TSWA announces 2018 Hall of Fame class

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A former president of the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and a man once honored by this association as a sports writer of the year join a one-time writer for the Memphis Press-Scimitar in the TSWA’s 2018 Hall of Fame class, announced this week by the organization. The 2018 Hall of Fame induction is set for Thursday, July 12 in Baird Chapel on the campus of Cumberland University.

MIKE HUTCHENS, Union City Daily Messenger
A native of South Fulton and graduate of South Fulton High School, Hutchens attended Motlow State College in Tullahoma. He is a 34-year newspaper veteran with the Union City Daily Messenger with more than 165 individual writing, photography and design awards for the UCDM and its sister publication, the Weakley County Press.

He's won awards in the Tennessee Sports Writers Association, Tennessee Press Association and Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors contests. He is a four-time Tennessee Sports Writers Association Writer of the Year (2006, 2010, 2013, 2016) and former two-time TSWA president. Hutchens' preseason football tabloid has been named best in state 18 times in a 20-year period by either the Tennessee Press Association or TSWA.

He worked in dual roles, also serving as sports coordinator for The Messenger’s sister publication, The Weakley County Press in Martin, for five years. Hutchens has chaired or been a member of numerous high school all-state committees as well as a number of TSSAA committees. He also was inducted into the Union City High School Hall of Honors in 2013, the only non-Union City athlete, coach or administrator to ever have been included in that group.

Hutchens has covered 12 high school state team championships in Obion County while also covering area and state college athletics throughout his career. He has also covered the NFL’s Tennessee Titans since the team moved to Nashville. A noted motivational speaker to a number of West Tennessee and Western Kentucky high schools, Hutchens has co-hosted a local high school radio pregame football show on WENK for more than 20 years.

MIKE STRANGE, Knoxville News-Sentinel
Strange got his start with the Kentucky Kernel while in journalism school at the University of Kentucky. Following stints at the Middlesboro Daily News and Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer in his home state, he joined the Knoxville News-Sentinel in 1983. After a year on the Lady Vols basketball beat, he moved to Tennessee football and men’s basketball for the 1984 season. Strange covered both sports through his retirement in 2017.

He followed the Vols to 23 bowl games, including the 1998 national championship, and covered the basketball Vols in 12 NCAA tournaments and witnessed two of Pat Summitt’s national titles. Strange wrote the Sunday “game story” for Tennessee football from 1985 through 2016. Beginning in 2004, he added columnist to his duties.

Strange also covered 19 Kentucky Derbies and numerous NCAA championship events in track and field, tennis and softball and put in several appearances at the TSSAA Spring Fling. He was named Tennessee Sportswriter of the Year twice (1999, 2005) by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and once by the TSWA.

PHIL STUKENBORG, The Commercial Appeal
Stukenborg is a Memphis native who graduated from the University of Memphis and first worked for the Memphis Rogues as public relations director between January-May 1980. He then went to work in April 1982 for the Press-Scimitar as a sports writer covering high school athletics, the PGA and ATP events and college football. He directed the Press-Scimitar’s coverage of the 1983 U.S. Davis Cup in St. Louis.

In October 1983, he went to work for The Commercial Appeal covering Memphis’ minor league baseball team between 1986 and 1992. He covered Memphis football between 1993 and 2014 along with the ATP event at The Racquet Club between 1990 and 2017 and the annual PGA stop in Memphis.

Stukenborg also covered the 1987 World Series, the 1990 Final Four, broke the story on Memphis joining Louisville as founding members of Conference USA and was part of the award-winning series on the 30-year anniversary of Memphis football coach Rex Dockery’s death in a plane crash. Since 1981, Stukenborg has worked as a freelancer for The Associated Press. He recently went to work for his alma mater, the University of Memphis.

 

Weekly award winners named by TSWA - Dec. 12

MEN’S BASKETBALL: UT Martin’s Lewis named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – UT Martin’s Fatodd Lewis earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, registering 28.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists in two outings while recording a triple-double for the Skyhawks.

