For the second year in a row, Tennessee’s Gatorade Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year is from Baylor School.
Brandon Lord followed former teammate Bill Matthews as the TSSAA Division II-AA state champion and then as the Gatorade honoree. The 2009-10 statewide award was announced Thursday.
Given in collaboration with ESPN Rise, the Gatorade distinction recognizes academic achievement and exemplary character in addition to athletic success, according to the announcement release. A 5-foot-9, 140-pound senior who has committed to the University of Georgia, Lord is a two-time all-state first-team selection in cross country and has a 3.78 grade point average. He also is a peer tutor and a student leader in Baylor’s Red Circle outreach organization.
He followed his winning 15:53.43 time in the 5-kilometer state meet with a fifth-place 14:51 in the Foot Locker South Regional and then was 14th in the Foot Locker nationals.
“When Brandon lines up, he is just so calm and confident, and he backs that up with hard work and determination,” Baylor coach Jan Gautier said in the release. “He doesn’t fit that arrogant mold that some athletes have. He’s always trying to push himself to do better.”
Hoops event clears $4,000
Red Bank girls’ basketball coach Steve Redman set a modest fundraising goal of $1,000 for the first Hoops for Hope basketball competition at Red Bank last Monday. Now that net proceeds from the contributions and different sales have been calculated, the coach said it looks like the MaryEllen Locher Foundation scholarship fund, designed for children with a parent diagnosed with breast cancer, will receive a little more than $4,000.
“I think my personal goal for next year is going to be $10,000,” Redman said of what he expects to be an annual benefit that Red Bank and Baylor will alternate hosting.
Redman’s optimism stems from plans to change to involve four schools next year and play two girls’ games on a Friday or Saturday. He added that having promotional items like pictures and programs from this year will also provide more tangible marketing tools next time when soliciting local businesses for donations.
The Lady Lions intend to again wear the pink uniforms it bought for this year’s occasion when it plays Signal Mountain next year. Baylor’s opponent has yet to be finalized. As for the pink ball that was used in Baylor’s 39-28 victory in this year’s girls’ game, it looks like they may have to find another one.
“We’re going to burn the one we used,” Redman said. “We shot 10-for-53 with it.”
Restaino sets record
McCallie diver Tony Restaino broke a 30-year-old McCallie pool record in the Blue Tornado’s win Thursday against Notre Dame.
Restaino, a boarding student from Charlotte, scored 272.2 points in his 1-meter diving win. That record was a tribute of sorts to his 20-year-old brother, who died last week after a long battle with cancer. Tony is 17.
Lady Cougars add Griffin
Northwest Whitfield shortstop Casey Griffin signed Thursday morning to continue her softball career at Cleveland State.
Griffin hit .270 with 26 RBIs in 100 at-bats last fall for the Lady Bruins, who went 21-15 and got hot at the end of the season to win Region 7-AAAA and finish third in the state tournament.
“We’re bringing her in as a shortstop, to step in right off the bat,” Lady Cougars coach Suzanne Bayne said. “She’s a really consistent defensive player, and she does a good job leading the infield. She has a lot of poise. And she’s a consistent contact hitter who can help us move runners.”