Wednesday, March 1, 2023

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Letter from the Editor: Notes on a correction

DANIEL DASSOW Editor-in-Chief

On Saturday, we issued a correction that I’ll probably remember forever. We had mixed up admissions data from 2022 and 2023 and reported that the acceptance rate this year had dropped by 6.6%, when it had actually dropped by around 30%.

It was one of those mistakes that feels horrible in the moment but quickly becomes a funny part of working in student media, and I was able to laugh about it after the fact because the correction was so stunning.

On one hand, all the information in our initial piece was correct except one line, and we made the mistake because of a simple misreading. But when a reader suggested the true figure to us, we assumed at first that she was mistaken because it was simply too staggering to believe that UT had gone from a school that accepted 68% of applicants to a school that accepted around 40% in the space of a single year.

But now I can see that this is where we’ve been heading for the last year. You cannot both receive nearly 14,000 more applications and decide to enroll a smaller first-year class without

the acceptance rate decreasing drastically. And while what’s happening at UT is part of a larger national story, where applications to flagship public schools and selective private colleges have spiked since the COVID-19 pandemic began, this change feels especially dramatic.

When UT posted on Instagram to announce that acceptance decisions were live, hundreds of comments flooded the feed with spiteful messages about how UT had moved from a “safety school” to a wildly popular campus beset with a housing crisis which was now forced to reject students who, among other things, claimed they’d been accepted to Ivies.

This sudden drop in UT’s acceptance rate is the kind of news story that will break open dozens of other news stories over the next few years. Time will tell if this is our new normal or if the acceptance rate will settle somewhere above where it currently stands.

But we have to ask ourselves what kind of campus we are going to be if our acceptance rate has plucked us out of the ranks of places like LSU, Auburn and Alabama and placed us much closer to places like UGA and the University of Florida.

UT is clearly moving in the direction of selective public schools like Michigan and UNC Chapel Hill, where the acceptance rate is drastically different for in-state and out-of-state students, and this is part of the land grant mission as stat-

ed by Chancellor Plowman and her cabinet to serve Tennesseans first.

With this newfound mark of prestige, will UT shed its reputation as a place that screws over its own students? Will UT commit itself to increasing campus wages for staff and nontenure-track faculty further? Will it be able to better control enrollment and prevent the housing shortage that began in earnest this year from becoming chronic?

These are exciting questions to consider, and the main emotion coming from current students and alumni in reaction to the news has been excitement. The most-liked comment on our corrected Instagram post simply reads “Diploma Value,” followed by an emoji of a graph with a red line shooting upwards. Another comment reads “we Harvard now.”

There is a sense that when the acceptance rate drops, it raises some tide of prestige that will lift all boats (except those manned by rejected students, of course).

I wrote in a letter for homecoming last year that “it seems like everyone wants to be a Vol,” which felt true even though we’re a school known for its famously cantankerous students. But we had not yet defeated Alabama. That was before the fireworks, and I could not have known then how much more real that statement would become.

Letter from Sports Editor: Tennessee can do it this year

ANDREW PETERS Sports Editor

I have been watching college basketball far too long for anything to surprise me. I’m never shocked when a top seed gets upset. I just think to myself, “That’s March.”

It’s a little frustrating watching March Madness as a die-hard NBA fan because I know that the best team won’t always win. In the NBA, the best-of-seven format used for the playoffs means the champion in the end is almost always the best team. There is very little room for upsets and multiple games mean that one bad shooting night won’t make or break a team’s chances of winning it all.

March Madness is different. The best team could be knocked out in the first round (see Virginia 2018) or go all the way. In my opinion, winning a National Championship in college basketball is one of the hardest feats in all of major sports.

In college and professional football, upsets are much harder to come by because of the nature of the sport. It’s uncommon to see a team get hot and play significantly better than they normally do — unless you are South Carolina at the end of last football season. Baseball and hockey are like the NBA, using best-of-seven series to decide winners.

In March Madness, you have to be on top of your game for five games straight to win a championship.

That is why I am asking everyone to cut Tennessee some slack for its postseason showings over the last few seasons.

Sure, Tennessee probably should have beat Oregon State in the first round two years ago and Michigan in the Round of 32 last season, but March Madness is all about upsets, and the Vols have just happened to be the victim of those upsets recently.

Since 1985, there have been an average of 13 upsets per year. Last year, two-seeded Kentucky lost to 15-seeded St. Peters and eight-seeded North Carolina made the championship. It’s just the nature of March. It is impossibly hard to win the tournament.

But this year, I think Tennessee could make up for all the early losses in recent years.

The field heading into the tournament is wide open. There is no clear best team, but rather 1015 teams that seem capable of winning it all. That being said, I think this year’s March Madness favors the Vols.

Tennessee has the best defense in the country by far and it has been consistent. That will be huge when the Vols come across mid major schools that rely heavily on scoring. If Tennessee can get past two decent-to-bad teams in the first two rounds, it then will take on a field that is incredibly average compared to normal years.

In most bracket projections, Tennessee is in the East Region as the No. 3 seed and would have

to get past the top-seeded teams in the region, Kansas State and Purdue, to make it to the Final Four. Obviously this is not a given, but those teams are very beatable. Both have lost to some bad conference opponents.

Some of the other top seeds in the tournament are Alabama, Kansas and Texas, all of which the Vols have beat this season. This tournament is anyone’s to win.

Sure, Tennessee’s February struggles were probably discouraging to most fans, but it’s better to struggle in February and succeed in March, and I think that’s what Tennessee can do this season.

So Tennessee fans, it’s time to stop thinking about the past and start focusing on this year. I think you might just be surprised.

South waterfront land deal provides hope for off-campus housing

Sitting between McGhee Tyson Airport and Neyland Stadium is an opportunity that can help to combat Knoxville’s housing shortage. Earlier this year, Vols View Residences LLC purchased about six acres of land on 451 W. Blount Ave. for $8 million dollars.

This location also sits close to the site of the pedestrian bridge proposal.

This bridge was originally presented back in 2008 and aimed to connect Thompson-Boling Arena across the river to Clancy Avenue. With the increase of new housing projects, the proposal has garnered attention, and funding for the project was approved by the Knoxville City Council earlier this month.

As for the purchased lot, Vols View LLC, in partnership with Alabama company LIV Development, is moving forward with construction plans for the south waterfront to build what will soon be the Livano Knoxville. This apartment is to be a Class-A housing project. Typically Class-A apartments are defined as having more amenities than average, including things such as a clubhouse, fitness center, resort-style pool and multiple activity courtyards.

In the preliminary plans LIV filed to the Board of Zoning Appeals last May, the design revealed the potential of the building project, illustrating two five-story buildings containing a mixture of studio to three bedroom apartments. The plan totaled 321 apartments and 524 parking spots.

Despite being luxury, the initial intent of these units is to serve as student housing for the University of Tennessee. Next to the lot are the City View Apartments, where the average bedroom apartment goes for about $1,608 for 693-695 sq ft and the lowest rent for a studio being $925 for 425 sq ft.

With a location ideal for easy travel to downtown Knoxville, this apartment complex is a future prospect for UT students. However, there are concerns about Knox Livano when it comes to UT students.

