Athletes Beyond Bartow: Update on Bartow County's college and pro athletes across the nation
This week’s Athletes Beyond Bartow report includes updates on 31 Bartow County athletes contributing to their respective programs in six different sports.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
KOLBE BENHAM — Marist College (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … saw action but recorded no stat line in the Red Foxes' 24-13 loss last Saturday at Bucknell. Benham played in 10 games this season and made 11 tackles. He also picked off one pass. Marist finished the season 4-7 overall and 4-4 in the Pioneer Football League.
BRYCE BURGESS — Reinhardt University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … started at running back but had no stats in the Eagles’ 23-22 NAIA playoff loss last Saturday at Lindsey Wilson (Kentucky). Burgess finished the year with 222 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He also had three pass receptions for 31 yards. Reinhardt finished the year 8-2.
JONATHAN CRUZ — University of Mississippi (R-Sr., Cartersville HS) … made two of three field goal attempts last Saturday including a 45-yard field goal in the first quarter of the Rebels’ 42-27 loss at Arkansas. He made a 32-yarder and missed a 39-yard attempt in the second period. He made his only PAT attempt and booted two of his four kickoffs for touchbacks. He did have one kickoff to go out of bounds. Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) hosts the annual Egg Bowl game on Thanksgiving evening against rival Mississippi State.
JORDAN FERGUSON — Middle Tennessee State University (R-Sr., Cartersville HS) … made two tackles and was credited with a one-half sack, a quarterback hurry, and one fumble recovery in the Blue Raiders’ 49-21 win last Saturday over visiting Florida Atlantic University. He added a 49-yard rushing attempt when inserted on offense for a fourth-and-two play in the third quarter. MTSU (6-5, 3-4 Conference USA) is now bowl eligible for the 12th time in 17 seasons and will finish the regular season Saturday at Florida International.
JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (So., Cartersville HS) … started on the Tigers’ offensive line in a 59-0 blanking of North Alabama. Memphis rushed for 246 yards and passed for another 247. The win makes the Tigers (6-5, 4-3 American Athletic Conference) bowl eligible for the ninth straight season. Memphis plays this Saturday afternoon at SMU.
SHADRE HURST — Tulane University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … an offensive lineman, Hurst saw action in the Green Wave’s 59-24 win last Thursday night over SMU. Tulane (9-2, 6-1 American Athletic Conference) plays at Cincinnati Friday in a 12 noon start with the winner earning the right to host the conference championship game on December 3.
JaCOREY JOHNS — Wake Forest University (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … made one solo tackle in the Demon Deacons’ 45-35 win at home last Saturday night over Syracuse. Wake (7-4, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) finishes the regular season schedule Saturday afternoon at Duke.
TITUS JONES — Colorado State University (R-Jr., Woodland HS) … saw action but had no stats in the Rams’ 24-14 loss at Air Force last Saturday. CSU (2-9, 2-5 Mountain West Conference) wraps up the regular season at home Friday afternoon against New Mexico.
SAM PHILLIPS — UT-Chattanooga (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … hauled in nine receptions last Saturday at Western Carolina for 106 yards. He had a long reception of 23 yards in the Mocs’ 32-29 loss. Phillips’ performance set the freshman record for season receptions. His back-to-back 100-yards efforts are the first by a Mocs receiver since Bryce Nunnelly opened the 2018 campaign with four in a row. Chattanooga finished the season 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the Southern Conference and was not selected for the FCS playoffs.
EVAN SLOCUM — Wake Forest University (So., Cartersville HS) … made eight tackles as Wake Forest beat visiting Syracuse last Saturday 45-35 in Winston-Salem. Slocum now has 38 tackles in 11 games. The Demon Deacons (7-4, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) travel to Duke Saturday afternoon.
BRANDON WADE — University of West Florida (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … made four tackles and was credited with a one-half sack last Saturday as the Argonauts routed visiting Limestone 45-19 in the opening round of the NCAA D-II playoffs. UWF (10-1) plays at Gulf South Conference-foe Delta State Saturday in a second round matchup. The Argos will be seeking to avenge their only loss of the season.
CROSS COUNTRY
BILL ARCHER — University of Montevallo (So., Cartersville HS) … finished 64th individually and third for his team in 33:37 as the Falcons placed eighth of 18 teams at the 10K NCAA D-II South Region Championship in Lakeland, Florida. The team did not advance to the national championship on December 3 but did have an individual runner to qualify.
SOCCER
RUSSELL SHEALY — Syracuse University (R-Sr., Cartersville resident; Darlington HS) … made three saves facing 11 shots Sunday in a 2-1 overtime NCAA Tournament home win over Penn. The Orange (15-2-4, ranked #3) play 12th-ranked Cornell Sunday in the third round.
SWIMMING
GRAYSON BREEDLOVE — Lenoir-Rhyne University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was on the Bears’ 200-yard medley relay team that placed 12th last weekend at the Queens Fall Frenzy in Charlotte, North Carolina. LRU finished eighth of eight teams. The Bears head to the University of Tampa Spartan Invitational December 16-19.
HARPER POWELL — Florida Tech (So., Adairsville HS) … swam the opening leg of the Panthers’ second place 200-yard medley relay team. She was ninth in the 100-yard backstroke finals and placed fifth in the 100-yard freestyle at the Florida Tech Invitational last Friday through Sunday. In preliminaries, she won a 50-yard freestyle in 24.26 and was fourth in her 100-yard backstroke prelim in 59.96. Florida Tech returns to action on December 18 at the CSCAA Open Water Nationals.
