Athletes Beyond Bartow: Wrestlers Henson and Smith earned All-American honors
March 24, 2025
Former Woodland High School standout wrestlers Caleb Henson and Jaxon Smith earned NCAA Division I All-American status this past weekend at the National Championship Tournament in Philadelphia.
Defending national champion, Henson was edged in the finals. Smith placed sixth in his division.
WRESTLING
CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (Jr., Woodland HS) … The defending national champion in the 149-pound weight class reached the NCAA National Championship finals this past Saturday in Philadelphia but came up just short of a second consecutive title in a 1-0 loss to 2nd-seeded Ridge Lovett of Nebraska. Nicknamed “The Hitman,” Henson reached the finals by taking a 6-2 decision over Dylan D’Emilio of Ohio State in the semifinals. He is only the second Hokie to make finals appearances. Last Thursday, Henson handled 33rd-seeded Teague Travis of Oklahoma State and 17th-ranked Jaden Aboas of Stanford to reach the quarterfinals. He then secured three-time All-American status with his 8-5 decision on Friday over 8th-seeded Jordan Williams of Little Rock. Virginia Tech placed eleventh in the 2024-25 team standings. Henson completed his junior season with a 30-2 record and is 87-9 in his collegiate career.
JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Jr., Woodland HS) … finished sixth at the NCAA National Championship in Philadelphia this past weekend in the 184-pound weight class and achieved All-American status. Seeded eighth entering the tournament, he had wins over No. 25 Jarred McGill of Edinboro, No. 9 Reece Heller of Pittsburgh, No. 14 DJ Parker of Oklahoma, and No. 12 Silas Allred of Nebraska, and he lost in the national quarterfinals to No. 1 Carter Starocci of Penn State who went on to win a fifth national title. He also had consolation losses to No. 3 Max McEnelly of Minnesota and No. 6 Chris Foca of Cornell. Smith finished the season with a 20-7 record. Maryland finished tied for 24th place in the team standings.
CHINA CBA — PRO BASKETBALL
ASHTON HAGANS — Xinjiang Flying Tigers (6th yr. pro; Cartersville native; University of Kentucky; Newton HS) … finished a 116-103 loss to Zhejiang on March 18 with four points, five assists, two rebounds, one steal, and one blocked shot. He did not play in a 115-86 win over Sichuan this past Saturday. The Flying Tigers play Qingdao, Shandong, and Shanghai this week on the road. The team has a 30-12 record and is in third place in the 20-team league behind Guangsha (37-6) and Shanxi (32-11).
TENNIS
EMILY BUSH — University of North Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … won her Line 5 singles match 7-5, 6-2 but lost 0-6 at Line 3 doubles with partner Carolina Reis in the 2nd-ranked Nighthawks’ 3-4 loss at home to 18th-ranked University of West Florida on March 18. On Monday, UNG (9-5, 1-0) plays at Tusculum University and hosts 5th-ranked Flagler College in a Peach Belt Conference match on Saturday.
TRACK AND FIELD
HAYDEN CAGLE — Berry College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … finished 35th (12.28m / 48-3.50) in the shot put and 37th (33.59m / 110-2.00) in the javelin throw last Friday and Saturday at the Emory Spring Break Classic in Atlanta. The Vikings return to Emory Thursday through Saturday for the Emory Thrills in the Hills Invitational.
KAITLYN GODWIN — University of North Florida (Fr., Cass HS) … placed 57th (12.43) in the 100-meter dash and the University of Central Florida Black and Gold Invitational this past Friday and Saturday. Next for the Ospreys is the Raleigh Relays on Thursday and Friday.
JOSEPH WOMACK — Furman University (Fr., Cartersville resident, Darlington HS) … finished 27th (50.48) in the 400-meter dash this past weekend at the Charlotte 49er Classic. The Paladins will participate in the Raleigh Relays on Thursday and Friday.
