By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
There are good vibes coming from the Union City Middle School cross country program, too.
While the Tornado high school team has grabbed its share of headlines with strong performances this season, the UCMS squad has posted several noteworthy results as well.
That continued on Monday when the Union City boys matched the earlier feat of the high school team by winning their own invitational meet.
Brody Fields (2nd), Cooper Waggoner (4th), and Will D. McKinnis (9th) all medaled for the Twisters, who bested 20 teams to win the two-mile UCMS Invitational at Graham Park.
The result came on the heels of the Tornadoes placing second in the Ridgemont Mustang Run on Friday.
Fields (11:52) was the overall runner-up among 80 runners in Monday’s meet after winning the RMR with a time of 12:02. Waggoner was clocked at 12:42 on Monday to place fourth and was second at Ridgemont with a time of 12:40. McKinnis was sixth (13:36) in the Mustang race and timed at 13:34 while placing ninth on Monday.
Owen Shannon was 36th, Walker Gray 40th, and Walton Harder 70th to round out UC’s team results.
Stella Graham (16:22) placed 19th in the girls’ competition, and Chloe Baumgardner (16:38) was 23rd for the Lady Tornadoes. There were 73 runners in the event. Ella Duncan competed for Union City in the jayvee race.
Graham earned a medal on Friday at Ridgemont, placing ninth with a time of 16:28.
UCMS will compete at Haywood next Monday.
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
Union City edged Westview by four strokes and outclassed West Carroll (232) in a three-way boys’ match, while the Lady Tornadoes claimed a seven-shot win over the Martin girls at Poplar Meadows County Club.
Gavin McGuire had the best individual score in boys’ play, firing a 35 to pace UC. Teammate Brody Riley shot 39, Coop Frankum finished with a 44, and Jake Lattus came in with a 46 to complete the Tornadoes’ 164 team total.
Westview registered 168 as a unit, led by Thomas Baker’s 39.
Paul Martin Tohn finished with a 51 for Union City. Stephen Herrell enjoyed a solid outing, shooting a 46, and Garrison Bunch carded a 53.
The UC girls picked up their first match victory behind medalist Stella Turner, who shot 50. Fellow freshman Annie Beth Cruce was just three strokes back of that total to give the Lady Twisters a 103 as a team.
Union City is back at PMCC today, playing host to Gibson County in its final home match of the season.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Dresden 14, UC 5
The visiting Lady Lions beat Union City for the second time this season, dropping them to 6-3 on the year.
Dresden jumped in front immediately with a five-run first inning and scored in every inning afterward.
The Lady Tornadoes hurt themselves with five errors that led to nine unearned runs.
Sadie Gregg had two of UC’s three RBIs. Ella Grace Howell went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, while Amanda McPhearson singled and scored for the Twister girls.
Austyn Dilday was the losing hurler, fanning five.
Union City hosts Lake Road today at 5 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Milan 3, UC 0
Milan handed Union City just its second loss in 14 matches and ended the Lady Tornadoes’ five-match winning streak.
The host Bulldog girls won convincingly, 25-13, 25-14, and 25-12.
UC committed an uncharacteristic 47 errors and finished with just two service aces in the three games.
Gracie Sims impressed head coach Jessica Graham with 14 kills, Graham saying: “Gracie came out swinging and showed true leadership in doing everything she could to help us.”
Madie Theobald had 15 of Union City’s 16 assists, while Addison Carr finished with seven digs and four saves. Clare Atwill totaled five digs and five saves.
The Lady Tornadoes will attempt to bounce back from the loss with a home District 13A match against South Fulton tonight at 6.