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2018 Year in Review – Prep Swimming
As 2018 has drawn to a close, Thunder Radio Sports looks back at some of the highlights of the calendar year for each of the more than 40 prep teams we follow and report on. Today we look back at the year for the prep swim programs at the high school and middle school level.
Three CHS Red Raider swimmers competed at the Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (TISCA) state meet in Knoxville as they posted the best finish in program history. Thunder Radio reported on the state meet in a story we brought to you on February 12th
CHS swim team in Knoxville for the state meet(left to right) Coach Mike Ray, Anna O’Connor, Jack Beachboard, Kaylee Williams, head coach Lana Ray) [Photo used with permission]
Anna O’Connor competed in the 100 yard butterfly and the 100 yard backstroke. On Friday, O’Connor swam the preliminary in the butterfly. O’Connor posted a time of 1:06.09 which was 9 hundredths of a second off a personal best time. That result was good enough for 63rd place. Anna came back on Saturday in the 100 backstroke and smashed her personal best by 2.47 seconds as she placed 44th with a time of 1:05.04.
Kaylee Williams competed in the 200 yard Individual Medley(IM) and the 100 yard breaststroke. On Friday, Williams missed a new personal best in the 200 yard IM as she finished in 41st place with a time of 2:23.03. The 41st place finish was the highest finish for a Lady Raider swimmer in the state meet. On Saturday, Williams eclipsed that school record and her personal best time in the 100 yard breaststroke. Williams posted a time of 1:09.98(1.36 seconds better than her personal best) as she placed 22nd in the state at that distance. Both Saturday results are new school records.
Jack Beachboard competed in the 200 IM and the 100 yard breaststroke. Beachboard, already the highest decorated swimmer in CHS Swim history, just missed advancing to the finals on Friday in the IM as he placed 17th overall. Beachboard’s time of 2:00.64 was a new personal best as he shaved more than a half a second off his own school record time. Beachboard’s 17th place finish in the event is the highest finish in Coffee County CHS swim history. On Saturday, Jack was just above his personal best in the 100 yard breaststroke as he posted a time of 1:10.48. This was good enough for 22nd place which is the 2nd highest finish in school history.
All 3 swimmers, plus coaches Lana and Mike Ray will be guests on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show to talk about the season. The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast live each and every Saturday morning beginning at 10 AM at Al White Ford/Lincoln. The Coffee Coaches Show is heard exclusively on Thunder Radio.
Starting with this school year, the middle school swimmers have divided up into their respective schools. Five middle school swimmers, competing as a combined middle school team last year, advanced to the Region Swim Meet in Nashville. Thunder Radio brought you those results is a story we brought to you on January 29th.
Members of the middle school swimmers for Coffee County at the region meet on Saturday. Left to right are Emily Williams, Kennedy Norman-Young, Taylor Wall, Aly Hutchins and William Tobitt[Phptp provided]
Norman-Young, Wall, Hutchings and Williams teamed up to place 14th in the 400M freestyle relay and 16th in the 200 freestyle relay. The 200 relay team broke their season record by 16 seconds and the school record by 8 seconds as they swam the event in 2:10.50. Their 400 relay time of 5:13.18 also set a new school record.
Kennedy Norman-Young advanced to the finals in the 50 freeestyle. Her finals time of 28.36 was a new personal best at that distance. Her finish was also good enough to capture 9th place. Kennedy also finished in 17th place in the 100 breaststroke with a new personal best of 1:26.46 which was just short of advancing to the finals.
William Tobitt reached the finals heat in the 100 freestyle as he finished 9th with a new personal record time of 56.77. He also finished 17th in his preliminary heat of the 50 freestyle with a time 26.44.
Emily Williams captured 16th place in the finals of the 200 freestyle as she cut 4.61 seconds off her preliminary heat time. Williams finished the race in 2:20.84. Emily also finished in 21st place in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:29.52.
Aly Hutchings competed in the 50 freestyle and posted a time on 33.27. She also posted a time of 1:25.50 in the 100 freestyle.
Taylor Wall posted a new personal best in the 50 freestyle with a time of 33.87. Wall also competed in the 100 backstroke finishing in a time of 1:28.45
2018 Year in Review – Coffee County Bass Club
As 2018 has drawn to a close, Thunder Radio Sports looks back at some of the highlights of the calendar year for each of the more than 40 prep teams we follow and report on. Today we look back at the year for the girls’ soccer squads at Coffee County Bass Club. In their 3rd full year of competition, the Coffee County Bass Club won the inaugural South Central Tennessee Region Championship as the team of Issac Owens and Garrett Davis capped off a strong spring with the title win. Thunder Radio reported on it in a story we brought to you on April 23rd.
