University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling coach Heath Eslinger will be the special speaker this year for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Road to Victory Banquet set for March 8 at the Colonnade Center in Ringgold. The largest annual fundraiser for the Greater Chattanooga FCA, the dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Eslinger was a two-time wrestling state champion at Bradley Central High School and went on to the second most wins in the history of the UTC program, which he served as an assistant coach before becoming the head coach at Cleveland High School and then returning to UTC as head coach. He’s in his seventh season in that role and his Mocs have won the Southern Conference in five of the previous six and are leading again this year. A former youth pastor, Eslinger long has been active with FCA and other ministries, including speaking at FCA summer camps and coaches conferences. “We are thrilled to have one of our own speak at this year’s Road to Victory Banquet,” area FCA director Jay Fowler said in the announcement release. “Heath and his entire family are such an important part of our ministry, and the guy is one of the most passionate and gifted speakers you will ever hear.” For information about attending or helping sponsor the banquet, visit www.chattanoogafca.org or call Fowler at 423-309-4255.
Basketball
* Erin Walsh scored a career-high 33 points with five 3-point baskets as the Lee University women’s team defeated visiting Christian Brothers 75-60 in a Gulf South Conference basketball doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Cleveland. Christian Brothers won the men’s game 80-78 in overtime. Carrie Cheeks had 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Lee women (13-5, 10-3), who used a 24-12 third quarter to build a comfortable cushion, while Haris Price had 10 points and four assists and Christina Johnson grabbed eight rebounds. Courtney Banks led the Memphis team with four 3s and 22 points. Adam Dieball had 25 points and five assists and Jeff Larkin and Drew Hildreth scored 23 and 19 points with five 3s apiece for the CBU men, who hit 15 3s to three for the Flames. Chase Cullen had 23 points and 15 rebounds and Levi Woods scored 16 points for Lee.
Jordan Bowling, the MVP of the 2015 NAIA basketball tournament, puts up a shot during Dalton State’s run to the national title. The senior is the only returning starter for the Roadrunners, who have been picked to win the Southern States Athletic Conference.* The Dalton State men’s basketball team fell for the fourth time in a row with an 83-80 Southern States loss Saturday at Middle Georgia State. Jalen Robinson scored 18 points, Jordan Bowling had 14, Jamaine Burrey and Marcel Hawkins tallied 12 each and Deshawn Ruffin had 11 points and six assists for the Roadrunners (12-7, 4-5). Kieston Standfield had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the host Knights (8-4, 6-3).
* The Sewanee teams both lost in Southern Athletic Association play Friday night at Millsaps, 56-36 in the women’s game and 70-69 on a score with four seconds left in the men’s contest. Sewanee’s Cody Jones was 8-for-10 on 3s and scored 26 points, while Brody Stone added 13 points and eight rebounds and Clay Born had five assists for the Tigers (11-5, 4-1), who had won six games in a row. The Sewanee women shot 24 percent from the field, and Savannah Rose led them with nine points, all on 3-pointers.