Athletes Beyond Bartow: Updates on more than 50 local athletes
February 17, 2025
It is a cross-over period in college sports with basketball and wrestling nearing or entering their post-season action while the Spring sports are in the early days of their schedules.
In this week’s edition of Athletes Beyond Bartow, more than fifty local athletes are recognized for their contributions in seven sports across the nation for the week ending February 16.
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
JASON BOHN — PGA Tour Champions (34 yr. pro; Alabama; Cartersville CC member) … carded rounds of 77-78-73 and tied for 72nd place this past weekend at the Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida at Tiburon Golf Club. The next event on the tour is the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Arizona on March 7-9.
BASKETBALL
BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (Sr., Cass HS) … scored 25 points with six assists, five rebounds, one steal, and one blocked shot this past Sunday in an 89-72 home win over Millsaps College (MS). On Wednesday, February 12, he scored 22 points and had six assists, two rebounds and one steal in a 98-90 loss to Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. The Vikings (17-8, 10-2 Southern Athletic Association) begin play in the conference championship tournament on Friday, February 28 at home.
NA’YEL CAMPER — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … totaled one point, four rebounds, one steal, and one assist as the Eagles lost 82-70 at Bryan College (TN) on February 12 and won 75-55 at St. Andrews University (NC) this past Saturday. Reinhardt (19-7, 15-5 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Truett McConnell on Wednesday and visits Columbia College (SC) on Saturday.
CLAIRE DAVIS — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … scored five points with two rebounds and one blocked shot on February 13 in the Owls’ 79-72 home win over Louisiana Tech. Davis also saw playing time with no stat line this past Saturday in a 65-53 home loss to Sam Houston. Kennesaw State (9-15, 4-9 Conference USA) plays at UTEP on Thursday night and New Mexico State on Saturday.
JA’KA’YAH DRAUGHN — Chattanooga State CC (So., Cartersville HS) … scored nine points with two assists, one rebound, and one steal in the Tigers’ 63-57 loss February 12 at Walters State CC. Chattanooga State (15-10, 10-6 Tennessee Community College Athletic Association) travels to Motlow State CC on Wednesday and hosts Dyersburg State CC on Saturday.
ZION HAYES — Weatherford College (Fr, Cass HS) … totaled 12 points with four rebounds, three assists, and one steal in a 56-53 home loss to McLennan CC February 12 and an 80-42 win this past Saturday over Hill College. The Coyotes (16-8, 7-4 North Texas Junior College Conference) travel to Southwestern Christian College on Wednesday and host Temple College on Saturday afternoon.
HALEY JOHNSON — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … scored 12 points with four rebounds and one assist in an 82-70 loss February 12 at Bryan College (TN). Johnson also scored six points with one rebound and one steal this past Saturday in a 75-55 win at St. Andrews University (NC). The Eagles (19-7, 15-5) host Truett McConnell on Wednesday and play at Columbia College (SC) on Saturday.
KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (Jr., Cass HS) … scored two points and added two assists, one rebound, and one steal February 10 in a 75-57 loss at Pensacola Christian. The Screamin’ Eagles also beat visiting Regents University last Friday 70-59 but statistics were not available.
TJ PRINTUP — Tusculum University (So., Adairsville HS) … scored eight points Febraury 12 with nine rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot in the Pioneers’ 90-88 home win in overtime over Carson-Newman University. Tusculum (6-18, 6-14 South Atlantic Conference) visits Mars Hill University on Wednesday and Newberry College on Saturday.
MEGAN SCHULTZ — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Woodland HS) … saw action in all three of the Fillies’ games last week scoring two points with six rebounds in road losses at Middle Georgia State, Point University, and Life University. ABAC (5-19, 0-13 Southern States Athletic Conference) hosts Life on Monday and Brewton-Parker College on Thursday before visiting Thomas University on Saturday afternoon.
LONDAISHA SMITH — St. Andrews University (Sr., Cass HS) … totaled 19 points, 13 rebounds, five steals, and four assists in a 50-48 loss at Brenau University (GA) February 12 and a 75-55 home loss to Reinhardt University this past Saturday. The Knights (10-17, 6-14 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Montreat College (NC) on Wednesday and visit Bluefield University (VA) on Saturday afternoon.
ALISSA WINTERS — Truett McConnell University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … scored three points with three assists and one rebound this past Saturday in an 88-61 home loss to Milligan University. The Bears (12-13, 9-10 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host the University of Pikeville on Monday and travel to Reinhardt University and Tennessee Wesleyan University on Wednesday and Saturday.
