At least four players from Notre Dame's state-semifinal football team could be playing Division I college football.
Receiver and defensive back Anthony Flemister already has committed to Tennessee Tech, and lineman Joe Dossett committed to East Tennessee State over the weekend. Auston Banks has visited Wofford and Kennsesaw State, and now Washington State and Southern Methodist have called about the running back/receiver.
Receiver/defensive back Kareem Orr apparently has pared his list to four Power 5 programs. He is one of the Chattanooga area's top prospects, and Irish coach Charles Fant said the 6-foot, 290-pounder is considering Arizona State, Ohio State, Georgia and Mississippi State, although Clemson called Sunday.
"He had an amazing visit at Arizona State, and (Georgia coach) Mark Richt was in to see him today," Fant said Monday. "(Ohio State coach) Urban Meyer has texted about setting up an in-home visit."
Fant said Oklahoma was no longer in the picture.
As for Banks, he was on Ohio State's radar for a while as a kick-returner, slot-receiver type, but when Washington State recruiters were engaging Orr, he suggested they take a look at Banks. They did and liked what they saw.
Meanwhile, Fant said ETSU is getting a diamond in the rough in Dossett, a 6-1 1/2, 270-pound defensive tackle.
"We thought when he was a sophomore that he was a Division I/FBS-type player, but then he had shoulder surgery and they overcorrected the problem, which led to a second surgery. He sort of fell off everyone's radar," Fant said. "I think he owes a lot to (semifinal opponent) Alcoa. Those coaches were singing his praises, and I think they told ETSU, 'You have got to get this kid.' I think he has the opportunity to play right away."
National signing day for football is Feb. 4.
Ellis top Marion winner
Randy Ellis last Friday became Marion County's winningest girls' basketball coach when the Lady Warriors defeated Whitwell 53-50 in a District 6-A home game. His 115th victory eclipsed the previous mark set by Bobby Gravitt from 1979 to 1989.
Ellis is a former accountant whose inroad into TSSAA sports was as a basketball official for 13 years. After one season as girls' head coach at Whitwell, where his team won 22 games, he's in his ninth year in charge of the Lady Warriors. Two of his Marion teams have advanced as far as state sectionals, with the 2010-11 team also winning the Region 3 championship.
Ellis credits Chuck Keef, who came to Marion as boys' coach the same year, as someone he's been able to test ideas and swap reactions with. The Lady Warriors on Saturday defeated St. Andrew's-Sewanee and are 12-4 after Monday night's win at Sequatchie County.
"It's been a great experience," Ellis said. "It's been a lot of fun. It's always a challenge, especially when you're coaching young ladies. But it's an opportunity to change lives, which is always an awesome thing. I've had a number of great players play a part in reaching that milestone."
Region duals Thursday
The Region 4-AAA duals wrestling tournament will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at McMinn County in Athens. Matchups will be Bradley Central against Walker Valley and Soddy-Daisy versus Cleveland. The championship match is to follow immediately, and both finalists will advance to the state duals Jan. 30-31 at the Williamson County Agricultural Expo in Franklin.
The Division II and A/AA duals also will be held that weekend. Baylor and McCallie will be in the Division II field with Baylor likely ranked as the team to beat. Hixson and either East Ridge or Notre Dame will represent the Chattanooga area in the A/AA tournament. Notre Dame visits East Ridge this Thursday to decide that slot.
Mariakis takes title
Ridgeland senior Caleb Mariakis won the 138-pound title Saturday at the Smith Station Invitational wrestling tournament in Alabama, leading the Panthers to a seventh-place finish out of 19 teams.
Mariakis, who is committed to West Virginia University, defeated Robbey Killough of Prattville, Ala., in the finals. Teammate Chris Henderson finished in fourth place at 220 pounds.
"We had several guys that were one win away from placing," coach Keith Mariakis said. "It was a great weekend for us."
Duffie to 400 wins
Dalton boys' basketball coach Mike Duffie registered his 400th career win Saturday when the Catamounts defeated his former team, Gordon Central. Duffie has a 159-76 record in eight seasons at Dalton and has led the Cats to a 17-3 record (4-3 in their first season in Region 7A-AAAAA) this season, including the 30-point non-region win Saturday.
Brainerd nears top 10
Brainerd didn't crack the Associated Press TSSAA boys' Class AA basketball poll released with the others Monday. But after a resounding victory over Central that improved the Panthers to 8-0 in District 6-AA and 14-4 overall, they now are listed among others receiving 12 points or more.
Technically, Brainerd is ranked No. 13 with its 14 points in the voting. The Panthers trail two others outside the top 10 by one point each. They are Obion County and Cannon County, which Brainerd beat 70-58 in its first game of the season.
Meigs County's boys are in the 12-or-more-points list in Class A. McCallie (18-4) went 1-2 for the week, with a home loss Saturday to unranked Baylor, and slipped from third to sixth in Division II.
In girls' Division II, Baylor beat ranked teams Ensworth and Harpeth Hall last week but fell Saturday at home to unranked GPS. As a result, the Lady Red Raiders dropped from second to third.
McMinn boys in state
McMinn County won its boys' bowling sectional against Tullahoma on Monday, 17-10, but Walker Valley fell by that same score at Columbia Central in a rematch of the 2014 TSSAA Division I team final.
The Cherokees will join Walker Valley's girls, GPS and McCallie in this week's state team competition at Smyrna.