The Memphis, Tenn., native made 9-of-12 shots and scored 23 points while grabbing 14 rebounds in a victory at Arkansas State, UTM’s first road win of the season. The junior forward then posted the 16th triple-double in OVC history (which dates to 1948), recording 34 points, 16 boards and 12 assists versus Cincinnati-Clermont. He connected on 13-of-26 shots and made 8-for-10 at the foul line.

Lewis became the seventh player in NCAA Division I to record a triple-double this season. He is averaging 14.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 10 games this year for UT Martin.

2017-18 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Devin Whitfield, Trevecca University
November 21 – Dylan Windler, Belmont
November 28 – Grant Williams, Tennessee
December 5 – Nick King, Middle Tennessee

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: UT Martin’s Spray garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – UT Martin’s Kendall Spray earned Tennessee Sports Writer’s Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades on Tuesday, averaging 24.5 points and setting a school record for 3-pointers in a single game.

The Lebanon, Tenn., native posted 14 points at Louisville, hitting four triples while adding three rebounds and two assists. The sophomore guard then set a school single-game record for 3-pointers against Rhodes College, connecting on 11-of-18 attempts for a career-best 35 points.

Spray currently leads the nation in 3-point field goals made per game (4.7) and ranks second in total 3-point field goals made (42). She is averaging 18.8 points while shooting 49 percent from 3-point range through nine games this season.

2017-18 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Mika Wester, Carson-Newman
November 21 – Haris Price, Carson-Newman
November 28 – Kylee Smith, Belmont
December 5 – Chelsey Shumpert, Union University

TSWA honors weekly award winners - Dec. 5

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Middle Tennessee’s King named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee’s Nick King earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, posting 32 points and 11 rebounds in a five-point road win at Florida Gulf Coast for the Blue Raiders.

The Memphis, Tenn., native made 11-of-21 shots overall and connected on 10-for-14 attempts at the foul line, setting career-highs in points, rebounds, assists (4) and minutes played (37) in Middle Tennessee’s second win over FGCU in 11 days. It was his first double-double of the season.

He has netted 20-plus points in five straight outings and ranks sixth nationally in scoring with 24.3 points per game. King is adding 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest as well for the Blue Raiders.

2017-18 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Devin Whitfield, Trevecca University
November 21 – Dylan Windler, Belmont
November 28 – Grant Williams, Tennessee

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Union’s Shumpert garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union University’s Chelsey Shumpert earned Tennessee Sports Writer’s Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades on Tuesday, posting 32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists with one double-double in a pair of victories for the Bulldogs.

The Paducah, Ky., native matched a career-high with 31 points at Mississippi College, hitting 10-of-16 shots overall with three 3-pointers. The senior guard made 8-of-9 at the foul line while adding five rebounds, four assists and three steals in a 98-71 victory.

Two days later Shumpert netted a career-best 34 points with three more triples, collecting 11 rebounds and hitting 9-for-11 at the charity stripe. She finished 11-of-17 from the field in the 69-62 win at Delta State, helping Union to a 2-0 start in league play.

Shumpert leads NCAA Division II in scoring with 28.6 points per game and has scored 20 or more points in all eight contests this season with three games of 30-plus points. She is adding 6.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.0 steals per outing as well.

2017-18 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Mika Wester, Carson-Newman
November 21 – Haris Price, Carson-Newman
November 28 – Kylee Smith, Belmont

Weekly award winners announced by TSWA - Nov. 28

Kyle Shurmur

FOOTBALL: Vanderbilt’s Shurmur, Memphis’ Cook earn TSWA weekly awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Kyle Shurmur and Memphis defensive back Jonathan Cook were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sportswriters Association for their efforts in contests from November 20-26.

Shurmur completed 20-of-31 passes for 283 yards and a career-best four touchdowns in Vanderbilt’s 42-24 victory over Tennessee. The Philadelphia, Pa., native broke the single-season TD passing mark with his first scoring toss of the game, a nine-yard throw to C.J. Duncan, breaking a record held previously by Whit Taylor in 1982.

