Athletes Beyond Bartow: Shealy earns MVP as Syracuse wins ACC Tournament
Cartersville resident and Syracuse goalkeeper, Russell Shealy, was named MVP of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Sunday as the Orange won the league title and will hold home pitch advantage in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Elsewhere, Bartow County athletes contributed with their respective programs this past week in football, volleyball, soccer, wrestling, and basketball.
NFL
TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (2nd yr. pro; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … was 29-for-40 passing for 259 yards and two touchdowns Sunday in a 27-17 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs. Lawrence also rushed for 26 yards on four attempts. His first touchdown pass was to Christian Kirk from 3 yards out with 0:11 remaining in the first half. The second touchdown pass was also to Kirk from 19 yards with 5:26 left in the game. The Jaguars (3-7) host the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, November 27.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
KOLBE BENHAM — Marist College (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a tackle on kickoff coverage in the third quarter this past Saturday in the Red Foxes’ 45-24 home loss to Valparaiso. Marist (4-6, 4-4 Pioneer Football League) travels to Bucknell Saturday afternoon.
BRYCE BURGESS — Reinhardt University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … had four carries for 50 yards including a 41-yard run for a touchdown late in the third quarter as the 9th-ranked Eagles won at Union College (KY) 40-0. Reinhardt (8-1, 5-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) was selected for the 16-team NAIA National Championship playoffs as a No. 9-seed. They face Lindsey Wilson (Kentucky) in the first round.
JONATHAN CRUZ — University of Mississippi (Sr., Cartersville HS) … made a 22-yard field goal and all three of his PAT kicks in the 14th-ranked Rebels’ 30-24 loss to 8th-ranked Alabama last Saturday night. Two of his five kickoffs were for touchbacks. Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) travels to Arkansas this Saturday night.
CARLOS DEL RIO-WILSON — Syracuse University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … rushed one time for seven yards and had his only pass attempt intercepted last Saturday in a 38-3 home loss to 20th-ranked Florida State. It was the fourth straight loss for the Orange. Syracuse (6-4, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) plays at Wake Forest Saturday night.
JORDAN FERGUSON — Middle Tennessee State University (R-Sr., Cartersville HS) … made four tackles including one tackle for loss. He also added one quarterback hurry in the Blue Raiders’ 24-14 home conference win over Charlotte last Saturday. MTSU (5-5, 2-4 Conference USA) entertains Florida Atlantic Saturday afternoon.
DYLAN FORMAN — Shorter University (Sr., Woodland HS) … made three tackles last Saturday in the Hawks’ 30-28 loss at Valdosta State. Shorter’s season ends with a 3-8 record overall and 1-6 in the Gulf South Conference.
JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (So., Cartersville HS) … an offensive line starter in the Tigers’ 26-10 home win over Tulsa last Thursday night. Memphis rushed for 79 yards and passed for 262 in the conference victory. Memphis (5-5, 3-2 American Athletic Conference) steps out of conference Saturday to host North Alabama.
JaCOREY JOHNS — Wake Forest University (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … had three sacks and finished with six total tackles last Saturday in the Demon Deacons’ 36-34 home loss last Saturday night to No. 13 North Carolina. Johns was also credited with one quarterback hurry. Wake Forest (6-4, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) hosts Syracuse this Saturday night.
TITUS JONES — Colorado State University (R-Jr., Woodland HS) … saw action but recorded no stat line last Saturday in a 14-13 loss to visiting Wyoming. CSU (2-8, 2-4 Mountain West Conference) will look to snap a three-game losing skid Saturday at Air Force.
LaKWAYME JUPITER — North Carolina Wesleyan (So., Cartersville HS) … moved from the defensive line to play offensive guard last Saturday for the Battling Bishops in a 35-14 win at Greensboro College. Wesleyan compiled 309 yards in total offense including 181 rushing in the victory. The Bishops finished the year 3-8 overall and 3-4 in the USA South Athletic Conference.
JAKE PARKER — Hutchinson (KS) CC (Fr., Cartersville HS) … saw action on the defensive side of the ball last Saturday and made one tackle in the top-ranked Dragons’ 29-28 win at Iowa Western CC. Hutchinson (10-0, 6-0 Kansas Jayhawks Community College Conference) is expected to host an NJCAA semifinal on December 3 but the selection of the national semifinalists won’t be released until November 21.
