Athletes Beyond Bartow: Local collegiate wrestlers win tournament titles
December 9, 2024
Local college wrestlers led the way this past week with performances at tournaments nationwide. Former Woodland star Caleb Henson won the prestigious Las Vegas Cliff Keen Invitational; former Wildcat Jaxon Smith won the George Mason Patriot Open; and former Adairsville grappler Angel Banda and former Cass wrestler Lee Camp shared co-champion titles at the Conner Oppenheimer Open hosted by Doane University (Nebraska).
CHINA - CBA BASKETBALL
ASHTON HAGANS — Xinjiang Flying Tigers (5th yr. pro; Cartersville native; University of Kentucky; Newton HS) … totaled 37 points, five steals, and six rebounds as the Flying Tigers beat Ningbo but lost to Guangsha. Xinjiang (11-3) hosts Liaoning and Jillin this week.
FOOTBALL
SHADRE HURST — Tulane University (So., Cartersville HS) … a season-long starter on the Green Wave’s offensive line that helped produce 324 yards of total offense this past Friday in a 35-14 American Athletic Conference Championship Game loss to Army in West Point, New York. Tulane (9-4) will play Florida on December 20 in the Gasparilla Bowl.
SACOVIE WHITE — University of Georgia (Fr., Cass HS) … saw limited action with no stat line in the Bulldogs’ 22-19 Southeastern Conference Championship Game win in overtime over Texas. White is allowed to participate in post-season games without impact on his redshirt eligibility this season. Georgia (11-2) is the No. 2 seed in the 12-team College Football Playoffs and will play the Notre Dame/Indiana winner in the quarterfinals. Georgia’s quarterfinal will be the night of January 1 at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
WRESTLING
ANGEL BANDA — Reinhardt University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … won four straight bouts to reach the finals in the Open 125-pound division this past Saturday at the Conner Oppenheimer Open hosted by Doane University (Nebraska). Banda and Eagles teammate Lee Camp were the finalists in the division and did not go head-to-head. They were named co-champions.
LEE CAMP — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … won three straight bouts to reach the finals in the Open 125-pound division this past Saturday at the Conner Oppenheimer Open hosted by Doane University (Nebraska). Camp, now ranked No. 12 nationally in NAIA, and Eagles teammate Angel Banda, ranked No. 20 at 133 pounds, were the finalists and did not go head-to-head. They were named co-champions.
KYLE GOLLHOFER — University of Northern Iowa (R-Sr., Woodland HS) … went 3-2 in the 125-pound division of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational this past weekend. The Panthers host Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday in a dual match.
CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (Jr., Woodland HS) … went 5-0 and won the 149-pound division of the 2024 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational this past weekend. Henson is ranked No. 1 nationally in his weight class. The Hokies return to action on Thursday, Dec. 19 at Oklahoma State.
BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall College (Jr., Cass HS) … went 2-1 in the 141-pound division at the 2024 George Mason University Patriot Open this past Sunday. Next on the schedule for the Diplomats is the Sheridan Open in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on December 20.
TYLER-XAVIER McKNIGHT — Davidson College (So., Cass HS) … defeated his opponent by technical fall (20-3) last Friday in the Wildcats’ 22-21 loss at Duke. It was McKnight’s eleventh win of the season. This past Sunday, he also suffered a 12-10 loss in a 30-10 team loss to Edinboro University (Pennsylvania). The Wildcats host American University on Sunday.
JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Jr., Woodland HS) … took home the 184-pound division title this past weekend at the George Mason Patriot Open. Smith, ranked seventh nationally, picked up three wins, including two over ranked opponents. Maryland faces Pittsburgh, South Dakota State, and Rider on December 20 in Lawrenceville, NJ.
JABRIL WILLIAMS — Midway University (Graduate Student, Cartersville HS) … won by pin at 165 pounds this past Friday in a 42-13 Eagles’ win at the University of Pikeville (Kentucky). Midway will face Brewton-Parker College, Andrew College, Keiser University, and Reinhardt University on Saturday at the Smokey Mountain Duals in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
ANETRA WITHERSPOON — Life University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … lost twice in bouts at 180 pounds but picked up two wins by forfeit as the Runnin’ Eagles participated at the University of Cumberlands Patriot Duals. Life went 6-1 in duals with Campbellsville University, Lindsey Wilson College, Indiana Tech, and the host Patriots. The Eagles return to action December 29-30 at the Soldier Salute in Iowa City, Iowa.
BASKETBALL
BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (Sr., Cass HS) … scored 13 points with seven rebounds and four assists last Friday in a 104-80 win at home over Pfeiffer University. The Vikings (4-3) will play East Texas Baptist in the LaGrange College tournament on Saturday.
NA’YEL CAMPER — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … totaled nine points, ten rebounds, four steals, and three assists in wins last week at Truett-McConnell University and Union Commonwealth University. The Lady Eagles (9-3, 5-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visit Columbia International on Tuesday and host St. Thomas University on Thursday.
JA’KA’YAH DRAUGHN — Chattanooga State CC (So., Cartersville HS) … scored five points with one steal, one assist, and one rebound last Wednesday (Dec. 4) in a 60-36 home loss to Walters State CC. The Lady Tigers also lost to Wallace State-Hanceville CC at home this past Friday. Chattanooga State (8-2, 5-1 TCCAA) visits Gadsden State CC on Wednesday and plays at Wallace State-Hanceville on Saturday afternoon.
ANSLEY GRIFFIN — North Carolina Wesleyan University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … saw brief action in losses last week at Brevard and Christopher Newport. She totaled one point, one rebound, and one assist. The Battlin’ Bishops also had a win at Pfeiffer University during the week. North Carolina Wesleyan (4-4, 1-1 Conference USA South) hosts Southern Virginia on Friday and Piedmont University on Sunday.
ZION HAYES — Weatherford CC (Fr., Cass HS) … scored three points and had one blocked shot in a 66-64 loss on Dec. 3 at Paris Junior College. The Coyotes (4-5) play at Howard College on Tuesday and at Dallas College-Cedar Valley on Saturday.
DAVID JINKS — University of Maine-Augusta (Fr., Excel Christian Academy) … saw action but had no stat line in two games last week. The Moose (2-9, 2-4) beat New Hampshire Tech but lost to Vermont State-Randolph and Paul Smith’s College. Maine-Augusta hosts Washington County CC on Wednesday, plays at Vermont State-Johnson on Friday, and at Word of Life on Saturday.
HALEY JOHNSON — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … totaled 16 points with six rebounds, five assists, and three steals in wins last week at Truett McConnell and Union Commonwealth. The Lady Eagles (9-3, 5-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visit Columbia International on Tuesday and host St. Thomas University on Thursday.
KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (Jr., Cass HS) … had one rebound and one assist Dec. 2 in a 60-33 Screamin’ Eagles home loss to Clinton College (SC). This past Monday (Dec. 9), she had nine points, four assists, and two steals in an 82-73 victory at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Toccoa Falls (1-9) returns to action on January 6 at home against Paine College.
MEGAN SCHULTZ — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Woodland HS) … scored five points with one rebound last Saturday in an 81-57 home loss to College of Coastal Georgia. She added one rebound on Monday in an 82-73 home loss to Toccoa Falls College. The Fillies (5-7, 0-2 Southern States Athletic Conference) visit College of Coastal Georgia on Saturday.
LONDAISHA SMITH — St. Andrews University (Sr., Cass HS) … scored ten points with 15 rebounds, three steals, and one blocked shot last week as the Lady Knights lost at Montreat (NC) and won a home game with Brenau University. St. Andrews (4-7, 2-4 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts St. Thomas University on Friday night.
