Chason going into TCCAA hall of fame

Longtime Chattanooga State teacher and coach Dr. Foster Chason is part of this year's induction class for the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Hall of Fame. Chason, now the vice president for student affairs and athletic director at Walters State, will be recognized for his induction between games of Saturday's basketball doubleheader in Morristown against his former school. Chason is the first individual with direct Chattanooga State ties going into the hall. He was a Tigers assistant baseball coach as well as a basketball assistant before becoming the school's second men's basketball head coach, second women's head coach and second athletic director. He was the first Chattanooga State basketball coach with a 20-win season and the school's first coach with a team ranked in the national top 10. Walters State teams during his AD tenure in Morristown have made 16 national-tournament appearances with one title, and he oversaw the addition of volleyball as a varsity sport there. "Over the past 37 years," he said in an email, "it has been rewarding to watch the growth of Chattanooga State from one building and the 'bubble' gym to a comprehensive community college with national prominence in its athletic programs. I was blessed to be a part of that transition and will always treasure the experiences, the students, the athletes and friends at the college and in the community who enhanced mine and [wife] Carol's life so richly. The honor of this induction would not be possible without the opportunities Chattanooga State afforded me, the student-athletes I had the pleasure of coaching and the support of the people who touched our lives."

Track & Field

• University of Memphis track and field coach Kevin Robinson announced Tuesday the signings last week of GPS student Destinee Lansden from Chattanooga and LaForrest Church from Port Orchard, Wash., and said "both come in as highly competitive high school athletes, who I look to have an immediate impact on our program. Both of these young athletes bring a wide variety of strengths to the program, both academically and athletically." Lansden's signing was reported locally last weekend. She won the Division II 400- and 100-meter dashes at last year's state meet and has school records in those events as well as the 200 and two relays.

Softball

• Martin Methodist and Bryan split a college doubleheader Wednesday at Dayton, Tenn., with Bryan dropping the opener 9-3 and winning the second game 9-6. The Lady Lions' Taylor Yates went 6-for-7 with three runs scored over the two games with a solo home run in the loss and a double in the victory. Bryan's Alexsa Valdes was 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases in the second game. Katelyn Bowen was 2-for-2 in that game with a triple, an RBI and a run scored and Heather Daniel was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Bryan's Rachel Kirby and Katie Vaughn were each 2-for-3 in the loss. Kirby had a double and an RBI.

• The Carson-Newman softball team lost for the first time this season Tuesday, 7-4 to Lander, but improved to 7-1 by winning 4-0 on a two-hitter by freshman Kaitie Sims (4-0) from Baylor. Ooltewah graduate Sara Kelley was 2-for-3 with two runs and a two-run home run, and Ridgeland grad Caitlyn Lance was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Jessica Morgan from Ooltewah was 2-for-3 in the loss.

Golf

• Heritage High School senior Rachel Rebne was one of five women's golf commitments announced Wednesday for Berry College, an NCAA Division III school located just outside Rome, Ga. The daughter of Council Fire golf professional Richard Rebne was the Catoosa Cup champion the last two years and was the medalist in every high school event except one during that time. She won the first flight of the Chattanooga Women's City tournament in 2012, when she also had three second-place finishes in junior tournaments, and she has a 4.0 grade point average. "This is a very strong class for us," Berry coach Brian Farrer said in a school release.

• King University senior Richard Powell from Hixson and Notre Dame High School shot a 1-under-par 70 in the second round of the Spring Kick-Off Intercollegiate tournament at Fleming Golf Club in Orange Park, Fla., and finished 10th individually Tuesday with a 144. That helped King finished second behind Georgia Southwestern State.

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