Tusculum's Tham, Legiste garner TSWA weekly honors

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Tusculum’s Tham repeats as TSWA Player of the Week winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Jami Tham was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, posting 24.5 points and 15.5 rebounds in a pair of wins for the Pioneers.

The Arlington, Va., native finished with 18 points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds in a victory over UVA Wise, hitting 7-of-15 shots from the field and 3-for-5 at the foul line. She followed that with a career-best 31 points on 13-for-14 shooting with 15 rebounds at Mars Hill, connecting on 5-for-7 at the charity stripe.

Tham helped the Pioneers extend their winning streak to seven games and she extended her streak of consecutive double-doubles to 10 in as many games, which leads NCAA Division II. She ranks fifth in the South Atlantic Conference in scoring at 18.6 points per game and leads the league in rebounding with 13.5 per outing. Tham is second in the SAC in field goal percentage at 63.1 percent, with seven games of shooting 60 percent or better from the floor.

2022-23 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 15 – Cjaba Harbison, Vanderbilt
November 22 – Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman
November 29 – Raven Thompson, Chattanooga
December 6 – Jami Tham, Tusculum University

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Tusculum’s Legiste earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Inady Legiste was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, averaging 23.5 points and 11.5 rebounds with a pair of double-doubles in two outings for the Pioneers.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native netted 22 points, 12 boards and two blocks in a 64-61 victory over UVA Wise, making 9-of-11 attempts from the floor and 3-for-4 at the free throw line. The junior scored a career-high 25 points while grabbing 11 rebounds in an 87-76 victory at Mars Hill, connecting on 10-of-14 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers.

Legiste continues to lead the South Atlantic Conference in both scoring (20.3 points per game) and rebounding (10.2 rebounds per contest) and ranks sixth in field goal percentage (.628) and fifth in blocked shots (1.5 blocks per outing).

2022-23 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 15 – Bryant Thomas, Carson-Newman
November 22 – Boe Njuidjol, Union University
November 29 – Ben Sheppard, Belmont
December 6 – Ren Dyer, Carson-Newman

Dyer, Tham garner TSWA weekly awards

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Carson-Newman’s Dyer earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Ren Dyer was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, averaging 17.0 points and 13.0 rebounds in two games for the Eagles.

The Weaverville, N.C., native made 7-of-12 shots with a pair of 3-pointers, posting 16 points while grabbing 10 boards and handing out four assists in a victory against Johnson University. The sophomore followed that with 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting and 5-for-6 at the foul line, adding a career-high 16 rebounds along with three assists versus Columbus State. The 16 rebounds are tied for sixth-most in a single game in program history.

Dyer is recording 13.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game through seven contests this season.

2022-23 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 15 – Bryant Thomas, Carson-Newman
November 22 – Boe Njuidjol, Union University
November 29 – Ben Sheppard, Belmont

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Tusculum’s Tham garners TSWA Player of the Week accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Jami Tham was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, registering 21.0 points and 15.5 rebounds with two double-doubles in two games for the Pioneers.

The Arlington, Va., native scored 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting and posted 13 rebounds, two assists and three steals in a win over Lander University. She connected on 11-of-16 shots, netting 22 points while tying with season-best with 18 boards at Lincoln Memorial.

Tham averages 17.1 points and 13.0 rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the field through eight games this year. She leads Division II with eight double-doubles in as many games and is in the Top 5 nationally in rebounding.

2022-23 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 15 – Cjaba Harbison, Vanderbilt
November 22 – Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman
November 29 – Raven Thompson, Chattanooga

Kirtley, Pogue, Schabert newest TSWA Hall of Fame members

NASHVILLE – Two men who started their careers at newspapers, with all three making Tennessee their home, headline the 2023 Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Hall of Fame class announced Wednesday led by Brad Kirtley from Austin Peay; writer, publisher and broadcaster Greg Pogue; and Tennessee Tech’s Rob Schabert.

