College players of the week recognized by TSWA - Sept. 9

September 9, 2025 Forrest Freeman

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

Pavia garnered the Player of the Week accolade for the second consecutive week, accounting for 254 yards of offense, with 166 after halftime to help Vanderbilt rally from 10 points down to earn a win at Virginia Tech. He passed for 193 yards and two touchdowns, completing 12-of-18 attempts, while adding 61 yards rushing on 11 carries.

The Commodores finished with 490 yards of total offense, a first for Vanderbilt with 475-plus yards in consecutive outings since 2016. Pavia also moved into 10th place on the school’s all-time list with 25 career touchdown passes.

Gaines posted 7.0 tackles with one sack and 1.5 tackles-for-loss as well as a fumble recovery in Tech’s win against Chattanooga. He registered a sack in the first quarter and recovered a fumble in the third period, collecting three solo stops in the contest. Tech’s defense limited Chattanooga to 25 yards rushing and 274 total yards in the win.

MEN’S SOCCER: Sewanee’s Alpha Bah netted a pair of goals with one assist over two matches, both victories for the Tigers. In a win against Berea, he scored twice in the first five minutes, picking up a loose ball and firing into an empty net and then converting a PK after being tackled in the box. In a victory versus Southern Virginia, Bah assisted on a Noah Bjorkman goal in the 59th minute, the final goal in the match for Sewanee. Bah has two goals and two assists through four matches this season.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Vanderbilt’s Sara Wojdelko anchored the Commodores’ back line in a pair of shutout victories over Georgetown and Middle Tennessee, extending Vanderbilt’s unbeaten streak. Against No. 16 Georgetown, Wojdelko recorded nine saves in a 1-0 victory over the nationally-ranked Hoyas. Time and again she denied quality chances, including multiple stops in the second half that preserved the Commodores’ lead and sealed the program’s first Top-25 win since 2022. During the match, she eclipsed 100 career saves. The Commodores also posted a 1-0 win against Middle Tennessee, improving the club to 6-1-0 this season.

VOLLEYBALL: Maryville College’s Kylie Wilhelmi posted three double-doubles with 55 kills and a hitting percentage of .382, leading the Scots to a 3-1 tournament record. She registered 21 kills and 19 digs at Meredith College and followed that with 19 kills and 10 digs versus Averett University. Wilhelmi collected 12 kills and 12 digs in a three-set win against Gordon College and finished the weekend with 18 kills and nine digs versus Virginia Wesleyan. She leads the Collegiate Conference of the South in hitting percentage (.358), kills (96, 4.26/set), and points (102, 4.64/set).

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)

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

2025 TSWA WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Susie Whitsett, Sewanee
Sept. 9 | Sara Wojdelko, Vanderbilt

2025 TSWA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Caroline Macander, Middle Tennessee
Sept. 9 | Kylie Wilhelmi, Maryville College

TSWA/USA Today Network Prep Poll - Sept. 8

September 8, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association and USA Today Network announced football rankings after Week 3 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 (2-1) – 180 (15). Last Week: No. 1
2. South Pittsburg (1-1) – 152 (2). Last Week: No. 2
3. Eagleville (2-1) – 122. Last Week: No. 3
4. Coalfield (1-2) – 110. Last Week: No. 4
5. Oliver Springs (2-1) – 100. Last Week: No. 5
6. Hampton (3-0) – 99. Last Week: No. 5
7. Richland (2-1) – 72. Last Week: No. 7
t8. Dresden (1-2) – 37. Last Week: No. 8
t8. Cornersville (2-0) – 37. Last Week: No. 9
10. Clay County (2-1) – 19. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: South Fulton (15)