Third year civil engineering major Emma Patterson shared her thoughts on the plans of these apartment units.

“It’s good that the students will get a fancier place to live and in a good location. But only students who are able to afford these luxury apartments can take advantage of this opportunity,” she said.

When it comes to students looking for housing, luxury apartments are not usually their go-to choice, as most individuals are looking for affordable housing and apartments.

Mina Shawky, a senior biology major, expressed her discontent with the future complex.

“What Knoxville really needs is options. People don’t need the best of the best, especially college students who are just trying to get by with the little financial support they have,” Shawky said.

It is hard to tell right now the exact impact Livano Knoxville will have on Knoxville and its residents. With the site planning to start construction in May of this year, the property hopes to have open leasing by next April, and full completion of the complex by the end of 2024.

ALEXA-MARIE MELÉNDEZ Contributor

A proposal for a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge would connect UT’s campus with Knoxville’s South Waterfront Redevelopment Area, rendered here with additional construction in the future. Courtesy of the City of Knoxville, Lawrie and Associates, CRJA, Wilbur Smith Associates, S&ME and Sanders Pace Architecture

Winter Board of Trustees meetings cement master plan, 3 new colleges

cation, Research and Service Committee met. Presentations from that day include overviews of some newer successful programs, as well as the announcement of three new colleges at UT.

While it seems like campus cannot possibly grow any more, the agenda of the 2023 Winter Board of Trustees meeting was packed full of ways for the UT Systems – including UT Knoxville – to continue expanding.

The meeting spanned over Thursday and Friday and took place in Chattanooga. Administrators from all four UT Systems campuses gathered to share insights on the health of their respective campuses and their visions for their schools’ continued success.

Thursday’s meeting began with the Finance and Administration Committee. The majority of the session was dedicated to the UT Master Plan, a detailed map of the university’s shortterm and long-term growth.

Chancellor Donde Plowman was the first speaker, and she praised UT’s record enrollment, which she credits to the school’s performance in athletics and academics. She also asked an important question that is on everyone’s mind: if UT is already experiencing tremendous growth, why keep growing?

“It’s good for the state of Tennessee, and it’s good for individuals,” Plowman said.

On the second day of the meeting, the Edu-

Erin Crisp, executive director of the Tennessee Grow Your Own Center, delivered remarks on the success of the program, which started last semester. Grow Your Own is a teaching apprenticeship program that allows students to gain hands-on experience teaching in the classroom while they work towards their fouryear degrees.

Notably, UT Provost John Zomchick announced the establishment of three new colleges at UT. One of these colleges is entirely built from the ground up, while the other two are built upon existing programs.

The first is the transformation of the School of Music into an independent College of Music. As Tennessee is a hub for the music industry, Zomchick hopes future music students will benefit from this split from the College of Arts and Sciences.

“Once a College of Music is no longer part of an administrative unit structured for more traditional academic disciplines, it will have increased visibility, a more efficient path for curricular innovation and an organizational structure specifically designed for fulfilling its unique needs,” Zomchick wrote in the proposal to UT president Randy Boyd.

The second is the evolution of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center into the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs. This would be the first program focused on public policy to be offered at a public institution in Tennessee. Not only would this present an opportunity for students interested in public affairs, but it would further the Baker Center’s mission of shifting from a simple museum and archive into a world-renowned think-tank and research facility.

Last, the university is establishing a College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies. This is envisioned as an interdisciplinary college and an “incubator” for emerging fields of research and scholarship. While new degree programs are being developed for the college, two existing programs are shifting to the oversight of the CECS: the data science minor and the global development minor.

Zomchick expressed optimism over these new colleges.

“They will be visionary. They will be agile and nimble. By the end of the day, I believe they will raise the profile of the University of Tennessee and will serve our students and our state well,” Zomchick said.

Recordings of the meetings’ proceedings and agenda materials can be found on the Board of Trustees website.

UT to produce first ‘Zero Waste’ sporting season through composting

Starting on March 3, UT will begin its first “Zero Waste” sporting events with the 2023 Lady Vol softball season. In a joint effort with UT’s Office of Sustainability, UT Athletics and Eco-Products with Aramark, concessions will be completely replaced with compostable or recyclable items, diverting 90% of waste generated this softball season away from the landfill. This is the first time in UT’s history that this initiative is taking place on such a large scale.

During the more than 20 home games in Sherri Lee Parker stadium this spring, everything will be recycled or composted by the Office of Sustainability. Wyatt Miner, compost logistics assistant for the Compost Facility, along with many others, has been working with Eco-Products and Aramark to get compostable materials for the upcoming season.

“‘Zero Waste’ has been a target for this university for years, but this will be the first fullscale attempt to eliminate the landfill waste stream for the stadium entirely,” Minder said.

There have been attempts at “Zero Waste” game days advertised at Neyland Stadium, though they have not achieved the diversion goal of 90%. However, this upcoming softball

season will truly be zero waste. To get this target within a more achievable range, the Office of Sustainability brought down the scale and created a plan and practice.

“For this project, I had to get in touch with Aramark and Eco-Products to help switch the non-compostable concession items to fit into the compostable waste stream,” Miner said.

“Our team had to take inventory of the concession items that were in place and then determine if they fit into the compostable waste stream. If they were non-compostable, we had to find compostable alternatives.”

Wayne Koeckeritz, a product and zero waste

specialist with Eco-Products joined in to help the vision become a reality.

“The goal on these types of projects is to get everything collected and then composted,” Koeckeritz said. “UT has a great opportunity because they have their own commercial composting site right there on campus. That’s not common. It is great that they are able to take full advantage of the opportunities that are already there.”

But what exactly is the motivation for all of this? Koeckeritz, a self-proclaimed “dirt nerd,” gets down to, quite literally, the nittygritty of the benefits of zero waste.

“When you put food in a landfill, that’s what creates all of your methane,” Koeckeritz said. “If we can get the food out of the landfill, we do a couple of different things: we reduce the methane emissions from those landfills, and we take and make a product compost at the end, which is fantastic for sequestering carbon. Rather than giving up a form of it in methane, it can actually sequester carbon. But it also is a fantastic soil additive.”

The change is also proving beneficial to more than just the ecosystem, but the economics on Rocky Top too.

“In changing the materials and procedures in which we handle waste, we found that it will actually save the university money,” Miner said.

Starting around the diamond in Sherri Lee Parker stadium, with the power of sports in their back pocket, the Office of Sustainability’s ultimate goal is to have it extend to all areas of sports and campus, from Thompson-Boling to Lindsey Nelson and of course, Neyland Stadium. Still, it is a step-at-a-time process.

“You can imagine that a Neyland Stadium football game, when you’re trying to recover from 100,000 fans, how challenging that can be. I applaud UT for trying to say, ‘Let’s get proof of concept in a smaller venue and then let’s see if we can continue to expand that out until we get to the point where we’re ready to do it in Neyland,’” Koeckeritz said.

AURORA SILAVONG Staff Writer

CAITLIN MULQUEEN Staff Writer

The Baker Center for Public Policy and the School of Music will soon house new colleges. File / The Daily Beacon

The Lady Vols hype each other up before a matchup against Tennessee Tech. File / The Daily Beacon

Hitting Capacity

HALL News Editor

housing and parking.