Garrett Davis and Isiah Owens show off their catch on April 21st as they clinched the region championship at Old Hickory Lake
Garrett Davis and Isaiah Owens of the Coffee County Youth Bass Club captured the South Central Tennessee Region points championship after Saturday’s Region Championship tournament on Old Hickory Lake. In the first year of region competition, the Coffee County Youth Bass Club duo edged a team from Mt. Juliet by 1 point for the win. With the region title, the duo earned a $1000 scholarship and an automatic berth in the Bass Nation High School Championship to be held in August on Kentucky Lake.
Davis and Owens led a group of 5 Coffee County teams which finished the year in the Top 25 in the region standings. Hunter Sanders and Blake Mangrum finished in 8th place. The brother teams of Colby and Braeden Thurmond came in 13th place while Branson and Dawson Wells captured 21st. The team of Joe White and Adam Petty came home in 23rd place in the region standings.
In Saturday’s region championship tournament, 4 Raider teams finished in the Top 15 on a beautiful day for fishing on Old Hickory. The Thurmond brothers were the top finishers for Coffee County as they netted 4 fish weighing 8.48 pounds. The team of Sanders/Mangrum landed 4 fish for 7.99 pounds to finish in 11th place. Davis and Owens also caught 4 fish at 7.97 pounds to finish in 12th place. The brother tandem of Branson and Dawson Wells also landed 4 fish weighing 6.02 pounds to finish in 14th place.
The Raider anglers will hit the water again on Saturday when they travel to Dayton on Saturday for the Battle of Chickamauga. That tournament is 6th stop on the Tennessee Bass Nation State Trail series. The anglers will blast off at first light from the Dayton Boat Dock & Grill.
Arvidsson Scores Twice as Saros, Preds Shut Out Flyers
Viktor Arvidsson of the Nashville Predators
The Predators sent 2018 out with a bang, and they welcomed 2019 in the same fashion.
Viktor Arvidsson scored twice and Juuse Saros stopped all 32 shots he faced as Nashville shut out the Philadelphia Flyers at Bridgestone Arena, 4-0. It’s Nashville’s second win in as many nights and gives them 50 points through 41 games as they reach the halfway mark of the season.
On Monday afternoon in Washington, the Preds snapped a six-game losing streak by scoring five unanswered to beat the defending Stanley Cup champions. But, as Rocco Grimaldi said, they didn’t want to be a “one-hit wonder.”
On Tuesday, they had another smash single.
“Saros held us in the game,” Grimaldi said. “He held us in, and then our guys got going and putting more pucks to the net. We started shooting to score, instead of just trying to get it to the net and we were rewarded.”
“I’m usually pretty honest; I told you that the two losses before the win in Washington, I hated the result,” Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “I didn’t mind the effort that our guys put in and the pucks we were putting at the net. You’re getting 40-50 shots and you’re doing an ‘OK’ job defensively and it’s just not going your way, and sometimes that happens. But if you look at the game, which we have to, there was a lot of good things that we were doing and I think these past two games have been a continuation of that and we’ve been fortunate to get a couple of wins.”
The game’s opening period went scoreless, largely thanks to stellar play from Preds goaltender Juuse Saros who made 13 saves through the first 20 minutes.
Just over two minutes into the middle stanza, the Predators broke the draw courtesy of Craig Smith’s 11th of the season, a shot he wired into the top corner past Michal Neuvirth. Exactly 10 minutes later, Ryan Johansen found Arvidsson at the side of the net for a tap-in and his second goal in as many games to give the Preds a 2-0 advantage after 40 minutes.
Arvidsson added his second of the night at 6:15 of the final frame, and Grimaldi put the exclamation point on the night when he tallied for the second consecutive game to send the locals home happy.
Philadelphia’s shot totals lessened as the game went on, but Saros still had to be sharp, making the saves he should have made, and maybe a few he had to work for.
“Tonight, he was terrific, let’s be honest,” Laviolette said of Saros. “Recently, we’ve played a lot of teams really strong off the rush. Washington, Dallas, the Rangers and I think, Philadelphia, a couple times here, they’re a rush team. They’re able of attacking, they fly guys capable of getting behind you, and they did. We needed saves there and he made them.”
In the end, Nashville has another two points in the standings, as they’ve gone from just trying to get back in the win column to all of a sudden showing signs of the Stanley Cup contender they know they can be.
With a six-game trip looming, the Preds know they’ll have to find ways to be successful on the road once more – and a pair of wins is certainly a good place to start.
“We think this could be the start of a long winning streak, but it doesn’t really matter what you think, it’s what you do,” Grimaldi said. “We have to have a good practice before we go to Detroit. Then we have a long road trip, playing against some really good hockey teams that are playing good right now. We have to take it one game at a time and keep building off each game.”
