Georgia Paturalski, the setter on Signal Mountain's Class A state-championship team last fall, has signed a volleyball scholarship with NCAA Division II member Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn. She took her visit a little less than a month ago.
"The volleyball team was so nice and so welcoming. I had never met the coach, but I already knew Kameron Adkins and Melanie Gibson, who play there," Paturalski said of former players at Red Bank, where she went as a freshman.
Paturalski credited Signal Mountain football coach Bill Price's encouragement for getting her to pursue playing in college. The all-city and all-state performer led the Chattanooga area with 1,002 assists in 2010 and also contributed 361 kills, 40 blocks, 101 aces and 273 digs for the Lady Eagles.
"I think she'll do a great job," Signal Mountain volleyball coach Jennifer Redman said. "She's upbeat, she's coachable and she loves volleyball."
Faulkner signs Brooks
Two-sport star Holli Brooks will continue her athletic career on the basketball court after the Gordon Lee senior signed with Faulkner University on Wednesday.
Brooks was a four-year starter for coach Lester Gaylon's basketball team, earning all-state recognition and Region 6-A Player of the Year honors three consecutive seasons. She averaged 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals her senior season following a softball season in which she hit .476 with an area-leading 41 RBIs.
"She had several colleges looking, including some in softball," Galyon said. "I believe, when she starts concentrating on just basketball, she will improve a ton. What will also help her is that in college she won't be the focus of every defense like she was in high school."
Faulkner, a NAIA program in the Southern States Athletic Conference, won 20 games in its inaugural season and returns every player.
Amos to Maryville
Silverdale Baptist multisport standout Wil Amos has committed to play NCAA Division III basketball at Maryville College.
Amos averaged 18.5 points and shot 67.5 percent from the field as a Seahawks senior. He was a two-time all-region selection and District 5-A all-tournament player.
Maryville's Scots went 16-10 this past season, Randy Lambert's 31st as their coach.
"Wil is an athlete that has a great feel for the game," Lambert said. "He has a strong build for a guard and can play the point or wing position. Wil's offensive skills are well developed, and he is not afraid to play physical."
Numerology quandary
Silverdale Baptist sophomore Loren Hilton said she'll probably go back to wearing No. 10 next softball season, despite hitting a triple in her first at-bat and going 2-for-3 in her first game wearing No. 15.
Hilton was experiencing problems with the buttons on her favorite green jersey and, after the Lady Seahawks played two games in the District 5-A tournament, had to retire it for the year. Hilton said the last time the buttons came unfastened while she was playing serve as a reminder to maybe wear a tanktop underneath from now on.
Wearing No. 15, Hilton was the most effective of three Lady Seahawks pitchers in Thursday's championship loss to Grace Academy. But it's just not her number.
"I hit a home run wearing No. 10 [on Tuesday]," Hilton said.
Baylor duo all-state
Gina Lambiase and Payton Fields made the 2011 all-state girls' lacrosse team.
"This is only the second time that players from Baylor have been named to this select team," coach Jeff Edwards said, "and these young ladies are the first in team history to achieve this award in their junior year."