Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Summer Sports Notes
8/19/2003 10:35:00 AM | General
Head coach Stephany Smith saw great turnover in her staff after the season, as Kate Sullivan, Jennifer Grandstaff and Kelly Chastain all moved on. Smith replaced the trio with Kim Rosamond, Drew Clinton and Chevonne Hammond-Taylor.
All seven returning players stayed on campus this season to take classes and work out with strength and conditioning coach Darren Edgington.
VOLLEYBALL
Head coach Lisa Kissee had to replace assistant coach Tara Miller, who resigned in mid-May. Kissee hired Jay Umboh for the position.
Junior Evi Gargalianos has been chosen to play in the World University Games for her native country, Greece. The Games are set for August 21-31 in Daegu, South Korea. Gargalianos was selected to play on the Greek National Team after competing in the Greek National University games for the University of Peraeus. She and her teammates won the tournament and she caught the attention of the head coach of the Greek National Team.
Junior Goldie Bilyeu has been cleared to play. Bilyeu sat out last season after undergoing shoulder surgery and her availability for this season was in doubt. Also senior LaToya Brown will also be back after sitting out last season.
SOFTBALL
Head coach Cindy Connelley lost her assistant, Ernie Reynolds, at the end of July. Connelley is currently searching for a replacement for Reynolds as well as a graduate assistant for the program.
Connelley has named seniors Cortney Mitchell and Kristina Hieb captains for the upcoming season.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Senior Tommy Gunn was named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State team last week. Gunn, who was a First Team All-Sun Belt performer a year ago, averaged 15.9 points per game and scored his 1,000th career point. Gunn also set personal highs for single game scoring and rebounding over the course of his junior season as well as recording his first double-double.
Middle Tennessee's basketball players participated in a summer pro-am league in Nashville to keep their skills sharp against top-notch competition. The league, which was certified by the NCAA, featured players from several local colleges including Vanderbilt, Tennessee State, Belmont and Tennessee along with local professional players. Included in the league was former Tennessee player Ron Slay and current Wooden Award Watch List member Matt Freije of Vanderbilt. "I thought the league was good for our guys because it allowed them to play against very good competition in a more structured environment than just playing pick-up games," said head coach Kermit Davis. "The guys got a chance to play in eight or 10 games, which will help them out when we start our workouts in a couple of weeks."
BASEBALL
Chad Cooper was taken with the first pick in the 11th round by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the Major League Baseball Amatuer Draft. Jerry Knox signed with the Shreveport (La.) Sports, an independent professional franchise in the Central Baseball League.
Brett Carroll finished the season tied for 21st in the nation in home runs per game (0.32) and 48th in the country in slugging percentage (0.670) in the final NCAA statistics released after the College World Series. Josh Archer was 62nd in home runs per game (0.25) and Chase Swing tied for 24th in the country with his 11 saves.
Sophomore Chase Eakes played in the Clark Griffith League for the Baltimore (MD) Pride before suffering a car accident on July 9. The Goodpasture HS product suffered cuts and bruises and urderwent surgery to close a deep gash in his leg, but otherwise came out of the wreck in good condition and should be ready to go for fall workouts. Eakes was batting .297 in 21 games with four doubles and 11 RBIs.
Junior Chase Swing continued his excellent relief work this summer for the Staunton (VA) Braves in the Valley League. Swing posted a 5-0 mark with five saves in 19.2 innings of work, allowing just 14 hits with 19 strikeouts and only two walks. The Shelbyville, Tenn., native struck out the side in a playoff game at the end of the regular season to help the Braves win the South Division in the league. Swing also tossed one shutout inning for the South in the Valley League All-Star Game and was named First Team All-Valley Baseball League as a reliever.
Sophomore Marcus Taylor of the Bethesda Big Train was selected as the Player of the Week in the Clark Griffith League for the week ending July 12. Taylor, a lefthanded-hitting outfielder, went 8-for-14 for a .571 average, including four doubles and six RBIs to lead the Big Train to three wins. Taylor's three homers all came in the same game on July 9, as the Lexington, Ky., native tied a league wood-bat record set by current Texas Ranger Mark Teixeira in 1998. Taylor blasted three round-trippers against Herndon on July 9 in a 7-6 Big Train victory, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs in the contest, hitting his third home run in the 11th inning to provide the margin of victory. Taylor ended the season batting .312 in 31 games with eight doubles, four home runs and 22 RBIs as well as 14 runs scored.