This fall in admit rate was not unexpected, however. Since the university announced in December that it would end a 10-year trend of growth in the freshman class, observers waited to see just how much the acceptance rate would drop.

On Tuesday, the University of Tennessee Office of Undergraduate Admissions released regular admission decisions for the incoming class of 2027. While the Office of Undergraduate Admissions Instagram page had a positive outlook on the admissions cycle, posting a celebratory photo congratulating accepted students, this excitement was met with disbelief in the comment section from accomplished applicants who were rejected.

This year, UT experienced record growth in the number of first-year applicants, totaling 47,838 applications by the Dec. 15 regular admissions application deadline, a stunning 40.2% increase from last year which was driven largely by out-ofstate applicants. By Feb. 14, the number of applications had increased to 49,790.

For the fall 2023 admissions cycle, the university reported an in-state acceptance rate of 59.4% and an out-of-state acceptance rate of 33.3%, a drastic decrease from the year before.

According to material presented to the Board of Trustees on Friday, the in-state acceptance rate in 2022 was 71.2% and the out-of-state acceptance rate was 67.2%. The overall acceptance rate in 2022 was 68.4%.

Though the final figure for this year’s acceptance rate has not been released and more acceptances may be issued for those who applied after the regular admissions deadline, the acceptance rate plummeted by nearly 30% in one year, according to figures from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

The 2023 acceptance rate, which is likely to be around 40%, places UT closer in line with SEC peers like the University of Georgia and the University of Florida.

The rise in applications and overall retention rates means that there will likely be growth in undergraduate enrollment in Fall 2023, although the size of the first-year class will be reduced.

“To deliver the best Volunteer experience for all students across all four years an in course offerings, residential experience and student life, UT will reduce the size of its first-year class and enroll fewer students than last fall,” the Office of Undergraduate Admissions noted in a public admissions release.

This adjustment comes after the admission of multiple record-breaking freshman classes, which have caused UT to face opposition from undergraduate students about the effects of campus overpopulation on student resources such as

“What we’re seeing in this decline of admit rate is fairly expected. When you see application numbers trend up as they do, especially a growth in out-of-state applications, as we’ve seen at UTK, you’d expect this admit rate to drop … That means being really thoughtful about what the right mix of students is,” Bernard Savarese, UT assistant vice president for student success, said at the board meeting on Friday.

The office boasted that this year’s applicant pool was the most competitive in UT’s 228-year history, which is likely a result of academic and athletic successes on campus.

The average academic statistics for admitted students for fall 2023 were a UT core weighted grade point average, or GPA, of between 4.04-4.46 and an ACT composite score of 26-31 or SAT Composite score of 1240-1400.

Because of this decrease in the size of the incoming first-year class, many high-achieving students were not granted admission, despite having statistics within the range of or higher than previous year averages.

While many commenters simply voiced their surprise at being rejected, some used the comment section to express their excitement about attending other universities in the SEC

“Imagine having a 4.3 gpa and not getting in … oh wait that’s me #rolltide,” Isabella Bobak, an applicant from City Charter High School in Pittsburgh commented.

Bobak applied to the class of 2027 admission cycle in hopes of becoming a business major. She was admitted to West Virginia State University and Ohio State University and received scholarships at Youngstown State University, the University of Alabama and Jacksonville University.

Despite these successes at other universities, Bobak was not accepted to the University of Tennessee.

“UT was my dream school. I absolutely fell in love especially after I toured it … I had no doubt in my mind that I would get in because I know who I am as a student … I was devastated to say the least. All I talked about was UT, all I could think about was my future at UT, and I got denied,” Bobak said.

Bobak believes that her 4.3 GPA, participation in honors classes and societies and work experience should have been grounds for admission, but this was not the case. Many students are experiencing a similar situation as UT increases their admissions standards.

For students who have been dreaming about attending UT like Bobak, the new admissions rates are disappointing.

“Tennessee was one of my top schools. I truly thought I was going to get in, but sometimes things happen,” Colin Meier, a student at John Hersey High School in Prospect Heights, Illinois, said.

Similarly to Bobak, Meier said he had above average high school statistics, with a 30 ACT score and 4.0 weighted GPA. Meier was accepted into

Michigan State, University of Iowa, Iowa State and Marquette University.

The number of applicants continues to rise, with applications continuing to come in for the post-regular admission period. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will consider these lateterm applications as space becomes available.

Correction: A previous version of this article cited the 2022 acceptance rate as the 2023 acceptance rate and understated the decrease in the acceptance rate this cycle.

AUTUMN

UT’s acceptance rate this year is closer to that of the University of Georgia and the University of Florida, changing its status as a “safety school” overnight. File / The Daily Beacon

UT’s acceptance rate plummeted by nearly 30% in the most competitive year in its history, changing the face of admissions in a single cycle.

New downtown spot Monkey’s Bar hopes to provide welcoming space

each other can meet up in a welcoming space reassures Nelson. She also invites more people to take advantage of the space.

This story begins in October. At 103 W. Depot Avenue, the cocktail bar Central Depot closed its doors. One of its employees became an ultimate opportunist – Ellie Nelson purchased the space and turned it into a bar of her own. This bar, aptly named for Nelson’s golden retriever Monkey, opened its doors on Dec. 23, 2022. Monkey’s Bar, with its industrial yet homey feel, has become a classic meeting place for people of all kinds. After all, that is one of Nelson’s missions for the bar. “Bars are such a place of connection for people, and I really want to see what I can do to help foster that. I want to provide a space for people to come and, whoever it is, to walk in that door and feel like they are welcome here. It’s a place where they can meet their friends, hang out with people they know, or meet new people. You can meet a lot of people in the bar scene, and I love that, so I asked myself what I could do to make that happen,” Nelson said.

The bar has become a place to host events, such as the New to Knox group that met at Monkey’s on Wednesday night. Nelson welcomes the groups, especially the partnership with New to Knox. The fact that a group of people who have moved to a new city and don’t know the area or

After graduating from UT in 2016 with a degree in history and two minors in geography and secondary education – not a business degree like one might think – Nelson has worked in the service industry and the construction industry. That has been one of the most difficult things Nelson has faced when opening Monkey’s Bar.

“While I was in the process of opening a business, which is a full-time job, I’m working at my full-time job,” Nelson said. “I’m so thankful for the people that have been around me in this experience to help, like my best friends, my family, all of the above … I would have loved to do more of the manual labor myself, but I went through the bureaucratic stuff, and the people around me did the interior design bits.”

Monkey’s Bar can seat about 50 people and though they love to host other people’s events, they also host events like trivia on Tuesdays and local artists performing on Wednesdays. Currently, Monkey’s Bar is not open on Sundays or Mondays, but Nelson says that they could open on those days sometime in the future. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest days for the bar.

The bar features mostly cocktails, with a few snacks on the menu as well. The cocktails are made with an array of liquors, though Monkey’s

Bar has a plethora of bourbons on their menu – because Nelson feels as though she is wellversed in the bourbon world from her years of work in the service industry.

