University of Tennessee at Chattanooga junior wrestler Jake Huffine is the Southern Conference student-athlete of the week for Nov. 7-13. An accounting major from Cartersville, Georgia, with a 4.0 grade point average, Huffine was an 8-6 overtime winner at 133 pounds in the Mocs' dual Sunday against 21st-ranked North Carolina. He scored a reversal just before the third-period buzzer to force overtime. UTC football receiver Bryce Nunnelly was the SoCon student-athlete honoree on Sept. 12.
Volleyball
* UTC junior middle blocker Dani Szczepanski made the All-SoCon volleyball second team announced Wednesday, and Mocs outside hitter Gylian Finch and setter Jaquelyn Langhaim were two of the seven all-freshman honorees. UTC will face Samford in the 5 p.m. match Friday in the league tournament at UNC Greensboro.
* Cleveland State's first volleyball signee for next season is Katlyn Knight from Maynardville, Tennessee, and Union County High School. She was all-district in 2017 and the 2016 and 2018 libero of the year. "I love the atmosphere at Cleveland State, and it's close to Chattanooga and I'm excited to move away from home," Knight said in a release. "I am so blessed to have this opportunity."
Softball
Emerald Frost* Boyd Buchanan pitcher Emerald Frost signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to continue her softball career with Trevecca Nazarene University, but the NCAA Division II school in Nashville recruited her primarily as a catcher. She catches and plays first and second base for the Frost Falcons select team coached by her dad, Steve, but she is about to pitch for the third high school season out of necessity. Her willingness to do so is a tribute to her team-first attitude, according to Boyd Buchanan coach Brittany Carbonell. "She's very much a team player, and she's worked very hard at it," Carbonell said, and Frost struck out 27 batters in 42 1/3 innings last season while batting .451 with 28 runs batted in. "I just want to do whatever I can to help my team, and for Boyd Buchanan right now that means pitching," said Frost, who considered Belmont, Austin Peay and Tennessee State before picking Ben Tyree's Trevecca program. She said she "felt at home" there and liked the "team dynamic" she saw in the players and coaching staff.
Basketball
* The Lee University women's basketball team trounced visiting Cumberland 87-48 on Wednesday, but the Lee men lost 77-74 to North Georgia. Haley Schubert and Taylor Boggess scored 15 points each and Kayla Tillie and Becca Cheeks added 12 and 11 for the Lady Flames (2-1), and Schubert had seven assists and matched Abby Bertram with five steals. Colton Blevins and Cody Jones had 22 and 15 points and seven rebounds apiece for the Flames (0-3), while Kentrell Evans scored 13 points. Lee hit 14 of 15 free throws, but the visitors made as many in 11 more attempts.
* The Bryan College women won 83-76 but the men lost 80-73 Wednesday in their Appalachian Athletic Conference games at Bluefield. Karli Combs made seven 3-point shots in scoring 23 points for the Lady Lions (4-1, 3-0), and Tristan McClellan had 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Deandra Luna scored 12 points and To'Nesha Allison had eight rebounds with nine points. For the Lions (3-4, 1-2), Keaton Dotson had 17 points with five 3s, Austin Douglas scored 14, Geevantay Gee and Isaiah McClain added 12 each and Brandon Thomas had 10 rebounds and four assists.
Running
Nathen Vander Wilt* Central High School senior Nathen Vander Wilt signed Wednesday to run cross country for Bryan College, and Lions coach Josh Bradley praised his "great work ethic" and potential. Vander Wilt had ninth-place individual region finishes in 2016 and 2017, when the Purple Pounders qualified for the state meet. "He's been coached well at the high school level, and we're going to take that and run with it," Bradley said. "I like getting local kids, and Nathen is going to make a big impact for us right away and even more the next few years, I believe." Said Vander Wilt: "Bryan is a very nice school and it's small, and it puts God first, which is very important to me. And (Bradley) is very welcoming."
* Nathan Holland of Signal Mountain now owns the two fastest times in the history of the ultra-grueling Upchuck 50 race on the Cumberland Trail. His finish in 4 hours, 21 minutes, 16 seconds last Saturday is second to his winning 4:13:48 two years ago. He was fourth in 2012, third in 2013 and second in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Last year's winner, Bob Adams of Ooltewah, was third this time in 5:04:09, behind Michael Basuini of Athens in 4:25:25. Signal's Andrew Laramore and Erno Lindner were fourth and fifth, and Nashville's Beth Meadows was the first female and 22nd overall in 6:12:03.