The Courier News

Moody, Hall earn all-state honors

July 8, 2026 by Ken Lay

Anderson County’s Joseph Hall soars through the air during the long-jump competition at the 2026 TSSAA sectional meet at Maryville College. Hall qualified for the TSSAA Class AA state championships, where he captured the long-jump state title. - Tony Cox

A pair of Anderson County High School track and field athletes received All-State honors from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association when the organization released its postseason teams last week.

Seniors Ava Moody and Joseph Hall earned the recognition after capturing individual state championships.

The two Mavericks were named to the TSWA Class AA All-State Team following their performances at the TSSAA State Track and Field Championships at the University of Tennessee’s Tom Black Track in Knoxville.

Moody, a distance specialist for the Lady Mavericks, won both the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs, completing the distance double for the first time in her illustrious career.

Calhoun takes over Mavericks cross country

July 8, 2026 by Ken Lay

Harrison Calhoun

As the 2026 cross-country season begins, Anderson County High School is turning to a familiar face to lead its successful program.

Longtime assistant coach Harrison Calhoun presided over his first official practice Monday morning as head coach of the Mavericks and Lady Mavericks, taking over a program he has helped build during the past seven seasons.

Calhoun previously served as an assistant under former head coaches Derek Wallace and Mollie Fox. He also serves as Anderson County’s head track-and-field coach.

“I’ve been an assistant and worked with the program for seven years,” Calhoun said. “I’m at my first practice as the head cross country coach.”

His coaching duties have expanded, and he admitted that becoming the head coach happened sooner than he thought it would. Still, he said the opportunity fulfills a longtime goal.

Area trio help capture national title

July 8, 2026 by Ken Lay

National champions: Members of the Diamonds All-Stars Junior Black cheer team celebrate after winning the Summit National Championship at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World. Anderson County cheerleaders Amelia Goins, Gracelyn Montecalvo and Raelyn Franzmann were part of the championship squad. Other team members include Allie Krueger, Kinzie Bartz, Jillian Probst, Bailynn Williams, Hadley Jones, Amber Daniel, Lenni Bentley, Sophia Self, Loralei Cansler, Lola Uleski, Lily Shoenfeld, Reagan Callison, AJ Hazelip, Charlie Neal, Madilyn Smith, Zoee Letard, Abryahna Kraatz, Kaylor Tilley, Sydney Chute, Rebecca Bailey, Ariana Fayziyev, Genevieve Probst, Reese Wadas, Monroe Smith, Lexi Eilson, Millie Blevins and Emmy Forsythe. The Summit National Championship is one of the nation’s premier competitions for youth all-star cheer teams. - Submitted

Three area cheerleaders helped a West Knoxville all-star squad reach the top of the sport with a national championship this spring.

Amelia Goins, Gracelyn Montecalvo and Raelyn Franzmann competed for the Diamonds All-Stars Junior Black team, which captured the Summit National Championship at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.

Diamonds All-Stars competes year-round, and its teams have claimed multiple championships over the years.

Junior Black added another title by winning one of the sport’s premier events for its age division.

Family tradition: Lockard legacy grows at Clinton

July 8, 2026 by Ken Lay

Clinton basketball Assistant Coach Chase Lockard, left, listens as his father, Dragons Head Coach Chris Lockard, discusses strategy before a game during the 2024-25 season. Chase Lockard joined the coaching staff in 2024 and recently was hired as a teacher at Clinton High School, giving the Dragons an assistant coach who is now on campus full time. - Tony Cox

Basketball has long been a family tradition for the Lockards in Clinton.

Don W. Lockard built a legacy so enduring that Clinton High School’s gymnasium bears his name.

His son, Chris, has spent more than two decades leading the Dragons’ basketball program.

Now, the next chapter begins as Chris’ son, Chase, joins the Clinton High faculty, giving the Dragons an on-campus assistant coach for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

Chase Lockard is no stranger to the school or the program.

A former Dragons standout in basketball and baseball, he has served on his father’s coaching staff for several years while teaching at Grand Oaks Elementary School.

Richmond adds Richardson to Hawks staff

July 8, 2026 by Ken Lay

Former Clinton Dragons standout Carson Richardson returns to the program where he began his basketball journey, joining the Clinton Middle School boys basketball coaching staff as an assistant for the 2026-27 season. Richardson starred for the Dragons before graduating in 2025. - File Photo

For Carson Richardson, coaching basketball at Clinton Middle School feels like coming home.

After starring on the hardwood at Clinton Middle and Clinton High, Richardson is back where his basketball journey began, joining new Hawks Head Coach Nick Richmond’s staff as an assistant.

Clinton Middle’s boys basketball team returns to the court this week following the conclusion of the TSSAA-mandated two-week dead period. The Hawks are permitted to hold workouts throughout July.

Richmond replaces Matt McGhee, who coached the Hawks last season. A former Clinton Middle and Clinton High standout in football and basketball, Richmond previously served as the Hawks’ junior varsity coach.

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