Almost all of the cocktails are references to the early 2000s, such as the Jack Sparrow (probably the most obvious connection), which is a rum cocktail with pomegranate, lime, ginger liqueur, a topping of ginger beer and a lime wheel. Another is the Old Miller, named for Nick Miller, a character in the sitcom “New Girl”

“Ellie basically is Nick Miller,” said Brooke Martin, the two-time guest bartender at Monkey’s Bar.

Martin bartends mostly at Stock & Barrel in Market Square, another bourbon-focused restaurant. Because Nelson has worked in the service industry for long enough to make connections, she has a number of guest bartenders who pick up shifts as the business continues to navigate its opening.

Working at Monkey’s is also a breath of fresh air, Martin felt.

“I’ve been working at Stock for four years now, and the burnout is real, but I love bartending so coming to Monkey’s just hits different. It’s a great place to start out or even just find a new lease on the job,” Martin said.

Monkey’s Bar can be found on Instagram at @monkeysbarknox, as well as online at www. monkeysbarknox.com. They are open from 4

p.m. to 12 a.m. Tuesday to Thursday and from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Meet some people, like Nelson intended, and have a good time. The drinks are inexpensive, and the people are welcoming – Monkey’s Bar is one of the upand-coming places to be.

Knoxville becomes pickleball destination amid national craze

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America. Its popularity increased exponentially during the start of COVID-19 and has continued to rise. According to Pickleheads, a court data provider, there were about 36.5 million pickleball players in the United States in 2022 and 10,320 pickleball facilities nationally.

Brandon Mackie, co-founder of Pickleheads, believes pickleball has become popular due to the social aspect of the sport. The sport was created with family-playing in mind, making it popular for all age groups.

“Pickleball is a sport for all ages. Anyone from age 5-95 can play and have fun. This makes pickleball the perfect activity for families, especially around the holidays,” Mackie said.

Pickleball was created in 1965 by three vacationers. The name originated from one of the vacationer’s dogs, who was named Pickleball. It can be described as a cross between ping pong, badminton and tennis. Given its similarity to other sports, it can be easy to pick up, but the unique aspects of the game keep players interested.

“The magic of pickleball is it’s easy to learn but hard to master. Beginners can go out their first time, learn the game, have fun and even win a few games. But advanced players stay challenged and keep coming

back for more,” Mackie said.

Knoxville is the most popular city in Tennessee to play pickleball, with 31 pickleball courts in the Knoxville area.

Some of the top places to play pickleball in the Knoxville area are TTCA and Pavilion of Pickleball, both of which require memberships. Sam Duff Memorial Park and West Hills Park have been voted two of the best public courts.

As the popularity of pickleball continues to grow, more courts are being added to Knoxville. On Jan. 7, the Tennova Family YMCA opened to the North Knoxville community. The facility features rock climbing, exercise classes and its very own pickleball courts. The inclusion of pickleball courts in the new YMCA emphasizes the growth of the sport.

Chris Karges is a player in the National Pickleball League as well as an instructor at Pavilion of Pickleball. She first learned about the sport while she was coaching tennis. Compared to tennis, she believes pickleball is more social and even more interactive due to the small court size and ability to switch partners. Since then, she has been heavily involved in the start and growth of Pavilion of Pickleball which is the first indoor pickleball facility in the state of Tennessee.

The Pavilion of Pickleball now has 950

members and will soon reopen memberships for individuals, families and students. Memberships allow players 24 hour access to the facility, lessons and the option to play in leagues. Guests are also welcome and can receive six guest lessons.

One aspect that Karges enjoys about playing pickleball professionally is that tournaments are open to both new and experienced players.

“Pickleball is one of the only sports where you can participate in a tournament as an amateur and the pros are playing right beside you,” Karges said.

Pickleball teams are beginning to appear in Knoxville middle school and are likely to join high school soon. As pickleball continues to grow, Karges believes it is important to encourage kids and students to play.

“Pavilion of Pickleball is really trying to develop youth pickleball to help the growth of the sport,” Karges said.

As a coach, Karges has seen firsthand how pickleball can easily be learned while also challenging experienced players. Karges credits the popularity of the sport with its social aspects and quick pace.

“Very social where you’re switching partners. It’s a very fast sport … and it’s a great workout,” Karges said.

ABBIE SMITH Staff Writer ANDI JONES Contributor

Monkey’s Bar, with its industrial yet homey feel, has become a meeting place for people of all kinds.

Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / Photo Editor

Co-founder of Pickleheads Brandon Mackie. Courtesy of Brandon Mackie

Letter to the Editor:

Anti-trans youth, anti-drag bills require more media attention

MCKENZIE RIDER Guest Columnist

To the editor,

In the wake of the news of the current state of SB3/HB9 and HB1/SB1, I reflect on the lack of coverage published by the Beacon, beyond one editorial from Jan. 12, 2023. While political issues are a touchy subject, human rights issues need more visibility. This article’s title does not reference either the “drag ban” or “trans healthcare ban.” With its current title, it can be easily ignored by readers as just another article on political matters.

These bills threaten the livelihood of so many LGBTQ individuals. Some could argue that the drag ban is not essential to the LGBTQ community but by banning drag performances, it is only a start in the unnecessary sexualization of LGBTQ individuals and culture, much in ways that echo the 1950s when “homosexual” was virtually synonymous with “predator.”

While the verbiage of the bill suggests that this only applies to public and “obscene” performances viewable to minors and not a total ban, many that support the bill view drag performers as inherently obscene and as predators. This threatens a hallmark of LGBTQ culture but also allows for an increase in hate crimes towards LGBTQ individuals. Beyond these points, where will these legislators draw the line in determining what is “obscene” and what is an individual just expressing their identity?

HB1/SB1 introduces the idea that trans healthcare is harmful to trans children and teens: care

that is truly lifesaving. It is another chance for lawmakers to step in between a doctor and a patient. Medical professionals have been providing affirming healthcare for minors since the late 20th century. If it was a real threat to patients, it would not be practiced. Why can we not accept trans and non-binary children and adults?

HB1/SB1 is also the first step in banning all affirming healthcare to patients, as seen in Texas. Ending established hormone replacement therapy can cause medical complications. The lack of affirming care can and will increase the amount of individuals experiencing gender dysphoria. Yet, these bills may even block mental health professionals from providing services for gender dysphoria, inevitably increasing suicide rates in trans and non-binary individuals.

It is important for the Beacon to highlight these local and national issues more frequently to inform readers which naturally exposes the harm of these bills. LGBTQ+ rights should not be a political matter.

Wanting to send in a letter to the Beacon? Read through our editorial policies and submit a letter through The Daily Beacon’s website.

UT protect trans students?” at The

East TN Maverick: KPD officers must be held accountable for death in custody

WALKER KINSLER Columnist

On Feb. 5, 60-year-old Lisa Edwards was arrested by members of the Knoxville Police Department outside of Fort Sanders Medical Center for not leaving the premises. What transpired afterward was not only humiliating for Edwards but ended up costing her her life the next day. The despicable actions by KPD personnel involved must be held to account.

