Area Sports Briefs: Big honors for local athletes
Published 2:16 am Sunday, January 2, 2022
Sprinter Ernest Wiggins uses the Holmes Convocation Center concourse for indoor practice. (Appalachian photo by Mike Rominger)
Mark Sturgis clears a hurdle. Photo by Joey Benton.
From staff reports
Sprinter Ernest Wiggins (South Rowan, Appalachian State) and jumper Mark Sturgis Jr. (North Rowan, West Rowan, Appalachian State have been named to the Southern Conference’s 100th annivesary team for men’s track and field.
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Hurdler Melissa Morrison (A.L. Brown, Appalachian State) and sprinter Shonté Pinkston (A.L. Brown, Appalachian State) were named to the women’s 100th anniversary team.
Pro football
Defensive lineman Kyle Kitchens (Catawba) has been named the Defensive Player of the Year for the European League of Football.
Kitchens had 12.5 sacks for the Leipzig Kings.
Kitchens led the German Football League in sacks the previous season with 16.
Kitchens had 38 career sacks at Catawba.
AD retires
Carson AD Becky Shopf has retired.
Josh Trexler, boys tennis coach, among other duties, will be replacing her.
The naming of a new head football coach to replace Daniel Crosby is still a ways off.
High school football
Salisbury linebacker Jalon Walker (Georgia) will be competing in today’s Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando.
The game is being televised at 2 p.m. by ESPN.
College basketball
Scheduled games for the Catawba’s men’s basketball team and the Livingstone men’s and women’s teams were canceled during the holiday period.
Catawba’s men’s home game with Young Harris scheduled for today is off. Catawba has had a number of positive COVID tests.
So has Catawba’s undefeated women’s team, but the women did not have any games scheduled during the holidays.
The Indians hope to return to action as scheduled at Anderson on Jan. 5.
College football
Virginia State associate head coach, recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach Trumaine Watson (A.L. Brown) will be part of the East staff for the East-West Shrine Bowl, Jan. 26-Feb. 4.
College golf
Nick Lyerly (East Rowan, UNC Greensboro) shot 66-68-65 and tied for third at 11-under in an elite field in the 54-hole Patriot All-America Tournament held at The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Arizona.
Lyerly made three straight birdies to finish his middle round.
The Patriot All-America event honors fallen or severely wounded soldiers in partnership with the Folds of Honor Foundation.
Lyerly was playing in honor of staff sergeant Jerome Lemon, who was killed serving in the U.S. Army in 2004.
