BY DAVE LINK MURFEESBORO – Alcoa’s Bacon Lauderback hadn’t forgotten the disappointment he felt after losing in last year’s Class A state quarterfinal game. Nor did his teammates. They didn’t let it happen again Wednesday … [Read more...]
Hardin Valley Academy boys soccer concludes season in Class AAA semifinals; last game for Jessica Stephens Burkhart as coach
BY DAVE LINK MURFEESBORO – Hardin Valley Academy’s run in the Class AAA state soccer tournament came to an end Wednesday afternoon. So did Jessica Stephens Burkhart’s stint as the boys and girls’ coach at Hardin Valley. Station Camp of … [Read more...]
Knoxville Catholic Lady Irish tennis team 3-peats as Division II-AA champ with 4-1 win over Baylor; CAK Warriors claim silver in Division II-A
MURFREESBORO – Senior captains Maeve Thornton and Gigi Sompayrac put the finishing touches on their Catholic tennis careers Wednesday morning at Adams Tennis Complex. After teaming to clinch the doubles point, Thornton and Sompayrac won singles … [Read more...]
CLASS AA STATE SOCCER: Halls Red Devils wins first-ever state soccer game; Greeneville soccer dominates its opening match
BY DAVE LINK MURFREESBORO – Halls gritted out a victory in its first-ever trip to the state soccer tournament Tuesday night. Greeneville, meanwhile, coasted to a win in its 12th appearance at state. Both teams advanced to Wednesday’s … [Read more...]
Defending Class A champion Gatlinburg-Pittman relishing this week’s underdog status; Highlanders score 3-1 quarterfinal win
BY DAVE LINK MURFREESBORO – Even the defending state champion can be an underdog. Just ask Gatlinburg-Pittman soccer coach Zach Schrandt. He led the Highlanders to Class A state championships last year and in 2018 and to runner-up finishes … [Read more...]
CLASS AAA SOCCER: Hardin Valley advances to semifinals, 3-2; Bearden Bulldogs fall 1-0 to defending-champ Brentwood (23-0)
MURFREESBORO – Two teams from District 4-AAA made their appearances Tuesday afternoon in the state soccer quarterfinals at Siegel Soccer Complex. Hardin Valley Academy survived and advanced. Bearden did not. The Bulldogs lost to Brentwood … [Read more...]
Brad Cochran resigns as head girls basketball coach at Lenoir City High School
BY DAVE LINK Brad Cochran’s stint as the Lenoir City girls’ basketball coach is over after two seasons. Cochran resigned as the Lady Panthers’ coach Sunday and told the team Sunday night. “I’m going to pursue other coaching opportunities,” … [Read more...]
2023 STATE TENNIS PRIMER: The Teams and Players to Know
BY DAVE LINK Catholic tennis coach Rusty Morris has been around the Knoxville-area tennis scene for a long time, and he can’t recall a player being more dominant than senior Maeve Thornton. The Furman signee has not lost a high school match in … [Read more...]
‘Job’s Not Finished’ – Bearden Bulldogs boys soccer team downs Science Hill, 2-0, to win state sectional; Celebration not in order yet
BY DAVE LINK Hold the confetti. No celebration yet. The Bearden boys’ soccer team earned the program’s 16th trip to the state tournament with Saturday night’s 2-0 victory over visiting Johnson City Science Hill in the sectional round. Yet … [Read more...]
Anna French’s walk-off homer in the ninth sends Farragut Lady Admirals to 4A Softball State Tournament
BY DAVE LINK Farragut’s softball team was one out — and one strike — from elimination Friday night in the Class 4A state sectional game against visiting Morristown West. … [Read more...]