GOLF
BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (Sr., Cartersville HS) … carded rounds of 69-75-67 (5-under-par) and tied for eighth individually as the Bulldogs won the 16-team Linger Longer Invitational on March 16-18 at The Landing at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia. The Bulldogs had all five team members finish in the top ten of 95 players. Thirty-seventh-ranked Georgia shot 30-under-par and won by two shots over 18th-ranked Alabama and nine shots over the University of South Florida. Next on the UGA schedule is The Goodwin, hosted by Stanford University at TPC Harding Park, where the Bulldogs are the defending champions.
BLANE DAVIS — Georgia College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … shot 77-79-75 (21-over) and tied for 68th on March 16-17 as GCSU hosted the Bobcat Invitational at Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee in Eatonton. The Bobcats will play in the Peach Belt Conference Championship on April 18-20 at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta.
BRODY TIDWELL — Georgia State University (So., Cartersville HS) … fired rounds of 73-78-71 (6-over) and tied for 47th individually at the Linger Longer Invitational on March 16-18 at The Landing at Reynolds Lake Oconee. The Panthers finished 13th in the 16-team field. Georgia State will play in the Seahawk Intercollegiate on Monday and Tuesday in Cape Fear, North Carolina.
SOFTBALL
KILEY ARNOLD — Shorter University (So., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-9 including one double, three walks, and scored three runs in four road losses this past Friday and Saturday — two at UNC Pembroke and two at Francis Marion University. The Hawks (4-21, 1-7 Conference Carolinas) visit Erskine College for a doubleheader on Wednesday, host Lees-McRae College on Friday, and Young Harris College on Saturday.
HAYLEE DISHMON — Georgia Highlands College (So., Cass HS) … in one game at Wallace State CC on March 18 and a home game against Georgia Military College this past Saturday, Dishmon was 1-for-7 with one RBI and one run scored. The Chargers (20-12, 1-3 GCAA) host South Georgia State for a doubleheader on Friday and East Georgia State for two games on Saturday.
PEYTON DORN — Brewton Parker College (Fr., Woodland HS) … made a 5-⅓ inning start and was charged with the pitching start last Friday in a 4-3 loss at Faulkner University. Dorn allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks. The Barons (10-15-1, 4-6 Southern State Athletic Conference) host the University of Mobile for a doubleheader on Friday and William Carey University (MS) for a doubleheader on Saturday.
MEGAN GREGORY — Campbell University (So., Adairsville HS) … made three pitching appearances last week in road games, recording one win, one loss, and one no decision. The right-hand hurler totaled 16 innings, allowing seven earned runs on 16 hits and four walks. Gregory struck out 13. She had a no-decision in five innings at Queens University (NC) on March 18, a win in a seven-inning complete game at Towson University last Saturday, and was charged with the pitching loss in a four-inning appearance on Sunday at Towson in a 2-1 loss. The Fighting Camels (22-8, 8-1 Coastal Athletic Association) host Hofstra University in a three-game conference series on Friday through Sunday.
ANSLEY HIGHT — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … went 8-for-11 at the plate in a four-game Kentucky road trip last Thursday and Saturday. Hight hit two homers, one double, and one triple with 12 RBI. She added one walk and scored four runs in doubleheaders at the University of Pikeville and Kentucky Christian University. On Wednesday, the Eagles (15-7, 12-4 Appalachian Athletic Conference) travel to Tennessee Wesleyan for a doubleheader.
ALYSSA JARRETT — Piedmont University (So., Adairsville HS) … made a start at catcher last Saturday and went 2-for-2 with a double and four RBI in a 15-1 home win over Agnes Scott College. The Lions (15-9, 6-0 Collegiate Conference of the South) have won eight straight. They will host Centre College (KY) for a doubleheader on Wednesday before traveling to Covenant College for two games on Saturday.
ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … went 7-for-13 with one double, two walks, ten runs scored, and five RBI last week in doubleheader wins at the University of Pikeville (KY) and Kentucky Christian University. Lee also stole four bases. On Wednesday, the Eagles (15-7, 12-4 Appalachian Athletic Conference) travel to Tennessee Wesleyan for a doubleheader.
RACHAEL LEE — Valdosta State University (Jr., Cass HS) … hit safely in all three games and was 4-for-10 at the plate in a home conference series sweep of the University of Montevallo last Saturday and Sunday. Lee walked twice, stole one base, and scored five runs in the series. The Blazers (17-11, 13-4 Gulf South Conference) play two games on Tuesday at Georgia Southwestern and will host a conference series with Mississippi College on Saturday and Sunday.
ALEXIS WOODS — Tennessee State University (So., Cass HS) … went 1-for-12 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored in three starts this past Friday and Saturday at Lindenwood University. The Tigers won two of the three games in the conference series. Tennessee State (14-9, 5-3 Ohio Valley Conference) visits Lipscomb University on Wednesday and hosts a conference series with Morehead State University on Saturday and Sunday.
BASEBALL
DREW BILLINGS — Trinity Baptist College (Jr., Woodland HS) … faced three batters and retired the final two outs of the seventh inning on March 18 in a 3-1 loss to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Jacksonville. Billings walked one and struck out one in a no-decision outing. The Eagles (14-11, 5-1 NCCAA) host a three-game series with Toccoa Falls College on Friday and Saturday.
CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Panthers’ outfielder went 5-for-13, including two home runs, one double, one walk, one hit by pitch, five runs, and five RBI as LaGrange won two of three home games last Friday and Saturday with Covenant College. On Monday, he was 2-for-3 with a homer and was hit by a pitch in a 6-3 loss at Berry College. The Panthers (13-10, 5-1 Collegiate Conference of the South) have a three-game series at 14th-ranked Centre College (KY) on Saturday and Sunday.
HARRISON CHILDERS — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (So., Cartersville HS) … went 5-for-17 at the plate in five Stallions’ wins last week. They defeated Florida Memorial and Trinity Baptist in Jacksonville before winning all three games of a home series with Blue Mountain Christian College (MS). Childers walked twice, was hit by a pitch, scored one run, and drove in four runs. ABAC (21-9, 11-7 Southern States Athletic Conference) will host three games against Middle Georgia State University on Friday and Saturday.
CALEB DANIEL — Georgia Tech (Fr., Cartersville HS) … in a home win on March 18 over Gardner Webb University and three wins at Notre Dame, Daniel was 8-for-18 at the plate with a home run, two doubles, three walks, 12 runs scored, and three RBI. The 19th-ranked Yellow Jackets (20-4, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) play at Kennesaw State on Tuesday and host a three-game conference series with 3rd-ranked Clemson on Friday through Sunday.
MICAH EARWOOD — Southeastern University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … pitched a scoreless eighth inning last Thursday in the NAIA 4th-ranked Fire’s 3-2 win over 7th-ranked Webber International in Lakeland. Earwood allowed one hit and hit a batter. He recorded one strikeout. Southeastern (26-4, 5-3 The Sun Conference) travels to Sarasota for a three-game conference series at New College of Florida.
COLIN EATON — East Tennessee State University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … retired the final two outs of the eighth inning with no decision in an eventual 10-inning win on March 18 at No. 1-ranked Tennessee. He allowed one hit and one walk but no runs. Eaton also entered in the sixth inning and worked 2-⅓ innings with no decision in a 13-7 home loss to Samford this past Sunday. He allowed four earned runs on three hits and two walks. Eaton struck out four. The Buccaneers (18-5, 2-1 Southern Conference) host Old Dominion University on Wednesday before a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday at USC Upstate.
RYAN FARR — Kentucky Christian University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … appeared in the fifth inning with no decision this past Saturday in a 14-5 home loss to Reinhardt University. Farr allowed two earned runs on one hit and two walks, facing three batters. The Crusaders (11-16, 2-13 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visit Ohio Christian on Tuesday and play a three-game conference series at Bryan College (TN) on Friday and Saturday.