Edwards had been discharged from Fort Sanders that morning after seeking additional help following a stay at Blount Memorial Hospital for abdominal pain. Despite her insistence that she felt unwell, Fort Sanders security guards demanded she leave the property and called for KPD officers to arrest her when she didn’t.

On Feb. 23, the body cam and squad car footage was released to the public and shows a harrowing, disturbing video.

When KPD first confronted Edwards at Fort Sanders, she told the officers she had a stroke and could not walk. The officers did not care and demanded she leave or be arrested and sent to jail. Eventually they called a jail transport van and attempted, with the driver, to place her inside. In the video, she is clearly in medical distress, wheezing terribly and pleading with the officers that she

couldn’t breathe or stand.

The entire time, the officers mocked or get frustrated with Edwards, ridiculing her with words like “dead weight” and claiming she’s “playing games.” Later, one pulled her hair to lift her unconscious head.

After struggling for about 30 minutes, they instead placed Edwards in the back of a cramped squad car, where she is never once able to sit upright. The officer drove away with her in the seat on her side, wheezing and sounding desperate for help. She would end up losing consciousness during the ride and died from the effects of a stroke on Feb. 6.

The Knox County District Attorney’s Office has announced that none of the officers involved will face charges, claiming that “at no time did law enforcement interaction cause or contribute to Ms. Edwards’ death.”

Let me be clear: the officers and transport driver involved in the incident ignored Edwards’ medical emergency and contributed to her death. There are no excuses. Anyone, regardless of their medical knowledge, can see in the video that she is in medical distress. KPD personnel showed a constant lack of care and empathy in response to her pleas, and her death is on their hands.

The officers in the video clearly treat Edwards differently because they perceive her as no better than a “vagrant.” There is a serious problem

with police officers treating people as a part of two classes: those they see as more “clean and respectful” and those they see as “dirty and poor.” That is not up to them, or anyone for that matter, to decide. Every single person should be treated equally, no matter their life circumstances.

Some people, like Edwards at times in the video, are also not able to fully articulate their needs and condition to authorities. This lack of articulation should not be regarded as someone being less of a person. The officers present should have been her voice, recognized her medical distress and gotten her help. They should have served and protected her.

Fort Sanders should also be scrutinized closely for their involvement. The hospital discharged and tossed Edwards out over her distressed objections, and then called for the police to deal with a situation that did not need them. Hospitals should care for and listen to their patients, not view them with contempt. Fort Sanders must go through a dramatic cultural and practical change after this.

Those officers involved should face criminal charges. Sgt. Brandon Wardlaw, officer Adam Barnett, officer Timothy Distasio and transportation officer Danny Dugan are currently only facing an internal affairs investigation by KPD while on paid leave. Unfortunately to those familiar with such matters, an internal affairs investigation will most likely not bring about the justice needed to

Edwards’ death. There might not even be a slap on the wrist.

KPD’s police chief Paul Noel, a recent appointment of Mayor Indya Kincannon, has said for the past few months he wants to make the department more equal, fair and respectful. Noel will fail miserably if these officers are not held totally accountable. Kincannon by extension should face criticism if her new chief’s department fails to act.

You can help hold the personnel responsible by attending the March 7 city council meeting at the City-County Building and decrying their actions. If nothing changes, the community must continue to show up at future city council meetings until change comes. Look up their meeting schedules and sign up to speak during the public forum by calling the City Recorder’s office at 865215-2075, or by signing up with the City Recorder on the night of the meeting.

If we do not get involved, no justice will come to Edwards and her terrible death. It is up to us to deliver it, and shame on us if we fail to act.

Scrugham: I was wrong about Josh Heupel, generational play caller

In August of last year, I wrote a column explaining some concerns I had about Josh Heupel. I was worried about how his defense had performed in the biggest moments of his career. In addition, I pointed out that the Vols’ schedule was fairly difficult and Will Levis and Anthony Richardson could make huge leaps in their junior years. I predicted the team would go 7-5.

I could not have been more wrong. The Vols crushed even the highest of expectations with the best offense in the country. Josh Heupel made Hendon Hooker into a Heisman contender, Jalin Hyatt into a Day 1 or Day 2 NFL draft pick, and the Vols into the number 1 team in the country heading into the Georgia game.

While the Georgia game turned ugly and the South Carolina meltdown was an embarrassment, those were two small blemishes in an otherwise historic season. The monumental 5249 win over Alabama on a “Tennessee Saturday Night” featured the most points scored against Nick Saban since Sept. 7, 1996.

In spite of the season’s countless accolades, the most impressive thing Josh Heupel did was put Joe Milton into next season’s Heisman conversation with a dominating win over Clemson.

Any Michigan fan can tell you Joe Milton was one of the most inaccurate, raw quarterbacks in Big 10 history. If Josh Huepel and new offensive coordinator Joey Halze can revitalize Milton’s career, then any quarterback can thrive and develop in their system.

Josh Heupel ended fifteen years of mediocre Tennessee football because he is the best offensive play-caller in the nation. It didn’t matter that the Vols defense ranked 128 out of 131 FBS teams in passing yards allowed. Their offense was the best in the country with 44.5 points per game, more than even Ohio State with its cupcake schedule.

Heupel’s signature spread wide formation stretches defenses thin by positioning widerecievers as far apart as possible, employing creative pre-snap and post-snap motions, and maintaining a lightning-fast tempo. His unique offense builds on the philosophies of Mike Leach, Kliff Kingsbury, Lincoln Riley and others to create a distinctive scheme that is unlike any other in modern college football. As defenses adapt in future seasons, Heupel’s ability to innovate should allow him to stay one step ahead of the great defensive coaches.

Going forward, Josh Heupel has positioned the Vols in a “high ceiling, high floor” situation. If the Vols defense remains below average or even mediocre, the offense is still enough to keep the Vols competitive against nearly every team in the country (high floor). And if the de-

fense can improve with some promising new recruits and transfers, the sky is the limit.

I was wrong about Josh Heupel because I did not realize how generational of a play caller he is. Danny White hit a home run by hiring an offensive mastermind. As long as Heupel is Tennessee’s coach, the Vols will be one of the best football teams in the country. And now that he has his hands on two future first-round pick quarterback talents … look out.

DANIEL SCRUGHAM Columnist

Coach Josh Heupel, Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton III smile during the trophy presentation at the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

Daniel Scrugham is a junior studying business analytics. He can be reached at dscrugham@vols.utk.edu.

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

Walker Kinsler is a sophomore studying political science. He can be reached at wkinsler@vols.utk.edu.

The Madness Report: Where Tennessee stands heading into March

Why this bracket doesn’t favor the Vols

There are a lot of high-powered offenses in this region, starting with Tennessee’s first round opponent in Furman.

21-10 (13-3 SEC). Despite the rough 4-5 start, Tennessee has turned it around and seems to be on an upward trajectory.

March is here and the tournament picture is becoming clearer each day.

Tennessee struggled in February, but the past is behind them and the Vols are looking to close out the season with a win before they begin their conquest for back-to-back SEC Tournament Championships.

On the women’s side of things, the Lady Vols early season struggles are a thing of the past and their tournament stock has risen tremendously.