Arvi, Arvi, Arvi:
Viktor Arvidsson’s mother, Asa, was among the moms who stuck around after they all saw their sons win in Washington the day before.
Turns out No. 33 wasn’t done impressing his biggest fan.
Arvidsson scored twice on New Year’s Day in Nashville – giving himself three goals in his last two outings – and helped lead his club to a second consecutive victory.
“It’s fun to score,” Arvidsson said, his gap-toothed grin coming through. “It’s a great feeling, having my mom and the family in town. I’m just happy they could be here and watch me play.”
It was Arvidsson’s fourth game back in the lineup after missing more than a month due to injury, and in each subsequent outing, he’s shown more and more just how crucial he is to the Nashville lineup.
“He came back and played a good first game and then from there, I think it’s been a build-up where’s he’s tried to get better,” Laviolette said of Arvidsson. “He’s pushing himself, you see how important he is out there tonight with his speed, and his work ethic, his ability to score goals and make a difference in the game.”
Not only was Arvidsson a major addition back on the top line with Ryan Johansen, but Filip Forsberg isn’t far behind. It’s been a while since the trio was together, and once they’re reunited, the rest of the League will need to take notice once more.
Whether or not it happens on Nashville’s upcoming, six-game road trip remains to be seen, but the Preds never back down from a challenge – especially with Arvidsson chugging along.
“We have to go on the road for a decent amount of games now, and we’re going to have to really battle our way through that and pick up as many points as we possibly can,” Arvidsson said. “It’s going to be fun to get on the road.”
Notes:
Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Predators placed forward Kyle Turris on Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury.
The Predators also claimed forward Phillip Di Giuseppe on waivers from Carolina on Tuesday. Di Giuseppe did not dress against the Flyers.
With the New Year now underway, the Preds will head out for their longest road trip of the season, a six-game excursion that begins on Friday night in Detroit. Nashville will then make stops in Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Columbus and Carolina before finally returning to Bridgestone Arena on Jan. 15.
WMSR 2018 News Story of the Year
James Richard McCoy Jr.. Photo provided
WMSR News covered over 1,200 news stories in 2018, with over 750 being local. As you can understand, it was a very busy year in Coffee County. After a lot of research that included listener response, Facebook interaction and you all reading news stories on wmsrradio.com, the number one news story for 2018 is the Sept. 9 murder of Lisa McCoy in Manchester.
When Manchester Police arrived at her home on Duck River Road early Sunday morning Sept. 9, they found McCoy had been shot several times.
As the investigation was being conducted, Manchester Police arrested the woman’s husband, 54-year-old James Richard McCoy, Jr.
According to Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott, “There had been a very concerted effort to destroy any evidence at the home and that it had appeared that he was preparing to dispose of the body.” McCoy, Jr. was charged with 1st Degree Murder, Tampering with Evidence, Domestic Violence and Abuse of a Corpse.
James Richard McCoy, Jr remains in jail awaiting trial.
Go-Cart Stolen in Franklin County
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a stolen go-cart. The item is a red in color Streaker model pace setter, model number D710. The item is valued at approximately $500.00 and was reportedly taken from Allred Road.
The victim and family did incur damage from a tornado that hit Franklin County on November 6th, 2018 but said they did see the go-cart after the storm. Anyone having information regarding this theft is asked to contact Investigator George Dyer at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 931-308-9420.
Nissan Training Center to be built in Decherd
The Decherd Municipal/Regional Planning Commission has unanimously approved site plans for a training center to go in between the Nissan Powertrain Assembly Plant and the Infiniti Powertrain Plant at 520 Nissan Powertrain Drive.
Representatives from Nissan recently showed the commission plans for the 20,600-square-foot, state-of-the-art training facility that will be used for hands-on training, just as if one were on the plant floor.
There will be training rooms, some offices and a conference room in the facility that will feature the latest technology where employees can learn the most up-to-date approaches. (Information from the Herald Chronicle)
Social Security Scam is Working Again
At WMSR we attempt to keep you updated on scams you could become a victim of. We’ve reported it before and here it comes again, Social Security scam. Scammers pretend to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and try to get your Social Security number or your money. That scam is now growing throughout the area and nation. To compare: in 2017, there were a reported 3,200 people nationally that reported about SSA imposter scams, and those people reported losing nearly $210,000. In 2018 more than 35,000 people reported the scam, and they say they’ve lost $10 million.
Here’s what one of those scam calls sound like:
Scammers are saying your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended because of suspicious activity, or because it’s been involved in a crime. Sometimes, the scammer wants you to confirm your SSN to reactivate it. Sometimes, he’ll say your bank account is about to be seized – but he’ll tell you what to do to keep it safe. (Often, that involves putting your money on gift cards and giving him the codes – which, of course, means that your money is gone.)
