TSWA recognizes college players of the week - Sept. 30

September 30, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia and Tennessee’s Arion Carter were named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Tuesday, as announced by the organization.

Pavia accounted for 400 yards of total offense and six touchdowns in Vanderbilt’s win over Utah State. He completed 26-of-34 passes for 321 yards and a school-record-tying five touchdowns. He also led the Commodores with 79 yards rushing and one TD on just nine carries.

Pavia recorded a career-high in completions while posting 400 yards of total offense for the second time in his collegiate career. He became the only Commodore to account for six touchdowns against an NCAA FBS opponent since 1996 and guided a unit that finished with 543 yards of total offense. He moved into sixth place on the career touchdown passes list with 33 and helped Vanderbilt to its first 5-0 start since 2008. The Commodores have scored 30-plus points in each of its first five games and 50 or more points in consecutive contests for the first time since 1915.

Carter posted a career-best 17 tackles and provided the game-winning pass breakup in overtime on fourth down at the goal line in Tennessee’s overtime win at Mississippi State. His 17 tackled are tied for the most by an FBS player in a game this season (Chisom - UCLA, Hinspeter - UMass). Carter leads the SEC and is tied for second among Power Four players with 49 tackles this year. That total is 15 more than the next closest SEC player.

MEN’S SOCCER: Carson-Newman’s Mitchell Honcoop scored a goal in each of the team’s two matches, versus the University of Montevallo and a 2-1 victory at Newberry College. He posted an unassisted goal in the 26th minute to put the Eagles in front against Montevallo and netted what proved to be the game-winning score in the 86th minute, also unassisted, in a win versus Newberry. Honcoop has a team-leading four goals in eight matches this season.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Maryville College’s Anabelle Procter recorded a pair of goals in two victories for the Scots. She scored twice in a victory against Huntingdon College, connecting on a penalty kick in the 21st minute and added a score in the 60th minute, her first goals of the season.

VOLLEYBALL: Middle Tennessee’s Raegan Durbin registered a pair of double-doubles in two matches for the Blue Raiders. She recorded 13 kills (.407 hitting efficiency) and 19 digs in a sweep of Kennesaw State and added 13 kills and 10 digs in the second meeting with the Owls. Durbin averaged 3.71 kills and 4.14 digs per set as an outside hitter.

2025 TSWA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Colton Hood, Tennessee (Defense)
Sept. 9 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Theron Gaines, Tennessee Tech (Defense)
Sept. 16 | Bryson Rollins, Maryville College (Offense); CJ Heard, Vanderbilt (Defense)
Sept. 23 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Cannon Johnson, Cumberland (Defense)
Sept. 30 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Arion Carter, Tennessee (Defense)

2025 TSWA MEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Grayson White, Sewanee
Sept. 9 | Alpha Bah, Sewanee
Sept. 16 | Grayson White, Sewanee
Sept. 23 | Stokes McConnell, Sewanee
Sept. 30 | Mitchell Honcoop, Carson-Newman

2025 TSWA WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Susie Whitsett, Sewanee
Sept. 9 | Sara Wojdelko, Vanderbilt
Sept. 16 | Molly Buciewicz, Carson-Newman
Sept. 23 | Kylene Monaghan, Sewanee
Sept. 30 | Anabelle Procter, Maryville College

2025 TSWA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Caroline Macander, Middle Tennessee
Sept. 9 | Kylie Wilhelmi, Maryville College
Sept. 16 | Emerson Ahsmuhs, Carson-Newman
Sept. 23 | Kamryn Chaney, Vanderbilt
Sept. 30 | Raegan Durbin, Middle Tennessee

TSWA/USA Today Network Prep Poll - Sept. 29

September 29, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association and USA Today Network announced football rankings after Week 6 on Monday. Top 10 teams in each of the six Division I classifications and Top 5 in three Division II classes were selected by TSWA members and USA Today writers with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

