Baylor senior Zach Watson has been named a Tennessee winner of the Dave Schultz high school Excellence Award as selected by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
A five-time state champion, Watson finished his Baylor wrestling career with a record of 200-4. He is headed to the University of Virginia on a wrestling scholarship beginning in the fall.
Lady Raider wins sectional
Cleveland's Quetwrah Abdullah-Muhammad won the Class AAA sectional pentathlon at Tullahoma on Monday, winning four of five events and qualifying for the TSSAA state meet in two weeks.
She was first in the 100-meter hurdles, the high jump, the long jump and the 800 run and sixth in the shot put.
Lee signs Johnson
East Hamilton senior Taylor Johnson signed scholarship papers Monday to continue her tennis career at Lee University, and Lee coach Tony Cavett said she is more prepared than many to make the transition to college sports. Her father, Philip Johnson, was a tennis standout at Georgia, and her uncle Larry Simcox was an SEC star baseball player and longtime assistant coach.
Johnson is only 5-foot-4 but "packs a lot of power," East Hamilton coach Michael Jackson said. "She uses two hands from both sides. I love to watch her take the ball out of the air and put away points. She's had some big wins over quality opponents."
Said Cavett: "I think she will adapt to the next level faster than most. Her dad's college background should be a big help. What she lacks in size she makes up for in tenacity. And as she gets stronger she'll be even better."
He said Johnson had been on campus and hit with the Lady Flames a couple of times, "and she matched up pretty well with the girls in the middle of our lineup. I think she will compete for a spot in our top six as a freshman."
Johnson said she was intrigued by Lee after playing Cleveland High on Lee's courts last year.
"I love the school. It has a warm environment," she said. "And the tennis girls are really sweet."
Cavett will sign Polk County senior and Walker Valley player Maclain Yowarsky late this week.
Calhoun hosts GAC
The Region 7 champion Calhoun girls' tennis team will host Region 8 nemesis Greater Atlanta Christian (10-5) in a Georgia Class AA second-round matchup today at 3:15 at the Calhoun Tennis Center.
Calhoun (15-2) lost all three singles players from its 2011 second-round team, but coach Lynn Davis has the Lady Yellow Jackets that far again.
"I think with the tradition that we've had, the girls wanted to carry that on," Davis said. "They realized how close we were to losing the region championship, and it was an eye opener for the girls. This team has been focused all year, and although it's going to be tough because we've come up against Region 8 a lot over the years, we like to think we've got a chance."
In Class A, Gordon Lee (10-4) won 3-0 over Aquinas in Augusta last week and plays third-ranked Wesleyan today at 4 in Norcross.
Reed picks Wasps
Boyd-Buchanan senior running back Chase Reed has committed to play football for the Wasps of Emory & Henry College.
Reed rushed for more than 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns last season for the Buccaneers, who made it to the Class 2A state playoff quarterfinals. He helped them reach the semifinals in 2010.
"Chase is a hard worker and a kid who helped our program in a lot of ways over his career," Bucs coach Grant Reynolds said. "I think this is a good fit and he will be a heck of a player for them."