The trio will be inducted July 13 at Cumberland University in Lebanon as part of the TSWA’s annual awards ceremony.

Kirtley left a career at the Southeast Missourian, his hometown newspaper, beginning work at Austin Peay in February 1984, and he never left. Kirtley spent 32 years with the Governors as sports information director before retiring in June 2016. He started as a one-man shop using a typewriter to create media guides and news releases and oversaw Austin Peay’s expansion into the digital age with its own website, social media and live video. He was induced into the APSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.

Pogue started in 1980 at The Daily News in his hometown of Bowling Green, Ky. After coming to Tennessee, Pogue was a prep editor and Vanderbilt beat writer and columnist before becoming the Nashville Banner’s initial beat writer covering the move of the NFL’s Houston Oilers to Nashville, the team that eventually become the Tennessee Titans. He led coverage of the NHL’s expansion to Nashville as well. He also has written for multiple national publications, including Athlon, Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and Street & Smith.

He was publisher and owner of Big Orange Illustrated, the University of Tennessee sports fan magazine; and publisher and owner of The Red Towel, the sports fan magazine at Western Kentucky University. He was executive sports editor for 10 years and senior columnist for two at The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and was one of the first Gannett Co. editorial employees allowed to monetize content. During his tenure, the DNJ sports section was judged best in state nine times in its division by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association. The DNJ sports section was named best in the country twice and runner-up once for its division by the National Newspaper Association. He also is a former sportswriter for Fox Sports Tennessee.

Pogue currently hosts “The Greg Pogue & Jon Burton Show” on Nashville Sports Radio. He also is the “Voice of the Tigers” for Tennessee State University football and men’s basketball and hosts their football and basketball coaches’ shows. He hosts Prep Football Talk each Saturday morning during football season, as well as University Showcase and The Shootaround specialty shows. He also has been a studio anchor on the Nashville Predators Radio Network, Tennessee Titans pre- and post-games shows, Titans’ and Predators’ players shows, etc. He has produced for the past 10-plus years “This Week in OVC Football” and “This Week in OVC Basketball” for the Ohio Valley Conference.

He also edited the award-winning autobiography “Out of the Darkness into Light: A Blind Fisherman’s Story” by Mike Lorance, America’s first blind professional bass fisherman. The book has been enshrined at the Smithsonian Libraries in Washington, D.C. He won a Regional Emmy hosting the nightly sports show “Sports Night” in Nashville. He was inducted into the Metro Nashville Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his work on high school sports coverage throughout the state. He also is a member of the Nashville Black Coaches Association Hall of Fame and a former member of the board of directors of the Football Writers Association of America.

A native of St. Paul, Minn., Schabert spent nearly 35 years at Tennessee Tech, joining the university in 1982 until his retirement in May 2016. He served as official statistician, record keeper, lead writer, emcee, radio broadcaster, camera operator, photographer and driver among other jobs. He oversaw the expansion with the school’s website, multiple social media channels and award-winning Golden Eagle Sports Network video operation.

Schabert won dozens of national publications and writing awards, including "Best in the Nation" from USA Volleyball for his annual media guide six times. He was a volunteer at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, working on the press operations staff. In 2004, he was voted the winner of TTU’s Outstanding Professional Award and was inducted into the Hall of Distinction at Minnesota State University (Mankato) in 2008, one of just two stops before joining Tennessee Tech.

Sheppard, Thompson garner TSWA Player of the Week honors

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Belmont’s Sheppard earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Ben Sheppard was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, recording 21.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals in three outings for the Bruins.

The Atlanta, Ga., native netted 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting versus George Mason and scored a season-best 27 points against Howard, hitting 9-of-17 shots overall, including 5-for-9 from 3-point range, adding five boards, four assists and three steals to end the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. He finished the week with 15 points with four rebounds and five assists at Georgia State.

Sheppard leads the Bruins with 20.3 points per game, adding 5.0 rebounds with 4.4 assists in seven contests this year.