WRESTLING
CARSON BAILEY — Emmanuel College (Fr., Woodland HS) …lost two bouts at the King Tornado Open Sunday in Bristol, Tennessee. The Lions host Emory & Henry Wednesday, November 30.
KYLE GOLLHOFER — Northern Iowa (R-So., Woodland HS) … finished 2-2 and placed fifth in the 125-pound division of the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open last Sunday in Brookings, South Dakota. The Panthers return to the mats Saturday at the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open in Ames, Iowa.
CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (Fr., Woodland HS) … finished 4-1 and placed third in the 149-pound division of the 26th annual Keystone Classic in Philadelphia last Sunday. The Hokies also won the team title by nine points over Penn. The tournament included eleven Division I teams. Next for Virginia Tech is the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Dec. 2-3.
COLE HUNT — University of North Carolina (Fr., Cass HS) … finished 3-2 and placed sixth in the Open 125-pound division of the Life University Open last weekend in Powder Springs. The Tar Heels were fourth of 29 teams represented. UNC returns to action December 15 to host Appalachian State.
BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall (Fr., Cass HS) … went 0-2 at the Keystone Classic in Philadelphia last Sunday as F&M placed tenth of 11 Division I teams. Kresho lost a 6-2 decision to his opponent from Drexel and fell 5-3 to his opponent from Penn. Next for the Diplomats is a tri-match with Duke at Virginia Military Institute.
QUESTAPHA LEWIS — Midway University (So., Woodland HS) … finished 1-2 competing in the 133-pound division of the Freshman/Sophomore bracket at the Life University Open last Saturday. The Eagles will host a four-way match on December 3 involving the University of Pikeville, Cumberland University, and West Virginia University Tech.
JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (Fr., Woodland HS) … wrestling in the 197-pound division, Smith won an 8-2 decision over Nino Bonaccorsi of Pittsburgh as the Terrapins won 18-16 last Friday night. Next for the Terps is a bout at Navy on December 11.
JABRIL WILLIAMS —Midway University (So., Cartersville HS) … lost both of his bouts over the weekend at the Life University Open in Marietta. The Eagles host University of Pikeville, Cumberland University, and West Virginia University Tech on December 3.
BASKETBALL
BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (So., Cass HS) … in home games last week against Bellhaven University and Warren Wilson College, Benham totaled 36 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, six steals, and two blocks. The Vikings beat Belhaven 62-57 and blew out Warren Wilson 105-63. Berry (5-0) hosts Pfeiffer University Saturday afternoon.
CLAIRE DAVIS — Palm Beach Atlantic University (Fr., Cass HS) … scored 14 points and had three rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and two assists in an 82-56 win last Wednesday over Florida National. She then totaled seven points, six rebounds, three steals, and two assists in back-to-back losses Saturday and Monday at Florida Southern and Florida Atlantic. The Sailfish (1-2, 0-1 Sunshine State Conference) host Purdue Northwest Friday and Minnesota Crookston Saturday.
DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Jr., Woodland HS) … scored 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and blocked four shots last Tuesday in a 76-57 home win over St. Andrews University (North Carolina). The Rams (2-3, 2-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Bluefield College (Virginia) Tuesday night and will play in the NAIA “The Show” Friday and Saturday in Kingsport, Tennessee. CIU plays Washington Adventist University and Trinity International (Illinois).
HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech CC (Fr., Cass HS) … scored two points, had three rebounds, two assists, and one steal last Wednesday in the Titans 72-65 loss at Albany Tech CC. Central Georgia Tech (2-4, 0-2 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) hosts East Georgia State CC Tuesday night and Andrew College Saturday.
KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (Fr., Cass HS) … did not score in 15 minutes off the Screaming Eagles’ bench but had one rebound and one assist in an 85-49 win last Saturday at Wesleyan College. Toccoa Falls (4-4) also had a home loss to Welch College last Friday, 83-61, but no stats were publicly available. They play at Queens (North Carolina) Saturday afternoon.
JAYLON PUGH — Lander University (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … scored 12 ponts, collected four rebounds, and added three assists in a 96-52 home win over Erskine College last Wednesday. He also finished with six points, one rebound, and two assists in an 87-76 win over visiting Wingate University. Lander (4-0) plays at Newberry College Tuesday night and will host King University Sunday afternoon.
LONDAISHA SMITH — Alderson Broaddus University (So., Cass HS) … collected five rebounds, scored three points, and had one assist last Wednesday in a home 94-67 loss to Salem (West Virginia). Last Saturday, Smith scored six points, had six rebounds, and added one steal in the Battlers’ 82-73 home loss to West Liberty University. ABU (1-3, 0-1 Mountain East Conference) plays at Wheeling University Tuesday night.
NAKIYAH WASHINGTON — Piedmont University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … scored a team-high 17 points, gathered six rebounds, and made one steal in the Lions’ 82-53 loss last Sunday at Emory-Atlanta. Piedmont (3-1) also had an 81-73 win last Saturday in Atlanta over the University of Lynchburg. The Lions play this Friday night at home against Greensboro College.