Class 2A
1. Marion County (3-0) – 165 (13). Last Week: No. 1
2. Milan (2-0) – 155 (4). Last Week: No. 2
3. East Robertson (3-0) – 135. Last Week: No. 3
4. East Nashville (0-2) – 102. Last Week: No. 5
5. Peabody (3-0) – 96. Last Week: No. 7
6. Huntingdon (2-1) – 83. Last Week: No. 4
7. Gordonsville (3-0) – 71. Last Week: No. 8
8. Fairley (1-2) – 49. Last Week: No. 6
9. Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (1-2) – 37. Last Week: No. 9
10. Bledsoe County (2-1) – 26. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 3A
1. Westview (2-0) – 170 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Gatlinburg-Pittman (3-0) – 144. Last Week: No. 3
3. Covington (3-0) – 138. Last Week: No. 4
4. Tyner Academy (3-0) – 118. Last Week: No. 5
5. Meigs County (2-1) – 102. Last Week: No. 7
6. Melrose (2-1) – 83. Last Week: No. 7
7. Sequatchie County (2-1) – 66. Last Week: No. 2
8. Dyersburg (2-1) – 47. Last Week: No. 10
9. White House Heritage (2-1) – 23. Last Week: No. 6
10. Giles County (1-2) – 15. Last Week: No. 9
Other who received 10 or more points: Unicoi County (13), Forrest (11)

Class 4A
1. Alcoa (3-0) – 170 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Springfield (3-0)– 146. Last Week: No. 2
3. Greeneville (3-0) – 137. Last Week: No. 3
4. Anderson County (1-1) – 104. Last Week: No. 4
5. Upperman (2-1) – 99. Last Week: No. 6
6. Macon County (3-0) – 86. Last Week: No. 7
7. Pearl-Cohn (0-3) – 63. Last Week: No. 5
8. Haywood (2-1) – 44. Last Week: No. 9
9. Jackson North Side (2-0) – 40. Last Week: No. 10
t10. Marshall County (1-2) – 15. Last Week: No. 9
t10. Elizabethton (2-1) – 15. Last Week: Not Ranked
t10. Crockett County (3-0) – 15. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 5A
1. Sevier County (2-0) – 170 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Page (2-0) – 151. Last Week: No. 2
3. Powell (2-0) – 133. Last Week: No. 3
4. Munford (2-0) – 116. Last Week: No. 4
5. Beech (2-1) – 89. Last Week: No. 5
6. Kirkwood (3-0) – 81. Last Week: No. 6
7. Lincoln County (3-0) – 62. Last Week: No. 7
8. East Hamilton (3-0) – 54. Last Week: No. 9
9. Walker Valley (2-1) – 42. Last Week: No. 10
10. Tullahoma (3-0) – 19. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: Knox Central (14)

Class 6A
1. Oakland (3-0) – 170 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Ravenwood (3-0) – 151. Last Week: No. 2
3. Germantown (3-0) – 131. Last Week: No. 3
4. Maryville (2-1) – 119. Last Week: No. 4
5. Blackman (3-0) – 96. Last Week: No. 5
6. Oak Ridge (3-0) – 94. Last Week: No. 6
7. Collierville (2-1) – 60. Last Week: No. 8
8. Whitehaven (2-1) – 51. Last Week: No. 9
9. Southwind (3-0) – 25. Last Week: Not Ranked
10. Riverdale (1-1) – 21. Last Week: No. 7
Other who received 10 or more points: Dobyns-Bennett (10)

Division II-A
1. Nashville Christian (3-0) – 85 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Friendship Christian (3-0) – 63. Last Week: No. 2
3. Jackson Christian (3-0) – 55. Last Week: No. 3
4. University School of Jackson (3-0) – 33. Last Week: 4
5. Providence Christian (3-0) – 18. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AA
1. Battle Ground Academy (3-0) – 85 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. Boyd Buchanan (3-0) – 63. Last Week: No. 2
3. Franklin Road Academy (2-0) – 55. Last Week: No. 3
4. Silverdale Baptist (2-1) – 33. Last Week: 4
5. Grace Christian Academy-Franklin (3-0) – 17. Last Week: 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AAA
1. Baylor School (2-0) – 85 (17). Last Week: No. 1
2. McCallie School (3-0) – 67. Last Week: No. 2
3. Brentwood Academy (2-0) – 40. Last Week: No. 4
4. Knox Catholic (3-0) – 35. Last Week: No. 5
5. Christ Presbyterian Academy (1-2) – 17. Last Week: No. 3
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, Main Street Maury, The Chattanooga Times-Free Press, Five Star Preps, The Mirror-Exchange in Milan, Tri-Cities Sports, The Herald-Citizen in Cookeville and The Westmoreland News.

