Beginning tonight at the Chattanooga Convention Center, more than 800 boxers, ages 8-40, will begin competing in USA Boxing's 2018 Eastern Elite Qualifier & Regional Open. Those competing in the elite division are trying to earn spots in the nationals in December, an Olympic Trials qualifier. Tonight and next Friday also include matches between the United States and Germany national teams, which include numerous international medalists. Also tonight will be a six-round professional bout featuring Chattanooga native Roger "The Hitman" Hilley, who is 6-0 as a pro. Tonight's bouts begin at 6. Tickets can be bought at the door for $20 for adults, $15 for students. Ringside tables for eight are $500. Beginning Monday, there will be two sessions per day at noon and 6 p.m. For more information or tickets call Joe Smith at 423-400-8472.
Golf
' Former Tennessee Wesleyan golfer Josh Wheeler from Oak Ridge Country Club shot a 6-under-par 66 Friday at Black Creek Club and surged to a three-shot lead at 133 in the Tennessee Mid-Amateur tournament. Ryan Terry was at 136 with 20-event TGA winner Tim Jackson third at 137. Winston Brown from Lookout Mountain also shot 66 and was one of five tied for fourth at 138, along with Lucas Armstrong from the Tri-Cities area, who had a 64. Jeff Greeson from Council Fire was tied for 11th at 140.
' David Noll Jr. of Dalton beat Chamblee's Jon Klotz 6 and 5 in the round of 32 but lost 1 up to Atlanta's Chris Waters in the round of 16 Friday in the 100th Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship in Alpharetta.
' Led by junior Maddy McDanel's career-best 68, the UTC women's golfers shot a season-low 295 Friday and were in seventh place after the first round of the 12-team Princess Anne Invitational at Virginia Beach. Central Florida and Campbell shared the lead at 284 with Maryland at 285. McDanel was tied for third individually while Monica San Juan was tied for 18th at 72 and Michaela Kulhankova (playing individually) and Rheagan Hall shot 74 and 75.
Soccer
' Chloe Arnold's goals in the 61st and 76th minutes lifted the UTC women's soccer team to a 2-1 win Friday night against visiting Western Carolina. Maggie Shaw and Hollie Massey had assists for the Mocs (7-5-2, 3-1-1), who outshot WCU (5-5-2, 2-2) 17-6, 8-1 in the second half.
' Lee University tied the West Florida men 0-0 and lost 1-0 to the fourth-ranked UWF women in GSC soccer Friday at Pensacola. Daniel Hrenko was heroic with 16 saves for the Flames (7-2-2, 5-0-1). Taylor Green had seven for the Lady Flames (6-4-1, 3-3).
' Covenant scored first but lost 5-1 at North Carolina Wesleyan in USA South men's soccer. Aazah Daniel had three goals and an assist for NCWU (4-4, 4-1). Carl Simakoff scored in the second minute for the Scots (7-5-1, 4-2-1).
' Daniel Valenciano scored both goals in Dalton State's 4-2 loss Thursday at Florida College.
Volleyball
' UTC lost 3-0 (25-22, 29-27, 29-27) to The Citadel in SoCon volleyball Friday. Gylian Finch, Ally Ford and Dani Szczepanski had 12, 11 and nine kills, Jaqueyn Langhaim 31 assists and 10 digs and Bailey Bennett and Megan Kaufman 13 and 12 digs for the Mocs (6-12, 2-3).
' Despite 16 kills and 20 digs by Silvia Sartori, 31 assists and 10 digs by Hanna Matthews and 32 digs by MaKayla Beebe, Lee lost 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-23) at 13th-ranked West Florida (15-4, 7-1 GSC). Allie Koepfer added 15 digs for Lee (8-11, 6-2).
' Chattanooga State improved to 9-6 in its first volleyball season with 3-0 wins over Andrew (25-11, 25-14, 25-9) and host Georgia Northwestern (25-22, 25-20, 25-17). Sidney Killingsworth had 20 kills, Kayla Wimpee 18 kills, Dakota Rawiszer and Emily Redden 32 and 31 assists and Sakari Pack 12 kills in the two wins, and Ricki Lynn Bickley had six aces against Andrew and 11 kills against GNTC. The Lady Bobcats (5-13) got 11 assists from Mia Clark in that match and beat Andrew 3-1 (25-16, 17-25, 25-12, 25-18) with nine kills apiece from Savannah Clark and Summer Fitzpatrick, eight from Jamese Miller and 20 assists from Kayleigh Goff.
' Tennessee Wesleyan dropped to 11-12, 7-3 in the AAC, with a 3-0 loss (25-17, 25-15, 25-12) to visiting Reinhardt (18-4, 9-0).
' Bryan College lost its AAC home match 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-12) but got 15 digs from Rheagan Keen. Sidney Pierce had 12 assists.