By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Standout Union City High School track and field athlete Adrian Crawford will again show off his multiple talents at the Class 1A state decathlon championships.
The Tornado junior – a two-time state track champion in the triple jump and high jump last year – repeated as the West Sectional decathlon winner Tuesday at Halle Stadium in Memphis.
Crawford totaled 5,633 points in the 10-event competition, outdistancing Darrious Smith of MASE by 87 points. His point total exceeded that of his sophomore year when he went on to a state runner-up finish.
Crawford finished first or second in eight of the 10 events held over a two-day period.
On Tuesday, he won the 1500 meters and was runner-up in the high jump, 110-meter hurdles, and long jump. A fourth-place effort in the shot put was his lowest finish.
UC head coach Wade Maddox immediately began looking forward to the May 14-15 state competition for Crawford after Tuesday’s final event.
“He (Crawford) did what he needed to do and now he can focus on the big stage,” Maddox said. “I thought he left some points out there in a few events – and that’s good that he hasn’t peaked yet this season.
“I’m confident he’ll be able to put his best foot forward in everything at the state meet.”
Kirkwood High School in Clarksville will host the state decathlon and pentathlon.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 22, Lake Co. 3
The second-seeded Tornadoes roared into the next round of the District 14A Tournament, hammering No. 6 Lake County in a contest that had a mercy-rule ending.
UC (19-8) will now face top seed and fellow league co-champion Greenfield (18-4) tonight at 7 at Elam Stadium after the Jackets blanked South Fulton 4-0 on Tuesday. The UC-G’field winner will not only earn a spot in the championship round but will also secure a berth in next week’s regional tourney.
The Tornadoes and Jackets split a pair of regular-season meetings, each winning on their home field.
After being blanked in the first inning of Tuesday’s game vs. LC, the Twisters erupted for seven runs in the second, sixth in the third, and then tacked on nine more in the fourth to end the game early.
Troy Joslin, Logan Dawkins, Logan Vincent, and Tucker Davis all had two hits in Union City’s onslaught. Joslin, the Jackson State signee, drove in four runs and scored two more, while Davis, Vincent, Ben Kail, and Will Kail had two RBIs each.
Ben Kail and Sam Jones scored three times, while Jack Theobald crossed the dish on four occasions for the victors.
Dawkins, Joslin, Ben Kail, and Vincent combined on a one-hitter with nine strikeouts. Dawkins was credited with the pitching win, his sixth against two losses this season.
Lake County will face Gleason in a tourney elimination game today.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 4, Greenfield 0 (G)
UC 2, Greenfield 0 (B)
The Lady Tornadoes officially clinched the District 14A championship for the sixth consecutive year, making quick work of Greenfield after celebrating the careers of three seniors in ceremonies before the match.
Twin sisters Davey and Dani Frankum, who rank near the top of the program’s all-time winningest players, and Lexi Petty were honored by head coach Maddie Britt with a number of friends of the program and family members looking on.
The UC girls (14-4) then wasted no time dispatching the Lady ‘Jackets and notching the 26th district title in the history of a program that has five state runner-up finishes – including three straight over the past three years.
The Twisters dropped just five games in four singles matches, with Bertie Jenkins and Allie Vincent each rolling to shutout wins. The match was limited to just singles play by an agreement of coaches beforehand.
UC will now move on to play at Scotts Hill next Thursday (May 8) for the regional championship.
Union City’s boys wound up their 2025 season by winning two matches, finishing their campaign with a 6-11 record.
Kobe Kirk (8-3) and Byron Abbott (8-1) easily cruised for the Tornadoes.
Union City players will participate in the District 14A Individual Singles and Doubles Tournament on Monday and Tuesday at Bethel College in McKenzie.
Girls Singles
Davey Frankum (UC) defeated Avery High (G) 8-3
Dani Frankum (UC) defeated Caroline Warren (G) 8-2
Bertie Jenkins (UC) defeated Addisen Cooper (G) 8-0
Allie Vincent (UC) defeated Ava Spikes (G) 8-0
Lexi Petty (UC) defeated Addisyn Totty (G) 8-1
Josie Ross (UC) defeated Rylan Christopher (G) 6-1
Briley Kate McKinney (UC) defeated Ellie Pitt (G) 6-0
Emma Jane Rice (UC) defeated Addie Christopher (G) 6-0
Stella Turner (UC) defeated Mariah Thomas (G) 6-0
Maddie Bailey (UC) defeated Kylee McNeil (G) 6-0
Boys Singles
Kobe Kirk (UC) defeated Deegan Arant (G) 8-3
Byron Abbott (UC) defeated Bennie Cockerham (G) 8-1
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
UC 8, Bruceton 0
The Tornadoes closed out their regular season with their second straight shutout after recognizing a half-dozen seniors and a manager in pregame ceremonies.
Union City (7-7-1) will open District 12A Tournament play Friday as the No. 3 seed, hosting Clarksburg at 6 p.m. The semifinals and finals of the single-elimination event will be played on Monday and Wednesday of next week at Westview High School.
Four of the Twisters’ six honorees found the net in Tuesday’s triumph over Bruceton.
Marcos Landeros scored three times, while Carter Wilson, Nolan Tucker, and Gavin Morgan also lit up the score column. Khazarion Scates and Cole Gurley accounted for UC’s other two goals.
Morgan set up three goals with nice passes, while Tucker, Silverio Acevedo, Juan Carlos Barron, and Landeros were also credited with assists.
The Tornado defense kept Bruceton from attempting a shot on goal in the match.
Ryan Najeme, Ivan Serrano, and manager Albert Hsu were also recognized in the senior pregame presentation.
MIDDLE SCHOOL GOLF
UC 112, Obion Co. 119 (G)
UC 196, Obion Co. 236 (B)
Union City closed out its inaugural golf season on the middle school level with more positive results.
The Tornado boys posted a 40-stroke victory over OC, coming in with a score of 196 to the Rebels’ 236.
Sam Kissell led the way for UC with a nine-hole total of 43. Preston Creswell was next on the Purple and Gold scorecard with a 49, Jake Lattus shot 51, and Garrison Bunch came in with a 53. Hudson Reeves carded a 50, Grady Gurley had a 53, and Stephen Herrell shot 55.
For the Union City girls, Annie Beth Cruce led the way with a 53 and Lili Petty finished with a 59. Pyper Prather shot a 63.