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TREVOR MCGEE Sports Editor
Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, is where 18-year-old me sat.
Aaron Combs delivered the final pitch across the plate and it was over. Tennessee baseball secured its first national title in program history, summoning celebration throughout the night for those in orange.
It was different for me though. That late June night somewhere in Middle America signified the initial end of what got me started. It was the end of the season for the first beat I had been assigned. It would be the start of more to come.
Baseball was never my first love, and professional baseball did not heavily spark my interest. Without a team in Tennessee to root for, I did not care to “bandwagon” a professional team. That is where my interest in college baseball came from.
I vaguely remember the Chapel Hill Regional in 2019 when I was just an eighth grader. I began to keep up with the Vols baseball program from that point on. The 2020 season was one
that appeared to be one of the most successful in program history before COVID-19 canceled the season. The 2021 season matched that by making the first College World Series appearance in nearly two decades. The 2022 team brought eyes to college baseball, widening the support for the sport with its moxie for the game. In 2023, success was different. The Vols rallied around a talented pitching corps to win the first game in Omaha since 2001. When 2024 came around, it all changed by finishing at the pinnacle of college baseball.
Needless to say, college baseball got me the so-called start in this industry. Through years of keeping up with the team from afar, I was able to cover the team from up close— a season that will be unforgettable for a while.
As spring sports begin, nostalgia reins as I write- thinking about what Tennessee baseball gave me in 2024: the start. I now have a full season of traveling to cover Tennessee football under my belt, and am in the midst of covering Tennessee basketball, but now we circle back to those evocative memories of spring afternoons and evenings in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
I’m beyond excited to bring coverage for The Daily Beacon of everything spring happening around campus. Whether that’s Easter Sunday baseball, softball coverage from Sherri Parker
Lee Stadium or the SEC rowing championships — Jack and I are in it for the journey. We hope you follow along.
Letter from the Assistant Sports Editor: The test of the champion
JACK CHURCH Assistant Sports Editor
Here’s a fun fact: All 20 of Tennessee’s athletic teams in the 2023-24 season made the postseason.
Yes, baseball may have been the only team to win it all, but every team on campus at least got a spot to compete for a national championship. In my career with The Daily Beacon, I’ve covered 13 of the 20 at least once, and my goal is to cover all 20 by the time I cross the graduation stage.
Based on some digging through our archives, my coverage of Tennessee rowing against Minnesota in Oak Ridge was the first in-person coverage of the sport in 14 years by our paper. It’s my hope that such a drought of covering any sport doesn’t happen again.
In this paper, you’ll see a story from my conversation with Kim Cupini as she builds on a third-place finish . You’ll see stories from both the men’s and women’s tennis programs. You’ll see Trevor’s feature on Brennan Webb, a coach looking to lead Tennessee men’s golf to another NCAA Championship appearance.
Of course, the usual baseball and softball coverage is still here. Trevor will be leading us at Lindsey Nelson Stadium as the
Vols look to become the first repeat national champions in 14 years. I’ll take my usual post at Sherri Parker Lee, bringing you coverage of Karen Weekly’s 24th attempt to bring the Lady Vols to the top of the softball world.
For media members like myself, fall sports season is like the Kentucky Derby, the season with the most attention and the one everyone dreams of covering. It’s a mad dash toward the roses in Pasadena or the oranges in Miami.
The winter season, like the Preakness Stakes, is still an achievement but is thought of as a secondary prize. Especially in SEC country, the madness of March is no
match for the Third Saturday in October. The spring season is the Belmont Stakes, the test of the champion. For a thoroughbred, it’s 12 furlongs in the June heat to cement itself in immortality. For a sportswriter, it’s four or five games a week for nearly four months through the cold and warmth of the Knoxville spring.
This issue serves as the prelude to the spring sports season, the parade through the tunnel while Frank Sinatra plays in the background. In front of us is the greatest challenge in all of sports media - beat writing for a 50-game spring sports season while covering every other sport on campus. Riders up.
Trevor McGee stands on the field at Charles Schwab Field after Tennessee baseball secures the 2024 NCAA National Championship title. Monday, June 24, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
Tennessee softball celebrates after winning the SEC regular-season championship at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Friday, May 3, 2024. Jack Church / The Daily Beacon
Passion, persistence, perseverance
How Tennessee golf coach Brennan Webb’s career made it full circle
TREVOR MCGEE
Sports Editor
Brennan Webb was not taking “no” for an answer.
After trying his hand at professional golf, it was Webb’s turn to get a real job. He tested the waters by getting licensed in financial planning before dipping his toes in the water with the coaching world when a job opened up at the University of South Florida. It was an assistant job under head coach Chris Malloy as Webb wanted to see what the coaching route was like since the job was five miles from his Tampa house.
The 36-year-old Webb did not get hired immediately. In fact, Malloy had to tell him to stop calling about the opening. However, persistence reigned, and Webb had been hired prior to the 2011 season — getting him the start that would eventually bring him full circle.
“I tell him I bullied him into hiring me with my persistence,” Webb said.
From growing up on a golf course in Bracebridge, Ontario, to coaching SEC golf, his career has exemplified the values of hard work and resiliency through the vision he has created. After stops in Tampa, Atlanta and Murfreesboro, Webb can now say he is living the dream that he once wished for.
Now in his seventh season as head coach of the Tennessee men’s golf team, Webb’s journey started long before establishing roots in Knoxville.
Childhood shaped by golf
Webb had no other choice besides golf. His path was created for him ever since he was a child. Webb’s childhood home sat on the 11th tee of South Muskoka Curling and Golf Club in Bracebridge — a mere 400-yard expedition from the pro shop that his parents, Ron and Jennifer, used to run.
“The golf course was the hub of our lives,” Webb said. “From just where we ate most of our meals to certainly where we spent most of our time when we weren’t in school or sleeping.”
The ability to go and play independently
brought an aspect that Webb enjoyed. It became his sanctuary, a place where he went to indulge in the solitude of the sport. He particularly the the idea that golf is a sport where it is in your own control to improve.
By the time he was ready for upper education, Webb knew that playing college golf was an opportunity he always imagined having.
“It was always the goal of mine,” Webb said. “I never really doubted whether I was going to achieve that goal at what level.”