Taylor's teammate, sophomore Shay Horseman, also had a spectacular summer for the Big Train, posting a 4-1 mark with a 1.71 ERA. Horseman had 10 appearances, six starts, working 42.0 innings with 47 strikeouts and 15 walks and allowing just 27 hits.
Junior Steve Kline enjoyed a successful summer pitching for the Mat-Su Miners in the Alaska Baseball League. Kline made 10 starts, posting a 4-2 mark with a 2.61 ERA in 62.0 innings of work, striking out 37 and walking just six.
Senior Chuck Akers and junior Josh Archer both struggled through the pitching-dominated Cape Cod League, playing for the Harwich (MA) Mariners. Akers batted .196 in 35 games with 10 runs scored and six stolen bases. Archer had five doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs in 34 games, but also struck out 40 times in 120 at-bats in posting a .175 batting average.
Juniors Brett Carroll and Chris Mobley both played for the Florence (SC) Redwolves in the Coastal Plain League. Carroll batted .246 in 45 games with seven doubles and 20 RBIs along with 15 runs scored. Mobley posted a 4-4 mark, making 10 appearances with nine starts. The Kingsport, Tenn., native had 46 strikeouts in 53.1 innings of work, posting 1.01 ERA and allowing just 40 hits.
Junior Nate Jaggers struggled through his campaign for the Wilmington (NC) Sharks, also in the CPL, batting just .179 in 30 games with three doubles, five RBIs and seven runs scored.
Senior Shane Kemp and junior Danny Borne both played for the Stark County Terriers in Canton, Ohio. Kemp batted .229 in 31 contests, scoring 12 runs with five doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs. Borne made six appearances, all starts, tossing two complete games and posting a 2-4 mark in 27.2 innings of work. Borne struck out 30 and walked just eight.
Senior Troy Harp posted a .216 batting average in 30 games for the Madison (WI) Mallards in the Northwoods League. Harp had nine RBIs, helping the Mallards make the playoffs after posting a 36-24 regular-season record.
Junior Chris LeGuenec played for the Thunder Bay (Ontario) Border Cats, also in the Northwoods League, batting .150 in 38 games with five doubles, six RBIs and 11 runs scored.
SOCCER
Junior Laura Miguez recently returned from the U.S. Soccer Festival in Houston, Texas. The camp was composed of four region teams from around the country as well as the national U-17 team. The 90 players in the tournament were all trying out for the U-23 national "B" squad that will represent the United States in national competition later this year while the Women's World Cup is taking place. Miguez participated in the camp as a member of the South team, scoring a goal in three games as her team posted a 2-1 record.
Danielle LaDuke, Melissa Wellman and Brooke Ward all played for the Rocket City Kicks Soccer Club at the Snickers Region III U-19 Southeast Regional in Greensboro, N.C., at the end of June. The squad finished second in the tournament, falling to the Peach Tree Soccer Club of Georgia. Peach Tree went on to win the national championship.
GOLF
Junior Amanda Harter won the consolation bracket at Tennessee Women's State Amateur at Black Creek Golf Club in Chattanooga. Incoming freshman Maggie McGill was a member of the winning team at the Tri-State Cup Matches at the Legends Club in Franklin, Ind. The Tri-State Cup Matches are held annually with participants from Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Sophomore Josh Nelms carded a Top 10 finish at the Spirit of America in Decatur, Ala., while junior Blake Bivens finished as the runner-up at the Knoxville (TN) Amateur. Charlie Gibson placed 50th at the prestigious Southern Amateur in Homestead, Va., and incoming freshman Nick Bayless placed 17th at the AJGA Ringgold Junior Classic in Ringgold, Ga. Transfer Chris Webb set the course record at the Jackson (TN) Country Club with a 63, and junior Kenny Green is currently participating in the Tennessee State Amatuer in Knoxville.
TENNIS
Former Blue Raider Fred Niemeyer made a big splash, winning three times to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon and winning his first-round match. Niemeyer fell in the second round in five sets. He also played top-ranked Andre Agassi on ESPN2 on August 4 in the first round of the Tennis Masters - Montreal event.
Former Blue Raider Daniel Klemetz began his professional career over the summer, playing in several events in Canada. Klemetz made the finals of his first event and has continued to play well during the summer.
