This has been a week for Girls Preparatory School to celebrate seniors going on to college sports. Before Emma Moore was honored Thursday for her commitment to play volleyball at Huntingdon College, Taylor Floyd's lacrosse scholarship at Tusculum College and Brooke McCurdy's basketball future at Maryville College got party-type attention.
Taylor FloydOne week ago today, Maddox Bandy was honored for following through on her previously reported decision to play tennis for Lipscomb University.
"Taylor is always calm and collected and works her best to be focused on the task at hand. She possesses a selfless attitude and willingness to serve her team," lacrosse coach Caroline Carlin said in a GPS website posting about goalie Floyd's signing with an NCAA Division II program. " Tusculum is lucky to have her."
Said athletic director Jay Watts: "We appreciate Taylor's commitment to the program and wish her all the best."
Watts also praised McCurdy's commitment to the basketball team he coaches.
Brooke McCurdy"She was our leading scorer (15.9 points per game) and she was second in steals, but what doesn't show up in the newspaper is her leadership and her commitment to the program," he said Wednesday. "She's truly dedicated herself to this program and getting better."
The 5-foot-7 guard said she was recruited also by Bridgewater and Berry, but connections to Maryville were too strong. She has played for a Knoxville-based AAU team coached by former Maryville player Natalie Munday, and the club often practiced at MC, so coach Darrin Travillian "has watched me grow up," McCurdy said.
"And I really like the girls on the team," she added. "It's a really pretty campus and I wanted (to study) pre-med, and they have that."
Moore plans to be part of Huntingdon's pre-med pathway as a biology major. A team captain and setter with 1,233 career assists for GPS, she picked the Montgomery, Ala., school over two other USA South members, LaGrange and Agnes Scott.
The Rossville resident said she likes Montgomery and its historical aspects, and she's attracted to Huntingdon's small-school atmosphere and its "academic point of view." She first visited the campus in January.
"The thing that makes her special is her volleyball IQ is well exceeding average. She has a coach's vision of what needs to happen," former GPS coach Alfie Dodd said. "Her court savvy is incredible, and she's a very mature player. She could run a college offense in her junior season in high school."
Wildcat turns Cougar
Hixson senior Jared Thomas signed Wednesday to play golf for Cleveland State.
Thomas, who never has had a golf lesson but played in the state tournament as a Wildcats junior, initiated contact with new Cougars coach Miles Moseley. Moseley set up an evaluation session at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay and was "shocked" by the player's skills.
"I think his potential is extremely high, and he's an impressive young man," Moseley said. "We're always looking for those diamonds in the rough we can develop for the next level, and he fits that bill perfectly."
Said Hixson coach Earl Cornette: "I think this will be the perfect environment for Jared. He has all the tools, he's got a feel for the game, and he hits it plenty far."
Thomas said he thinks what Moseley is putting together is "great" and added, "I'm beyond excited to be a part of this team."
Contact Ron Bush at rbush@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6291.