In his junior year of high school, Webb qualified for the United States Junior Amateur Golf Championship. He made it to the round of 16, and that’s when he realized that goal would come to fruition.
Moving to East Tennessee
It was a transition for him from a northern lifestyle to dipping directly into a pipeline of the south. The candy was a little different — there is a distinct differentiation between soda and pop, and the weather is a little colder up north, but the lessons learned are what stuck most.
Webb acquired a plethora of knowledge from his experiences in college golf. He learned that adversity would be faced, and it would be a time of growth. He was no longer the best athlete on the course but would be surrounded by equally talented peers. The biggest lesson learned was that it will not always be easy, so looking back on when it was challenging is when the opportunity to grow presents itself the largest.
“For most athletes stepping into Division I, it’s the first time you face real adversity,” Webb said. “You’re not always the best anymore — those hard times become your most valuable experiences.”
While in Johnson City, Webb earned three Southern Conference titles and played the 11th-most rounds in a single season in program history. The success eventually earned him a shot on the PGA Tour.
Life after college
Webb was not content with where he was as a golfer out of college. He knew there was room for improvement, and he was not in a position to start in a professional role right away. Webb took some time after college to
work on the craft of golf, teaching lessons and working around the golf course.
Realizing that a full-fledged career as a professional golfer might be out of the question, Webb got certifications as a financial planner to ensure he had a route to success. Eventually, he got a chance to compete on the PGA Tour. Webb was a fully exempt tour member and competed in 28 different circuits across multiple countries in the Korn Ferry Tour. He earned other wins in the 2010 Coors Light Open and the Hooters Tour.
Once he lost his tour card, it marked a turning point. Webb and his wife, Carrie, were expecting their first child, and he no longer had the professional flexibility he had before. The Webbs were living in Tampa then, and the USF job opened.
After pulling some arms and twisting some legs, coach Malloy welcomed Webb to his coaching staff with the Bulls. It was his shift to the coaching side of the sport which ignited a passion from a different perspective.
“I went in having no idea what really, truly
college coaching was about,” Webb said. “I thought, ‘Well, I’ll just go teach them what I what I learned in golf, and then we’ll be good.’ And that’s certainly not in any way what this job is about. It’s about maybe 5% of that. So just went in completely ignorant and blind of what this really was about.”
Malloy and Webb have become good friends over the years, but competitors in the game. Malloy is now the head coach at Ole Miss, so the two are battling each other for recruits year-round.
The biggest lesson Webb was able to take his early career was the importance of using time wisely. Malloy was instrumental in Webb’s success, teaching Webb about the intricacy of the recruiting trail. After entering the coaching world with ignorance of what it took to be a coach, Webb has since learned the importance of spending time on what matters most — recruiting.
That success has translated onto the trail,
LOUDON, TN - September 08, 2023 - Head Coach Brennan Webb of the Tennessee Volunteers during the Visit Knoxville Collegiate Tournament at Tennessee National Golf Club in Loudon, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee tennis flips page to spring season, boasts 9 new athletes
brought in nine newcomers via the transfer portal and incoming freshmen.
Tennessee men’s tennis is back in action and has seven matches under its belt for the 2024-25 spring season. The new-look Vols return just two starters from last season’s NCAA postseason run, adding nine new faces in the offseason.
In addition to adding new players, head coach Chris Woodruff also added to his coaching staff. Joining the team this season is new associate head coach Matt Lucas from North Florida. Lucas is coming off a successful run with the Ospreys, collecting an 87-59 record over seven seasons while going 33-9 in conference play as the head coach. Lucas is coming off his second undefeated season in conference play and has 16 wins in two of his last three seasons. He brings an abundance of knowledge to the Vols’ program. Senior Shunsuke Mitsui and sophomore James Newton are the only familiar faces for Tennessee this season. The Vols also landed the top-ranked high school player in the state of Tennessee in Woodson McMillin. Mitsui and Newton will step into larger leadership roles this season, as their experience is much needed for a team that has
“The thing about Shunsuke is you know what you’re going to get every day,” Lucas said. “There’s no highs or lows, he’s just a steady guy and you know what you’re going to get. He’s one of the best players in college tennis and we’re lucky to have him.”
The Vols also inked Jose Garcia, giving them three Knoxville natives on the roster. Garcia and McMillin highlight the incoming freshman class for Tennessee which also landed four transfers this offseason.
Garcia clinched a point during Tennessee’s ITA Kickoff Weekend win over Illinois. The freshman is 5-2 in singles play so far with the only losses coming at the hands of No. 115-ranked Ioannis Xilas of Wake Forest and unranked Will Cooksey of Michigan.
The Vols’ transfer class is comprised of four players from various backgrounds. Ian Cruz comes by way of the midstate, transferring over from Belmont. Alan Jesudason earned CAA first-team honors during his time at Drexel. Alex Kotzen is in his graduate season with Tennessee, making his way over after a successful stint in the Ivy League with Columbia. The lone power-conference transfer comes from Auburn transfer Alejandro Moreno.
“We got some guys, and we need them to
continue to get better.” Lucas said. “The more matches they get, the more they’ll continue to improve. Our goal is to be playing our best tennis in May when it really matters.”
Moreno entered this season ranked 56th overall nationally for singles, while Kotzen clocked in at 34th and the veteran Mitsui at 18th.
Kotzen and Moreno have played key roles in the Vols’ wins early this season, going a combined 3-2 in singles to start the year with wins over No. 98 Karim Al-Amin of Middle Tennessee, No. 14 ranked Kenta Miyoshi of Illinois and unranked Zach Viiala, also of Illinois.
“Alex beat a really good player on Court 1, that’s what Alex does,” Lucas said. “He’s one of the top players in the country. And so we expect that of him, and that’s the expectation from him.”
Kotzen has established himself as one of the more experienced players on the team so far. The graduate transfer has stepped up in big moments early this season, gaining the trust of his coaches.
Meanwhile, Moreno went 20-9 combined this fall season and has 33 career singles wins in his previous two seasons at Auburn. He also went 26-22 in doubles there and his rank of 56th for singles is the highest mark of his career.
As for the other newcomers, Cruz went 16-3 in singles with Belmont last season and added another 11 wins in doubles with the Bruins and Jesudason won 18 matches total at Drexel, going 13-11 in singles.