2022-23 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 15 – Bryant Thomas, Carson-Newman
November 22 – Boe Njuidjol, Union University

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Chattanooga’s Thompson garners TSWA Player of the Week accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Chattanooga’s Raven Thompson was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, 14.5 points and 14.0 rebounds with one double-double in two games for the Mocs.

The Atlanta, Ga., native native registered 20 points and 12 boards against UNC-Asheville, making 7-of-12 field goals and 6-for-7 at the foul line while grabbing nine offensive rebounds. She followed that with nine points and 16 caroms along with two assists and three steals versus King University. Thompson is averaging 11.0 points and 8.6 boards in eight games this season.

2022-23 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 15 – Cjaba Harbison, Vanderbilt
November 22 – Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman

TSWA announces players of the week - Nov. 22

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Carson-Newman’s Wykle garners TSWA Player of the Week accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Braelyn Wykle was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, recording 23.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in two games for the Eagles.

The Greeneville, Tenn., native connected on 7-of-11 from 3-point range for 26 points while adding three boards and three assists in an eight-point win versus Clayton State. The junior made 7-of-16 field goals with three more triples with five rebounds in a six-point loss at North Georgia, finishing with 21 points. Wykle is posting 23.0 points, 4.0 boards and 2.5 assists through four contests this year.

2022-23 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 15 – Cjaba Harbison, Vanderbilt

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Union’s Njuidjol earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union University’s Boe Njuidjol was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, posting 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds with one double-double in two outings for the Bulldogs.

The Los Angeles, Calif., native made 7-of-9 shots and 5-for-6 at the foul line for 19 points while adding six boards, three assists and two blocks in a five-point win over Mississippi College. The senior followed that with 18 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks in a victory against Delta State, connecting on 8-of-10 from the field and 2-for-4 at the charity stripe.

Njuidjol is averaging 16.0 points and 9.8 boards through four games this season.

2022-23 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 15 – Bryant Thomas, Carson-Newman

FOOTBALL: Middle Tennessee’s Cunningham, Ross earn TSWA weekly honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee’s Chase Cunningham and Teldrick Ross were named the football Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from November 14-20.

Cunningham returned to the lineup against Florida Atlantic after missing the previous week’s contest versus Charlotte. The Knoxville, Tenn., native turned in a career performance, completing 40-of-54 passes for a career-best 448 yards and five touchdowns. The 40 completions and the 448 yards rank second for a single-game effort in Blue Raider annals.

In the first half alone the redshirt senior passed for 372 yards on 21-of-42 with four TDs. Cunningham joins former quarterback Brent Stockstill as the only signal-callers in school history to record multiple 400-yard passing games.

Ross turned in seven tackles against the Owls along with a career-high five pass breakups. The Macon, Ga., native has 11 pass breakups combined over the last three games and 17 for the season. The 17 pass breakups equal the most in a single-season at MTSU and his 18 passes defended (which ranks second nationally) ranks third.

2022 TSWA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
September 6 – Ailym Ford, Chattanooga (Offense); Reuben Lowery III, Chattanooga (Defense)
September 13 – Preston Hutchinson, Chattanooga (Offense); Quindarius Dunnigan, Middle Tennessee (Defense)
September 20 – Preston Hutchinson, Chattanooga (Offense); Ty Boeck, Chattanooga (Defense)
September 27 – Chase Cunningham, Middle Tennessee (Offense); Zaylin Wood, Middle Tennessee (Defense)
October 4 – Ailym Ford, Chattanooga (Offense); Jay Person, Chattanooga (Defense)
October 18 – Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee (Offense); Frank Lee, Carson-Newman (Defense)
October 25 – Tre Simmons, Tusculum University (Offense); Ty Boeck, Chattanooga (Defense)
November 8 – Ivan Corbin, Carson-Newman (Offense); Josh Reliford, Tennessee Tech (Defense)
November 15 – Braxton Westfield, Carson-Newman (Offense); Tra Fluellen, Middle Tennessee (Defense)