The annual Bradley Central and McCallie Invitational wrestling tournaments are scheduled Friday and Saturday.
The Bradley tournament, which may have as many as 24 teams, is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Friday. The McCallie tournament starts at 5:30.
Saturday's medal-round matches for the two events are scheduled for 3:30 at McCallie and 5 at Bradley.
The Bears will host Blackman, Ooltewah, Tullahoma, Knoxville Halls, Seymour, Farragut, Hixson, Walker Valley, Maryville, Notre Dame, East Ridge, Mount Juliet, Greenback, Sonoraville, Union County, Rhea County, Signal Mountain, Clarksville, William Blount, Central, Maryville Heritage, Eagleville, Tennessee High, Andrews (N.C.), Alabama schools Hoover and Scottsboro and Georgia teams Dade County, Sonoraville, Dalton, Southeast Whitfield, Woodward Academy and North Cobb.
Among teams competing at McCallie along with the host Blue Tornado are Baylor, Cleveland, Soddy-Daisy and Red Bank.
After splitting a pair of dual meets with Christian Brothers over the weekend, Soddy-Daisy dropped to No. 2 in the latest Tennessee coaches' wrestling poll. The Trojans won 33-25 at home Friday but lost 31-27 on Saturday in the Cleveland Duals championship match.
Cleveland is ranked third, Baylor fifth, Bradley sixth and McCallie 10th. Central and Hixson received votes.
Hoops for Hope big
The Hoops for Hope girls' high school basketball benefit held Saturday at Baylor was considerably bigger than the previous two. So will be the payout to the MaryEllen Locher Foundation scholarship fund for students who have parents diagnosed with breast cancer.
Twelve teams were in the competition, up from four the previous years. Fundraiser chairperson BIllenda Nabors said this year's event generated $19,412 for the local charity, which is more than the total from the first two.
"I think we accomplished what we set out to do," Nabors said. "We pretty much had a packed gymnasium all day long. So many people came together to make this happen, and people were in a giving, Christmas spirit."
Hoops for Hope was able to provide two scholarships this year, up from the one each in the other seasons. Nabors said a corporate sponsor has offered to provide the T-shirts for sale at next year's benefit, which will make proceeds even bigger.
"We would clear another $10,000 with a corporate sponsor and with everybody doing what they did this year," Nabors said. "That's probably two more scholarships. That would be a huge blessing."
Union signs Schrader
Grace Academy's Reagan Schrader recently signed a softball scholarship with Union University in Jackson, Tenn.
Coach Heather Hall had seen the catcher play for the Lady Golden Eagles at the last Spring Fling. Schrader said she made an unofficial visit during the summer and took her official visit Sept. 9.
"When I went on my unofficial visit, I really enjoyed it," Schrader said. "Coach Hall met us and took us around the campus. She was very hospitable. It wasn't like she was having to meet with us. I got to practice with the team on my official visit. I had a very good practice, and that's when I was offered."
Schrader batted .404 with 27 RBIs last season and had four home runs among her 14 extra-base hits.
"To have a good pitching battery, you need a catcher just as good as the pitcher," Grace coach Tina Walker said. "She frames the ball well. She's not big -- she's small in stature -- but she's a little dynamite back there. She can hit for power, but she's just as good at laying down a bunt. She has great bat control and hits the ball very well."
Baylor gets $1,000
Baylor School was a winner in this year's Fan Face-Off at the TSSAA's BlueCross Bowl, a "texting" school spirit contest conducted at the state football championships. In recognition of its win against the Ensworth fans, Baylor will receive a $1,000 donation from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.