Athletes Beyond Bartow | Air Force locals lead collection of top performances in football, cross cou
Several 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' had outstanding performances this past week at the collegiate and professional levels.
In college football, former Cartersville Hurricane Hayes Linn had a six tackle game for Air Force in a Mountain West Conference win over San Jose State. Another former Hurricane, Trevor Carlton, had a pair of tackles as Reinhardt opened the NAIA national playoffs with a win.
On the running front, Kingston resident and cross country standout at Rhodes College, Spencer Fields, led his team at the NCAA Division III National Championships. In swimming, former Hurricane Elise Hart won two events and helped lead her Air Force team at the Northwestern University Invitational.
On the hardwood, former Excel Christian Academy standout Rudy Winters has averaged more than 18 points per game in Columbus State University's three wins to start the season.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
TREVOR CARLTON (photo right) — Reinhardt University (LB, Soph., Cartersville HS). . . had a pair of tackles including one for a loss in the Eagles’ 52-22 opening round NAIA national playoff series win Saturday over visiting Southeastern (FL) University. 3rd-ranked Reinhardt (12-0) will host Montana Tech Saturday in the NAIA national quarterfinals.
T.L. FORD II — UNC-Charlotte (WR, Jr., Cartersville HS). . . had two receptions for nine yards Saturday in a 38-31 home loss to Middle Tennessee State. Ford is second on his team in receptions with 33 and receiving yards at 422. He has four touchdowns through 11 games. The 49ers (4-7, 3-4 Conference USA) close out the season this Saturday night at UT-San Antonio.
MILLER FORRISTALL — University of Alabama (TE, Fr., Cartersville HS). . . saw action, but did not have a reception in the Crimson Tide’s 31-3 defeat of visiting Chattanooga Saturday night. Forristall has five catches on the season for 73 yards. Alabama (11-0) has already clinched the SEC West and will close out the regular season Saturday afternoon at home against arch-rival Auburn.
GORDON GRAY — Kennesaw State University (WR, R-Soph., Cartersville HS). . . saw action in the Owls’ 28-7 loss Saturday at Charleston Southern. Gray received playing time in six games this season. The win by the Buccaneers clinched the 2016 Big South Conference title. KSU finished its season 8-3 and was 14-8 in the program’s first two years of existence.
LUCAS JOHNSON — Georgia State University (OL, Soph., Cass HS). . . saw action as the Panthers defeated visiting Georgia Southern 30-24 in a Sun Belt Conference game Saturday at the Georgia Dome. Georgia State (3-8, 2-5 SBC) has a week off before closing out the season December 3 at Idaho.
HAYES LINN (photo right) — Air Force Academy (DB, Sr., Cartersville HS). . . made six tackles in the Falcons’ 41-38 win at San Jose State Saturday night. Although he has missed some playing time due to injury, Linn has now accumulated 28 tackles in 9 games with three pass break ups. Air Force (8-3, 4-3 Mountain West Conference) hosts Boise State Saturday afternoon.
RODNEY MITCHELL — Coastal Carolina University (OL, R-Soph., Cartersville HS). . . saw playing time for the 16th-ranked Chanticleers in their 42-7 home win over Liberty University last Thursday night. Coastal (9-2 as a FCS Independent) hosts Hampton University Saturday.
SHELBY TOWNSEND, JR. — Georgia Southern University (TE, R-Soph., Woodland HS). . . saw action in the Eagles’ 30-24 loss at Georgia State Saturday. GSU (4-7, 3-4 Sun Belt Conference) closes out the season December 3 at home against Troy.
HIRAM VELEZ — Troy University (WR, Jr., Adairsville HS). . . made one catch last Thursday night, but it went for a one-yard loss as his Trojans fell to visiting Arkansas State 35-3. Velez has seen action in 10 games and has nine receptions for 103 yards and one touchdown this season. Troy (8-2, 5-1 Sun Belt Conference) plays next at Georgia Southern December 3.
CROSS COUNTRY
SPENCER FIELDS — Rhodes College (Soph., Kingston resident, Darlington School). . . competing in his second straight NCAA Division III Championship, Fields was the first of his team to cross the finish line at 25:43.3 in the 8K race held in Louisville, KY. He was 150th of 278 competitors in the National Championship race and the Lynx placed 29th of 32 teams. North Central (IL) won the title.
