After the fall sports seasons, Lee University is ranked 10th out of 312 NCAA Division II schools in the Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup Standings for overall athletic success. The next closest Gulf South Conference members are Alabama-Huntsville and Mississippi College, 56th and 57th. Lee's first top-10 position was built on four teams - women's and men's cross country and women's and men's soccer - reaching the national level in postseason competition. "During our five years in D2, our fall sports have gradually increased their points and climbed the rankings each year. With four fall sports scoring for the first time, we managed to break into the top 10 and feel confident we will score points in the winter and spring," athletic director Larry Carpenter said in a Lee release. "We've finished in the top 20% of all D2 schools in the final standings the past three years and hopefully will have a chance to finish in the top 10% this year. I am proud of the hard work by our coaches and student-athletes."
Soccer
* Seven months after the school year ended - and almost 14 months after his team won the 2018 state championship - Girls Preparatory School's Patrick Winecoff has been announced as the TSSAA girls' soccer coach of the year for 2018-19. The Bruisers also won a Division II-AA state title in his first season, 2014. They reached the state semifinals and went 17-3 this year. "Patrick does a phenomenal job of leading our program," GPS athletic director Jay Watts said in a school release Friday. "He invests in his players as athletes and as people, and he has built our program into one of the very best in the state." The TCCAA submitted Winecoff for consideration as the National Federation Section III coach of the year, covering eight states.
* The Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club has announced a 2020 partnership with Sunny 92.3 WDEF Radio and its sister stations for its new stadium in East Ridge. Sunny 92.3 will sponsor the Family Section of the 5,500-seat facility now under construction. The first match there is scheduled for April 25. The section will provide a sizable area for families, school groups and clubs to enjoy "a festive game-day experience," according to a Red Wolves release. The other stations overseen by Bahakel Radio Group are Hits 96, WUUQ 97.3/99.3 and Alt 98-7, and they will join 92.3 in special offers, promotions and news updates involving the Red Wolves. "These stations bolster our plan for this section seamlessly as we build a stadium that is conducive to positive fan interaction," club president Sean McDaniel said. "These stations have longstanding and respected reputations within the community, making them a perfect fit."
Basketball
* The Sewanee women's basketball team won 64-59 at home Friday against Huntingdon and completed the 2019 part of its schedule with a 5-5 record. Ellie Treanton led the Tigers with 16 points, and Kinsley Logan, Raquel Waller and Abby Young scored 14, 12 and 10, Young with eight rebounds. Shaonica Thomas had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Huntingdon (4-7).
* Chattanooga State's Lady Tigers are 9-4 with six victories in a row after winning 75-63 on Thursday at Snead State (9-5), but Snead's Parsons (10-5) won the men's game 65-56. Melisa Carter had 25 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Lady Tigers, while Naja Fenelon had 12 points and four assists and Shaquala Walton provided 10 rebounds with 11 points. Gee Gee Hollingsworth-Pugh added seven rebounds in 13 minutes, and Michelle Smith made four steals. For the Tigers (6-8), Richard Nunez had 17 points and nine rebounds and Taye Calloway scored 13 points. Lorenzo Ferrell pulled down eight rebounds. The Chattanooga State men don't play again until hosting Roane State in a TCCAA doubleheader on Jan. 8, but the Lady Tigers precede that with home games on Dec. 30 and Jan. 5 against Central Georgia Tech and Caldwell Tech.
Compiled by Ron Bush. Contact him at rbush@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6291.