GEOFFREY GORE — Bevill State CC (So., Cartersville HS) … pitched the final 2-⅔ innings with no decision in a 6-1 loss last Thursday at Marion Military Institute. Gore allowed one earned run on one hit and two walks. He struck out one. The Bears (16-15, 13-7) have a doubleheader at Wallace State-Selma on Thursday and host the Patriots for two games on Saturday.
RYAN JOHNSON — Georgia Tech (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a two-inning appearance in the fourth and fifth innings and picked up his first collegiate win on March 18 in a 14-6 home decision over Gardner-Webb. He allowed one hit and struck out four, facing seven batters. He also appeared last Friday at Notre Dame in the sixth inning. Johnson allowed three earned runs on two hits, facing four batters with no decision in an eventual 18-7 win by the Yellow Jackets. 19th-ranked Georgia Tech (20-4, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) plays at Kennesaw State on Tuesday and hosts a three-game conference series with 3rd-ranked Clemson on Friday through Sunday.
COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … earned his third pitching win this past Saturday in a start and a 6-2 victory at Christian Brothers University. McKibben (3-0) yielded one unearned run on two hits and one walk while striking out five of 18 batters. The Flames (16-14, 9-9 Gulf South Conference) visit Tusculum University on Tuesday and host the University of Montevallo for three games on Friday and Saturday.
SAM MELTON — Guilford College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made two starts at first base and appeared in three games last week. He was 1-for-8 at the plate in a win over Greensboro and losses to Averett and Lynchburg. The Quakers (12-6, 2-5 Old Dominion Athletic Conference) visit Ferrum College (VA) on Tuesday, host Pfeiffer University on Wednesday, and Washington and Lee University for a Saturday doubleheader.
LUKE MILLER — Columbus State University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … went 4-for-15 at the plate last week as the Cougars lost at Valdosta State and won two of three home games with USC Aiken. Miller had one double, three walks, scored four runs, and drove in one. CSU (12-15, 4-8 Peach Belt Conference) hosts Auburn University Montgomery on Wednesday and travels to USC Beaufort for a three-game series on Friday through Sunday.
DREW ROTHSCHILD — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made a start at DH on March 18 and was 0-for-2 in a 12-11 home win over Georgia State. The Wolves (13-9, 4-2 Atlantic Sun Conference) play at 3rd-ranked Georgia on Tuesday and host a three-game conference series with Stetson University on Friday through Sunday.
HANK SMITH — University of West Georgia (R-So., Cartersville HS) … appeared defensively in the eighth inning of the Wolves’ home win on March 18 over Georgia State and made a catching start last Saturday in a win at Florida Gulf Coast University. Smith was intentionally walked once and drove in one run although he went 0-for-3. West Georgia (13-9, 4-2 Atlantic Sun Conference) visits Athens on Tuesday to face 3rd-ranked Georgia before hosting a weekend series with Stetson University in Carrollton.
SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (Sr., Woodland HS) … made a pitching start and worked into the seventh inning but received no decision in an eventual 18-9 loss at LaGrange College last Saturday. Smith allowed eight runs (six earned) on five hits and two walks. He struck out three of 29 batters. The Scots (11-9, 2-4 Collegiate Conference of the South) visit Oglethorpe University on Tuesday and play a three-game conference series at Belhaven University (MS) on Friday and Saturday.
PRESTON WELCHEL — Cumberland University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 9-for-16 with two home runs, two doubles, two walks, and six RBI in four games last week. He also scored four runs as the Phoenix beat Johnson University (TN) on March 18 and won two of three over Bethel University (TN) last Friday and Saturday. Cumberland (24-7-1, 4-2 Mid-South Conference) hosts Bryan College on Tuesday and plays three at Georgetown College (KY) on Friday and Saturday.
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