ANDREW NGUYEN — Berry College (Fr., Cass HS) … made one tackle in the second quarter last Saturday as the Vikings beat visiting Hendrix College 55-8. Berry finished the regular season 7-3 with a 5-2 mark in the Southern Athletic Association.
SAM PHILLIPS — UT-Chattanooga (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a career-high 11 receptions last Saturday for 163 yards in the 12th-ranked Mocs’ 35-24 loss to visiting 9th-ranked Samford. He added one rush for no yards and one kickoff return for 16 yards. Chattanooga (7-3, 5-2 Southern Conference) plays Saturday at Western Carolina.
JACOB RAY — Berry College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a pair of catches for a total of 18 yards last Saturday as the Vikings routed visiting Hendrix College, 55-8. The Vikings finished the regular season 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Southern Athletic Association.
COURTNEY SLOCUM — Mars Hill University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … saw action but recorded no stats last Saturday in a 27-24 loss at Newberry College. The Lions won the Mountain Division of their conference and finished the regular season 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Southern Athletic Conference.
EVAN SLOCUM — Wake Forest University (So., Cartersville HS) … made a career-high nine tackles and broke up one pass last Saturday night in a 36-34 home loss to 20th-ranked North Carolina. The Deacons (6-4, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) host Syracuse Saturday night.
BRANDON WADE — University of West Florida (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … made one solo tackle last Saturday in the Argonauts’ 56-21 win at Mississippi College. The Argos (9-1, 6-1 Gulf South Conference) were selected for the NCAA D-II National Championship playoffs and will host Limestone Saturday at 1 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
MARIA PILIPOSYANS — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … totaled 12 kills and 12 blocks as the Eagles’ finished 1-1 at their conference tournament in Kingsport, Tennessee. Reinhardt finished the regular season with a 19-13 record.
SOCCER
RUSSELL SHEALY — Syracuse University (R-Sr., Cartersville resident, Darlington HS) … was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Tournament team and was named tournament MVP as the Orange won the league championship with a 2-0 win over Clemson this past Sunday afternoon. Syracuse advanced to the conference finals with home wins over North Carolina the previous Sunday 1-0 and over 11th-ranked Virginia last Wednesday night on penalty kicks. In the semifinal win, Shealy made four saves in regulation as the match went to penalty kicks tied 2-2 and was won 5-3 on PKs. Shealy also had four saves in the finals win over 18th-ranked Clemson Sunday. The Orange advance to the 2022 NCAA Men’s Championship Tournament as the No. 3 national seed. That means Syracuse will host the first three rounds as long as they continue. The Orange (14-2-4) received a first-round bye and will host the Rutgers/Penn winner Sunday.
WRESTLING
COLE COCHRAN — UT-Chattanooga (Fr., Woodland HS) … finished 3-2 at The Citadel Open last weekend and won his portion of the consolation bracket competing in the 157 pound division. Up next for the Mocs is a quad-meet Sunday at Purdue where they will also face Northern Illinois and Cleveland State.
CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (Fr., Woodland HS) … wrestling in the 149-pound division last Friday, Henson defeated Sammy Sasso of Ohio State with a takedown in sudden victory to win by decision, 5-3. The Hokies lost to the Buckeyes on the team scoreboard, however, 18-13. Virginia Tech travels to Philadelphia Sunday for the Keystone Classic where Penn, Drexel, Appalachian State, Arizona State, George Mason, Duke, Rider, Franklin & Marshall, Sacred Heart, and Harvard will also compete.
BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall (Fr., Cass HS) … lost in his opening round and finished 1-2 in the 141-pound bracket of the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open at Binghamton University. Up next for the Diplomats is the Millersville Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Classic Saturday and the Keystone Classic in Philadelphia Sunday.
QUESTAPHA LEWIS — Midway University (So., Woodland HS) … was a competitor at the 133-pound weight class as the Eagles participated in the Grand View Open last Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa. Midway heads to the Life Open Saturday in Marietta.
JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Fr., Woodland HS) … was runner-up in the 197-pound division at the University of Missouri’s Tiger Style Invitational last weekend in Kansas City. He had pinfall wins over opponents from Arkansas-Little Rock and Illinois before falling to Bernie Truax of Cal Poly 3-0 in the finals. The Terrapins wrestle Friday night at 18th-ranked Pittsburgh.