TSWA announces college players of the week - Sept. 3

September 3, 2025 Forrest Freeman

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

Pavia completed 20-of-25 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns in a win against Charleston Southern, adding 44 rushing yards on eight carries. He totaled 319 yards of total offense and did the bulk of his work in the first half, tossing all three touchdowns on 17-of-21 passing for 270 yards. He became the first player in school history to complete 80 percent or better in a game on three occasions in a career.

Hood finished with four tackles, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and three pass breakups in Tennessee’s win over Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game. The Colorado transfer earned the start in place of the injured Jermod McCoy and stepped up in a big way. His three pass breakups were the most by an SEC player in Week 1. He also scooped up a fumble and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown with 56 seconds remaining in the first quarter that put the Vols ahead, 17-0. Hood played all 84 defensive snaps for Tennessee in his debut.

MEN’S SOCCER: Sewanee midfielder Grayson White netted a pair of goals in a 4-0 victory over 18th-ranked Johns Hopkins. He scored in the 69th minute on an assist from Wells Durham after a turnover deep in the Sewanee offensive end. He posted his second goal just 36 seconds later, converting a penalty kick after a foul in the box against the Blue Jays.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Sewanee forward Susie Whitsett scored one goal and recorded two assists in a pair of Sewanee victories. In a 3-1 win against Spalding University, she assisted on goals by Mia Ramirez (game-winner) in the 83rd minute and Kylene Monaghan in the 88th minute. Then in Sunday's triumph over Farmingdale State, Whitsett collected a goal in the 75th minute.

VOLLEYBALL: Middle Tennessee’s Caroline Macander tallied 99 assists and 46 digs with a pair of double-doubles in three matches. She posted 35 assists and 26 digs versus Purdue-Fort Wayne and collected 46 assists, 12 digs and five blocks against Evansville. Macander added 18 assists and eight digs at Butler, averaging 8.25 assists per set and earning All-Tournament honors over the three outings.

2025 TSWA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Colton Hood, Tennessee (Defense)

2025 TSWA MEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 | Grayson White, Sewanee

2025 TSWA WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 | Susie Whitsett, Sewanee

2025 TSWA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 | Caroline Macander, Middle Tennessee

TSWA/USA Today Prep Poll - Sept. 1

September 1, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association and USA Today Network announced football rankings after Week 1 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 (1-1) – 180 (18). Last Week: No. 2
2. South Pittsburg (0-1) – 157. Last Week: No. 1
3. Eagleville (1-1) – 132. Last Week: No. 5
4. Coalfield (0-2) – 114. Last Week: No. 4
t5. Oliver Springs (1-1) – 105. Last Week: No. 3
t5. Hampton (2-0) – 105. Last Week: No. 5
7. Richland (1-1) – 62. Last Week: No. 9
8. Dresden (0-2) – 37. Last Week: No. 6
9. Cornersville (2-0) – 21. Last Week: Not Ranked
10. Clay County (1-1) – 16. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: South Fulton (14), Rockwood (13), Cosby (12)

Class 2A
1. Marion County (2-0) – 176 (15). Last Week: No. 1
2. Milan (2-0) – 163 (3). Last Week: No. 2
3. East Robertson (2-0) – 142. Last Week: No. 4
4. Huntingdon (2-0) – 123. Last Week: No. 6
5. East Nashville (0-2) – 106. Last Week: No. 3
6. Fairley (1-1) – 74. Last Week: No. 5
7. Peabody (2-0) – 69. Last Week: No. 9
8. Gordonsville (2-0) – 57. Last Week: No. 10
9. Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (0-2) – 39. Last Week: No. 7
10. Bledsoe County (1-1) – 13. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: Jackson Central-Merry (11)