With the indoor season coming to an end, the Vols are already looking forward to their next major goal.
SEC play begins Feb. 21, with the Vols hosting Mississippi State at Barksdale Stadium at 5 p.m. EST.
Lady Vols tennis looking to carry over ‘magic’ from Final Four run last season
The Lady Vols tennis team sent a message to the collegiate tennis world with their run to the Final Four last season, a statement that said they were ready to take the next step in establishing themselves as one of the elite programs in the country.
With the 2025 season already underway, Lady Vols head coach Alison Ojeda and her squad enter with the confidence and hunger to build on the run.
“I think anytime in life, anytime you have experience, you do the best job that you can do to take that experience and figure out a way to implement it in whatever is going on,” Ojeda said. “So from a tennis standpoint, you got three players who know what it’s like to be on a Final Four team.”
The three returning players are juniors Catherine Aulia and Leyla Britez Risso, joining senior Elza Tomase. They remain as the three anchors on what is turning out to be a very young tennis team.
“Those girls need to carry that same expectation in practice every day, and in the locker room,” Ojeda said. “Because as long as they can carry over that ‘magic,’ so to speak, then the whole team is going to benefit from it.”
Tomase started off her year ranked at No. 10 in the entire nation in ITA singles play, and she has already been off to quite the start through the first four matches in her 2025 campaign. With years of experience under her belt, that ranking is not something that pressures her.
“I don’t see it as pressure,” Tomase said. “This is also my last year, my last season with the team, and I’m trying to take every single day as an opportunity to be better and enjoy my time here because this time at Tennessee is priceless.”
Aulia joined her on the ITA singles rankings, falling at No. 19 on the list, just nine spots below Tomase.
“I think we’re all just fighters,” Aulia said. “We play tough, we want to hang in there, we’ll be out there all day if we have to. I think this team is really tough and we put in the work.”
The third returning player is Britez Risso, who is poised for a much larger role in the 2025 season and has kicked
off her season already with an SEC Player of the Week nomination.
“Leyla is playing some of the most mature tennis I’ve ever seen her play,” Ojeda said. “If an opportunity to really open up the court doesn’t exist, just go be Leyla.”
The Lady Vols welcomed an incoming class of seven new players including two transfers and five freshmen.
Junior Vanessa Suarez, transferring from Kansas State, and sophomore Furman transfer Maeve Thorton both have seen time on the courts already and will only see more as the season rolls forward.
Freshman Conley Raidt, who just claimed her first clincher against No. 15 Ohio State, and Elim Yan have both also seen some action early. Francesca Mattioli, Natalia Perez and Saray YliPiipari round out the rest of the class.
“They all just love tennis,” Ojeda said. “So that part is awesome. We’re not having to encourage players to come out and get a session in. You know our match ended last week against Wake Forest, and they’re all out there wanting to practice, even the ones who didn’t play.”
RYAN HANNA AND TYLER EDMANDS Contributor
THEO COLLI Contributor
Shunsuke Mitsui waits for a return during a duals match against Illinois at Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. Michael Gouveia / Contributor
Elza Tomase cheers during a match against Texas Tech at Goodfriend Tennis Center. Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon
Kim Cupini prepares for second season coaching Tennessee rowing
JACK CHURCH
Assistant Sports Editor
Kim Cupini’s first year as the head coach of Tennessee rowing was an absolute success.
The Lady Vols earned their highest NCAA finish in program history, coming in third. Cupini brought a sizeable contingent of rowers with her from SMU, where she coached for six seasons.
Now, the transition period is over. Several key rowers from last year’s team graduated, leaving opportunities for new faces to make an impact.
“It’s not like we lost everyone, but we do have a younger group that is stepping up into the SEC,” Cupini said. “I think that’s something we’re working with and really working to develop, just continuing the culture that was set last year.”
At coxswain, Tennessee lost two major pieces to graduation. Sasha Radovanovic led the 1V8+ boat to a third-place finish at the NCAA championships and a 44-4 record, being named a first-team All-American. Elizabeth Walley led the 2V8+ boat to a third-place finish as well, going 42-6 on the year.
The Lady Vols return two All-Americans in Meg Flanagan and Alice Fahey. The two rowers from New Zealand will be major contribu-
tors to Tennessee rowing’s first season in the Southeastern Conference.
The SEC announced last week that the first ever SEC Rowing Championship would be held at Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The race is an opportunity to impress in front of a home crowd.
“It’s so amazing that we get to showcase the course at Oak Ridge,” Cupini said. “It’s right here at home and it’s one of the best courses in the county.”
The state of Tennessee isn’t traditionally a powerhouse in rowing. While there are pockets of rowers scattered throughout the state, Tennessee can’t compete for overall rowing interest with other states.
That’s why having tentpole events, such as the SEC championship, is so important for a growing program in a state where rowing interest is growing.
“It’s really cool to be able to have that at home where people that don’t get exposed to rowing as much,” Cupini said, “can come and see us in action and see what goes on there.”
Tennessee will host two races this season in Oak Ridge in addition to the SEC Championship. The home slate starts March 29 with a race against Stanford, who finished second in last year’s NCAA Championships, one spot ahead of the Lady Vols.
One week later, Tennessee will host the
RIDGE, TN - March 29, 2024 -
first Rocky Top Invite featuring several elite teams from around the country. The event will be contested over two days, presenting a challenge for both the Lady Vols and visiting teams.
After hosting just one race in her first season, Cupini is excited about getting to race in front of home fans three times in 2025.
“Having family, friends, parents and administration be around to really showcase rowing is really awesome,” Cupini said. “From a training perspective, it’s a lot easier to keep the training going.”
Several Tennessee athletics programs have been able to take advantage of a home crowd in recent years. Cupini hopes that hers can be another one of them.
Still, bigger goals remain for the program. Tennessee wants to continue to make itself a player on the national stage, and to do that, it has to perform at the national championships.
“We’re going to go as hard as we can here at home, but our big focus is not only SECs,” Cupini said. “Our really big focus is where we finish on the board nationally.”
Tennessee softball’s offense poised for change in 2025
JACK CHURCH Assistant Sports Editor
Tennessee softball’s offense will look much different in 2025.
