Athletes Beyond Bartow: Update for the week ending January 26

January 27, 2025

The report on college and pro athletes with Bartow County connections includes updates on more than two dozen contributors in five sports for the week ending Sunday, January 26.

CHINA -- CBA PRO BASKETBALL

ASHTON HAGANS — Xinjiang Flying Tigers (5th yr. pro; Cartersville native; University of Kentucky; Newton HS) … in three games last week, the point guard totaled 13 points with eight assists, five rebounds, and four steals. The Flying Tigers beat Qingdao and Jillin but lost to Shenzhen. Xinjiang (24-10) is in fourth place in the 20-team professional league at a break in the schedule. Hagans is averaging just over eight points, six assists, three rebounds, and two steals per game through the first 34 games. The Tigers return to league action on March 5 at Ningbo.

BASKETBALL

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (Sr., Cass HS) … the Vikings won conference games Friday and Sunday at Hendrix College (AR) and Rhodes College (TN) as Benham totaled 55 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, four steals, and two blocked shots. Berry (12-7, 5-1 Southern Athletic Association) will look to continue a five-game conference win streak this Friday and Sunday when the Vikings host Hendrix and Rhodes.

NA’YEL CAMPER — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … totaled six points with nine rebounds, seven assists, and one blocked shot as the Eagles earned home wins last Wednesday and Saturday over Tennessee Wesleyan in overtime 70-69 and Columbia College 76-62. Reinhardt (15-5, 11-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference) has home-and-home games this week on Monday and Saturday with Kentucky Christian University.

CLAIRE DAVIS — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … saw brief action in home conference wins over New Mexico State and UTEP last week. She scored three points in the win over the Miners. The Owls (8-10, 3-4 Conference USA) visit Liberty University on Thursday and Florida International University on Saturday.

JA’KA’YAH DRAUGHN — Chattanooga State CC (So., Cartersville HS) … scored nine points with eight rebounds, four assists, and one steal this past Saturday in a 61-42 home win over Volunteer State CC. She also scored five points with five assists, three rebounds, and one steal last Thursday in a 48-46 victory at Dyersburg State CC. This week, the Tigers (12-7, 8-3 Tennessee Community College Athletic Association) host the Milligan University JV on Monday and Cleveland State CC on Wednesday before visiting Jackson State CC on Saturday.

ZION HAYES — Weatherford College (Fr., Cass HS) … totaled 19 points with six rebounds, four steals, and two assists as the Coyotes split games last week — winning at Temple College but losing at Grayson College. Weatherford (10-8, 3-3 North Texas Junior College Conference) hosts Cisco College on Wednesday and Ranger College on Saturday.

ZYON HEATH — LaGrange College (Fr., Woodland HS) … scored three points and had one rebound this past Saturday in a 97-79 home loss to Huntingdon College. The Panthers (5-14, 1-6 Collegiate Conference of the South) host Belhaven University (MS) on Wednesday.

DAVID JINKS — University of Maine-Augusta (Fr., Excel Christian Academy) … scored one point last Wednesday in a 69-47 loss at Southern Maine CC. The Moose also lost to Maine-Fort Kent and won at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences during the week. UMA (4-16, 4-8 USCAA) visits Central Maine CC on Wednesday and Great Bay CC on Friday.

HALEY JOHNSON — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … had one rebound in the Eagles’ overtime win last Wednesday over visiting Tennessee Wesleyan. Reinhardt also won over Columbia College during the week. The Eagles (15-5, 11-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference) play home and home games with Kentucky Christian University on Monday and Saturday.

KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (Jr., Cass HS) … in three wins for the Screamin’ Eagles last week, McDaniel totaled 23 points, eight assists, four rebounds, four steals, and one blocked shot. Toccoa Falls won 77-71 at Warren Wilson College (NC), 70-66 at Bob Jones University (SC), and 52-16 at home over Southeastern Baptist College. TFC (8-9) hosts Bob Jones University on Tuesday.

TJ PRINTUP — Tusculum University (So., Adairsville HS) … made his first start of the season this past Saturday and finished with nine points, one rebound, and one steal in a 79-72 home loss to 18th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University. He also scored two points with four rebounds and one steal in an 86-78 loss last Wednesday at the University of Virginia-Wise. The Pioneers (4-15, 4-11 South Atlantic Conference) play at Limestone University on Wednesday and visit Catawba College on Saturday.

MEGAN SCHULTZ — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Woodland HS) .. collected two rebounds this past Saturday in a 79-44 loss at Faulkner University. The Fillies (5-14, 0-8 Southern States Athletic Conference) travel to Loyola University (LA) on Thursday and play at William Carey University (MS) on Saturday.