WRESTLING
KYLE GOLLHOFER — University of Northern Iowa (Sr., Woodland HS) … won his 125-pound bout by pin as the fourth-ranked Panthers defeated 14th-ranked Iowa State 26-10. UNI (13-1) visits the University of Wisconsin on Friday night.
CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (Jr., Woodland HS) … Henson, the top-ranked 149-pound grappler in the country, won a 4-1 decision last Friday in the Hokies’ 28-9 home win over Pittsburgh. Tenth-ranked Virginia Tech hosts NC State on Friday.
CHAMP HIGDON — Lander University (So., Woodland HS) … won a 6-3 decision in his 285-pound bout in the Bearcats’ 42-8 win on Tuesday, February 11 at Shorter University. Twelfth-ranked Lander (15-4, 9-0 Conference Carolinas) also won the conference duals championship on Sunday.
BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall College (Jr., Cass HS) … won his 141-pound bout by pin this past Sunday in a 25-15 win over Millersville University. The Diplomats host the F&M Invitational on Sunday.
TYLER-XAVIER McKNIGHT — Davidson College (So., Cass HS) … won an 11-6 decision in his 149-pound bout as the Wildcats beat visiting VMI 21-16 last Friday. He also lost an 11-5 decision in a 52-0 loss to Appalachian State. Davidson will host the Wildcat Open on Sunday.
JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Jr., Woodland HS) … currently ranked 11th in the 184-pound weight class, Smith won his bout by technical fall (21-6) but the Terrapins lost last Friday at Purdue. Maryland travels to Philadelphia on Friday to face Drexel University.
JABRIL WILLIAMS — Midway University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 1-3 and placed eighth in the 165-pound bracket of the Mid-South Conference Championship this past weekend in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
TENNIS
EMILY BUSH — University of North Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … won her Line 6 singles match 1-6, 6-3, 10-4 and partnered with teammate Carolina Reis for a 6-2 win at Line 3 doubles as the Nighthawks won at Auburn Montgomery 6-1. UNG (4-0) is ranked No. 6 in the nation. The Nighthawks play at Newberry College (SC) on Monday and will face 7th-ranked Flagler in the first of three matches at the ITA Indoor Championship in Indianapolis on Friday and Saturday.
EMILY SURCEY — Samford University (Sr., Cass HS) … won her Line 1 singles match 7-5, 7-6 and won at Line 1 doubles with partner Sara Erenda 6-4 as the Bulldogs earned a 4-2 home win over UAB last Wednesday. Samford visits Western Kentucky on Wednesday and hosts South Alabama on Sunday.
GYMNASTICS
ABIGAIL BUNCH — Rhode Island College (Jr., Cass HS) … placed 12th on the apparatus and scored 9.050 on the uneven bars as the Anchorwomen won a home tri-meet this past Saturday over SUNY-Cortland and Springfield College (MA). Rhode Island College heads to the Springfield College Tri-Meet on Sunday which will include Southern Connecticut State University.
TRACK AND FIELD
HAYDEN CAGLE — Berry College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … placed 14th in the weight throw (11.84m) and 18th in the shot put (11.72m) at the Samford Bulldog Open in Birmingham this past Saturday. The Southern Athletic Association Indoor Championships are February 28-March 1.
ANDY FORSYTH — Berry College (Fr., Woodland HS) … finished 13th (4:28.44) in the one mile run at the Samford Bulldog Open in Birmingham last Saturday. The Southern Athletic Association Indoor Championships are February 28-March 1.
ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … placed 23rd (8.55) in the 60 meter dash and 40th in the 400 meter run this past weekend at the Vanderbilt University Music City Challenge. Up next for the Bruins is the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships March 2-3 in Chicago.
GOLF
BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (Sr., Cartersville HS) … tied for ninth overall and helped Georgia to a sixth place finish February 10-12 at the Puerto Rico Classic. Brumlow shot 70-66-71 (9-under-par) on the par-72, 7,152-yard Grand Reserve Golf Course Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Purdue won the 15-team tournament followed by Ole Miss, South Carolina, LSU, and Oklahoma. Next for the Bulldogs is the Southern Highlands Collegiate on March 2-4 in Las Vegas.
SOFTBALL
KILEY ARNOLD — Shorter University (So., Cartersville HS) … made a start at third base in a game last Friday at USC Beaufort and was 0-for-2 at the plate in an 11-0 loss. The Hawks were 0-4 at the Sand Shark Invitational in Hardeeville, South Carolina over the past weekend. Shorter (2-8) has a doubleheader Tuesday at Columbus State University and hosts Wesleyan College for two games on Saturday.