Gone are Kiki Milloy and Rylie West, two of the most prolific batters in program history. Giulia Koutsoyanopulos and Zaida Puni also graduated following a year where Tennessee hit 84 home runs and drove in just one run shy of 300 batters.
In response, the Lady Vols brought in three transfer hitters and four freshmen to help replace some of the production that left. The group has a tough task replacing them
This freshman class reminds head coach Karen Weekly of the one that just graduated, coming at the perfect time for continuity in the program.
“That was a group that had a lot of depth and talent coming in and opportunities to play when they were pretty young,” Weekly said. “With the transfers we brought in, only one of them is a senior. The rest are underclassmen, so definitely a lot of youth out there.”
On paper, Tennessee’s most impactful transfer addition offensively is Kinsey Fiedler. She hit .336 for Washington last
year, hitting seven home runs and driving 27 runs in. She is poised to be the new starter in center field following Milloy’s graduation.
The Lady Vols also welcome former Texas Tech and Alabama player Aubrey Barnhart alongside Ryan Brown, who comes in after a season at Texas. Brown is an in-state athlete, playing her high school softball at Independence in Thompson’s Station.
As for freshmen, Emma Clarke, Saviya Morgan and Amayah Doyle have the opportunity to get playing time in their first season. Ella Dodge is also an option in the lineup for the Lady Vols this season after enrolling early and redshirting during the 2024 campaign.
With so many new faces, Weekly has plenty to teach the team. It made the offseason exciting to have a lack of continuity.
“It’s kind of fun, really,” Weekly said. “There’s years where you have so many returners that you’re really not having to teach a lot of things. There’s a lot of teaching going on but also some really good leadership coming from our upperclassmen.”
The Lady Vols have plenty of impactful returners as well. Chief among them is McKenna Gibson, who hit .339 last year
with seven home runs. Sophia Nugent and Taylor Pannell are also impact players at the plate who return for the 2025 season.
Tennessee’s most impactful change on offense came on its coaching staff. Chris Malveaux left to become Auburn’s co-head coach along with his wife Kate. Weekly added Craig Snider to her staff as the new hitting coach.
Snider was the head coach at Texas Tech the last two seasons, going 60-43 during his time in Lubbock. He was previously an assistant at Florida State, where he helped the Seminoles win a national championship.
“I like the fact that he works from approach backwards,” Weekly said. “We’ve already done a lot more thinking about the mental part of hitting.”
Tennessee’s offense last year was successful most of the way, but it came up short when it mattered. The Lady Vols scored six runs in 27 innings of offense during the Super Regional loss to Alabama, ending last season.
That’s why Gibson thinks 2025 is the perfect time for a change. If all goes well, Tennessee’s offensive production will still be clicking through the postseason.
Taylor Pannell (3), Gabby Leach (55) and Kinsey Fiedler (27) talk with assistant coach Stephanie Sanders as the Lady Vols take on Walters State at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon
“I think just his philosophy is something that we absolutely need after last year,” Gibson said. “Just kind of resetting, having somebody new. … He talks a lot about our mentality at the plate and just our mindset. So just focusing a little bit more on that I think will just be very beneficial for our team.”
OAK
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers during the race between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers at Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, TN. Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
as Webb has picked up important members in the recruiting process. In the 2024 class, he signed two top 70 golfers in the country — including two of the top three in-state talents in Christian Pardue and Jackson Herrington. The 2025 class saw the signing of the nation’s top golfer, Chase Kyes, according to Junior Golf Scoreboard.
Coming full circle
Webb bounced around assistant jobs, landing at Georgia Tech before he was brought back to the state of Tennessee. In 2015, Webb was hired at Middle Tennessee State University to lead the Blue Raiders’ golf program — a calling back to the state that brought him across the northern border.
Along the stop in Murfreesboro, Webb met some of his closest friends — some of whom he would consider mentors. The most significant connection of all of those was the one who Webb took over for and hired him. Before taking an associate athletic director position, Whit Turnbow was the Blue Raiders head coach for the previous eight seasons. Turnbow turned to Webb just two weeks after leaving the head coaching position.
After Turnbow moved to the administration side, he asked to be the one to find his replacement.
Turnbow’s first call when the job opened up was to nobody other than Webb. Their connection began after crossing paths while working golf camps together. While Turnbow was the head coach at Middle Tennessee State University, he noticed how keen to detail Webb was on the job at Georgia Tech. From recruiting notes to communication skills, Turnbow immediately saw the potential.
“I saw something special in Brennan a long time ago, and that’s why he was the first call I made when that job at MTSU opened,” Turnbow said.
The job opening was an attractive opportunity for a coach to take over after Turnbow’s success. Turnbow guided the Blue Raiders to heights the program had never seen before, including six NCAA Regional appearances, one NCAA National Championship berth, and a conference championship — en route to being named a three-time recipient of the league Coach of the Year award. Additionally, Turnbow guided Middle Tennessee to a top25 ranking in 2009, alongside the program’s highest postseason seeding at No. 7 in 2010.
“It was the path that had been ordained for me to get to the position I’m in here today,” Webb said. “I always wondered, if I had stayed at Georgia Tech, would I have this opportunity? Even though certainly from the outside looking in, the position at Georgia Tech was more glamorous and at a higher level than being a coach at Middle Tennessee, but I’m very, very thankful I chose to take that risk.” Webb’s risk was calculated, but he knew the trust was placed in him by somebody who
knew what it took to be successful. Knowing what Turnbow had done for the program in Murfreesboro, it was a transition that Webb understood with support from the previous leader to move from an assistant job to leading a program himself.
“The single most influential person on my decision to go to Middle Tennessee,” Webb said. “He was in administration at the time. He was the former golf coach, and I just knew that the golf program meant a lot to him. He had put a lot into it … and I knew that I was going to get the support necessary to have success that would allow me to continue on the upward trend of my career.”
That provided Webb with the chance to be the one who had all the resources needed to continue on what was laid on the path before him. Turnbow recognized that Webb’s prior stints were plenty for him to take the next step in his career.
“When people look at how these programs get built, they look at the head coach,” Turnbow said. “So he knew he needed to make his own mark, and he knew he needed to build his own program and let the world see what he was really capable of when he was making the decisions. My role as his administrator would support that in any way I could.”
