From staff reports

NFL

Defensive end Chris Smith (West Rowan) has signed a three-year contract with the Cleveland Browns.

A story is upcoming.

College swimming

GREENSBORO — Queens swimmer McKenzie Stevens (Salisbury) placed second in the 200 freestyle at the D-II Nationals and swam on the 400 medley relay national champs.

Queens is in first place in the team competition.

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Catawba sophomore Joao Barreto swam in his first event, the 100 butterfly, at the 2018 D-II Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday and was 16th. The meet is being held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

Barreto will swim today in the 200 fly.

Middle school baseball

Casey  Gouge scattered five hits over five innings as West Rowan defeated Southeast 13-1 on Thursday.

Bulldogs (1-0) were led at the plate by Jake Blevins with three hits and five RBIs.

West will play Knox at home on Tuesday, at Erwin Wednesday, and at China Grove on Thursday.

Catawba lacrosse

HARTSVILLE, S.C.  –  Catawba rallied from a 7-5 halftime deficit to post a 14-8 win over Coker in South Atlantic Conference men’s lacrosse action on Thursday afternoon at the Coker Athletic Field.

The Catawba Indians improved to 4-3 overall and 2-0 in the SAC, while the Cobras fall to 3-4 and 0-2.

Liam Lynch, Joe Barber and Cole Fanzo scored three goals each.

Catawba travels to Wingate on Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. contest.

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SALISBURY —  Indiana (Pa.), ranked 17th in NCAA II, claimed a 25-7 win over host Catawba in women’s lacrosse action on Thursday afternoon at Shuford Stadium. The win improves the Crimson Hawks to 3-0 on the year, while the Catawba Indians fell to 5-5.

Nicole Hunt scored five goals for Catawba.

Catawba returns to league play on Wednesday with a 4 p.m. game at Wingate.

College softball

SALISBURY  —  Catawba fell to visiting North Georgia in a softball doubleheader at Whitley Field on Thursday afternoon. The Nighthawks, ranked second in Division II, took the opener, 7-0, and won the second game, 7-3. The Indians are 12-13, while the Nighthawks are 30-1.

Carlee Brawley had two hits for Catawba in the opener.

In the second game,  Leah Huggins singled home Catawba’s first run in the third and homered in the fifth.

Beth Ann Martin (South Rowan) singled home a run in the sixth. Huggins and Monica Taylor had two hits.

Catawba travels to Lincoln Memorial Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

  

College tennis

The Wingate women won, 9-0, against Catawba on Thursday.  Wingate’s women have won 61 straight SAC matches.

Catawba’s men managed a doubles win in an 8-1 loss to Wingate.