MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — After winning 25 games this year and finishing one victory shy of the title round in the Division II-AA state tournament, a critical portion of the Girls Preparatory School softball team is disbanding.
Just hours after the Bruisers’ stellar season concluded Thursday at the TSSAA Spring Fling, the families of seven of the eight starters who would be returning next season confirmed to the Chattanooga Times Free Press that they intend to transfer. Of those leaving, six have chosen their next destination, while the other player is deciding between two area programs.
Sophomore Addi Smith and freshman Sky Marshall are headed to Notre Dame, which is already anticipating some notable new players in other sports when a Tennessee law regarding transfer student-athletes goes into effect this summer. There are big additions expected to the Fighting Irish football team, and the girls’ basketball program is set to add Aubrey Bush, who starred for Baylor this past winter as an eighth grader.
Meanwhile, the Reyes sisters — sophomores Adrianna and Calieah and eighth grader Mila — are headed from GPS to Ooltewah, while eighth grader Abby Lewis is transferring to Baylor. Although sophomore Jayla Gladden confirmed her intentions to transfer, as of Friday afternoon she was still deciding between GPS rival Baylor and Boyd Buchanan.
Baylor, a 17-time state title winner, is facing reigning champ Chattanooga Christian School in the DII-AA final that will be completed Saturday in Chattanooga, while Boyd Buchanan finished as the Division II-A runner-up Thursday at Middle Tennessee State University.