Turnbow followed through on his word. He gave Webb all the opportunities needed to succeed, which Webb left on such a short stint
that lasted just three seasons in Murfreesboro. The young Canadian native led Middle Tennessee to back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances in his first two years. That was enough for former Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer to pick up the phone.
It was not an ordinary feeling for Webb when the job opened — he had confidence that the job was going to be his.
“It felt like it was my job to get the whole time, and certainly felt like I was the candidate that they had circled,” Webb said. “So just to kind of come over here and just hang out with with the administration, including coach Fulmer and before I left … my very first visit — he offered me the job. We had to keep it a secret for a couple of days, but certainly glad that I would say that it was probably a little bit easier of a process than most people would have to go to to get a head coaching job in the SEC.”
Back in Murfreesboro, Turnbow could sense that Webb would also get the job. Both parties had high confidence that an SEC job would be filled on the same day that Middle Tennessee would be searching for a new coach again.
“He was a perfect fit for that university at that point in time,” Turnbow said. “I think there was a bit of a like, ‘This is almost too good to be true,’ kind of thing with him, and coming back to Tennessee and that job open-
ing up did sort of feel like a bit of a perfect storm.”
Turnbow credits Webb’s passion for getting the opportunity to take over the program. Webb officially put pen to paper on June 28, 2018, and was named the sixth head coach in program history — replacing Jim Kelson, who held the job for 20 years.
“It’s just he has that passion for seeing this thing continue to grow,” Turnbow said. “There’s no comfort zone for him. There’s no level of comfort where he’s going to just sit back and go, ‘OK, well, we’ve arrived.’ You’re never going to see that out of Brennan.”
The former East Tennessee State University golfer had made his way a few hours south, settling in Knoxville. Webb’s career had made it full circle, picking up on the roots he left behind as a graduate of ETSU in 1997.
“I think I’d be lying if I said that this wasn’t the job that I had eyed for a really, really long time,” Webb said. “To know the resources that were here, the talent that’s in the state, and certainly the opportunity to compete against the best.”
Turnbow felt the same way for Webb. Though the two only spent three seasons together at Middle Tennessee, the bond of the two coaches allowed for a shared interest in the golf program at Tennessee.
“I definitely think it was a bit of a fullcircle moment for him,” Turnbow said. “He
Tennessee golf coach Brennan Webb and former Middle Tennessee golf coach Whit Turnbow pose outside of Neyland Stadium. Courtesy of Whit Turnbow
circle moment for him,” Turnbow said. “He loves the state and his family does as well … it was a bit of a full-circle moment for me, too, to watch him really take that step forward and move into that role. And knowing what the potential of Tennessee’s men’s golf program could be, I knew he was the right guy.”
Underway at Tennessee
In year one, Webb notched three tournament titles at the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational, Inverness Intercollegiate and Carpet Capital Collegiate. The early success set up Webb for a continuation down the road. As the years progressed in Tennessee, so did Webb’s success. In 2021, Webb led the Vols golf team to an NCAA Championship appearance — the program’s first since 2013.
By 2023, Caleb Surratt earned an individual SEC Championship title alongside a first-team All-American bid under Webb’s guidance. Surratt became the first golfer to earn first-team All-American honors in program history.
“My vision was that it was that we could be one of the best programs in the country and that there was no excuses not to be,” Webb said. “I felt like we certainly had a lot of work to do, and in changing the perception of the program, changing the expectations of the program.”
The 2024 season was a better embodiment of that vision. Webb led the golf team to a No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Regional round, the highest-ever seed in program history. The postseason bid made it five of Webb’s six seasons that his golf team qualified for NCAA Regionals — the only exception came in a COVID-19 cancelled 2020 tournament.
“Nothing that he accomplishes there is going to surprise me at all,” Turnbow said. “I know what he’s capable of. I know what kind of human being he is. I know what’s
on his heart. I know how hard he works —
I’ve seen it for a long time.”
Webb’s career in the orange and white has already come at a decorated mark.
The Ontario native has brought the golf program to exceeding heights, becoming the first coach in program history to claim three triple-win seasons. At the 2024 NCAA Championships, Webb’s team finished 10th — the program’s first top-10 finish since 1981.
with two degrees, as Academic All-Americans and as All-Americans on the golf course, and leading the team to the 10thplace finish in the NCAA — and which was the best finish in, I don’t know, 40 odd years.
a team lounge area. Meanwhile, the practice grounds include 28 acres of space with three holes, putting green, chipping green and practice tees. Everything Webb needs to succeed is located on the banks of the Tennessee River.
“I feel like if we keep doing the things that we’re doing, we’re going to have opportunities to win multiple national championships.”
BRENNAN WEBB Tennessee Golf Coach
As for his players, Webb has accumulated seven All-American honorees and 11 All-SEC selections. Webb’s group has also accomplished eight individual titles alongside 11 team titles. The 2023-24 season brought forth three All-American golfers, which was also the first time in a single season at Tennessee.
Bryce Lewis notched three All-SEC selections during his time at Tennessee, while Surratt’s notoriety earned him a professional contract with LIV Golf in his sophomore season — to go along with all of the other players Webb has coached during his previous six seasons in Knoxville. Through all of the accomplishments so far, what is happening off the course is what Webb looks back on.
“To watch guys grow,” Webb said. “To see Bryce and Jake (Hall) graduate here
“Just watch that happen because I know where those two guys were when they got here, and it was nowhere near that. And so I think I’m just proud of the fact that what we did and asked them to do as to be part of this. I think their careers show more than anything, that it works … there’s been plenty of guys that I would have seen growth in as they’ve gone through the program — but those two in particular because they were here the very first year we got here, and then left on such a high with so many individual accomplishments and team accomplishments on and off the golf course, I would say that that’s the thing that I’m probably most proud of.”
In addition to success on the golf course, Tennessee has invested in Webb. The school constructed a state-of-theart clubhouse and practice facility for the team. The facility opened in 2019 and has housed Vols golf ever since.
The Blackburn-Furrow Golf Clubhouse has 8,300 square feet of space for locker rooms, coaches offices, meeting rooms and
For everything Webb has accomplished, there is still more to be done in his eyes. Tennessee golf is seeing heights it has not in a long time, but there are still goals set. Winning championships is what Webb has always laid as the goal, whether it be SEC or national.
