A benefit luncheon commemorating the 40th anniversary of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s 1977 NCAA Division II basketball championship is set for Feb. 17 at Second Missionary Baptist Church at 2305 E. Third Street, and Wayne Golden and Gary Stich are among the players from that team who have committed to be in town for the event. That’s according to Herbert “Book” McCray, another key member of the “Louisville Connection” that led the team. McCray remained in Chattanooga as a coach and educator, and his Independent Youth Services Foundation is the nonprofit organization benefiting from the luncheon. Tickets cost $75 for an individual or $600 for a table of eight. A corporate sponsorship for $1,000 covers a table plus ongoing marketing as part of the IYSF program. For tickets or more information call McCray at 423-227-7206.
Track & Field
* In addition to the women’s one-mile victory for UTC’s Kennedy Thomson reported Monday, Lee University and Tennessee Wesleyan had some first-place finishes at the Emory Crossplex Invitationl indoor track and field meet this past weekend at Birmingham. Lee was third and TWU sixth out of 22 men’s teams and Lee was sixth out of 23 women’s teams. Lee’s Audrey Smith was third in the mile and won the 5000-meter run by more than 21 seconds at 17:57.10, and Christian Noble and Seth Eagleson were first and third in the men’s 5000 in 15:05.99 and 15:11.75. Lee twins Justin and Josiah Brooks were first and third in the 400 in 47.86 and 48.47 as well as sixth and fifth in the 200, and Josiah was third also in triple jump. Wesleyan’s Cadarius Harris and Josh Parsons were first and second in the men’s 60, in 6.86 and 6.87, and the Athens school was third in the women’s distance medley relay and fifth in the men’s 4×400 and had Gabe Pendelton fifth in men’s high jump. Lee’s Jessica Childers and Cayce Bryan were third and fourth in the women’s 800, Adrian Martin was fourth in the 200 and fifth in the 60, Amy Carpenter was sixth in the 3000 and Camilla Sims was sixth in shot put. Lee’s Harold Smith was fourth in the men’s 800, and Noble and Brandon Raleigh were seventh and eighth in the mile with Tucker Hindle ninth in the 3000.
Softball
* Inspirational Silverdale Baptist Academy senior center fielder Skylar Parton signed scholarship papers last week to continue her softball career at Cleveland State Community College. She batted .430 with two triples, seven doubles, 10 stolen bases, 39 runs scored and 20 RBIs as SBA went 42-5 last season and finished second to Meigs County in the Class A state tournament. Tim Couch, who coached that team and is Silverdale’s athletic director, noted that Parton has overcome a birth defect in her right arm. “It is a miracle that she is able to perform at the level she has,” he said. “The past three years I’ve seen Skylar develop into a tremendous player and person. Her family has been a blessing for our program, and it has been a true honor to coach Sky.” Said Cleveland State coach Katie Willingham: “Skylar is one of the hardest-working athletes I had the pleasure of meeting. She will not only push herself day in and day out but also those around here. She is exactly what our program needs to compete at the next level and inspire more student-athletes to come to Cleveland State.” Other local recruits for the Lady Cougars are Sequatchie County’s Emily Yell, Whitwell’s Carley Long, Bledsoe County’s Samantha Pompi, Grace Academy’s Summer Dean, Sale Creek’s Kirby Webb, Red Bank’s Hanna Land and Rhea County’s Hailey Galvan. Former East Carolina assistant and acting head coach and Chattanooga State assistant Steve Jaecks now is helping Willingham. “I liked the atmosphere there and I love Coach Katie,” Parton said, “and the girls are really, really awesome.”