Longtime teaching professional Eddie Jackson of LaFayette has been hired to coach the Georgia Northwestern Technical College golf team, and Silverdale Baptist Academy alumna Amber Weaver is a new assistant coach for GNTC women's basketball and volleyball. Jackson succeeds Jared Willerson, who resigned after the Bobcats' second consecutive top-three finish in the NJCAA Division III national tournament. Jackson was on LaFayette High School's 1976 state-championship golf team and played on scholarship at Middle Tennessee State before a three-year mini-tour career and 21 years as a teaching pro in Alabama, according to a GNTC release. Since 2005 he has been the club pro at LaFayette Golf Course, which now will be the Bobcats' home venue. "It's a great hire for us," athletic director David Stephenson said. "Not just to get someone of Eddie's teaching background and his background in golf, but to find someone of his character and someone with his background in the community." Said Jackson: "I'm very excited. This is the first time I've ever done anything other than run golf courses and give lessons, but it kind of ties into my profession." Weaver played basketball for Stephenson at SBA (along with volleyball) and currently teaches at Grace Academy. "Amber brings a knowledge, not just of sports but of team building," Stephenson said. "She'll be able to help our kids here develop, and her knowledge of volleyball is a bonus. She's done some coaching at the middle school level, and she loves kids. Even though these kids are bigger and older than the ones she's used to dealing with, I know she can handle it."
Soccer
- Lee University freshman goalkeeper Daniel Hrenko was named the Gulf South Conference men's soccer defender of the week for allowing just one goal and making 11 saves in two victories. The Flames (5-3) won 1-0 and 2-1. And the Lady Flames rose to No. 6 in the NCAA Division II national rankings. They had moved from unranked to 13th last week.
- Tennessee Wesleyan University swept Appalachian Athletic Conference matches Wednesday at Truett-McConnell, with the men winning 2-0 and the women winning 1-0. OT Bah and Jake McBrayer scored in the second half for the TWU men (6-0-3, 2-0) and Nick Croucher made three saves to earn the shutout in goal. The Lady Bulldogs (5-4, 1-2) broke through when Amy Panayi's long pass set up Nicole Broderick's goal in the 69th minute. Keeper McKenna Loges made one save as TWU held a 10-8 advantage on shots, including 5-2 on goal.
- NAIA member Bryan College's women's team lost 3-1 Wednesday at NCAA Division II program Shorter University, with Paige Klose netting an unassisted goal in the 87th minute for the Lady Lions (6-4). Bryan managed 12 shots, including four on goal, but already trailed 3-0 early in the 37th minute. Shorter, which took 15 shots (six on goal) earned its first win in seven matches this season.
- The Covenant women's team lost 1-0 at Maryville on Wednesday in a USA South Athletic Conference match postponed from Tuesday. Miranda Lukas scored on Casey Gentile's assist in the 20th minute for Maryville (2-5-1, 2-2-1), which trailed 8-7 in shots overall but led Covenant (6-2, 4-1) in shots on goal, 4-2. Covenant keeper Rachel Lemay made three saves.
- The Premier Soccer Academy's under-18 Los Guapos won the River Fest Classic high school boys' division this past weekend in Chattanooga by going 2-0-1. The team coached by Pedro Kozak and Kevin Stophel won 4-1 over WHSC 99 and 2-1 over Steamers 98 White of Vestavia Hills, Ala., and finished with a 1-1 draw against another Alabama team, Homewood SC. Homewood was the runner-up.