Local 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' update: Rosario earns bid to NAIA national tourney
College athletes from the Cartersville and Bartow County area continue to make important contributions to their respective athletic programs across the Southeastern United States in wrestling, tennis, track and field, and basketball. Bartow Sports Zone maintains a roster of all the local collegiate and professional athletes on the 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' page of this web site. (NOTE: A current update for softball and baseball will be published in a separate article.) Former Cass wrestler and current Cumberland University junior, Sammy Rosario, made the finals of the Mid-South Conference tournament in the 133-pound weight class last weekend. The tournament doubled as an NAIA regional and qualified Rosario for the national tournament in Topeka, Kansas March 4-5 at the Kansas Expocentre.
WRESTLING
EVAN COLE — Cumberland University (Soph., Cartersville HS) . . . lost both matches at the NAIA East Qualifier wrestling in the 149-pound weight class, but his team captured its first-ever Mid-South Conference title. Cole’s 2015-16 season mark finished at 11-15.
SAMMY ROSARIO — Cumberland University (Jr., Cass HS) . . . pinned Brewton-Parker’s Omar Ruiz at 4:11 in his first bout at 133 pounds at the NAIA East Qualifier at Life University in Marietta, GA. Rosario (16-7) received an injury forfeit from Life University’s 13th-ranked Stephen Ireland to reach the finals where he lost a 3-2 decision to Campbellsville’s second-ranked Davion Caston. Cumberland had seven total automatic qualifiers, including Rosario, for the NAIA national tournament March 4-5 in Topeka, Kansas. The team tied for the Mid-South Conference Championship, a first ever for the school.
TRACK AND FIELD
MILES BEARDEN — Kansas State (Jr., Darlington School; Cartersville resident) . . . recorded his third victory in high jump this season with a mark of 2.10m/6-10.75 as K-State competed at the Steve Miller Open in Ahearn Field House on the Kansas State campus Feb. 18. It was the Wildcats final indoor meet before the Big 12 Championships in Ames, Iowa, Feb. 26-27.
TROY HICKOM — Clayton State (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . distance runner, ran fifth in the 800 meter run (2:03.24) and ran the third leg for the Lakers’ 800 meter relay team that placed second at the Sewanee Indoor Invitational Feb. 20. Clayton State competes next at the Savannah State Blue and Orange Classic March 5.
TENNIS
PEYTON GOLHOFFER — Ball State (Fr., Laurel Springs Academy, Cartersville resident) . . . was undefeated for the week as the Lady Cardinals won three times. BSU defeated Chicago State 7-0 and Evansville 6-1 Feb. 19. They also dropped Youngstown State 5-2 Feb. 21. Golhoffer had two wins at the No. 1 singles line against Evansville and YSU. She paired with teammate Bethany Moore to win line 2 doubles vs. Chicago State and teammed up with Audrey Berger for a top line doubles win vs. Evansville and a Line 2 doubles victory against Youngstown State. BSU travels to Indianapolis Feb. 27 to take on IUPUI.
BASKETBALL
SYDNEY BOYD — Brewton-Parker College (Fr., Woodland HS) . . . scored two points and grabbed four rebounds with a pair of steals in a 73-41 home loss to Coastal Georgia College Feb. 20. The Lady Barons travel to Montgomery, AL Feb. 25 and 27 to play at Auburn-Montgomery and Faulkner in Southern States Athletic Conference games. The Lady Barons are 5-20 overall and 1-14 in the SSAC.
RYAN DAVIS — Chattahoochee Tech CC (Soph., Cartersville HS) . . . grabbed five rebounds, recorded one steal, and dished four assists while scoring two points in a Feb. 15 loss at Atlanta Metropolitan CC . . . scored 16 points with five rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals during a 91-85 home loss to second-ranked Georgia Highlands CC Feb. 17. . . scored 13 points with eight assists and collected four rebounds in a 78-69 home win Feb. 21 over Atlanta Metropolitan. Davis is averaging 13.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game and shooting over 50 percent from the floor. Chattahoochee Tech awaits their seeding for the GCAA conference tournament that begins with a play-in game Feb. 28 and quarterfinals March 1 at higher seed school sites. The highest remaining seed after the quarterfinals will host the conference semifinals and finals March 4-5.
MARISSA DUBOSE — Gadsden State CC (Soph., Woodland HS) . . . recorded one rebound, one assist in a Feb. 15 76-49 home win over Roane State CC. Dubose added one rebound in an 87-83 loss at Snead State Feb. 18.The Cardinal (10-14) have home divisional conference games Feb. 22 vs. Shelton State CC and Feb. 24 vs. Southern Union State CC.