Division I
Class 1A
1. McKenzie (5-1) – 157 (13). Last Week: No. 1
2. South Pittsburg (4-1) – 155 (3). Last Week: No. 2
3. Coalfield (4-2) – 123. Last Week: No. 3
4. Oliver Springs (5-1) – 109. Last Week: No. 4
5. Clay County (5-1) – 95. Last Week: No. 5
6. Hampton (5-1) – 67. Last Week: No. 8
7. Dresden (4-2) – 64. Last Week: No. 7
8. South Fulton (5-0) – 55. Last Week: No. 9
9. Huntland (5-1) – 34. Last Week: No. 10
10. Richland (4-2) – 19. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 2A
1. Milan (6-0) – 158 (14). Last Week: No. 1
2. East Robertson (6-0) – 146 (2). Last Week: No. 2
3. Peabody (6-0) – 117. Last Week: No. 3
4. Marion County (5-1) – 114. Last Week: No. 4
5. Huntingdon (5-1) – 96. Last Week: No. 5
6. Gordonsville (6-0) – 73. Last Week: No. 6
7. Fairley (4-2) – 53. Last Week: No. 7
8. East Nashville (1-4) – 50. Last Week: No. 8
9. Bledsoe County (5-1) – 42. Last Week: No. 9
10. Lewis County (6-0) – 24. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 3A
1. Westview (5-0) – 160 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Gatlinburg-Pittman (6-0) – 139. Last Week: No. 2
3. Covington (6-0) – 128. Last Week: No. 3
4. Tyner Academy (6-0) – 115. Last Week: No. 4
5. Meigs County (5-1) – 95. Last Week: No. 5
6. Melrose (5-1) – 78. Last Week: No. 6
7. Dyersburg (5-1) – 61. Last Week: No. 7
8. Sequatchie County (4-2) – 46. Last Week: No. 8
9. Waverly (5-0) – 33. Last Week: 9
10. Whites Creek (6-0) – 24. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 4A
1. Alcoa (6-0) – 160 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Anderson County (4-1) – 135. Last Week: No. 4
3. Greeneville (5-1) – 120. Last Week: No. 3
4. Pearl-Cohn (2-4) – 92. Last Week: No. 8
5. Springfield (5-1)– 91. Last Week: No. 2
6. Upperman (4-2) – 88. Last Week: No. 6
7. Elizabethton (5-1) – 86. Last Week: 7
8. Macon County (5-1) – 35. Last Week: No. 5
9. Haywood (4-2) – 34. Last Week: No. 9
10. White County (5-1) – 30. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 5A
1. Sevier County (5-0) – 158 (15). Last Week: No. 1
2. Page (5-0) – 144. Last Week: No. 2
3. Powell (5-0) – 130 (1). Last Week: No. 3
4. Munford (5-0) – 109. Last Week: No. 4
5. Beech (4-1) – 92. Last Week: No. 5
6. East Hamilton (6-0) – 77. Last Week: No. 7
7. Walker Valley (5-1) – 66. Last Week: No. 8
8. Kirkwood (5-1) – 37. Last Week: No. 10
9. Knox Central (4-2) – 28. Last Week: No. 9
10. Lincoln County (5-1) – 25. Last Week: No. 6
Other who received 10 or more points: McMinn County (12)

Class 6A
1. Oakland (6-0) – 160 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Ravenwood (6-0) – 143. Last Week: No. 2
3. Germantown (6-0) – 125. Last Week: No. 3
4. Maryville (5-1) – 115. Last Week: No. 4
5. Oak Ridge (6-0) – 94. Last Week: No. 5
6. Southwind (6-0) – 79. Last Week: No. 7
7. Blackman (5-1) – 56. Last Week: No. 6
8. Antioch (6-1) – 31. Last Week: Not Ranked
t9. Riverdale (3-2) – 23. Last Week: No. 10
t9. Collierville (4-2) – 23. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-A
1. Nashville Christian (6-0) – 80 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Jackson Christian (6-0) – 64. Last Week: No. 2
3. University School of Jackson (6-0) – 47. Last Week: 3
4. Friendship Christian (5-1) – 31. Last Week: No. 4
5. Donelson Christian (4-2) – 16. Last Week: No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AA
1. Franklin Road Academy (5-0) – 75 (11). Last Week: No. 3
2. Boyd Buchanan (5-0) – 67 (5). Last Week: No. 2
3. Battle Ground Academy (4-1) – 49. Last Week: No. 1
4. Grace Christian Academy-Franklin (6-0) – 34. Last Week: 4
5. Grace Christian Academy-Knoxville (4-1) – 8. Last Week: No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AAA
1. Baylor School (5-0) – 80 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Brentwood Academy (5-0) – 62. Last Week: No. 2
4. McCallie School (5-1) – 43. Last Week: No. 4
3. Ensworth School (4-2) – 38. Last Week: No. 3
5. Montgomery Bell Academy (4-1) – 17. Last Week: 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Publications that participated in the voting include The Tennessean in Nashville, the Knoxville News Sentinel, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, The Daily Herald in Columbia, The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, The Leaf-Chronicle in Clarksville, 615Preps.com, The Chattanooga Times Free Press, Five Star Preps, The Mirror-Exchange in Milan, Tri-Cities Sports, The Westmoreland News and Union City Messenger.