“Somebody asked me when I first got here if we could ever win a national championship,” Webb said. “I thought we could win a national championship here, and my response was, ‘Yeah, we’re going to. We’re going to win more than one just to prove the first one wasn’t lucky,’ and I still feel that way.”
If the 2024 season proved anything, it was that the Vols are on the right track.
“I feel like if we keep doing the things that we that we’re doing, we’re going to have opportunities to win multiple national championships,” Webb said. “And that’s what our expectations are now, and I don’t think they’ll ever be anything else.”
Tennessee head mens golf coach Brennan Webb speaks with the media on Sept. 26, 2018. File / The Daily Beacon
Creating a legacy
Webb’s life has revolved around golf, from being born into it to becoming the head man of an SEC program. Through all the stops in between, Webb has found mentors, built friendships and created a family. His character, above all, is what Turnbow credits the most to Webb.
“However good of a golf coach he is, he’s an even better dad, he’s an even better husband, he’s an even better guy than he is a golf coach,” Turnbow said.
At home, Webb is raising two daughters the same way he was. Just as he grew up on the golf course, he’s raising his daughters around it. Whether it’s driving around the golf carts as preparation for their driving test one day or simply taking in athletic endeavors, Webb is grateful to have them associated with the Lady Vols brand.
“With the support that the female athletes get and how important the Lady Vol brand is, I think it’s really cool to have daughters involved in that,” Webb said. “And to see the coach Summitt statue, and to learn about her and just to see how much support that the Lady Vols athletes get, and how they’re equally as important. I just think that that brand is a special thing because it’s not everywhere.”
On the course, Webb still wants his legacy to be left in the lessons that can be passed off to others.
“I hope that the guys appreciate that every moment of every day we were trying to help them, and that was where our energy and passion came from,” Webb said. “I hope that they’ll take some of the lessons they learned
here — much like I’ve taken some of the lessons I learned when I was their age — and pass them on to others. And that when they get done here, they’d say, ‘I’d do that again. That was worth it. I’m so happy that I got to do that.’”
As Webb continues to guide the Vols golf team, he’ll always think of how fortunate he is to make that drive down Cherokee Way to the Blackburn-Furrow Golf Clubhouse.
“Every time I make the corner at the top of that hill and get to just see where I’m going to go spend the day, I feel very, very, very blessed, and certainly don’t ever not want to feel that way,” Webb said. “Because there’s never — no matter what’s going on — there’s really no reason not to feel blessed to be able to come here to work every day, that’s for sure.”
“There’s really no reason not to feel blessed to be able to come here to work every day...”
BRENNAN WEBB Tennessee Golf Coach
Tennessee golf head coach Brennan Webb and Ole Miss golf head
Malloy
Tennessee baseball features new-look roster in 2025
ALEX SARKIS Staff Writer
As the weather begins to warm and the sights of spring begin to break through, America’s oldest pastime once again prepares to make its grand entrance.
This year, some faces from last season’s historic team will return, joined by some newcomers looking to etch their names into college baseball lore.
Highlighted by a pair of preseason AllAmerican honorees, Tennessee’s roster will once again strive to be one of the deepest in the country.
Here’s a look at the 2025 iteration of Vols baseball.
Praise from the media
Returning names from a year ago, Dean Curley and Nate Snead have already been named to Perfect Game’s preseason AllAmerican list, both being tabbed to the outlet’s second team.
The shortstop has a knack for knocking in runs and will be relied upon in the big moments for his squad at the plate. The La Verne, California, native drove in 50 runs in 67 games last season.
Snead will, once again, be a trusted option for head coach Tony Vitello on the mound after impressing in his sophomore season as a shut-down arm out of the bullpen.
The South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, product posted a 3.11 ERA in his 75-plus innings of work a year ago, which landed him first on the team in the category. Snead could likely find himself in more of a starting role this season, a transition that requires a mental and physical approach shift.
“It’s a lot different, honestly,” Snead said. “You never know how long you’re going to be out there. Maintain your arm strength. Maintain your endurance. It’s going to be a big change, but I’m going to enjoy it.”
Been there, done that
The Vols possess an often underrated privilege that every championship-winning team has for a defending season: the knowledge and experience of making it to the top.
Redshirt senior Hunter Ensley knows all about both of those invaluable traits. The weathered outfielder will fill an even more prominent leadership role compared to a year ago due to the departure of many of his veteran teammates to the MLB.
“I haven’t really changed anything about myself,” Ensley said. “There’s a great group and corps of guys that are helping me with the leadership stuff. I don’t really
take that stuff too far because I feel like if I show up every day and get to work, I think that’s kind of leading in itself.”
This contingent features the likes of Reese Chapman and Dalton Bargo, a pair of juniors who will see an increased workload after each appearing in 50 games last season. Each hopes to bring more maturity and poise at their respective positions in the infield and outfield, and in the batter’s box, an area where the two have shown promise.
Andrew Behnke will be back on the bump for his junior season after being a consistent tool in relief last year. The Nashville, Tennessee, southpaw’s continued development will be a key part of the Vols’ bullpen, especially as the gauntlet of SEC play eventually arrives.
AJ Russell was Tennessee’s openingday starter in 2024 but didn’t have the campaign he wished. The 6-foot-6 righthander underwent Tommy John surgery in June and will make his return to the mound at some point in 2025, a point in time that has yet to be determined.
“By the halfway point, he’ll be pitching for us,” Vitello said. “All of us would like that to be sooner, but there are some steps along the way to knock out.”
The catching position sees Ashland, Virginia, and NC State second-year transfer Cannon Peebles return, a steady backstop who would like to emulate the numbers of his freshman season with the Wolfpack. Peebles lacked in the offensive department last year while splitting time with Cal Stark behind the plate. A potential improvement would work wonders for Tennessee as
it will have to replace the run-producing firepower from a year ago.
Chance to leave a mark
Utilizing the transfer portal and the arrival of incoming freshmen will provide Vitello and fellow coaches with a plethora of options when filling out the lineup card all year long.