HAYLEE DISHMON — Georgia Highlands College (So., Cass HS) … went 4-for-4 with a triple, five walks, and five runs scored this past weekend as the Chargers swept visiting USC Sumter in a four game series. Dishmon also stole five bases. GHC (11-1) hosts Cleveland State CC on Tuesday and entertains USC Union for a four game series on Friday and Saturday.
PEYTON DORN — Brewton-Parker College (Fr., Woodland HS) … retired four of five batters and had one strikeout in a relief appearance this past Saturday with no decision in a 6-3 home loss to Truett-McConnell University. The Lady Barons (5-6-1) open Southern States Athletic Conference play Friday in a doubleheader at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Saturday at Point University.
MEGAN GREGORY — Campbell University (So., Adairsville HS) … made a one-inning relief appearance with no decision last Friday in the Camels’ 9-5 home win over Lafayette University. Gregory allowed three runs (no earned runs) on one hit and four walks. She struck out one of eight batters faced. Campbell (7-2) plays in the GATA Challenge in Statesboro this weekend where the Camels will face Fairfield University (CT), Oakland University (MI), and host Georgia Southern Universitiy.
ANSLEY HIGHT — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … went 3-for-5 including a triple, two runs scored and five RBI in the Eagles two wins last Friday over St. Andrews University (NC). Hight also stole two bases. Reinhardt (2-0) has six doubleheaders on the schedule this week including road trips to Middle Georgia State, Georgia Gwinnett College, and Montreat College (NC) on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The Eagles host Spartanburg Methodist, Union Commonwealth Universitiy (KY), and Middle Georgia State on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
ALYSSA JARRETT — Piedmont University (So., Adairsville HS) … made an unsuccessful pinch hitting appearance in the sixth inning last Friday during the Lions’ 3-2 home win over Mount Saint Joseph University (OH). Piedmont (1-1) hosts Alma College for a doubleheader on Monday and will play six different opponents in Columbus, Georgia on Friday through Sunday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (Sr., Adairsville HS) … hit a solo home run in a sixth-inning pinch-hitting appearance last Thursday during an 8-0 home win over Emmanuel University (GA) in the Gold City Classic. The third-ranked Nighthawks (8-4) play at the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Wednesday and host a doubleheader on Saturday with Saginaw Valley State (MI).
ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … went 4-for-5 with one triple, one walk, one sacrifice hit, four runs scored, and two stolen bases in last Friday’s home doubleheader sweep of St. Andrews University (NC) 9-1 and 10-2. Reinhardt (2-0) has six doubleheaders on the schedule this week including road trips to Middle Georgia State, Georgia Gwinnett College, and Montreat College (NC) on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The Eagles host Spartanburg Methodist, Union Commonwealth Universitiy (KY), and Middle Georgia State on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
RACHAEL LEE — Valdosta State University (Jr., Cass HS) … the leadoff hitting center fielder went 3-for-8 with two RBI, four runs scored, one hit by pitch, and three stolen bases last Friday in a doubleheader split at Union University (TN). The Blazers (5-8, 1-1 Gulf South Conference) host Trevecca Nazarene for a three-game conference series on Saturday and Sunday.
AVA PERKINS — Lee University (So., Cartersville HS) … in starts at second base was 2-for-6 with one walk, one run scored, and one stolen base in the Flames’ two conference losses last Friday at Delta State University. Lee (7-3, 0-2 Gulf South Conference) hosts a doubleheader with Tusculum University on Wednesday and a three-game conference series with the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Saturday and Sunday.
ALEXIS WOODS — Tennessee State University (So., Cass HS) … a starter at shortstop, Woods was 0-for-5 with two walks last weekend as the Tigers had wins over Mercer and Quinnipiac, but lost to Illinois hosting the Roar City Invitational in Nashville. TSU (4-4) visits Belmont University on Wednesday and will play five games Friday through Sunday in the Wofford University Invitational facing North Dakota, Buffalo, and the host Bulldogs.
BASEBALL
DREW BILLINGS — Trinity Baptist College (Jr., Woodland HS) … picked up his fifth save of the season by closing out the final four outs last Friday of a 4-2 win over Southeastern Baptist College. Billings allowed one hit, hit one batter, and struck out one. The Eagles (8-4, 5-1 NCCAA) hosts New College of Florida for a three-game series on Friday and Saturday.
CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made a start at first base last Friday in a home win over Pfeiffer University and appeared as DH Sunday in a win over Berry College. Bonner was 0-for-4 at the plate in those two games with three walks and one RBI. The Panthers (3-3) host a three-game home series with 3rd-ranked Endicott College on Saturday and Sunday.