Class 3A
1. Westview (1-0) – 180 (18). Last Week: No. 1
2. Sequatchie County (2-0) – 149. Last Week: No. 2
3. Gatlinburg-Pittman (2-0) – 138. Last Week: No. 3
4. Covington (2-0) – 128. Last Week: No. 4
5. Tyner Academy (2-0) – 100. Last Week: No. 6
6. White House Heritage (2-0) – 7. Last Week: No. 7
t7. Meigs County (1-1) – 64. Last Week: No. 5
t7. Melrose (1-1) – 64. Last Week: No. 8
9. Giles County (1-1) – 60. Last Week: No. 9
10. Dyersburg (1-1) – 21. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 4A
1. Alcoa (2-0) – 180 (18). Last Week: No. 1
2. Springfield (2-0)– 153. Last Week: No. 3
3. Greeneville (2-0) – 136. Last Week: No. 6
4. Anderson County (0-1) – 112. Last Week: No. 2
5. Pearl-Cohn (0-2) – 104. Last Week: No. 5
6. Upperman (1-1) – 92. Last Week: No. 4
7. Macon County (2-0) – 87. Last Week: No. 8
8. Marshall County (1-1) – 44. Last Week: No. 9
9. Haywood (1-1) – 36. Last Week: No. 7
10. Jackson North Side (1-0) – 28. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 5A
1. Sevier County (2-0) – 180 (18). Last Week: No. 1
2. Page (2-0) – 162. Last Week: No. 2
3. Powell (1-0) – 140. Last Week: No. 3
4. Munford (2-0) – 118. Last Week: No. 5
5. Beech (1-1) – 88. Last Week: No. 7
6. Kirkwood (2-0) – 78. Last Week: No. 8
7. Knox West (0-1) – 72. Last Week: No. 7
8. Lincoln County (2-0) – 42. Last Week: No. 10
9. East Hamilton (2-0) – 41. Last Week: Not Ranked
10. Walker Valley (1-1) – 33. Last Week: No. 6
Other who received 10 or more points: McMinn County (21)

Class 6A
1. Oakland (2-0) – 180 (18). Last Week: No. 1
2. Ravenwood (2-0) – 160. Last Week: No. 2
3. Germantown (2-0) – 138. Last Week: No. 3
4. Maryville (1-1) – 127. Last Week: No. 4
5. Blackman (2-0) – 95. Last Week: No. 5
6. Oak Ridge (2-0) – 84. Last Week: No. 8
7. Riverdale (1-1) – 77. Last Week: No. 7
8. Collierville (1-1) – 56. Last Week: No. 5
9. Whitehaven (1-1) – 37. Last Week: No. 10
10. Green Hill (1-1) – 19. Last Week: No. 9
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-A
1. Nashville Christian (2-0) – 90 (18). Last Week: No. 1
2. Friendship Christian (2-0) – 66. Last Week: No. 2
3. Jackson Christian (2-0) – 61. Last Week: No. 4
4. University School of Jackson (2-0) – 24. Last Week: Not Ranked
5. Donelson Christian (1-1) – 21. Last Week: No. 3
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AA
1. Battle Ground Academy (2-0) – 90 (18). Last Week: No. 1
2. Boyd Buchanan (2-0) – 68. Last Week: No. 2
3. Franklin Road Academy (2-0) – 58. Last Week: No. 3
4. Silverdale Baptist (1-1) – 25. Last Week: Not Ranked
5. Grace Christian Academy-Franklin (2-0) – 22. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AAA
1. Baylor School (1-0) – 90 (18). Last Week: No. 1
2. McCallie School (1-0) – 72. Last Week: No. 2
3. Christ Presbyterian Academy (1-1) – 45. Last Week: No. 4
4. Brentwood Academy (2-0) – 26. Last Week: No. 4
5. Knox Catholic (2-0) – 23. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: Ensworth School (11)