College players of the week named by TSWA - Sept. 23

September 23, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia and Cumberland University’s Cannon Johnson were named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Tuesday, as announced by the organization.

Pavia completed 18-of-24 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown while rushing for a season-high 86 yards and one TD on nine carries, accumulating 330 yards of total offense while playing just one series into the third quarter. He surpassed 3,000 yards passing and 4,000 yards of total offense in his Vanderbilt career in the contest. The Commodores scored 70 points for the first time since the 1918 campaign and registered 635 total yards while averaging a school-record 8.9 yards per play. Vanderbilt is 4-0 for the first time since the 2008 season.

Johnson collected nine tackles and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, helping the Phoenix overcome a 17-point deficit in a 21-17 victory at the University of Pikeville. He registered seven solo stops and returned the blocked punt for a TD late in the third quarter for a score. Pikeville entered the game leading the NAIA with 422 passing yards per game but the Cumberland defense held the Bears to just 271, 151 below their average for the year.

MEN’S SOCCER: Sewanee’s Stokes McConnell scored a goal in each match and handed out one assist in the team’s two road wins, the first road contests of the season for the Tigers. He scored just after halftime in Saturday's triumph at William Peace, giving the Tigers a 3-0 advantage, picking off a poor goal kick before beating his defender for the score in the 51st minute. In Sunday's victory at Guilford, McConnell gave Sewanee a 2-0 edge in the 11th minute, tracking down a ball that bounced off a defender near the end line. He dribbled back into the field of play before beating the keeper low and left. He also assisted on the first goal of the match, feeding Noah Bjorkman in the fifth minute. McConnell has four goals and two assists in nine outings this year.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Sewanee’s Kylene Monaghan posted two goals and two assists in two victories for the Tigers, at Covenant College and at home versus Greenville University. She scored twice at Covenant on Tuesday, deflecting in a Stella Martin shot in the 27th minute for the game-winner. She was tackled in the box and converted the PK in the 33rd minute and then started the play for an assist on the final goal of the match in the 48th minute. Monaghan added an assist to Mia Ramirez in the 66th minute for the final goal versus Greenville. She has three goals and three assists in six outings this season.

VOLLEYBALL: Vanderbilt’s Kamryn Chaney posted 28 kills and 14 digs in two wins for the Commodores. She registered nine kills, six service aces and three digs in a sweep of Western Kentucky and followed that with her first double-double of the season against UC Irvine, recording 19 kills and 11 digs along with two block assists. She ranks eighth in the SEC with 4.63 points per set and 10th in the conference, averaging 3.89 kills per set.

2025 TSWA MEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Grayson White, Sewanee
Sept. 9 | Alpha Bah, Sewanee
Sept. 16 | Grayson White, Sewanee
Sept. 23 | Stokes McConnell, Sewanee

2025 TSWA WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Susie Whitsett, Sewanee
Sept. 9 | Sara Wojdelko, Vanderbilt
Sept. 16 | Molly Buciewicz, Carson-Newman
Sept. 23 | Kylene Monaghan, Sewanee

TSWA/USA Today Network Prep Poll - Sept. 22

September 22, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association and USA Today Network announced football rankings after Week 4 on Monday. Top 10 teams in each of the six Division I classifications and Top 5 in three Division II classes were selected by TSWA members and USA Today writers with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

