Hannah Gasaway goes into her senior year at Union Grove High School in McDonough, Ga., with a commitment to play golf for Dalton State College, but she could have gone "bigger" than the NAIA program. She just thought it was better, she told reporter Maria Torres of The Henry Daily Herald. "I like the whole small-town feel. It's 20 minutes away from Chattanooga, but I will still have that," Gasaway was quoted by Torres. After helping Union Grove reach the state tournament, Gasaway received interest from Kennesaw State of NCAA Division I and West Georgia of Division II. "At Kennesaw State, I wouldn't be able to fit in. I went to West Georgia and the team wasn't my type. But at Dalton State, the girls are like me," she told Torres. And, of course, Dalton State has the reigning NAIA women's and men's national medalists from its first year of postseason eligibility and practices at The Farm - other factors Gasaway mentioned.
Basketball
* Former Hamilton Heights, Cleveland State and Chattanooga State shooting guard Filipe Goncalves recently signed scholarship papers to continue his basketball career at Southern University at New Orleans. It's an NAIA program. Goncalves played in 25 games, starting three, for Chattanooga State this past season after spending the previous year in his native Brazil. He spent a season at Cleveland State after his one year at Hamilton Heights. He was a starter there and was the most valuable player when the Hawks won the National Association of Christian Athletes tournament. "He was a really hard worker, very coachable, and a good, strong athlete," Hamilton Heights headmaster Duke Stone said Friday. "Since high school he has really worked on his shot and become a good 3-point shooter." Goncalves shot 33.9 percent from 3-point range in averaging 5.8 points per game for Chatt State. "I wish we could have had him for two years," Tigers coach Jay Price said. "He brought a lot of energy and want-to. He's a hard-working kid off the court and on the court."