ASHLEY HUSKINS — University of the Cumberlands (Fr., Cass HS) . . . scored six points, with eight rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot as the Lady Patriots won at Berea College 64-60 Feb. 16. The team also lost by four at home to 21st-ranked University of Pikeville Feb. 20. U of C (11-13 overall, 2-10 in Mid-South Conference) closes out the regular season at No. 22 Lindsey Wilson Feb. 25 and at Cumberland University Feb. 27. In 21 games and two starts, Huskins is averaging four points and 3.6 rebounds per game in an average of 15.6 minutes per game.
KAELYN IRBY — Gadsden State CC (Soph. Cartersville HS) . . . averaging 12.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. Scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds with three assists and four steals in a 76-49 home win over Roane State Feb. 15. Irby poured in 17 points with four rebounds, four steals, and eight assists in an 87-83 loss at Snead State CC Feb. 18. GSCC (10-14) has home conference games remaining with Shelton State CC Feb. 22 and Southern Union State CC Feb. 24.
MORGAN JONES — Gadsden State CC (Soph., Cartersville HS) . . . recorded five rebounds and made one assist in a 76-49 win over Roane State Feb. 16. . . scored two points and grabbed three rebounds in a four point loss at Snead State Feb. 18. Jones is averaging 4.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. She has started 23 of 24 games. GSCC (10-14) has home conference games remaining with Shelton State CC Feb. 22 and Southern Union State CC Feb. 24.
A.J. MOSBY — Chattahoochee Tech CC (Soph., Cartersville HS) . . . played all 40 minutes, scored 18 points with two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in a 73-64 loss Feb. 15 at Atlanta Metropolitan CC. . . scored 19 points with five steals and three assists as the Golden Eagles fell to second-ranked Georgia Highlands CC 91-85 Feb. 17. . . totaled 14 points, six assists, four rebounds, and a steal Feb. 21 as CTCC defeated Atlanta Metropolitan CC 78-69. Mosby is averaging 18.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. The Golden Eagles await their seeding for the GCAA conference tournament that begins with a play-in game Feb. 28 and quarterfinals March 1 at higher seed school sites. The highest remaining seed after the quarterfinals will host the conference semifinals and finals March 4-5.
ELIJAH ROBINSON — Emmanual College (Jr., Excel Christian Academy) . . . scored 10 points with one rebound, one assist, and one steal in a 71-56 win at Limestone Feb. 17. . . scored 2 points with three rebounds, an assist, and a steal as the Lions won at North Greenville Feb. 19, 83-75. . . scored six points, with a rebound and a block in an 89-76 home victory over Lees-McRae Feb. 20. . . Robinson has played in 23 games this season and been a part-time starter for the Lions, averaging nine points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. Emmanuel (19-5 overall, 14-4 in Conference Carolinas) hosts Erskine (SC) College Feb. 23 and travels to Wilson, NC to take on Barton College Feb. 26.
ADRIAN RODGERS — Southern University (Sr., Cartersville, GA resident; Centennial HS; Maine Central Prep) . . . scored 17 points and collected seven rebounds with one assist in a Feb. 15 home win over Mississippi Valley State, 97-64. . . scored a game-high 22 points with seven rebounds and one blocked shot in a 77-68 loss at Alabama State Feb. 20. Rodgers has started all 27 games and averages more than 32 minutes per game for Southern. He is scoring 17.6 points with 5.4 rebounds per game. He has 19 assists and 17 steals for the season. The Jaguars (18-9 overall, 10-4 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference) play at Alabama A&M Feb. 22 and at Alcorn State Feb. 27.
COREY TOBIN — Chattahoochee Tech CC (Soph., Cartersville HS) . . . scored three points with three rebounds, three assists, and a steal in a 73-65 Feb. 15 loss at Atlanta Metropolitan CC. . . scored five points with four rebounds, two steals, and an assist in a Feb. 17 six-point home loss to second-ranked Georgia Highlands CC . . . scored 23 points on 7-of-11 three point shooting with six rebounds, two assists, and three steals as the Golden Eagles beat Atlanta Metropolitan Feb. 21 78-69 at home. Tobin has averaged 8.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists through 30 games. CTCC will learn their seeding for the GCAA conference tournament this week. The tournament begins with a play-in game Feb. 28 and quarterfinals March 1 at higher seed school sites. The highest remaining seed after the quarterfinals will host the conference semifinals and finals March 4-5.
RUDY WINTERS — Dalton State College (Soph., Excel Christian Academy) . . . scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds with a pair of assists as the Roadrunners beat Faulkner (AL) at home 77-60 on Feb. 18. . . scored nine points with one rebound in a 71-62 home victory over Auburn University-Montgomery Feb. 20. Winters is averaging over 22 minutes per game in 16 appearances for DSC. He is averaging 13.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He also has recorded 14 assists, 16 steals, and four blocked shots. The Roadrunners close out the regular season Feb. 27 at home against Middle Georgia State University before the Southern States Tournament in Montgomery March 2-6.
