Former MUS decathlon star gears up for a big summer
Don’t look now. But
is rounding into shape at just the right time.
Williams — who was one of the most decorated athletes in Tennessee history during his track career at MUS — is gearing up for his next big decathlon, the NCAA championships in Eugene, Ore. June 6 and 7. And he’ll be coming in on a high after a stellar performance at the Pac-10 meet this past week.
Now a fourth-year junior at Stanford, Williams posted 7,925 points in his signature event to win the conference crown with ease on his home track. It’s the highest total in Pac-12 competition since 2013 and makes him the first Cardinal to win the title in 24 years.
Impressively, he finished no lower than second in any of the 10 events, a performance that figures to make him one of the competitors to beat next month.
“Right now, I’m fifth (nationally) but there are only 200 hundred points separating the top five,” he said. “My technique in the discus and long jump especially has gotten better. Those were two events I wasn’t that strong in at MUS.”
Williams’ 2018 got off to a bumpy start, literally. He tore his posterior cruciate ligament in January when he landed squarely on his knee after being jostled by a fellow competitor and missing a hurdle.
“I took six weeks off and redshirted the indoor season,” he said. “I didn’t come back until the Bryan Clay (Invitational in Azusa, Calif. in mid-April) and I scored (7,682) there which qualified me for the NCAAs.
“And it helped me compete more aggressively (at the Pac-12) meet ... (but) I still have a lot of conditioning work to do.”
Williams — whose collegiate best is 8,032 at the 2016 NCAA meet — will also compete at the U.S. championships in Des Moines beginning June 21. A toptwo finish would send him to the PanAm Games in Orlando later this summer.
AAC recognizes Tigers softball trio
Following the best regular season in program history, the University of Memphis placed three players on the all-AAC softball second team this past week. Leading the way is senior
who was a first-team selection in 2017. She led the Tigers in batting with a .401 average on 75 hits, totals that rank her second all-time in both categories on the school’s single-season list. Trosclair ends her career as the program’s all-time leader in hits and runs.
was also selected after finishing 24-9 with a 1.92 ERA in her final season in the circle. She set school records for shutouts in a season (11) and career strikeouts (489). Smith’s 215 strikeouts this spring rank second alltime. Joining the two seniors is freshman
who was also named to the all-rookie team. The Chester County product batted .389 while finishing second on the team with 59 hits and tying Trosclair for the team lead in RBI 36.
Molly Smith Baylee Smith, Harrison Williams Kyler Trosclair, Former CBHS standout honored Hayden Leatherwood
CBHS grad is the week’s MACJC Player of the Week after leading Northwest Mississippi to three victories in four games.
Leatherwood — formerly a Vanderbilt signee — batted .467 with two doubles, four home runs, eight RBI and seven runs scored. Heading into this week’s best-of-3 Region 23 playoff series against Gulf Coast, he had reached base safely in 20 straight games.
He also had homered in seven of eight contests, giving him 15 on the year. That total is two shy of matching the school’s single-season record held by
and both in 1999. For the season through Wednesday, Leatherwood was batting a team-best .391 with 15 homers and 45 RBI while slugging .927 and reaching base at a .489 clip.
Eduardo Pena Woolfolk leaves Ole Miss baseball
With the college baseball postseason on the horizon, Ole Miss has lost arguably its top reliever.
The school announced this past week that former DeSoto Central star
was “stepping away” from the team. In a statement, the junior from Southaven indicated it was for health reasons.
“As much as I love my teammates, coaches and the game itself, I need to focus on my own personal health,” he said. “It was a special feeling to step on the mound wearing an Ole Miss uniform ... (and) I’ll always be a Rebel.
The junior was named to several preseason all-America teams and went 1-1 with a 2.51 ERA over 14.1 innings. In 2017, he set the school record with 12 saves.
Dallas Woolfolk Amateur ace adds another title
Former Germantown resident
reached a milestone last week as he defeated Knoxville’s
in the final match of the Tennessee Senior Match Play event in Gallatin.
The 59-year-old Jackson was twodown on the back nine before rallying to claim a 3 & 1 victory. It’s the 20th Tennessee Golf Association tournament title of his career, more than any other golfer in state history.
“In match play, I think it’s all about applying pressure to your opponent,” Jackson said in a release. “Hit the ball in the fairway, hit it on the green … make them think that they have to make birdies to win holes.”
Jackson Marcus Van Every, Tim Steve Golliher
Aside from his TGA success, Jackson has competed in The Masters on two occasions and is one of only five golfers to win multiple U.S. Mid-Amateur titles. So far this spring, he’s helped Team USA to a victory over Great Britain and Ireland in the Concession Cup in Bradenton, Fla. before winning the George L. Coleman Senior in Juno Beach, Fla.
Memphis City FC sets schedule
Memphis City FC, which will play this season in the Premier Development League, has announced its schedule for the 2018 season. The first game was set to take place Saturday at CBHS against Mississippi Brilla FC with the final home game taking place July 14 against Birmingham Hammers.
All home matches take place at 7 p.m. and admission is $5. MCFC is coached by with assisting. will coach the goalkeepers.
Several former Memphis-area high school standouts are on the roster, led by who was a twotime winner of The Commercial Appeal’s Best of the Preps player of the year award. Other locals include Collierville’s
and White Station’s Viktor Hoestbo (both CBU) and who was the kicker on Mitchell’s football team and now plays soccer at William Carey.
Mark Franklin, Brett Borm Peyton McKnatt, Dalton Marin Diego Vieira Sait Gueye, Touchdown Club holding spring meeting
Too early for football? Not for the Touchdown Club of Memphis.
The group will be holding its spring meeting on May 21 at Central Barbeque, located at 4375 Summer. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and the cost to attend is $20, which includes a buffet.
The speaker will be announced at a later date. For more information, contact club president at 901683-1215.
Sunday Sports Brunch is a weekly look at movers, shakers and newsmakers on the Memphis sports scene, from youth level to the pros. If you have an item of interest, please contact John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com.
Greg Cotton