Here is where the Vols and Lady Vols stand in major bracket projections in the first week of March.

The Vols’ chances of securing a No. 2 seed have practically vanished after a five-loss February, but on the bright side, a solid showing in the SEC Tournament would almost guarantee the Vols a No. 3 seed.

In ESPN’s Bracketology, the Vols are the No. 3 seed in the East Region. In the first round, they would take on Furman and the top seeds in their region would be No. 1 Purdue and No. 2 Kansas State.

Why this bracket favors the Vols

There is a lot of room for upsets in the East Region, which means Tennessee could get away with playing an easier team that upset a top seed. Purdue has shown that it is capable of being upset, and it potentially has to get through Arkansas or Purdue, two solid teams.

Kansas State would potentially have to play Michigan State before reaching the Sweet 16, and any Tom Izzo-coached team is capable of succeeding in March, no matter how the season has gone.

If the Vols get lucky, they could avoid playing the top-two seeds in the region.

Furman averages 82.2 points per game and would undoubtedly be a challenge for the Vols. If Furman gets hot, Tennessee could be on upset watch. Kansas State is another solid offense that the Vols would have to get through.

Needless to say, Tennessee’s defense would have to be consistent to have success in this bracket.

In CBS Sports’ bracket, the Vols are the No. 4 seed in the East Region and would take on Southern Miss in the first round. The top three seeds in this bracket would be Kansas, Marquette and Gonzaga.

Why this bracket favors the Vols

The East Region in this bracket is arguable the weakest region in the tournament. It doesn’t have a clear favorite and the Vols could very reasonably defeat all of the top teams.

In fact, Tennessee has defeated two of the top teams in Kansas and Gonzaga. Of course, the Gonzaga win was a preseason exhibition game and the Kansas win was back in November, but nonetheless the Vols have seen these teams before.

Why this bracket doesn’t favor the Vols

While having faced some of the top seeds in the bracket could be a plus, it’s also hard to beat a team twice. Tennessee would likely have to do that in this bracket.

Being the No. 4 seed instead of the No. 3 seed also means that Tennessee would have to face a tough team in the second round, in this case, it will likely be San Diego State.

The best-case scenario for the Vols would be having some success in the SEC Tournament and avoid being a No. 4 seed all together.

The Lady Vols finished the regular season

The latest ESPN Bracketology also echoes that the Lady Vols are moving up. According to ESPN’s Charlie Creme, Tennessee is among teams 14-21 that are vying for one of the final top 16 seeds. Tennessee currently sits No. 15 in the NET rankings, which are used to predict postseason seeding.

With a good run in the SEC tournament, and a little help from the teams “ahead” of Tennessee currently, we could see ThompsonBoling Arena host the first weekend of the NCAA tournament.

For now, Creme puts the Lady Vols as a No. 5 seed in the Chapel Hill region. The No. 1 seed on this side is Utah and Seattle would be its regional site for the Sweet 16.

Why this bracket favors the Lady Vols

Tennessee draws No. 12 seed South Dakota State (25-5, 18-0 Summit) as its first-round matchup in this projected bracket. While the Jackrabbits had a successful year and won their conference, they would be severely outsized against Tennessee. Their tallest player is freshman Natalie Nielsen at 6-foot-3.

The second-round matchup would draw region host No. 4 seed North Carolina (20-9, 11-7 ACC). The Tar Heels finished sixth in the ACC and have been very streaky this season.

North Carolina had a losing streak of four at one point during the season, and fell to five unranked opponents throughout the course of the year. Like the Lady Vols, the Tarheels also struggled against ranked foes.

Tennessee should have a favorable matchup with North Carolina to make a Sweet 16.

Why this bracket doesn’t favor the Lady Vols

If Tennessee makes it to the Sweet 16, it would be sent to Seattle. Obviously, Knoxville to Seattle is not favorable.

The other host site, Greeneville, South Carolina, is where Tennessee would rather end up.

On top of a lot of travel, the Lady Vols would draw No. 1 seed Utah (25-3, 15-3 Pac-12) in the Sweet 16. The Utes won the Pac-12 and only lost to Colorado, Stanford and Arizona. All of their losses came on the road.

Utah has good size and ended its regular season with a win over No. 3 Stanford. Tennessee does not match up well in this scenario.

ANDREW PETERS AND CALEB JARREAU

Sports Editor and Staff Writer

No. 23 Jordan Bowden reacts to a call during the emotional Sweet 16 game against Purdue University on Thursday March 28, 2019, at the KFC Yum! Center. File / The Daily Beacon

No. 25 Jordan Horston, leaps up for the jump ball during a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Feb. 23, 2023.

Cole Moore / Contributor

Lady Vols set to play in SEC Tournament on Friday

CALEB JARREAU Staff Writer

The regular season has concluded and March Madness is here. For the Lady Vols, the madness begins with the SEC tournament.

Tennessee secured the No. 3 seed in the SEC with a 13-3 conference record. The 13 SEC wins are the most for the Lady Vols since the 2014-15 season.

More importantly, Tennessee earned a double-bye and some much-needed rest.

“You’ve got to give them some off days and make sure their legs are under them,”

Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper said on the radio following the Lady Vols’ season finale. “When you go over there to Greenville, you want to be there for three days. You want to play three days in a row, so you don’t want to be gassed on Sunday.”

Tennessee won’t have to play until Friday in Greeneville, South Carolina. They will face the winner of Thursday night’s game between No. 6 seed Alabama (20-9, 9-7 SEC) and the winner of Wednesday night’s game between No. 11 Florida (16-13, 5-11) and No. 14 Kentucky (10-18, 2-14).

While Tennessee beat all of those teams, anything can happen in the postseason.

Last year, Kentucky took over the SEC tournament. As a No. 7 seed, the Wildcats won four straight games, including beating No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Tennesse, and the eventual national champion No. 1 South Carolina to win the 2022 SEC tournament.

While the Wildcats may not be the team to worry about this year, the Lady Vols can’t take any team lightly.

“I think you’ve got to understand, you’ve got to be great, and it’s got to be every day,” Harper said. “Regardless of your opponent, you’ve got to be your best you. You get to this point and you talk about surviving and advancing, and at the end of the day, you’ve got to have one point more than the other team.”

Survive and advance: the mantra of postseason basketball.

As for the first round, Tennessee shouldn’t have much trouble. None of their possible opponents got within 10 points of the Lady Vols during the regular season.

As for the Saturday matchup, Tennessee will most likely draw No. 2 LSU. Tennessee lost a tough fight to LSU (27-1, 15-1) 68-76 in Baton Rouge.

On a neutral floor, the Lady Vols have a fighting chance against forward Angel Reese and the Tigers.

Tennessee has built momentum down the stretch while many SEC teams have hit speed bumps.

“Going into the SEC Tournament, we’re really hoping to carry that momentum,” forward Karoline Striplin said. “It’s anyone’s game now, so I’m excited. When you come into the postseason, you know that every little thing matters.”

Barring a Cinderella run, the Lady Vols will face the winner of No. 1 South Carolina (29-0, 16-0) and No. 4 Ole Miss (22-7, 11-5) for the SEC championship. It’s safe to assume the SEC tournament site in Greeneville will favor the Gamecocks.

