Lee University star David Perez from Northwest Whitfield High School has parlayed his early success for the Chattanooga Football Club into participation this weekend in the National Premier Soccer League’s third annual Player Showcase in Carson, Calif. The event begins this morning at the Stubhub Center, home of MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy. Perez, a 21-year-old midfielder, joined the Chattanooga FC for its 2016 season and helped the club win its sixth NPSL Southeast Conference championship. “This is a huge opportunity for DP,” CFC general manager Sean McDaniel said in a club release. “David will be playing in front of all the right scouts and coaches who will be able to help him take the next step in his soccer career. He has the speed and the talent to go as far as he wants to go, and this showcase is a great step for him. Naturally, having a CFC player selected in the showcase is great for the team, too. We’re proud to have David represent us in California, and we know that he’ll make us proud.” Said Kenny Farrell, chairman of the NPSL pro combine: “We have a big stage for these young athletes and are expecting nearly 50 professional scouts, agents and coaches to be at the combine.” After regional team training sessions, Perez will be part of the South team that faces the West side, and that victor will play the North/East winner Monday.
Wrestling
– The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga home wrestling match scheduled for Sunday has been postponed because the Campbell Camels faced difficult conditions in traveling from Buies Creek, N.C. The Campbell match has been reset for Jan. 28, when the Mocs already were set to host Davidson. Both parts of the doubleheader will count in the Southern Conference standings. UTC is 3-3 in dual matches, 1-0 in the SoCon.
– The Georgia Class AAAAAA area wrestling duals tournament that includes Dalton High School has been postponed again, from Monday to Tuesday, at Sprayberry High in Marietta. Weigh-ins will begin at 9 a.m. and wrestling at 10, and the tournament will end Tuesday night.
Basketball
– The Covenant College men’s basketball team won 93-82 in overtime Friday evening against visiting LaGrange in USA South play, after the Lady Scots fell 59-54 to Piedmont. Carlie Shields and Dakota Sullens had 16 points each for Piedmont (9-4, 2-0), while Aleigha Williams scored 12 and Emma Grimes had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Scots (6-5, 0-1), whose game today has been postponed. Kaley Hallmark added 10 points in defeat, and Rachel Price had eight rebounds and three steals. For the Scots (7-5, 1-1), Berto Dryden and Patjo Twagirayezu scored 23 points apiece, Dryden with seven assists, while Caleb Haynes scored 16 points, Z Arima had 15 points and four steals and Bailey Spragg had nine rebounds and five steals. Haynes had seven points and three rebounds in overtime.
– Bella Taylor scored 32 points to lead the Sewanee women’s team to a 67-58 Southern Athletic Association victory Friday at Berry. Sewanee won the men’s game 60-58 as Leo Born from Baylor had 13 points and eight rebounds and made the score 59-57 with 26 seconds left and his brother Clay added 10 points and nine rebounds with a free throw at 0:10. Brody Stone scored 12 points. Sue Kim had 11 points, eight rebounds and four steals for the female Tigers. Alex Weems had 29 points and 11 rebounds for Berry.
– Carnilious Simmons’ 37 points in Dalton State’s 92-69 win Thursday night against Martin Methodist set a school record, and his 19 rebounds were one short of Ladaris Green’s DSC record.
Tennis
– The Chattanooga Tennis Association will hold captains’ meetings for its winter league season at two times Tuesday at the Champions Club. Each registered team in the CTA League is asked to have a representative present at either 9:30 a.m. or 6 p.m. The same material will be discussed at both sessions, according to league coordinator Karen Ellis.