The junior’s 30-yard TD pass to Kalija Lipscomb just before the half gave the Commodores a lead they would never relinquish. Shurmur added 20 and 12-yard scoring throws to Trent Sherfield in the fourth quarter. He finished the season with 2,823 passing yards, third most in a single-season at Vanderbilt, along with 26 TD passes.

Jonathan Cook

Cook posted four tackles with one tackle for loss, two pass breakups and returned an interception for a touchdown in a victory over East Carolina. The Daphne, Ala., native played just a half in the contest, as Memphis led 49-0 at intermission despite the Pirates running 50 plays and gaining 218 yards in the first 30 minutes.

The senior had a tackle for loss on the first play of the game and added pass breakups in the first and second quarters. His INT return for 32 yards gave the Tigers a 21-0 lead late in the first quarter. Cook has 63 tackles with 4.0 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one interception this season.

2017 TSWA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
August 31 – Sam Castronova, Bethel University (Offense); Alex Campagne, Cumberland University (Defense)
September 6 – Dezmon Huntley, Cumberland University (Offense); Chris Collins, Tennessee State (Defense)
September 12 – Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt (Offense); Jordan Early, Maryville College (Defense)
September 19 – Riley Ferguson, Memphis (Offense); Matt Simon, Tusculum College (Defense)
September 26 – Brad Anderson, Middle Tennessee (Offense); James Gilleylen, UT Martin (Defense)
October 3 – Elijah Chenier, Maryville College (Offense); Jaison Williams, Austin Peay (Defense)
October 10 – Riley Ferguson, Memphis (Offense); Vincent Sellers, Tennessee State (Defense)
October 17 – Alex Ogle, Tusculum College (Offense); L’Keith Brown, Tusculum College (Defense)
October 24 – Kentel Williams, Austin Peay (Offense); John Cleveland, Sewanee (Defense)
November 7 – Derrick Evans, Carson-Newman (Offense); Temoris Coats, Carson-Newman (Defense)
November 14 – Jeremiah Oatsvall, Austin Peay (Offense); L’Keith Brown, Tusculum College (Defense)
November 21 – Riley Ferguson, Memphis (Offense); Juantarius Bryant, Austin Peay (Defense)

Grant Williams

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Tennessee’s Williams named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s Grant Williams earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, averaging 18.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks in three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis over Thanksgiving.

The Charlotte, N.C., native made 8-of-18 shots with a pair of 3-pointers, netting 22 points and eight rebounds in a three-point win over Purdue. The sophomore forward collected 20 points, eight boards, three assists and two blocks in a loss to Villanova, a game the Vols led at halftime, connecting on 9-of-16 shots overall.

Williams finished the tournament with 14 points, six caroms, four assists and three blocks in a victory against N.C. State. He shot 48 percent from the field (22-for-46) in the tournament and was 10-for-15 at the foul line in the three outings as well. He is averaging 15.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 blocks per game for Tennessee this season.

2017-18 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Devin Whitfield, Trevecca University
November 21 – Dylan Windler, Belmont

Kylee Smith

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Belmont’s Smith garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Kylee Smith earned Tennessee Sports Writer’s Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades on Tuesday, recording 17.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists in four games for the Bruins.

The Alpharetta, Ga., native hit 7-of-14 shots overall with three 3-pointers, netting 18 points with three rebounds in a victory over Samford to begin the week. The senior guard posted 15 points, six rebounds and seven assists in a win against Gonzaga in the first game of the Play4Kay Showcase in Las Vegas, making four triples and connecting on 3-of-4 at the foul line.

Smith added two more 3-pointers and scored 10 points with three rebounds in a loss to Stanford. She finished the tournament with a 28-point effort versus Florida Gulf Coast, connecting on 13-of-23 field goals while registering six boards and three assists.

She is averaging 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 rebounds per game for the Bruins this season.

