Athletes Beyond Bartow: O'Connor closes out career, Fields leads team at NCAA Championship
Kingston’s Spencer Fields was his team's top runner at the 2017 NCAA D-III Cross Country Championships this past weekend and Katie O'Connor closed out her collegiate volleyball career at Western Carolina University to headline this 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' update.
The update also includes college wrestling and basketball.
NOTE: This past week's football edition of 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' will be published separately.
CROSS COUNTRY
SPENCER FIELDS — Rhodes College (Jr., Kingston, GA, Darlington HS)… finished 80th individually (25:24.02, 8K) and was the top finisher for his team as the Lynx placed 24th at the 2017 NCAA D-III National Championship at Principia North Farm Course in Elsah, Illinois. North Central (IL) won the men’s race with 51 points. Fields, who was named Southern Athletic Association Runner of the Year, led Rhodes to their third appearance in the NCAA Championship in school history.
VOLLEYBALL
KATIE O’CONNOR — Western Carolina University (Sr., MB, Cartersville HS)… she was named Second Team All-Southern Conference for the 2017 season. She had seven kills, two digs, and one block last Friday as the Catamounts were eliminated from the Southern Conference Tournament by East Tennessee State in straight sets at home. O’Connor was one of five seniors to close out their careers for WCU. The Catamounts completed the season with an 11-19 mark. O’Connor finished her senior season with 279 kills (.390), four assists, 28 digs, and 103 total blocks. For her career, she had 816 kills (.390), 16 assists, 101 digs, and 434 total blocks.
WRESTLING
HUNTER QUINN — Emmanuel College (Soph., 157-lb. wt. class, Cass HS)… reached the finals of his weight class at the 2017 Georgia Open hosted by Emmanuel College this past Saturday before falling to teammate Jay Sheppard by major decision. Quinn had three consecutive wins to reach the finals and finished 3-1 in the tournament.
BASKETBALL
RYAN DAVIS — Francis Marion University (Jr., G, Cartersville HS)… scored 16 points and was 6-of-9 from the floor in a 102-71 home win last Thursday. Davis also collected five rebounds and had one assist. FMU (3-0) hosts Shaw University Tuesday.
JANA MORNING — Berry College (Fr., G, Cass HS)… started, scored two points with one rebound and dished out five assists in 30 minutes during a 71-52 home loss last Wednesday to Brevard College. The Lady Vikings (1-1) play at Wesleyan Monday and host LaGrange and Piedmont Saturday and Sunday.
A.J. MOSBY — Alcorn State University (Sr., G, Cartersville HS)… a starting guard for the Braves, Mosby scored 15 points with four rebounds, three asssits, and two steals in a 73-45 loss at Northern Iowa last Monday. He then scored five points with five rebounds and three assists during a 78-61 loss at 24th-ranked Baylor last Friday. He also scored 14 points, collected four rebounds and had one assist and one steal in a 102-76 loss Sunday at Central Arkansas. Alcorn State (0-5) hosts Yale Wednesday and Concordia College (AL) this Saturday.
DARIUS THROWER — Truett McConnell University (So., G, Excel Christian Acad.)… scored three points with one rebound and one assist in 13 minutes off the bench during an 85-84 loss last Tuesday at Milligan College (TN). He added six minutes of playing time Saturday in a 92-65 home loss to Montreat College (NC). TMU (5-2, 0-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Bryan College (TN) Tuesday.
CARROD WATSON — University of North Georgia (R-So., F/C, Woodland HS)… started his third game and scored two points with three rebounds in an 89-87 home overtime loss last Wednesday to Belmont Abbey College. UNG (1-2) hosts Limestone College Tuesday night before playing Regis University and Metropolitan State University Friday and Saturday at the Cherry Creek Classic in Denver, CO.
HAKEEM WINTERS — Point University (Jr., F, Cartersville HS)… scored six points with one rebound, one steal, and one assist last Thursday in a 115-104 loss at Reinhardt University. Winters also scored six points Saturday with five rebounds and a steal in a home 90-86 loss to Bluefield College (VA). Point (3-5, 0-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays at Allen University (SC) Tuesday and hosts College of Coastal Georgia on Saturday.
RUDY WINTERS — Columbus State University (R-Jr., G/F, Excel Christian Acad.)… started, played 28 minutes, and scored 10 points Friday night in a 73-62 loss to University of Montevallo at the Rams Rising Tournament at Albany State. CSU (0-1) will face Tusculum and Carson-Newman Saturday and Sunday at Carson Newman University.
