For the sixth year in a row in the competition fall semester, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga had one of the top two men’s cross country team grade point averages in NCAA Division I. The Mocs, who have been first three times in that span, were second to UC Davis this past fall with their 3.64 aggregate GPA. Sophomores Jacob Etheridge and Ryan Gebelein have cumulative 4.0s and were joined at that level last semester by juniors Mark Britt and Richard Guiry. The UTC women’s runners also earned U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association all-academic recognition with a 3.52 team GPA, with eight 4.0s in the fall. “We are very pleased and proud of the kids’ academic achievements,” coach Andy Meyer said in a UTC release, noting that he and assistant Amanda Cotter emphasize that from the beginning of the recruiting process. “Amanda and I believe that the same characteristics essential to be a successful runner are … directly related to classroom success. These kids are competitive, motivated, dedicated and love the process of improvement.”
Golf
» Dalton State’s S.M. Lee is among the 27 college golfers on the Ben Hogan Award watch list for 2018, and he is the only NAIA representative and one of only two not in NCAA Division I. The other is Chandler Blanchet of West Florida in Division II. Vanderbilt has three on the list: Will Gordon, Theo Humphrey and Patrick Martin. Ten semifinalists will be announced on April 11. The Hogan Award includes collegiate and non-college amateur competition.
Basketball
» Erin Walsh was 5-of-8 on 3-point shots and scored 17 points as the Lee University women’s basketball team concluded its home schedule Wednesday with a 72-50 Gulf South Conference win against Alabama-Huntsville. Abby Bertram had 12 points and six assists and Carrie Cheeks had seven rebounds with nine points for the Lady Flames (20-6, 13-5). Lee (14-11, 9-9) won the men’s game 82-72 behind 20 points and seven rebounds from Colton Blevins and 15 points from Parker Suedekum.