HARRISON CHILDERS — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (So., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-10 with one walk, two hit by pitch, and one RBI in four games last week. The Stallions lost February 11 at Middle Georgia State and won one of three home games over the weekend with William Carey University (MS). ABAC (6-4, 1-2 Southern States Athletic Conference) hosts Thomas University (GA) on Tuesday and visits Brewton-Parker College for a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday.
MICAH EARWOOD — Southeastern University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made a two inning, no-decision appearance last Saturday in an eventual 10-inning 13-9 win over the University of Saint Francis (IN). Earwood allowed one earned run on one hit, one walk, and one hit batsman. He struck out three of nine batters faced in the eighth and ninth innings. The Fire (12-0) will host doubleheaders with Embry-Riddle University (AZ) on Friday and Saturday.
ELLIOTT EASTIN — Covenant College (R-So., Cartersville HS) … made three starts in center field and went 3-for-9 at the plate as the Scots went 2-1 last weekend against visiting Greenville University (IL). Eastin walked once and had one sacrifice fly with one RBI in the series. Covenant (2-1) hosts The College of Wooster (OH) for a three-game set on Friday and Saturday.
COLIN EATON — East Tennessee State University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … earned his first save of the season last Saturday with a scoreless 1-⅔ inning performance during a 6-2 victory over visiting Northern Kentucky. Eaton entered with two outs in the eighth inning, allowed one hit, and struck out four of six batters faced. The Buccaneers (3-0) play at Virginia Tech on Tuesday before hosting a three-game series with Miami University (OH) on Friday through Sunday.
RYAN FARR — Kentucky Christian University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … made a fourth inning pitching appearance February 8 at the University of Minnesota-Morris and allowed one earned run on three hits retiring one batter by strikeout. He added one unsuccessful pinch hitting appearance in the second game of a doubleheader. The Crusaders (5-1) have a three-game series at Milligan University (TN) on Friday and Saturday.
COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … pitched the final 2-⅓ innings with no decision in a relief appearance last Friday in the Flames’ 3-0 loss at Delta State University. Lee (5-5, 0-3 Gulf South Conference) hosts Carson-Newman University on Tuesday and three games with the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Friday and Saturday.
LUKE MILLER — Columbus State University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … started two and appeared in all three games at Barry University last weekend. Miller was 2-for-9 at the plate, including one double, one hit by pitch, one run, and two RBI. The Cougars won the final game in the series. CSU (4-5) hosts Valdosta State University on Tuesday in the Cougars only game this week.
AYDEN RAY — USC Lancaster (Fr., Woodland HS) … made a start at DH last Friday and went 0-for-2 at the plate in a 3-2 win at Rockingham CC. The Lancers (3-8) play doubleheaders Friday and Sunday at Rockingham CC.
TREY SCOTT — Alabama A&M University (Sr., Cass HS) … was the opening day starter and worked 4-⅓ innings but was tagged with the loss in a 10-8 final last Friday against Prarie View A&M University at the Cactus Jack HBCU Classic in Houston. Scott allowed three earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out seven. The Bulldogs (1-2) visit UAB on Tuesday and will face Prarie View A&M, Grambling State, and Florida A&M this weekend at the MLB Andre Dawson Classic in Vero Beach, Florida.
HANK SMITH — University of West Georgia (R-So., Cartersville HS) … made a start at catcher this past Saturday in an 11-10 win at the University of New Orleans. Smith was 0-for-3 at the plate. The Wolves (2-1) host Ohio University for a three-game series on Friday through Sunday in Carrollton.
SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (Sr., Woodland HS) … made a scoreless five-inning pitching start and picked up his first win of the season last Friday as the Scots beat visiting Greenville University (IL) 9-3. Smith allowed three hits and no walks. Covenant (2-1) hosts The College of Wooster (OH) for a three-game series on Friday and Saturday.
PRESTON WELCHEL — Cumberland University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 0-for-5 with one walk and one RBI in a home doubleheader split last Friday with Indiana Tech. The Phoenix (6-3-1) visit UT Southern on Tuesday and play a three-game series at Spartanburg Methodist College on Saturday and Sunday.
DAVIS WILLIAMS — University of West Georgia (R-So., Cartersville HS) … pitched the seventh inning of last Saturday’s 11-10 home win over the University of New Orleans and received no decision. He allowed two earned runs on three hits and had two strikeouts. The Wolves (2-1) host Ohio University for a three-game series on Friday through Sunday.
SAWYER WILSON — Columbus State Universitiy (Fr., Cartersville HS) … pitched the seventh inning with no decision last Saturday in a 7-3 loss at Barry University. Wilson allowed two earned runs on three hits and one walk. The Cougars (4-5) host Valdosta State on Tuesday.