JABRIL WILLIAMS — Midway University (So., Cartersville HS) … competing in the 174-pound class of the freshman/sophomore division at the Grand View Open, Williams won two of four bouts. He recorded a pinfall against his opponent from St. Ambrose (Iowa) and a 16-5 major decision over his opponent from Missouri Baptist. In the championship quarterfinals, the former Hurricane suffered a major decision loss to an opponent from Iowa State and a major decision loss to his opponent from Brewton-Parker College. Midway competes at Life University Saturday.
BASKETBALL
BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (So., Cass HS) … through the Vikings’ first three games, Benham has averaged 10 points, four rebounds, 5.5 assists, and two steals as Berry defeated Huntingdon College (86-66) at home and won last Saturday at LaGrange (88-83) Saturday and at Huntingdon Sunday (79-63). Next for the Vikings (3-0) is a home game Tuesday against Belhaven University (Mississippi) and a home game Saturday afternoon against Warren Wilson College (North Carolina).
DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Jr., Woodland HS) … scored 18 points in both of the Rams’ games last week at Milligan and at Tennessee Wesleyan — both losses. He also totaled 12 rebounds in each game. CIU (1-3, 1-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts St. Andrews University Tuesday night and Bryan College (TN) Saturday.
T.J. HORTON — Georgia Highlands CC (So., Cartersville HS) … coming off the Chargers’ bench, Horton scored one point with four rebounds and one steal last Friday night in a 92-82 home loss to Chipola College. He also scored 12 points with three steals and three rebounds in a 94-70 home win over Calhoun CC. Georgia Highlands also lost Saturday to Gulf Coast State CC but boxscore information was not available at the time of this release. Georgia Highlands (1-2) plays at Calhoun CC Monday night and will play in Florida Friday and Saturday against Gulf Coast State and Chipola in the Milton Johnson Classic at Chipola College.
HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech CC (Fr., Cass HS) … did not score, but collected a total of five rebounds and one steal in three games last week. The Titans beat Southern Union State CC 56-54, lost to South Georgia Tech 80-30, and fell to Chipola College 87-46. CGTCC (1-4) also had a loss to Gulf Coast State but boxscore information was not available at the time of this release. The Titans play at Albany Tech Wednesday before hosting Chattahoochee Valley CC Saturday.
JAYLON PUGH — Lander University (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … came off the bench and scored 18 points with three rebounds, two assists, and three steals last Friday in an 81-76 home win over Anderson (SC) University. He did not score but had two rebounds Saturday in a 104-78 victory at home against Southern Wesleyan. Lander (2-0) hosts Erskine College Wednesday night and Wingate University Saturday.
ABIGAIL TAYLOR — Centre College (Fr., Woodland HS) … saw her first collegiate action last Saturday in a 74-47 win by the Colonels over Ferrum College (Virginia). She played three minutes and grabbed one rebound. She then received two minutes of playing time Sunday but had no stat line in a 54-34 loss to Bridgewater College (Virginia). Both games were part of the Ferrum Classic. Centre (1-1) hosts the Hampton Inn Classic Friday and Saturday where they will play Spalding University (Kentucky) and Asbury College (Kentucky).
JORDAN THOMPSON — Southwestern Iowa CC (So., Woodland HS) … in three losses last week to Metropolitan CC, Johnson County CC, and Fort Scott CC, Thompson totaled 51 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and three steals. The Spartans (1-3) return to the hardwood Saturday at North Central Missouri CC.
LONDAISHA SMITH — Alderson Broaddus University (So., Cass HS) … started and recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the Battlers' season-opening 83-67 win over Shepherd last Friday in Frostburg, Maryland. She also scored 10 points with five rebounds, two assists, and one steal in an 84-71 loss Saturday to University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Alderson Broaddus (1-1) hosts Salem University Wednesday night and West Liberty Saturday afternoon to begin Mountain East Conference play.
NAKIYAH WASHINGTON — Piedmont University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … in a pair of starts against Sewanee-University of the South last Saturday and Berry College Sunday, Washington scored 29 points and had 11 rebounds. Sunday’s performance was a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards. She also finished with six assists, four steals, and a pair of blocks in the 80-70 win. Piedmont (2-0) will face University of Lynchburg and Emory University this Saturday and Sunday as part of the Emory Classic in Atlanta.
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