Staff file photo by Robin Rudd / Sean McDaniel, the president and general manager of the Chattanooga Red Wolves, was thrilled with the public's response to a recent campaign to donate 100% of the professional soccer team's merchandise sales to a local YMCA program that provides free meals.Sidelined from soccer during the coronavirus pandemic, the Chattanooga Red Wolves and their fans used the time to support the YMCA's food program and scored big. According to a Red Wolves release, their online merchandise sales from April 3-17 - plus a dollar-for-dollar match by the team - generated 1,360 meals for children in need in Hamilton County, surpassing the club's goal of 1,000. "We had no doubt that the Chattanooga community would step in and help with this initiative, but even these numbers are beyond belief," Red Wolves general manager and president Sean McDaniel said in the release. "What a great testimony from our fans and family. We are thankful for the incredible spirit of giving that continues making the Scenic City the best place in the country." Those who wish to provide additional support to the YMCA of Chattanooga can call 423-266-3766.
Basketball
* University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball coach Lamont Paris has announced the transfer of James Madison University three-year starter Darius Banks for next season, an anticipated move previously reported by the Times Free Press after Banks shared his destination via social media. "He's experienced," Paris said in a UTC release. "He's produced in games including early in his career. He's comfortable playing a key role. Strong frame, physical player can play multiple positions on both ends of floor, which I like a lot." In the same release, Banks said Mocs coaches made him and his mother feel "valued" during the recruiting process: "I liked their plan on how they would use me to help the team both in what they said, and what they showed me." The possible NCAA approval of a one-time waiver to provide transfers immediate eligibility could provide the option for Banks to play in 2020-21. "This is a unique situation we're in with the rule," Paris said in the release. "There's uncertainty, which changes your recruiting. Some guys you prefer to sit out because of the construction of your roster. I like him either way. He's a really good player, but more importantly he's a high-character kid from a good family. He joins the program with the anticipation of sitting a year. We like him in either scenario."
Golf
* Honors continue to roll in for the Dalton State College trio of Sport Allmond, Matthew Cleary and Ben Rebne, with all three earning PING All-America recognition as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America this week, Rebne on the NAIA first team - for the second straight season - and Allmond and Cleary on the second team. Allmond and Rebne are seniors from Ringgold who played together at Heritage High School; Cleary is a junior from Dalton and Southeast Whitfield High School. Also this week, Allmond, who has a 3.78 GPA and is majoring in management information systems, was named the Southern States Athletic Conference scholar-athlete of the year in men's golf. As previously reported by the Times Free Press, all three received all-region and all-conference recognition.
* Lee freshman Beck Burnette is a PING All-America second-team selection in Division II. The All-South Region honoree added to his accolades after setting the program's single-season scoring record and finishing 10th in the nation among D-II men by averaging 71.30 strokes per round. He helped the Flames to a No. 9 national ranking.
* Cleveland State freshman Wes Spillers received honorable mention to the PING All-America team for NJCAA Division II and was a member of the All-East Region lineup, becoming the first Cougar to receive such recognition in both cases for a program revived in 2017. He set program scoring records for single round and two-day total and held a national ranking as high as 16th.
* Dalton State senior Isabel Rijos made the Women's Golf Coaches Association's All-America second team for NAIA, her fourth straight year receiving some form of All-America recognition. Her adjusted scoring average of 75.50 was 19th in the Golfstat national rankings at the end of a season in which she won twice to push her career victories total to seven and set the program record.
* Lee senior Haverly Harrold and sophomore Emily Felix received honorable mention to the WGCA All-America lineup for NCAA Division II, with the stroke averages for Harrold (74.73) and Felix (75.59) both ranking among the top 50 in the nation among D-II women and their play helping lead the Lady Flames to a final ranking of No. 11 for 2019-20. In other recognition, senior Judianne Speach is the first recipient of a new Gulf South Conference honor as the league's "Champion Scholar-Athlete" for women's golf. Speach, who is majoring in math, has a 4.0 GPA and was a member of the All-GSC second team as a junior.
* Sewanee sophomore Margaret Wentz made the WGCA All-Southeast Region lineup after leading the Tigers in stroke average this past season at 78.7 in 10 rounds with a team-leading low of 76 three times.
Running
* LaFayette High School's Hannah Dearing is one of four signees for the 2020-21 UTC women's cross country and track rosters recently announced by coach Andy Meyer. Dearing's prep athletic achievements include third place in the 3,200-meter run at the Region 6-AAAA meet and a runner-up finish at the Walker County Cross Country Championships, and academically she was ranked third in her class as a sophomore and junior. Joining Dearing in the group of signees are three Tennessee prep runners: Julianna McReynolds from Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport, Rebekah Pass from Knoxville's Hardin Valley and Brooke Rieves from Brentwood Academy.
* Cleveland State sophomore Sadie Lane from Ringgold High School, who ran cross country and was part of the Cougars' cheerleading squad, is one of 12 national finalists and the Tennessee representative for the Southern States Correctional Associations Kenneth Law Scholarship, a $10,000 grant. Lane, a criminal justice student, is set to attend Missouri Valley College next school year and plans to continue her athletic career there.
Volleyball
* Cleveland State freshman Celie Patterson from Rhea County High School and Spring City has signed with NAIA Division II program Tennessee Wesleyan for next season. The 5-foot-6 opposite hitter played in all 27 matches during the Cougars' 2019 season in which they finished as region runners-up, tallying 110 assists (second on the team), 151 digs and 52 kills. In a Cleveland State release, Cougars coach Alizabeth Atnip praised the versatility and cooperation shown by Patterson: "She was someone I could rely on to play any position I asked of her. In the middle of the season, we struggled in our setting position, and when she was asked to fill that role, she took it in stride. She always looks to improve, work with teammates to better assist them, and she helped lead the team out of a slump."
Lacrosse
* Sewanee junior defender Logan Bulls received honorable mention to Inside Lacrosse's Maverik All-America team for NCAA Division III women. She started all nine of the Tigers' games in the pandemic-shortened spring season and was credited with 32 ground balls and 26 turnovers forced. She is the 13-year-old program's first player to receive All-America recognition, according to a Sewanee release.
Compiled by Marty Kirkland. Contact him at mirkland@timesfreepress.com.