Anderson Countians making an impression on Roane State athletics
Raiders Roundup
The start of Roane State’s fall semester is less than a month away, which means the return of Raiders athletics is just around the corner, too.
The pandemic created a litany of changes and safety precautions for athletic competitions everywhere. For Roane State, there were delayed and shortened seasons, travel restrictions, frequent COVID testing of athletes and coaches and – possibly worst of all – no fans for indoor sports. With many of those issues (hopefully) behind us, here is a look at what is happening in RSCC sports.
GOLF
In early June, head golf Coach Chris Griffin announced the signing of the program’s first female golfer, Madilyn Shea Newman. A graduate of Hardin Valley Academy and two-time DCP National Putting Champion (2017, 2019) Shea is the first of other women the Raiders hope to add to the roster for the coming campaign.
Congratulations to sophomore golfer Andy Fox for becoming the first Raider in 41 years to qualify for the NJCAA National Tournament. Earning the spot at the tourney marked the first time a Roane State golfer has participated at that level since June 4, 1980. The last person to achieve that level of success is current head Coach Chris Griffin.
VOLLEYBALL
Practice has already begun for the Raiders’ second season of women’s volleyball, which opens in mid-August with tournaments at Spartanburg Methodist in South Carolina and Alabama’s Wallace State Community College.
Coach Steve Dallman’s squad includes returning sophomore digger Taryn Lane, who ranked second in the nation last season with 7.37 digs per set. Lane is joined by a much taller front line for the team’s second season. Five of the 12 incoming freshman are at least 6 feet tall, which will add to the team’s already lethal frontline attack.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Alan Holt begins his first season at the helm of the Raiders’ men’s basketball program. Before being named interim head coach, this Anderson County native and Bryan College alumnus served six years as assistant to long-time head Coach Randy Nesbit. Nesbit stepped down recently after piloting the program for 29 years.
RSCC hoops is slated to tip-off at home on Nov. 3.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Lady Raiders head Coach David Harnish begins his third season with the program.
With 781 career wins (seventh-most in women’s NJCAA history), his countdown to 800 wins begins this season.
With returning all-conference post Kirby Brown and a strong lineup of new talent to surround her, the Lady Raiders hope to improve on last season’s 7-19 record, which was greatly affected by outbreaks of COVID-19.
More updates on the Raiders’ baseball and softball programs coming soon.