Jay Abernathy will be a hard name to avoid in conversation. The freshman comes in as one of the top high school recruits in the nation, most known for his lightning speed. The Acworth, Georgia, native is a utility piece who will have the opportunity to learn from one of the most veteran outfielders in college baseball in Ensley and could become an instant star.
“Jay is mature beyond his years,” Ensley said. “Jay’s just a very talented kid, can really swing the bat from the left side. I expect that guy to help us a bunch this year.”
A duo of former Ole Miss Rebels, Andrew Fischer and Liam Doyle, will likely be quick impacts on their new squad. Fischer’s proficiency at third base and the plate makes him one of the most anticipated newcomers for 2025, a 20-home-run hitter last season. Doyle led the Rebels’ pitching staff in strikeouts a year ago and turned in many exceptional starts, which the Tennessee rotation could use.
“He’s a left-handed pitcher that throws 99 to 100 with a high spin rate,” Ensley said. “I think that plays at every single level. So I think for him, if he just stays in the zone, he’s going to get people out.”
The Vols’ middle infield will be aided by Gavin Kilen, a Louisville transfer who can
hit for average and power. He led the Cardinals in several offensive categories and joins a Tennessee team looking to perform the daunting task of filling the shoes of first-round MLB Draft pick Christian Moore.
For a sophomore, Dylan Loy has done a lot. The left-hander returns to Tennessee after being one of the best high-leverage arms for the Vols in 2024. The Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, native recorded a 2.37 ERA in his 21 appearances last season and quickly emerged as a utility piece for pitching coach Frank Anderson.Stone Lawless and Levi Clark fill out a promising young catcher position for the Vols. While Peebles will likely handle the brunt of the workload behind the dish, the two will get their reps throughout the season, especially at designated hitter, due to their pop from the right side of the plate.
Brandon Arvidson makes his entrance out of the junior college ranks as a lefthanded strikeout specialist. The San Jacinto Junior College transfer racked up 108 punch-outs, an eye-popping number that the Vols would love to see more of on their stat sheet in 2025.
“He’s been dominant all fall,” Snead said. “And then coming back in the spring right now, that guy is filthy. “He can go out there and shove about any time he wants.”
Many positions are left unsettled, with Opening Day set for Feb. 14. As the season progresses, it won’t be a surprise to see many names emerge.
Dean Curley (23) celebrates a double during a College World Series game against Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field. Monday, June 24, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
Looking back on Tennessee baseball’s historic 2024 season
Despite the losses, Tennessee bolstered its lineup through the transfer portal, signing standout ACC players in Billy Amick and Cannon Peebles.
In what was supposed to be a “down year” for Tennessee baseball, it made history. Following their second trip to Omaha in the past three seasons, many believed the Vols would regress after losing key pieces in the offseason.
Chase Dollander and Andrew Lindsey were selected in the MLB Draft. Dollander was chosen in the first round, and Lindsey was selected in the fifth round. Additionally, standout flamethrower Chase Burns elected to transfer to Wake Forest. These three pitchers combined for 14 Vols’ 44 wins in 2023. It didn’t stop there, as the Vols also saw departures in the batting lineup. Maui Ahuna and Jared Dickey were key contributors in the Vols’ 2023 campaign, totaling 144 hits and 98 runs. Both declared for the Draft, where Ahuna was selected in the fourth round, while Dickey went in the 11th round.
Tennessee was picked to finish second in the SEC East, behind Florida in the SEC preseason poll. The Vols also earned spots on both preseason All-SEC teams, as pitcher Drew Beam earned first-team honors. Two infielders also made the second team, with Christian Moore at second base and Amick at third base.
The season started on a strong note, with the Vols crushing their non-conference opponents. They boasted an 18-1 record heading into conference play, with their only loss coming to Oklahoma at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown.
Tennessee’s first significant setback was their first conference series, losing two of three to Alabama despite winning the opener by a wide margin. The Vols quickly bounced back, winning their next series against Ole Miss.
The Vols didn’t lose another series the
rest of the year, and they finished with a 46-10 record and a 22-8 record in SEC play.
Tennessee faced an early scare in the SEC Tournament, falling to unranked Vanderbilt in the second round. From then on out, the Vols took over. They rebounded with three straight wins, including a rematch with the Commodores, to make the SEC Tournament title game. They faced the LSU Tigers, who had knocked them out of the previous season’s NCAA Tournament.
After going down 1-0 in the first inning, the Vols responded, taking a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth thanks to a three-run home run by Amick. Tennessee held on through a late comeback attempt to win its fifth SEC title in a 4-3 victory.
The Vols cruised through the Knoxville Regional with no matchups, which proved difficult as they went 3-0. The Super Regional came with its share of chaos. Tennessee hosted Evansville for what looked like a simple opponent before the College World Series. The Purple
Aces, however, took the fight to the Vols. Tennessee suffered a surprising 10-8 loss to Evansville in game two, forcing a game three. The Vols returned to their usual ways, winning by a 12-1 margin to advance.
Tennessee opened against Florida State in the first round, overcoming a three-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning to win. They moved on to face North Carolina, collecting a 6-1 victory for a rematch with the Seminoles in the next round. This time, Tennessee won handily, 7-2, to advance to the title game.
In the championship series, it took on Texas A&M for a chance at immortality. The Vols suffered a loss in the first game of the series, leaving them no room for mistakes the rest of the way. Game two fell the Vols’ way, collecting a 4-1 win for a winner-takes-all finale.
Game three was everything a fan could hope for. The Vols controlled the game for the first seven innings, but the Aggies wouldn’t go down without a fight. Two runs for Texas A&M in the top of the eighth inning made it a 6-3 game heading into the final inning. The ninth inning was a nail-biter, as the Aggies added two more runs to make it a 6-5 game, but Aaron Combs struck out the final batter to make history. The game-winning run came from Hunter Ensley, evading the tag at the plate on an acrobatic slide.
“No better team to win for the University of Tennessee than a bunch of guys who were truly the definition of a team,” Vitello said after the win. “And no better play for our program to be the winning run on that slide, a guy that’s just built with a ton of grit. And his teammates follow his leadership. And it’s a great example of how this group got things done.”
The season was historic not only for the program’s first College World Series National Championship title. Tennessee mashed 177 home runs, just behind LSU’s record 188 in 1997. The Vols also became the first team with five players to hit 20 or more home runs, led by Christian Moore’s 34, tied for ninthmost in a single season. They also matched the NCAA record for wins in a season and became the first SEC Team to win 60 games in a season.