LONDAISHA SMITH — St. Andrews University (Sr., Cass HS) … totaled 34 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one blocked shot in losses last week at Kentucky Christian University and Johnson University (TN). The Lady Knights (9-12, 5-9 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Columbia International University on Wednesday before visiting Tennessee Wesleyan University on Saturday.

ALISSA WINTERS — Truett McConnell University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … totaled four rebounds, four assists, and one steal last week as the Lady Bears lost 55-54 at Columbia College (SC) and won 64-42 at Bluefield University (VA). TMU (9-10, 6-7 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Brenau University, Kentucky Christian University, and Johnson University (TN) on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday of this week.

WRESTLING

WILLIAM BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Sr., Woodland HS) … went 1-2 in the 125-pound division of the Missouri Valley Invitational this past weekend. The Eagles finished 31st of 53 teams in Marshall, Missouri. Reinhardt will visit Montevallo University on Tuesday and be at the Newberry University Open on Sunday.

BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall College (Jr., Cass HS) … won his 141-pound bout by major decision as the Diplomats beat visiting Sacred Heart University (CT) 29-12 last Friday. Franklin & Mashall face Long Island University and Hofstra on Sunday.

HAYDEN SANTORA — Reinhardt University (Fr., Woodland HS) … went 1-2 in the 157-pound weight class this past weekend at the Missouri Valley Invitational. The Eagles finished 31st of 53 teams in Marshall, Missouri. Reinhardt visits Montevallo University on Tuesday and will compete at the Newberry University Open on Sunday.

JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Jr., Woodland HS) … had the only takedown in his bout and won a 4-3 decision last Friday, but the Terrapins lost a 33-7 decision to 11th-ranked Illinois in a Big Ten dual. Smith, ranked No. 13 nationally as an individual in the 184-pound weight class, defeated No. 10 Edmond Ruth of the Illini. The Terps remain home to host 2nd-ranked Iowa on Sunday.

ELORA WATERMAN — Brewton-Parker College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … retired from her 101-pound bout by injury at the 3:15 mark and did not return to action at the Indiana Tech Open this past weekend in Fort Wayne. Next for the Lady Barons is the LWC Raider Open on Saturday in Columbia, Kentucky.

JABRIL WILLIAMS — Midway University (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … went 4-2 in his 165-pound bouts at the Missouri Valley Invitational this past weekend. The Eagles placed 22nd of 53 teams in the tournament in Marshall, Missouri. Midway has conference duals on Friday at Lindsey Wilson College (KY) and Saturday at Cumberland University (TN).

ANETRA WITHERSPOON — Life University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … went 2-0 in her 180-pound bouts this past Saturday at the 48-team Indiana Tech Warrior Women’s Open in Fort Wayne. Witherspoon defeated her Mount Union opponent by pinfall and a Hastings College (NE) opponent by technical fall. The Runnin’ Eagles travel to Columbia, Kentucky, for the Blue Raider Open on Saturday.

TENNIS

EMILY SURCEY — Samford University (Sr., Cass HS) … won her Line 1 singles match 6-3, 6-1, but lost her Line 1 doubles set with partner Sara Erenda in the Bulldogs’ 4-3 team victory over visiting Jacksonville State University last Friday. On Sunday, Surcey won her Line 1 singles match 6-3, 6-2 and paired with Grace Keller to win 6-0 at Line 2 doubles in a team 5-2 home victory over Presbyterian College. Samford hosts Alabama State on Friday.

GYMNASTICS

ABIGAIL BUNCH — Rhode Island College (Jr., Cass HS) … the Anchorwomen scored the highest performance in a meet in program history this past Sunday but lost a dual match at SUNY Brockport 192.925-192.125. Bunch scored 7.150 on bars and 9.00 on beam. RIC has a quad meet on Sunday at Springfield College (MA) with Ithica College and Ursinus College.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

NOAH BAER — Baldwin Wallace University (So., Woodland HS) … placed 15th (13 feet 11.75 inches) in the pole vault at the Spire Midwest Collegiate Open in Geneva, Ohio. The Yellow Jackets will participate in the Dr. Taraschke Team Challenge on Saturday in Berea, Ohio.

HAYDEN CAGLE — Berry College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … placed 22nd with a shot put throw of 37 feet, 8.75 inches this past Saturday at the 17-team Centre College Indoor Showcase in Danville, Kentucky. The Vikings placed fourth in the team event. Berry returns to action on Saturday at the Sewanee Tiger Indoor Open.

KAITLYN GODWIN — University of North Florida (Fr., Cass HS) … placed 22nd of 49 competitors this past weekend (26.22) in the 200-meter dash at the RADD Sports College Invitational in Gainesville, Florida. The Ospreys will compete on Friday in the Celebration Pointe Classic at the Alacua County Sports and Events Center in Gainesville.