Tennessee would have tough sledding trying to hand South Carolina its first loss of the season. Regardless, a trip to the SEC Championship will have an effect on seeding.

The Lady Vols open Friday night at approximately 8:15 p.m. ET, or 25 minutes after the conclusion of the 6 p.m. ET game. The postseason has arrived, whether it will be glorious or painful for Tennessee is yet to be determined.

“That’s what’s fun about basketball in general and March Madness – just being able to play with high-pressure situations,” Striplin said.

During a fast break against Auburn University, Karoline Striplin No. 11 signals for a pass at Thompson Bowling Arena. Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. Edward Cruz / The Daily Beacon

Senior Vols look to make one last mark, reflect on careers

ANDREW PETERS Sports Editor

Four years ago, Uros Plavsic sat patiently on the bench during Tennessee basketball games, waiting for his waiver for immediate eligibility to be cleared by the NCAA.

While he wasn’t able to have an impact on the court in his first few months with the team, the Arizona State transfer became the team’s hype man. He was always the first to stand up and cheer after a big play and was the first to greet his teammates with high fives as they made their way to the bench.

Fans began bringing signs calling to “Free Uros” to Tennessee sporting events, and eventually fans got their wish as Plavsic got his eligibility granted.

Four years later, Plavsic has become one of the most beloved players by Tennessee fans and one of the most hated by fans across the SEC. He has been a crucial part of Tennessee’s success over the last few seasons, including the Vols’ SEC Championship run last season.

He has had his ups — a 19-point performance against Kentucky — and downs — a technical foul in the loss to Arizona that caused Rick Barnes to call him out for his antics. Plavsic has etched his name into Tennessee history, and his colle-

giate career could be over in the next month.

But it’s not the top-10 wins, SEC Championship or explosive performances that he will remember the most — it’s the relationships forged along the way.

“I like basketball memories and all that, but my biggest memories will be people I met here, people that I worked with throughout my four years here and just the relationships that I made, the friendships that I will never forget,” Plavsic said. “I’m just going to be so excited to come back here one day and just be a fan, watch the game and just think about my time here.”

Plavsic and the rest of the senior class — Josiah-Jordan James, Santiago Vescovi, Olivier Nkamhoau and Tyreke Key — will be honored during Senior Day on Tuesday as the Vols take on Arkansas at 9 p.m. ET.

The current seniors — minus Tyreke Key, who transferred to Tennessee this season — inherited a team that was coming off two historically good years behind current NBA players like Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield. The expectation to continue the greatness was there.

“They had to come in and deal with not only trying to keep us continuing what we were doing, but trying to get it to another level and knowing that the league itself was better,” Barnes said. “Other teams in the league were growing as well and these guys have made an unbelievable impact.”

And it took them some time, but the group forged their own identity and carved their own history.

“The good things people should be saying about them is more than worthy to be said because they love this place and truly have given everything to help us try to be one of the best basketball programs in the country,” Barnes said.

But the good news for this team is that it still has another postseason to leave their mark. It starts with this week and trying to secure a topfour seed and a double-bye in the SEC Tournament. If the Vols can play perfectly in their final two games, they will secure a top-four seed.

Tennessee (21-8, 10-6 SEC) will see Arkansas (19-10, 8-8) at home on Tuesday before going on the road to Auburn (19-10, 9-7), which the Vols struggled with earlier in February.

There is more good news, too. Tennessee could potentially return James, Plavsic, Vescovi and Nkamhoua. All four players still have a year of eligibility left because of the extra year granted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For now, Barnes and his team are focusing on the month of basketball ahead of them.

“I think what those guys want to do right now is win,” Barnes said. “They understand this time of year because they’ve been through it more than anybody, these next couple weeks, how important they are and how it’s such a fine line be-

tween winning and losing. But I don’t think their thoughts are anywhere besides trying to make this basketball team the best it can be with what we have left.”

So on Tuesday when he is honored alongside his teammates, Plavsic will reflect on his career, but remember that there is still work to be done.

“I feel like this is just something that changed my life,” Plavsic said. “The whole experience here and everything that happened here changed my life in so many positive ways that I can’t even describe. I’m just happy, man.”

What to make of a hectic, adverse February for the Vols

March is officially here. To most basketball fans, it is the most exciting time of the year. However, the mood among the Tennessee fanbase is mixed entering the month given how the past month went.

On one side, the Vols took down Alabama, who was No. 1 at the time. On the other side, they entered February 18-3 but left 21-8 after losing to four unranked SEC foes. Two of those losses were on buzzer beaters, two were rivals Kentucky and Florida and all of them ended the Vols’ hopes at an SEC regular season title.

Still, the mood inside the program has been fairly upbeat, and there is no sign of Rick Barnes’ group giving up on the season.

“Every team in the country goes through the ups and downs,” Barnes said. “I would just say that these guys have embraced each other in a great way. And at no point in time during this they have not gone to practice hard, not been locked in on what we’re trying to do.”

Not once has this team pointed fingers or stopped bringing everything to the floor. Despite the struggles that February has brought, they found a way to salvage some nights with a few statement wins.

“This group of guys, they’ve been very resilient,” Barnes said. “We’re always disappointed when we don’t win. We’re disappointed sometimes when we win and don’t play well. These guys, they care about each other.”

First, the Vols fell to Florida but came back home and beat No. 25 Auburn 48-46. It was ugly but it showed up in the standings as a win. Tennessee then lost heartbreakers backto-back against Vanderbilt and Missouri. The response? A dominant win over the Crimson Tide. To close the month, a loss at No. 25 Texas A&M led to a 40-point win over South Carolina.

Though the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament is out of the mix, Tennessee is still in the

driver’s seat for the No. 4 seed, which gives it a double bye to open the tournament. If the Vols win out, the spot is theirs, but things could get foggy if they drop another game. Barnes says it’s important to secure the bye but not paramount to success.

“If it is, it is. If not, you look at it the other way. Some of these guys need more games,” Barnes said. “You obviously look at it from one point, it would obviously be great to have another day to rest but from the other end you’ve got to play, you’ve got to play. We’ll determine it based on how we perform, but it is what it is. If we can get it, fine. If not, we’ll have to make what we have and deal with it.”

Tennessee has been able to remain afloat despite loads of adversity. The absences of starters Josiah-Jordan James and Julian Phillips have certainly played a part. James immediately proved his impact in his 18-point performance against the Gamecocks. However, Phillips’ return is still an unknown. But his defensive prowess will be missed given that the Vols allow 20 points less per 100 possessions with him on the floor.

If the Vols can get back to being near or fully healthy, then there is little reason to panic moving forward. They were at their healthiest in January and went 7-1 capped off with a dominant win over current No. 9 Texas.

Tennessee has shown that it can respond, but the time for response is running out and a few mistakes could end its season. However, adversity is what makes champions, and the Vols have had their fair share of it. March is a time of putting everything the regular season has taught to the test, and the Vols are ready.