The Vols look to build on the best season in team history this year. The 2024 Vols drafted eight players in the first 10 rounds, setting a new program record. Head coach Tony Vitello faces a tough task this year, looking to make a return to Omaha as many new faces take the field for the Vols this season.
Ethan Payne (12) celebrates winning the College World Series title over Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field. Monday, June 24, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
A look at Tennessee softball’s roster for 2025
ALEX SARKIS Staff Writer
It feels fair to say that Tennessee softball is in its golden age.
Tennessee has won two consecutive SEC regular season titles, an achievement that made program history. They appeared in the women’s College World Series two seasons ago, the program’s first in eight years. Head coach Karen Weekly’s squad has been among the most dominant in the country, especially in the pitching department.
But still, it feels like there is some unfinished business.
The Lady Vols will welcome back 15 players from last season, two of them garnering nationwide praise from the media. New faces, including a strong transfer class, will strive to improve on seasons prior. All of them will no doubt be pursuing the goal they’ve been close to for years now: a national championship.
Here’s a glimpse at the group that will take the field for the Lady Vols in 2025.
North Carolina native was named the fourth-best player in all of college softball by two media outlets.
Gibson enters her senior season as the go-to clutch bat for the Lady Vols. She led the team in RBIs and hits last campaign, serving up some of the biggest swings of the season to propel her team toward the NCAA Tournament.
Rest of the returners
With the departure of two stars in Kiki Milloy and Rylie West, the Lady Vols will need to draw offensive production from elsewhere in the new year.
Taylor Pannell is the most likely candidate poised for a big year in their absence. The redshirt sophomore’s .294 batting average, coupled with 33 RBIs, places her in a category worthy of increased expectations for the upcoming slate.
A senior from Seal Beach, California, Sophia Nugent, can bring great production from behind the plate. She hit 11 home runs last year to go along with driving in 38 runners, a mark just behind West and Gibson for the team lead.
Another veteran, Laura Mealer, anchors a strong Tennessee infield with her defensive efficiency and athletic range. The senior swiped seven bases last year while collecting a .404 on-base percentage, an important part of a Tennessee offense that sometimes struggled to plate runs.
Destiny Rodriguez rounds out the last of the returning majority starters from 2024. The junior struck out just nine times a season ago in her 134 at-bats, a sure bet to put the ball in play with runners on base. This reliability could get Rodriguez jump up the lineup card come opening day.
All things considered, it was a rough freshman season for Bella Faw, especially at the plate. The once highly rated high school infielder will look to avenge her injury misfortune from last year, only picking 35 at-bats in her rookie campaign. Faw’s fresh opportunity is a much-needed one.
college softball last year in Payton Gottshall and Pickens. While the junior will likely have to fight for innings again, her added depth out of the bullpen is an underrated piece of Tennessee’s future success.
Portal magic
A boost from the transfer portal could be one of the factors Tennessee needs to reach the pinnacle.
When former South Carolina standout Sage Mardjetko stood in the circle at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium last season wearing garnet and black, she made quick work of the Lady Vols. Now, the sophomore has made her way to Tennessee and will complement Pickens in another terrifying pitching duo for opposing hitters. Her 119 punch-outs as a freshman set the standard for he bright future, one that Weekly is glad to be on the other side of now.
high as some of the other transfers, her opportunity to have an impact is the same.
A top freshman class
People will notice when five of seven players in a program’s freshman class are ranked in the top 10 of a national outlet’s recruiting rankings.
That’s what happened with the Lady Vols rookie group for 2025.
Peyton Tanner and Amayah Doyle find themselves in the top five of Extra Inning Softball’s class of 2024 rankings. Erin Nuwer, Emma Clarke and Saviya Morgan were also in the top 10.
The Lady Vols further bolster their starstudded pitching staff with the addition of Tanner and Nuwer. Doyle brings a big power-speed combo to the infield, the best of her class, according to Extra Inning.
The best in the land
Tennessee boasts two members of the preseason All-SEC team: Karlyn Pickens and McKenna Gibson.
One of the best pitchers in the nation a season ago, Pickens is back to improve on what is already an astonishing career. In her 38 appearances last year, the thensophomore hurled 15 complete games and struck out 225 batters. The Weaverville,
Alannah and Gabby Leach, a pair of sisters turned sophomore outfielders for the Lady Vols, add depth to the roster, an important trait of any team with championship aspirations.
The ever-important strategy decision of pinch-running is familiar to Amanda Ahlin and Katie Taylor. Both are the speedy go-to’s for Weekly off the bench on the basepaths in tight games. The duo combined to score 31 runs for the Lady Vols in 2024, a trend that will likely continue this season.
Charli Orsini had the personal misfortune of sitting behind the best pitching duo in
Washington transfer Kinsey Fiedler and Texas Tech transfer Aubrey Barnhart provide options for Tennessee in the field and at the plate. Fiedler, a speedy senior utility player, hit .336 with the Huskies last season and has racked up 27 stolen bases over the past three. Barnhart would likely win a gold glove award if there were one in college softball. Her .989 fielding percentage and her .410 on-base percentage add to one of the best gets for the Lady Vols in the portal.
A transfer from one of the sport’s powerhouses, Ryan Brown hopes to start anew in her home state. The Texas transfer and Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, native appeared in just 11 games as a freshman with the Longhorns. While the expectations for Brown may not be as
Clarke brings a 6-foot-1 frame to the infield, a former 30-home-run hitter in high school.
Columbia, Tennessee, signee Morgan can fly around the outfield and bases, holding her high school record of 68 stolen bases in a season.
Ella Dodge brings more versatility to the field, while a familiar last name in Tennessee athletics, Zoie Shuler, makes her arrive to play the outfield. She joins the likes of Cousin Navy and Uncle Heath as Tennessee athletes, both former Vols quarterbacks.
The Lady Vols get the 2025 season started on Feb. 6 in a matchup with Nebraska, a part of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida.
Taylor Pannell (3) hits a single against Walters State at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon
Taylor Pannell (3) steals second base against Walters State at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Ericksen GomezVilleda / The Daily Beacon