Area sports notes: Mocs' Isaiah Mack on Buchanan Award watch list

UTC's Isaiah Mack pressures VMI quarterback Reece Udinksi during the Mocs' homecoming victory on Oct. 27.
UTC's Isaiah Mack pressures VMI quarterback Reece Udinksi during the Mocs' homecoming victory on Oct. 27.
photo UTC's Isaiah Mack pressures VMI quarterback Reece Udinksi during the Mocs' homecoming victory on Oct. 27.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior defensive lineman Isaiah Mack was added Thursday to the watch list for the 2018 Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top overall defensive player in the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision. The former Northwest Whitfield High School standout was an All-Southern Conference second-team selection in 2017 and a preseason first-team choice this year, and he has totaled 7.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in his past three games. "I am very excited for Isaiah to be recognized in this way," Mocs coach Tom Arth said. "He has worked extremely hard and is a very physical, tough player who knows the game. He is very effective in the run game and is able to rush the passer. He has made an incredible impact on our team this season." For his part, Mack thanked his teammates and coaches for their support and said, "This is really a team honor."

Running

* Lee University's sweep of the individual and team titles at the Gulf South Conference cross country meet last weekend was followed by a host of GSC awards for the Flames and Lady Flames, including men's and women's coach of the year for Caleb Morgan and runners of the year for meet winners Christian Noble and Chloe Flora. Flora was joined as first-team women's All-GSC (top 10 finishers) from Lee by Amy Carpenter and Charlee Boxall, and Caleb Eagleson and Jared Herzog were men's first-teamers along with Noble. Lee second-teamers were Becca Umbarger, Logan Hernandez, Casey Guthery, Dawson Reed and Ben Tabor.

Golf

* Lee junior Haverly Harrold was chosen the GSC women's golfer of the month for October, and teammate Carson McKie was the freshman of the month. Harrold beat a strong field while winning the South Region Preview the Lady Flames hosted on Oct. 2. McKie was ninth there and tied for 12th at the Flagler Fall Slam.

Volleyball

* Tennessee Wesleyan University wrapped up a 16-21 season with a 3-0 loss Thursday to third-seeded Milligan in the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinals in Kingsport, Tennessee. The set scores were 25-23, 25-18, 25-19. Kalyse Garrett had 15 assists, Madison Weir 10 digs and Sydney Ritten four service aces for TWU. Cleveland High School graduate Kellee Geren had 40 assists as the setter for Milligan (24-5).

* Sewanee freshman middle blocker Ellie Pedersen received NCAA Division III All-South Region honorable mention for a season in which she totaled 184 kills with a conference-high .351 attack percentage. She was the Southern Athletic Association's newcomer of the year.

Soccer

* The Dalton State men's soccer team ended its season at 7-10-2 with a 6-3 loss to Bethel in the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament semifinals Thursday in Montgomery, Alabama. Kevin Villatoro scored two goals and Jose Villalobos had the other for the Roadrunners, and Tyler Hudson had an assist.

* Sewanee senior midfielder Dayla LaRocque made the Google Cloud Academic All-District first team for Division III women's soccer, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The honor requires a minimum GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, and LaRocque has exceeded that while majoring in politics with minors in business and economics and participating in numerous campus activities. She totaled 10 assists in her 71-match Tigers soccer career.

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