TSWA/USA Today Prep Poll - Aug. 25

August 25, 2025 Forrest Freeman

Division I
Class 1A
1. South Pittsburg (0-0) – 180 (18)
2. McKenzie (0-1) – 153
3. Oliver Springs (1-0) – 130
4. Coalfield (0-1) – 123
5. Eagleville (0-1) – 100
6. Dresden (0-1) – 90
7. Hampton (1-0) – 87
8. Cosby (1-0) – 31
9. Richland (0-1) – 28
10. Huntland (1-0) – 23
Other who received 10 or more points: Wayne County (14), Clay County (12)

Class 2A
1. Marion County (1-0) – 173 (15)
2. Milan (1-0) – 156 (3)
3. East Nashville (0-0) – 146
4. East Robertson (1-0) – 127
5. Fairley (1-0) – 103
6. Huntingdon (1-0) – 89
7. Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (0-1) – 72
8. Jackson Central-Merry (0-1) – 42
9. Peabody (1-0) – 32
10. Gordonsville (1-0) – 28
Other who received 10 or more points: Bledsoe County (15)

Class 3A
1. Westview (1-0) – 180 (18)
2. Sequatchie County (1-0) – 148
3. Gatlinburg-Pittman (1-0) – 142
4. Covington (1-0) – 123
5. Meigs County (1-0) – 112
6. Tyner Academy (1-0) – 87
7. White House Heritage (1-0) – 60
8. Melrose (0-1) – 57
9. Giles County (0-1) – 39
10. Dyersburg (0-1) – 28
Other who received 10 or more points: Unicoi County (11)

Class 4A
1. Alcoa (1-0) – 180 (18)
2. Anderson County (0-0) – 153
3. Springfield (1-0)– 134
4. Upperman (1-0) – 114
5. Pearl-Cohn (0-1) – 111
6. Greeneville (1-0) – 95
7. Haywood (1-0) – 82
8. Macon County (1-0) – 63
9. Marshall County (0-1) – 26
10. Jackson North Side (1-0) – 12
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 5A
1. Sevier County (1-0) – 180 (18)
2. Page (1-0) – 161
3. Powell (0-0) – 136
4. Knox West (0-0) – 123
5. Munford (1-0) – 90
6. Walker Valley (1-0) – 75
7. Beech (0-1) – 68
8. Kirkwood (1-0) – 48
9. Knox Halls (0-1) – 42
10. Lincoln County (1-0) – 18
Other who received 10 or more points: McMinn County (12)

Class 6A
1. Oakland (1-0) – 180 (18)
2. Ravenwood (1-0) – 162
3. Germantown (1-0) – 136
4. Maryville (0-1) – 123
t5. Blackman (1-0) – 77
t5. Collierville (1-0) – 77
7. Riverdale (0-1) – 70
8. Oak Ridge (1-0) – 63
9. Green Hill (1-0) – 55
10. Whitehaven (0-1) – 23
Other who received 10 or more points: Brentwood (11)

Division II-A
1. Nashville Christian (1-0) – 90 (18)
2. Friendship Christian (1-0) – 68
3. Donelson Christian (1-0) – 56
4. Jackson Christian (1-0) – 36
5. Middle Tennessee Christian (1-0) – 20
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AA
1. Battle Ground Academy (1-0) – 90 (18)
2. Boyd Buchanan (1-0) – 65
3. Franklin Road Academy (1-0) – 60
4. Pope John Paul II (1-0) – 28
5. Chattanooga Christian (1-0) – 9
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AAA
1. Baylor School (1-0) – 90 (18)
2. McCallie School (1-0) – 72
3. Ensworth School (1-0) – 36
t4. Christ Presbyterian Academy (0-1) – 34
t4. Brentwood Academy (1-0) – 34
Other who received 10 or more points: None