2017-18 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Mika Wester, Carson-Newman
November 21 – Haris Price, Carson-Newman

TSWA announces weekly award winners - Nov. 21

Riley Ferguson

FOOTBALL: Memphis’ Ferguson, Austin Peay’s Bryant earn TSWA weekly awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson and Austin Peay’s Juantarius Bryant were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sportswriters Association for their efforts in contests from November 13-19.

Ferguson completed 21-of-27 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing six times for 29 yards and a career-high three TDs in a 66-45 victory over SMU. The Matthews, N.C., native posted his fifth 300-yard passing game of the year, tossing TD passes of 34 and 24 yards. He also had scoring runs of eight, 12 and two yards, all in the second half.

Ferguson has completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,201 yards with 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions through 10 games this season.

Bryant posted seven tackles with a tackle for loss and collected his first interception of the year in Austin Peay’s 28-13 victory over Eastern Illinois. The Nashville, Tenn., native returned the INT 18 yards to the Eastern Illinois 39-yard line, setting up APSU’s final touchdown of the day. He made five of his seven tackles in the first half, including one on special teams.

The redshirt sophomore safety finished the season with 64 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

2017 TSWA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
August 31 – Sam Castronova, Bethel University (Offense); Alex Campagne, Cumberland University (Defense)
September 6 – Dezmon Huntley, Cumberland University (Offense); Chris Collins, Tennessee State (Defense)
September 12 – Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt (Offense); Jordan Early, Maryville College (Defense)
September 19 – Riley Ferguson, Memphis (Offense); Matt Simon, Tusculum College (Defense)
September 26 – Brad Anderson, Middle Tennessee (Offense); James Gilleylen, UT Martin (Defense)
October 3 – Elijah Chenier, Maryville College (Offense); Jaison Williams, Austin Peay (Defense)
October 10 – Riley Ferguson, Memphis (Offense); Vincent Sellers, Tennessee State (Defense)
October 17 – Alex Ogle, Tusculum College (Offense); L’Keith Brown, Tusculum College (Defense)
October 24 – Kentel Williams, Austin Peay (Offense); John Cleveland, Sewanee (Defense)
November 7 – Derrick Evans, Carson-Newman (Offense); Temoris Coats, Carson-Newman (Defense)
November 14 – Jeremiah Oatsvall, Austin Peay (Offense); L’Keith Brown, Tusculum College (Defense)

Dylan Windler

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Belmont’s Windler named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Dylan Windler earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, averaging 15.5 points and 12.3 rebounds while posting three double-doubles in four Bruins victories.

The Indianapolis, Ind., native started the week with 24 points and 11 boards along with two steals in a 69-60 victory over Vanderbilt, making 9-of-15 shots overall and connecting on 5-for-6 at the free throw line. He followed that with 11 points and 10 caroms at Middle Tennessee in a 69-63 triumph.

The junior registered 23 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in a 93-88 home win over Houston Baptist, hitting three 3-pointers and making 8-of-10 attempts at the foul line. Windler took just one shot in a 90-77 victory against Seattle but grabbed 14 boards while recording three assists and three blocked shots.

He is averaging 16.0 points and 12.0 rebounds through five games for Belmont.

2017-18 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Devin Whitfield, Trevecca University

Haris Price

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Carson-Newman’s Price garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Haris Price earned Tennessee Sports Writer’s Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades on Tuesday, netting 20.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in three victories for the Eagles.

The Gatlinburg, Tenn., native posted 10 points and three assists in 23 minutes of action at King University and the junior guard followed that with 29 points, six rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes at North Georgia. She made a pair of 3-pointers and hit 13-of-14 at the foul line in the 94-90 victory.

Price recorded 22 points, five boards and six assists in just 20 minutes in a win over Georgia College. She connected on 18-of-34 shots and was 22-for-25 on free throws over the three contests, averaging just 25.0 minutes per outing. Price is averaging 16.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists through five games this season.

2017-18 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Mika Wester, Carson-Newman