The Chattanooga Football Club has signed one of its own, goalkeeper Phil D'Amico, to a contract for the club's new professional soccer status. D'Amico, an almost 22-year-old former University of North Florida standout, played the past two seasons for Chattanooga FC. He allowed 12 goals in his 12 starts in 2018 and 25 goals in 27 appearances last year. He also was a National Premier Soccer League player of the month. "We couldn't be happier about having Phil back," coach Peter Fuller said in a CFC release Friday. "He has proven himself at the NPSL level, and I have no doubt he will do a great job for us as we head into the National Independent Soccer Association. He's a quality young goalkeeper whose best days, I believe, are in front of him." The season starts Feb. 29 in Oakland, California, as CFC makes its National Independent Soccer Association debut. "Playing for CFC the past two years has been nothing but amazing. The fans are world class and make every player feel at home," D'Amico said. " The club is going in the right direction, and for me it was a no-brainer to re-sign." Previously reported as CFC's first signee for 2020 was former Chattanooga Red Wolves player Richard Dixon.
Swimming
* Baylor Swim Club alumna Addison Smith, now a freshman at Princeton, made the recently released USA Swimming 18 & Under World 100 List for 2019 with her times in no less than six events: 44th in the female 200 butterfly, 47th in the 800 freestyle, 51st in the 200 free, 52nd in the 400 free, 65th in the 200 individual medley and 66th in the 400 IM. BSC teammates Ellie Waldrep and Cecilia Porter made the World 100 in a total of three events - 47th in the 100 breaststroke for Porter and 50th in the 100 backstroke and 62nd in the 200 back for Waldrep. Jake Marcum from McCallie/GPS Aquatics was 28th in the boys' 200 back and 44th in the 100 back, and Henry Bethel from Dalton's Carpet Capital club was 74th in the 100 breast and 87th in the 200 IM.
Track & Field
* University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior Abby Bateman finished second in the 800-meter run Friday night at the UAB Green and Gold Invitational in Birmingham's CrossPlex, and Mocs teammates Nicole Buehrle, Ashlynd Broling and Lesley Green were third, sixth and eighth in the mile invitational. Freshman Mattie Parker was fifth in her second collegiate 3000, and UTC's two distance medley relay teams were third and sixth.
Fishing
* Ethan Shaw and Thaddeus Simerly of Bryan College slipped from second place to seventh Friday on the second day of the season-opening Carhartt Bassmaster College Series tournament on Toledo Bend Reservoir in Louisiana, but they're in the top 12 boats going out for the final round Saturday. The event started with 248 boats. While Bethel University's Cody Huff and Dakota Pierce were stretching their first-day lead to nearly 4 pounds at 39 pounds, 8 ounces with a five-bass limit totaling 19-13, Shaw and Simerly had to settle for 12-2 and a two-day 30-15. Bryan's Cole Sands and Conner DiMauro missed by 3 ounces joining their fellow Lions in the final 12 with a 13th-place finish at 29-6. That qualified them for the Series championship, however.
Basketball
* Chris Barnette's jump shot with 2.5 seconds left gave the Covenant College men an 80-78 USAS South win Friday evening at LaGrange. Will Crumly scored 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting for the Scots (10-6, 7-2), while Barnette was 3-of-3 from the field and 9-of-10 on free throws for 16 points with a team-high six rebounds. Zack Allen had 15 points and blocked three shots.
Running
* The Chattanooga Track Club is celebrating its golden anniversary this year and beginning its running season Saturday with a rare event on an actual track. It's the CTC 50th Anniversary 50 Minute Kickoff Race, starting at 9 a.m. at Red Bank High School. The club is geared up for 250 runners on the oval at one time.
Contact Ron Bush at rbush@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6291