The eighth annual Chattanooga Christian high school soccer tournament starts this afternoon with the host Chargers taking on Harpeth at 3:30.
The Chargers (4-1-1) are ranked third in the state in Class A/AA, and the tournament also includes second-ranked Christ Presbyterian Academy (3-2-1). CPA will get a tough first-round test at 5 p.m. on CCS’s main field against the 5-0 Bucs, who were region semifinalists a year ago.
The tournament was rained out in 2009, but CCS coach Shawn Brower noted Thursday that the fields are in “pristine condition” now.
“The weather has been dry for the past two weeks,” he said. “So after Thursday’s rain, we walked the field and there was not sloshing water, and it’s soft enough to where the cleats can really dig in.
“The field is in the best condition it’s been in in years.”
Regular entrants Notre Dame, Ooltewah and Goodpasture Christian dropped from the field, replaced by Boyd-Buchanan, Livingston Academy and Sweetwater.
“I think that we’ve gained three pretty strong teams, too,” Brower said.
Semifinals will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, with the finals set to begin at 4:30 p.m.
Irish get top ranking
Notre Dame currently holds the top ranking in the EurosportScoreboard.com Tennessee soccer poll. The Irish (3-2-1) are No. 1 in Class A/AA, with CCS third and Hixson (6-0) ranked eighth.
McCallie (3-2) is ranked No. 3 in Division II, with Baylor (4-3-1) fifth.
New girls’ chance
Area girls’ athletes will have a new option for continuing their careers, as Georgia Northwestern Technical College will add women’s basketball to its intercollegiate sports program this fall.
A coach has not been hired, but the team will be based at the Rome campus, according to a release from the 6,000-plus-student institution. Men’s basketball and women’s volleyball already are offered at the four-campus college.
“We have a huge talent pool when it comes to prep basketball in our region,” said GNTC men’s coach David Stephenson, who also is the director of the statewide technical college league. “This kind of addition simply adds to student life on our campuses.”
Men’s and women’s basketball tryouts will be held early in the fall quarter.
Stephenson coached the Northwestern Technical College Mustangs in Rock Spring before the merger that included Coosa Valley Technical College in Rome. The Mustangs nickname was retained this year, but Coosa Valley’s team was the Bruins and the school will be choosing a new nickname.
“A process is under way that will involve everyone in the GNTC family to find a new mascot for the college,” provost Jeff King said.
King also announced the addition of intramural athletics with coed volleyball and flag football the first offerings.
East Hamilton tourney
The East Hamilton baseball team is hosting the Varsity Team Sports Invitational this weekend at the East Brainerd ballfields. Play begins this morning at 10.
Each of the four teams will play the others over the next two days. The teams with the best records will play for the championship Saturday at 5:30 p.m. A third-place game will be held at Tyner also at 5:30.
Varsity Team Sports Invitational
Friday at East Brainerd Ballfields
10 a.m.–Sale Creek vs. Chattanooga Patriots; 12:30–East Hamilton vs. Chattanooga Patriots; 3–Sale Creek vs. Hamilton Heights; 5:30–East Hamilton vs. Hamilton Heights.
Saturday at East Brainerd Ballfields
11:30 a.m.–East Hamilton vs. Sale Creek; 2–Hamilton Heights vs. Chattanooga Patriots; 5:30–Championship.
Saturday at Tyner
5:30–Third-place game.