VOLLEYBALL
KATIE O’CONNOR — Western Carolina University (Jr., MB, Cartersville HS). . . led her team with 13 kills and seven blocks, but the Catamounts were eliminated from the Southern Conference tournament in Birmingham, AL Saturday in a five set, quarterfinal match by UNC-Greensboro. WCU finished the season with an 11-19 mark. O’Connor finished the season with 200 kills, 22 digs, and a team-leading 119 blocks.
SWIMMING
ELISE HART — Air Force Academy (Jr., Cartersville HS). . . competing at the Northwestern TYR Invitational in Evanston, IL, Hart and her 200 medley relay team of Emma Strom, Shayle Finnesand, and Lydia Knutson won Saturday. Hart also won the 100 fly with an NCAA “B” cut of 54.46 and placed sixth in the 100 backstroke (56.80). The day before, Hart teamed with Knutson, Brianna Mount, and Jinan Andrews to place fourth in the 200 free relay (1:33.88) and joined Strom, Finnesand, and Genevieve Miller for third in the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:45.80. Air Force finished fourth of seven teams with host Northwestern University winning the title. The Falcons will return to action December 3 in Albuquerque, NM against New Mexico and Colorado State.
WRESTLING
EVAN COLE — Cumberland University (Jr., 149, Cartersville HS). . . defeated Nicholas Leitten of Limestone College in a 5-3 decision Saturday in the 149 pound championship bracket of the Lindenwood University Joe Parisi Open in St. Charles, MO, before losing to Tyshawn Williams of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in an 8-7 decision. He also lost to Brock Ervin of the University of Illinois in the consolation bracket. Cumber travels to Reinhardt University Tuesday for Mid-South Conference action.
SAMMY ROSARIO — Cumberland University (Sr., 133, Cass HS). . . picked up a win by forfeit last Thursday as the NAIA 17th-ranked Phoenix shutout Bellarmine University, 52-0. Lost a pair of matches to Dylan Duncan of University of Illinois and Christopher DeBien of Chattanooga at the Joe Parisi Open Saturday in St. Charles, MO. Cumberland hits the mats next at Reinhardt University Tuesday in Mid-South Conference action.
BASKETBALL
EMMANUEL HOLLOWAY — UU Korihait (Finland Korisliiga ) Pro European Basketball; Illinois State, 2009; Woodland HS). . . scored 16 points with 5 rebounds in an 88-80 win over Pyrinto last Friday. Holloway leads his team in scoring (15.3 ppg) and averages 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 30.2 minutes per game. Korihait (3-8) plays first place and unbeaten Helsinki (8-0) November 30 and KTP December 2.
A.J. MOSBY — Alcorn State University (Jr., G, Cartersville HS). . . scored 14 points with six rebounds and three steals Friday as the Braves overwhelmed Selma University 93-48 for their first win of the year. Mosby also scored two points with one assist and five rebounds Nov. 14 in a loss at Evansville. Alcorn State (1-2) hosts Blue Mountain College Tuesday night.
ADRIAN RODGERS — Malbus Oresund (Swedish League, European Pro; Cartersville native, Centennial HS; Southern University, 2016). . . scored 14 points with four rebounds, four assists, and a steal Friday during an 82-68 loss to KFUM Nassjo. Rogers leads his team in scoring at 18.11 points per game. Malbus Oresund (1-8) hosts Uppsaia Tuesday before traveling to play Jamtland on December 2.
COREY TOBIN — Reinhardt University (Jr., G, Cartersville HS). . . scored 14 points with one rebound and two assists in a home, 93-84 in last Wednesday over Point University. He added six points, one rebound, and one steal in Saturday’s 93-74 win at Bryan College. Reinhardt (6-1, 2-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts conference foe, Allen University Tuesday night and will travel to Nashville to face Tennessee State Saturday night.
HAKEEM WINTERS — Point University (F, Soph., Cartersville HS). . . had three rebounds, a block, and a steal in an 88-60 home loss Saturday to Bluefield College. He scored nine points with one rebound, one assist, and one block at Reinhardt University last Wednesday. The Skyhawks (1-5, 0-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host St. Andrews (NC) Tuesday and travel to Albany State Saturday afternoon.
RUDY WINTERS (photo right) — Columbus State University (F, Jr., Excel Christian Academy). . . scored 20, 17, and 18 points in three wins over Middle Georgia State, Miles College and Lane College last week. The MGSC game was at home and the other two games were played at University of Montevallo (AL). Winters collected a dozen rebounds, five steals, three assists, and added a blocked shot in the three non-conference games while averaging 25 minutes off the bench. The Cougars (3-0) host Fort Valley State Wednesday and will travel to West Georgia on Saturday for two more non-conference games.
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