University of Tennessee at Chattanooga junior golfer Wes Gosselin got an at-large bid into the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional running May 16-18 at the Ol' Colony Golf Complex. While UTC men's teams have made eight regional appearances starting in 2007, Gosselin is the first in the program to go as an individual since Neil Connolly in 1993, according to a UTC release Thursday. "I wish all the guys could go, but we made a lot of progress as a team this year," Gosselin said in the release. "I'm excited to go and represent us this year." He is an All-Southern Conference golfer and had the fifth best stroke average in program history this season, 72.29. "Wes took a really strong step forward this year," coach Mark Guhne said. "He deserves to be on this stage and is ready for the challenge."
- UTC's Emily McLennan, playing as an individual in the women's Shoal Creek Regional at Birmingham, Ala., is tied for 33rd at 5-over-par 77 after Thursday's first round. Baylor School alumna Blakesly Warren for Tennessee is in a tie for 15th at 75, and Middle Tennessee State's Avery George from Walker Valley is tied for 25th at 76 with Jenna Burris from St. Andrew's-Sewanee at 77. Those were the Blue Raiders' two best scores. Vanderbilt's Jennifer Hahn shot a 70 and leads by two shots. Northwestern is the team leader at 296, with Florida State at 299 and Tennessee third out of 18 teams at 300.
- The Dalton State women's golf team, ranked No. 3 in the NAIA, was one of three teams from the Southern States Athletic Conference awarded bids to the NAIA women's national tournament May 17-21 at Savannah Quarters Country Club in Pooler, Ga. The Roadrunners finished in a three-way tie for second on the same course last year and had the national medalist, Julia McQuilken.
Tennis
- Girls Preparatory School director of tennis Sue Bartlett will represent her native Great Britain for the seventh time in the ITF Senior World Tennis Championships. The 2016 event is set for June 18-26 in Helsinki, Finland. Bartlett, who remains excited by her team's gold medal in her first participation in 2009 in Spain, has been nominated as the British captain this year. "I really enjoy the places we are able to visit and the camaraderie more than anything," said Bartlett, who also has been to Mexico, New Zealand, Turkey, France and Florida in World play. "I enjoy making many new friends from around the world, and I try to be an ambassador for both Britain and the United States - and, of course, GPS." Bartlett came from England to play for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has won four national singles titles: two each in the U.S. and Britain.
Softball
- UTC senior Sam Taylor from Gordon Lee High School was announced Thursday as a member of the Academic All-District III team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America for NCAA Division I softball. That requires a minimum grade point average of 3.3 and participation in at least of a team's games. Taylor bats leadoff and plays center field and has a 3.76 GPA as well as a team-high .337 batting average and 55 hits, including 12 doubles. UTC ends its regular season by hosting East Tennessee State at 6 p.m. Saturday and in a Sunday doubleheader starting at 1, and the team's booster club is holding a game-day breakfast Saturday at 9 a.m. at Wally's Restaurant on McCallie Avenue. Assistant coaches Clare Hosack and Scottie Kilgore will be the guest speakers. Reservations are not needed.
Baseball
- Covenant baseball junior Luke Harvey was voted to the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District team for Division III, which required a 3.3 or better GPA and significant on-field contributions. He is the first Covenant baseball player to earn that distinction. He led the USA South with a .413 batting average this season and set a Covenant record with 26 stolen bases. He also had 15 extra-base hits, 28 RBIs and 39 runs.
Volleyball
- East Paulding High School senior Sierra Crew is joining the Georgia Northwestern volleyball team after making frequent nearly two-hour trips to GNTC's home facility in Rossville for open-gym workouts the past couple of months. "This is definitely the farthest away we've ever had anyone sign," Lady Bobcats coach Carrie Powell said in a release, "but she and a couple of her club-ball teammates found us and really have been super committed." Crew, a left-hander who has been playing volleyball only two years but has worked at virtually all positions, preferring middle or right side, said she is excited also that GNTC offers a neuromuscular therapy degree. "She's got a really nice vertical jump, so she can play in the middle, and she also set the ball some for us, too," East Paulding coach Sheri Almond said. Powell called Crew "that true hitter we need."
Track & Field
- Lee University sophomores Harold Smith and Audrey Smith won events at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier on Wednesday at Liberty University. Harold won the men's 800-meter run in 1:52.42, and Audrey won the women's 3000 steeplechase in 11:05.36. Lee's Adrian Martin was second in the women's 100 in 11.74 and third in the 200 in 24.11, and Justin Brooks was third in the men's 400 in 47.55.
Football
- The Titans Caravan is scheduled to be at the Academy Sports + Outdoors store on Highway 153 in Hixson at 3 p.m. Saturday, and wide receivers Justin Hunter and Richard Matthews and defensive tackle Jurrell Casey are the players scheduled to appear along with radio play-by-play announcer Mike Keith and mascot T-Rac for autographs and photo opportunities, free to the public. The caravan also is scheduled to be in Knoxville at noon and Murfreesboro at 6:30 p.m. EDT that day.