Oh, and your caller ID often shows the real SSA phone number (1-800-772-1213) when these scammers call – but they’re faking that number. It’s not the real SSA calling.
Here’s what to know:
• Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended. You don’t have to verify your number to anyone who calls out of the blue. And your bank accounts are not about to be seized.
• SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards. Anyone who tells you to do those things is a scammer. Every time.
• The real SSA number is 1-800-772-1213, but scammers are putting that number in the caller ID. If you’re worried about what the caller says, hang up and call 1-800-772-1213 to speak to the real SSA. Even if the wait time is long, confirm with the real SSA before responding to one of these calls.
• Never give any part of your Social Security number to anyone who contacts you. Or your bank account or credit card number.
If you get one of these calls, tell the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
Man Killed in Officer Involved Shooting Wanted in 2 Counties– State releases Preliminary Autopsy Report
In a follow-up to the officer involved shooting that took place on Friday evening, December 28, at approximately 10:40 pm. We now know that Mark Luttrell, Jr., 34 years of age, from Tullahoma was the wanted man police went inside Walmart looking for who had outstanding warrants in Coffee and Franklin counties. The Coffee County warrants consisted of Failure to Appear on charges of Manufacturing/Sale/Delivery of a controlled substance; Evading Arrest; and Child Support. The Franklin County warrants included Reckless Endangerment; Driving on a Revoked License; Simple Possession of a controlled substance; and Evading Arrest.
According to police, as officers confronted Luttrell, he pulled a pistol from his waistband and pointed the firearm at the officers. A Tullahoma Police Department officer fired his service weapon in response to the immediate threat striking Luttrell. He died at the scene.
According a Tullahoma Police Department press release, the involved officer has been a certified law enforcement officer for several years and has been an officer of the Tullahoma Police Department since June 2018. The officer previously served as a deputy with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office.
In addition to the TBI investigation, this incident will be reviewed internally by the Tullahoma Police Department. This review process will be done by a panel of experienced officers.
In a statement from Tullahoma Police, “the safety of the public and the officer is paramount in all that the Tullahoma Police Department does.” “To be clear, all of the preliminary indications are that the officers involved acted appropriately and with this safety directive in mind during the incident in question.” The statement went onto say, “however, should the TBI investigation or the internal review determine otherwise, the Tullahoma Police Department will take appropriate measures to ensure that its mission to protect and serve this community is accomplished in a professional and competent manner.” The officers involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave with pay.
Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott said that Luttrell’s body was sent to the Tennessee Medical Examiner’s Office in Nashville for an autopsy. The preliminary report indicates that Luttrell was shot a minimum of 3 times. It will be several months before that report is completely done.
New Rules for All Hospitals
Starting today (Jan. 1, 2019) hospitals nationwide will have to list prices for standard services as part of a new federal rule.
The federal rule was put in place by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make hospitals more transparent and help give patients more information when deciding on important healthcare decisions.
It’s being called the Prospective Payment System rule.
The new requirement will require hospitals to list prices for procedures on their websites.
Resolutions: Aim for Progress, Not Perfection, in 2019
“Progress not perfection” means setting goals that are achievable, and perhaps slightly less ambitious than trying to completely remake yourself for the New Year. (@mppllc/Twenty20)
Experts say the biggest hurdles are related to setting unrealistic goals – trying to change too much, too fast.
Psychotherapist Gail Rogers recommends small changes, such as meditation, or deciding on specific ways to enjoy family and lower overall stress.
Rogers says it’s important to set realistic expectations and make a daily choice to meet your new goals.
“And the choice is, ‘How am I going to live my life?’” she stresses. “Well, I choose to live my life fully, with joy, looking forward to the next day, looking forward to being in this day. Or I could choose just to feel miserable and give up – but it’s choice.”
Joint research from Cornell University and the University of Chicago also found that in making resolutions, including weight loss and job promotions, most people are motivated either by immediate or short-term rewards.
So Rogers says it’s important to celebrate each positive step along the path to meeting your goal.
Eating better, exercising more, spending less money and making self-care a bigger priority all rank highly in recent polling about 2019 resolutions from You.gov.
But Rogers says resolutions also are good for people seeking to be more intentional about their lifestyle.
“Being more mindful of how I am living – I’m not just on automatic pilot,” she explains. “I am in the present moment, because that’s where everything is.”
Rogers says another key to keeping resolutions is to trust yourself.
Multiple studies show it takes at least three weeks for most folks to incorporate a new routine into their lives, and about two months to truly break an old habit.