“I think what those guys want to do right now is win,” Barnes said. “They understand this time of year because they’ve been through it more than anybody, these next couple weeks, how important they are and how it’s such a fine line between winning and losing, but I don’t think their thoughts are anywhere besides trying to make this basketball team the best it can be with what we have left.”

ERIC WOODS

Assistant Sports Editor

Uros Plavsic No. 33 goes in for the rebound during the game against Alabama on Feb. 15, 2023.

Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

Sanitago Vescovi (25) and Uros Plasvic (33). Kailee Harris / Contributor

Notebook: Vols a step closer to finding identity after series sweep over Dayton

ERIC

Assistant Sports Editor

Despite the distraction of the news surrounding Maui Ahuna’s eligibility and Tony Vitello’s suspension, the Vols closed out their first weekend series versus Dayton. On the backs of a trio of spectacular pitching from Chase Dollander, Chase Burns, Drew Beam and the bullpen, the Vols swept the Flyers.

The Vols ran away with Friday’s contest, defeating the Flyers 12-2 thanks to three home runs and 12 strikeouts from Dollander. Burns matched the next day with 12 of his own in a 4-1 win. Beam closed out the series with five scoreless innings en route to a 6-0 shutout.

Here are three takeaways from Tennessee’s first weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The 2023 Vols are finding their own identity

At this point last year, the Vols were running through college baseball like a wrecking ball. They were undefeated and seemed like they were guaranteed to put up double-digit runs every night.

Last weekend, the Vols went 1-2 while failing to reach double digit runs, and it became quickly apparent that this team wasn’t the same team as

last year — and that’s okay.

Besides, the only contributors that the Vols were returning were freshmen Jared Dickey and Blake Burke. Other than that, Tennessee saw a complete roster overhaul minus the pitching staff. This year’s group needs to find their own identity, and they are getting close.

Tennessee is not as “fun” or as polarizing as last year, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good. It boasts arguably the best pitching staff in college baseball, and that is where their identity will be this season.

Yes, guys like Burke and Dickey give glimpses of last year with their ability to drill the ball out of the park at any given moment, but come SEC time and beyond, the pitching will be the talk of the town.

The pitching staff is elite

The mentions of how good this pitching crew have come early and often — that’s not going to end.

On Friday, Dollander gave up an early home run to Marcos Pujols but was sharp for the rest of the night. He ended his night with 12 strikeouts — one away from his career high, and it didn’t stop with him.

AJ Russell came in and struck out five out of the seven batters he faced while Aaron Combs struck out all three of his batters in the ninth. Together, the trio had 20 strikeouts on the night, which was

just one shy of the program record.

Wyatt Evans and Camden Sewell have yet to even play due to minor injuries, and the group has still been dominant.

There’s probably 10 guys on the roster — if not more — that would likely be weekend starters or even aces for 95% of the programs.

Associate coach Josh Elander attributes the depth of the pitching staff to pitching coach Frank Anderson and Tony Vitello.

“With (Anderson’s) resume and what he’s done in the legendary career he’s had, from coast-tocoast guys want to learn from that guy,” Elander said. “Obviously what Coach V(itello) brings to the table, ultimately when you come to Tennessee it’s because you want to play for Tony Vitello. I think the combination of Frank’s background, obviously Tony’s background’s in pitching as well. It’s just a perfect match for pitchers to come here and really find their best.”

The bats still need some work

As mentioned earlier, Burke and Dickey have been solid. However, there is still a lot to be determined with the rest of the order.

Charlie Taylor had a huge two home run performance last Wednesday, but only recorded one hit this weekend.

Shortstop Maui Ahuna officially being set to make his debut will help a lot. Austen Jaslove has

been a good defender in Ahuna’s place, but his bat can’t quite keep up.

The main issue with the bats is that there has been a lack of clean up options, leaving multiple runners stranded on base. Just this weekend, there were 24 runners left on base, including 10 on Saturday when the Vols went 2-11 with runners in scoring position.

However, Tennessee is still experimenting with different lineups and it’s a long season. All of the signs still point to Tennessee being a serious contender this season. As of right now, the Vols just need time. Luckily, time is still on their side.

Notebook: Lady Vols softball cruises through USF Invitational

opponents at the USF Invitational in Tampa this weekend.

The Lady Vols won two games by run rule on Friday, defeating both Michigan State and South Florida. The highlight of the weekend was the 1-0 win over Clemson, which was the second win over top-10 opposition for the Lady Vols this year. To conclude the tournament, Tennessee earned two wins over Illinois-Chicago, one each on Saturday and Sunday.

Here are three takeaways from the successful weekend in Florida.

Strong pitching from Pickens

The Lady Vols’ pitching staff did not allow a single run all weekend. Although the headlines coming into this season focused on senior Ashley Rogers, the most impressive woman in the circle was Karlyn Pickens.

Pickens faced a Clemson offense who, as of the end of the weekend, have a .377 average and 25 home runs on the season. She only allowed four hits on 24 at-bats and held the Tigers scoreless — the first time they had failed to score all season.

She was also the only pitcher to pitch a full seven-inning game as Rogers, Payton Gottshall and Ryleigh White all completed shutouts that were shortened due to the run rule. Pickens went toe to toe with Valerie Cagle, throwing eight strikeouts in her shutout win.

The performance of Pickens was necessary, as the Lady Vols offense could only muster one run

in the game. Pickens showed that she can handle tough opposition and high expectations, proving that although she may only be a freshman this year, she will be a mainstay in the Tennessee rotation.

Five pitchers made appearances this weekend with Nicola Simpson also making an appearance on Sunday. The Lady Vols have proved that their pitching depth can be trusted, especially during the NCAA tournament, when teams play multiple games in a short time period.

Offense has not lost a step

The Tennessee offense put up a total of 40 runs over the course of the weekend. When considering that many of these games were abbreviated due to the run rule, the offense was even more impressive.

Moving into the leadoff slot beginning on Saturday, Mackenzie Donihoo added to her impressive doubles total with three more two-base hits on the weekend. McKenna Gibson maintained a .500 average across the weekend with seven runs batted in, including the only one in the win over Clemson. Katie Taylor and Zaida Puni both hit a home run this weekend.

Preseason All-American Kiki Milloy hit five RBIs, stole five bases and hit a home run in the tournament, proving that her preseason accolades were deserved.

After a strong performance against some of the best pitching staffs in the nation, the Tennessee

offense shows no signs of letting up.

Weekly reaches 1,000 wins

Head coach Karen Weekly recorded the 1,000th win of her career on Saturday against IllinoisChicago. Beginning her Lady Vol coaching career in 2022, Weekly has won two SEC tournament championships and has advanced to the Women’s College World Series seven times, including twice as a finalist.

After the retirement of her husband Ralph after of the 2021 season, this is Weekly’s second season as the standalone head coach of the Lady Vols. Including her five seasons at UT-Chattanooga, Weekly has recorded a total of 1,224 wins in her career.

Winning by a combined score of 40-0, Tennessee had little trouble defeating all five of its

JACK CHURCH Staff Writer

Drew Beam winds up a pitch in Tennessee’s game against Dayton on Feb. 26, 2023 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Jackson Mccarter, Contributor

Outfielder Katie Taylor catches the ball during practice on Feb. 5, 2023. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda