Soddy-daisy duo will run for Bryan
Soddy-daisy High School seniors Matt Jenkins and Ben Kirk signed scholarship papers Wednesday to run cross country and track for Bryan College.
They are the first SoddyDaisy recruits for the running Lions, who have become one of the NAIA’S top programs in Rodney Stoker’s seven years as coach. Both said he was the main reason they picked the Dayton school despite conversations with other recruiters, including some in NCAA Division I.
“First, they’re great kids,” Stoker said. “We had them up to visit, and they fit in really well. And they’re really energetic and have a lot of upside.”
“Ben has speed and is pretty new to the sport, so he will help us more in the 800 and 1500 at first,” said Stoker, who noted that the Lions will lose only top run- ner Bryson Harper after this year and will have a sizable group of freshmen. “Matt is more of a distance kid, and we know he can handle the training.”
Jenkins, the Trojans’ cross country and track captain and president of the FCA huddle group the past three years, ran 92 miles one week in the summer of 2010, according to Soddy- Daisy coach Nick Selbo.
“He’s kind of like indestructible,” Selbo said. “Ben started running in Alabama before he came to us. He’s a speed demon.” port system, namely junior and older sister Atarah, as well as fellow sophomore Nora Berry.
“One minute, I feel like I’m 100 percent, then something happens and I feel back where I started this season,” Qetuwrah said. “The fact that I have good teammates around me has helped me both mentally and emotionally.
“I think through all of this, I value stepping on the floor a lot more. Before the Hamilton Heights game, I took things for granted — like being on the floor, walking, sleeping and going to school. When people complained about it, it made me mad because I couldn’t do any of that.
“I appreciate all of the little things a lot more now.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/genehenleytfp. be held in Trenton after the girls’ team, which finished in a three-way tie with Calhoun and Sonoraville, won a coin flip Wednesday. The top four from each subregion will advance to the region tournament next week at Georgia Highlands College.
The Region 7-AAA tournament will be held beginning Monday at Murray County with the Dalton and Allatoona boys and the Dalton and Cartersville girls the top seeds, while Northwest Whitfield competes in the 7AAAA tournament at Cass.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296. sity of Tennessee, had three undefeated regular seasons before quarterfinal losses, twice to eventual state champion Maryville and the other time to state runnerup Greeneville.
He said he would help with the coaching search if asked and did not rule out continuing to coach as an assistant, although that is unlikely at Red Bank. The Lions’ new coach will be only the third to head the program since 1972.