Division I
Class 1A
1. McKenzie (4-1) – 168 (15). Last Week: No. 1
2. South Pittsburg (3-1) – 155 (2). Last Week: No. 2
3. Coalfield (3-2) – 130. Last Week: No. 3
4. Oliver Springs (4-1) – 123. Last Week: No. 4
5. Clay County (4-1) – 87. Last Week: No. 5
6. Eagleville (3-2) – 69. Last Week: No. 6
7. Dresden (3-2) – 64. Last Week: No. 7
8. Hampton (4-1) – 53. Last Week: No. 8
9. South Fulton (4-0) – 49. Last Week: No. 9
10. Huntland (4-1) – 30. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 2A
1. Milan (5-0) – 167 (14). Last Week: No. 2
2. East Robertson (5-0) – 155 (3). Last Week: No. 3
3. Peabody (5-0) – 124. Last Week: No. 4
4. Marion County (4-1) – 121. Last Week: No. 1
5. Huntingdon (4-1) – 104. Last Week: No. 5
6. Gordonsville (5-0) – 80. Last Week: No. 6
7. Fairley (3-2) – 60. Last Week: No. 8
8. East Nashville (0-4) – 44. Last Week: No. 7
9. Bledsoe County (4-1) – 40. Last Week: No. 9
10. Lewis County (5-0) – 27. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: Happy Valley (11)

Class 3A
1. Westview (4-0) – 170 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Gatlinburg-Pittman (5-0) – 147. Last Week: No. 2
3. Covington (5-0) – 137. Last Week: No. 3
4. Tyner Academy (5-0) – 121. Last Week: No. 4
5. Meigs County (4-1) – 102. Last Week: No. 5
6. Melrose (4-1) – 84. Last Week: No. 6
7. Dyersburg (4-1) – 69. Last Week: No. 7
8. Sequatchie County (3-2) – 49. Last Week: No. 8
9. Waverly (5-0) – 28. Last Week: Not Ranked
10. Chattanooga Prep (2-3) – 20. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: Whites Creek (13)

Class 4A
1. Alcoa (5-0) – 170 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Springfield (5-0)– 143. Last Week: No. 2
3. Greeneville (5-0) – 139. Last Week: No. 3
4. Anderson County (3-1) – 124. Last Week: No. 4
5. Macon County (5-0) – 101. Last Week: No. 6
6. Upperman (3-2) – 70. Last Week: No. 5
7. Elizabethton (4-1) – 66. Last Week: 8
8. Pearl-Cohn (1-4) – 56. Last Week: No. 9
9. Haywood (3-2) – 33. Last Week: No. 7
10. Jackson North Side (3-1) – 15. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 5A
1. Sevier County (4-0) – 170 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Page (4-0) – 151. Last Week: No. 2
3. Powell (4-0) – 137. Last Week: No. 3
4. Munford (4-0) – 117. Last Week: No. 4
5. Beech (3-1) – 95. Last Week: No. 5
6. Lincoln County (5-0) – 79. Last Week: No. 7
7. East Hamilton (5-0) – 73. Last Week: No. 8
8. Walker Valley (4-1) – 54. Last Week: No. 9
9. Knox Central (4-1) – 32. Last Week: No. 10
10. Kirkwood (4-1) – 20. Last Week: No. 6
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 6A
1. Oakland (5-0) – 170 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Ravenwood (5-0) – 152. Last Week: No. 2
3. Germantown (5-0) – 134. Last Week: No. 3
4. Maryville (4-1) – 121. Last Week: No. 4
5. Oak Ridge (5-0) – 96. Last Week: No. 5
6. Blackman (5-0) – 88. Last Week: No. 6
7. Southwind (5-0) – 63. Last Week: No. 7
8. Whitehaven (3-2) – 39. Last Week: No. 8
9. Science Hill (5-0) – 36. Last Week: No. 9
10. Riverdale (3-2) – 24. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-A
1. Nashville Christian (5-0) – 85 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Jackson Christian (5-0) – 65. Last Week: No. 2
3. University School of Jackson (5-0) – 48. Last Week: 3
4. Friendship Christian (4-1) – 38. Last Week: No. 4
5. Donelson Christian (3-2) – 17. Last Week: No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AA
1. Battle Ground Academy (4-0) – 84 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Boyd Buchanan (5-0) – 67 (1). Last Week: No. 2
3. Franklin Road Academy (4-0) – 52. Last Week: No. 3
4. Grace Christian Academy-Franklin (5-0) – 32. Last Week: 4
5. Grace Christian Academy-Knoxville (4-0) – 19. Last Week: No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AAA
1. Baylor School (4-0) – 85 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Brentwood Academy (4-0) – 62. Last Week: No. 2
3. Ensworth School (4-1) – 52. No. 3
4. McCallie School (4-1) – 39. Last Week: No. 5
5. Montgomery Bell Academy (4-0) – 16. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Publications that participated in the voting include The Tennessean in Nashville, the Knoxville News-Sentinel, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, The Daily Herald in Columbia, The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, The Leaf-Chronicle in Clarksville, 615Preps.com, the Chattanooga Times-Free Press, Five Star Preps, The Mirror-Exchange in Milan, Tri-Cities Sports, the Herald-Citizen in Cookeville, the Union City Messenger and the Westmoreland News.

