP — Tusculum University (So., Adairsville HS) … scored eight points with two rebounds, one assist, and one steal this past Saturday in a 106-91 home win over Coker University. Printup also grabbed three rebounds last Wednesday in a 68-55 home loss to 11th-ranked Lincoln Memorial. The Pioneers (4-13, 4-9 South Atlantic Conference) visit the University of Virginia-Wise on Wednesday night and host Lenoir-Rhyne University on Saturday afternoon.

MEGAN SCHULTZ — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Woodland HS) … in home conference losses last week to the University of Tennessee Southern and Blue Mountain Christian University, Schultz had one rebound in each game.

LONDAISHA SMITH — St. Andrews University (Sr., Cass HS) … in three wins last week, Smith totaled 39 points, 19 rebounds, nine steals, and eight assists as the Lady Knights beat Winston Salem State and Bluefield University (VA) at home and also won at Truett-McConnell University. 

ALISSA WINTERS — Truett-McConnell University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … scored six points with four rebounds and one steal on Monday, January 13, in a 43-32 win at Toccoa Falls College. She also totaled six points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal in a home loss to St. Andrews University (NC) and Johnson University (TN). The Lady Bears (8-9, 5-6 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visit Columbia College (SC) on Wednesday night and Bluefield University (VA) on Saturday afternoon.

TENNIS

EMILY SURCEY — Samford University (Sr., Cass HS) … the Bulldogs split matches in Starkville, Mississippi this past Saturday. Surcey won her Line 1 singles match 6-3, 6-1 in a 4-1 team win over Bellarmine University but lost a 6-0 Line 1 doubles set with partner Sara Erenda in a 4-0 team loss to Mississippi State. She trailed 2-6, 4-5 in an unfinished Line 1 singles match vs. Mississippi State. Samford (1-1) hosts Jacksonville State on Friday and Presbyterian College on Sunday.

GYMNASTICS

Abigail Bunch

ABIGAIL BUNCH — Rhode Island College (Jr., Cass HS) … had her career-high score and placed first on beam (9.700) in the Anchorwomen’s home win this past Saturday over Utica University (NY) and Gustavus Adolphus College (MN). Bunch also tied for fifth on bars (9.275). On January 12, she scored 7.45 on bars and was 28th in a five-way meet in Cortland, New York. RIC finished fourth behind Ursinus College (PA), Utica, and SUNY Cortland. The Anchorwomen finished ahead of Springfield College (MA). Next on the schedule for Rhode Island is a meet Sunday afternoon at SUNY Brockport.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

JUNE DeLAUDER — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … was 30th in the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries this past weekend at the Samford Open in Birmingham with an 11.65 time. She was also 42nd in the 400-meter prelims with a personal record of 1:11.79. The next event for the Eagles is Sunday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, at the JDL Flat is Fast Invitational.

KAITLYN GODWIN — University of North Florida (Fr., Cass HS) … was 51st with a time of 8.18 in the preliminaries of the 60-meter dash this past Saturday at the Jimmy Carnes Track and Feid Meet in Gainesville, Florida.

ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … placed 25th (8.55) in the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries this past Saturday at the Vanderbilt Indoor Invitational in Nashville. The Bruins will compete at the Lenny Lyles Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky, on January 31-February 1.