TSWA honors college players of the week - Sept. 16

September 16, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – Maryville College’s Bryson Rollins and Vanderbilt’s CJ Heard were named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Tuesday, as announced by the organization.

Rollins completed 29-of-36 passes for 502 yards and five touchdowns, setting a school and conference record for passing yards in a single game. He tossed touchdown passes of 17, 35, 75, eight and 36 yards, with three scoring throws in the second quarter and two more in the third period. He broke the previous record of 497 passing yards in the Southern Athletic Association set in 2017 by Miles Thompson from Rhodes College.

Heard posted a season-high 12 stops, all solo, in Vanderbilt’s victory at nationally-ranked South Carolina. He registered a third-down stop early in the fourth quarter followed by a quarterback hurry on the following fourth-down play to force a turnover on downs. He also collected a tackle on third down forcing a punt with the game tied early in the second quarter.

Heard was credited with 10 stops in the first half to help the Commodores build a 14-7 advantage. Vanderbilt won its SEC opener for the first time since 2011 and recorded its first road victory over an AP Top 25 opponent dating to 2007.

MEN’S SOCCER: Sewanee’s Grayson White collected four goals in two matches for the Tigers, a draw and a win, with a hat trick. He recorded all three goals in a 3-3 draw versus Maryville College, scoring in the 47th and 54th minutes before the game-tying goal with just 23 seconds remaining on a PK. He added a goal in the 44th minute in a victory against Talladega College for his sixth score of the year in six matches.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Carson-Newman’s Molly Bukiewicz registered three goals and one assist in two matches for the Eagles. She netted a pair of goals with an assist versus King University, finding the back of the net in the 14th and 23rd minutes and assisting on an Elly Leander score in the 74th minute. She recorded the first goal in a 2-0 win over Trevecca Nazarene in the 43rd minute. Bukiewicz is the first Carson-Newman player with goals in three straight games since 2018 and leads the SAC in points (10) and is tied for the most goals (4).

VOLLEYBALL: Carson-Newman’s Emerson Ahsmuhs posted 89 kills and 78 digs with three double-doubles in five outings for the Eagles. She tallied 18 kills and 16 digs versus UVA Wise and 22 kills and 26 digs against Francis Marion, matching her career-high in kills and fifth-most in a single match in program history in a four-set match. She added 17 kills and 20 digs versus North Greenville. She ranks 13th nationally in kills per set and her double-double against North Greenville marked her team-leading sixth of the season.

2025 TSWA MEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Grayson White, Sewanee
Sept. 9 | Alpha Bah, Sewanee
Sept. 16 | Grayson White, Sewanee

2025 TSWA WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Susie Whitsett, Sewanee
Sept. 9 | Sara Wojdelko, Vanderbilt
Sept. 16 | Molly Buciewicz, Carson-Newman

2025 TSWA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Caroline Macander, Middle Tennessee
Sept. 9 | Kylie Wilhelmi, Maryville College
Sept. 16 | Emerson Ahsmuhs, Carson-Newman