by jowens | Nov 8, 2013
Welch College 53
Toccoa Falls College 47
November 8, 2013. The season opener for Welch College, before a packed house, proved to be a highly entertaining game and the Lady Flames came away with a hard-fought win, 53-47.
The Flames took the lead early, but the Eagles never let it get away from them as they countered every WC run with a run of their own.
Leslie Nichols started the game off with tough shot in the paint. Then, freshman sensation, Ashton Johnson took over, scoring 11 of the Flames next 13 points. Her quickness allowed her to get to the basket on several trips down the floor, along with a three-pointer during the run to give Welch a 15-8 lead. But, the Eagles bounced back and narrowed the Flames lead to just three at the intermission.
The second half mirrored the first as neither team could run away from the other. And, with three minutes left in the contest, Toccoa Falls took the lead 45-45. But the Flames would not be denied, going on an 8-1 run to finish the game.
Welch had four girls in double figures with Johnson leading the way with 21 points, followed by Nichols with 12, and Jessie Melvin and Amy Pickett with 10 points each. Nichols had a double-double leading the Flames with 11 rebounds. Johnson also had five assists for the Flames.
“We got a little tight in the first half and missed some shots we should have made,” said Flames’ coach Larry Bryan. “But, we held our composure, especially down the stretch. It was a good win for us.
by jowens | Nov 7, 2013
The 2013-2014 edition of the Welch College Flames comes with a certain amount of excitement and apprehension. The team is young, for the most part, with seven of the eight men on the roster being either freshmen or sophomores and the lone senior is in his first season of competition.
Size will also be an issue for the young Flames as only Lim Chol is over 6’4”, so Coach Nathan Willhite will need to rely on speed, quickness, and outside scoring. With Chol down low, Willhite will look to senior, Tim Hutchinson; sophomore, David Reeves; and freshman, Carson Outlaw. All three are guards who possess the skills to keep the Flames in all the games.
Willhite will also be counting on sophomore, Caleb Smith and three freshmen: Jeffery Carter, Tanner Pruett and Taylor Pruett.
“With only an eight-man roster, everybody is important,” said Willhite. “I will need to utilize all of the talent that I have on this team to be successful. They are a great group of young men and I am anxiously looking forward to the season.”
2013-2014 FLAMES ROSTER
5 Lim Chol Sophomore F 6’5 Nashville, TN
10 Carson Outlaw Freshmen G 6’1 Nashville, TN
14 Caleb Smith Sophomore G 5’10 Mt. Holly, NC
15 David Reeves Sophomore G 6’0 Owensboro, KY
21 Taylor Pruett Freshmen G 5’11 Greeneville, TN
22 Tim Hutchinson Senior F 6’1 Riverview, MI
23 Tanner Pruett Freshmen G 5’10 Greeneville, TN
31 Jeffery Carter Freshmen G 6’0 Nashville, TN
Head Coach: Nathan Willhite
Head – Assistant Coach: Darren Portell
Assistant Coach: George Dunlap and Kevin Murray
Athletic Trainer: Chris Snoddy
Statistician: Courtney Pennington, Jordan Loomis
by jowens | Nov 7, 2013
The Lady Flames are cautiously optimistic about the 2013-14 season. Once again they will be young with an entire squad of underclassmen. But, sophomores Jessie Melvin and Leslie Nichols should provide leadership for the team. Melvin, the team’s best athlete, and Nichols, the 6’1″ inside threat should provide the foundation for a successful season.
Also returning from last year’s Lady Flames are guards, Rachel Burns, Amy Pickett, and Emily Thrasher. All three are aggressive, defensive minded ladies who should be able to help prevent the opponents from scoring.
There will be a number of freshmen who will be expected to contribute among Ashton Johnson, Tabitha Frady, Lauren Strickland, and Dominique Grant. All are guards. From pre-season workouts, it appears that Johnson is the front runner to be an impact player for the Lady Flames.
“We have decent numbers,” said Flames’ head coach, Larry Bryan. “Our biggest concern right now is at the point guard position. We need someone to step up and take over leadership of the team on the floor.”
The Lady Flames open their season at home Friday, November 8th, hosting the Flames Classic. Game time is set for 6:00pm.
2013-2014 Lady FLAMES ROSTER
| No. |
Player |
Yr
|
P
|
Ht.
|
Hometown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
Ashton Johnson |
FR
|
G
|
5’7″
|
Ada, OK |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
Emily Thrasher |
SO
|
G
|
5’2″
|
Warren, MI |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14
|
Leslie Nichols |
SO
|
C
|
6’1″
|
Old Hickory, TN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
Tabitha Frady |
FR
|
G
|
5’6″
|
Pikeville, TN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
Dominique Grant |
FR
|
G
|
5’3″
|
Nashville, TN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24
|
Rachel Burns |
JR
|
F
|
5’8″
|
Springfield,OH |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32
|
Lauren Strickland |
FR
|
G
|
5’4″
|
Jacksonville, NC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34
|
Jessica Melvin |
SO
|
G/F
|
5’6″
|
Mt. Juliet, TN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
44
|
Amy Pickett |
SO |
G/F |
5’7″
|
Pocahontas, AR |
by jowens | Nov 2, 2013
Welch College 72
Trinity Baptist College 71
November 2, 2013. Testing the character of a team usually doesn’t happen as quickly as 24 hours, but that was the case Saturday as the Flames won a nail biter over Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida.
Welch went back and forth with the TBC throughout most of the game, but found themselves down 71-64 with three minutes remaining in the game. From there, the Flames employed a stifling defense that didn’t allow another Eagle basket while scoring the final eight points of the game to take the win.
Carson Outlaw had a huge game for the Flames, scoring 26 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Jeff Carter had his second double-digit game with 12 points and Tim Hutchinson added 11. Lim Chol just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
“We really showed poise down the stretch today,” said Coach Nathan Willhite. “Sometimes when you are young and struggle through a game like we did yesterday, it is hard to come back and play well the next game. But we did and I am really proud of them.
Now, 1-1, the Flames have their home opener on Friday at 8:00pm.
by jowens | Nov 1, 2013
Clearwater Christian College 96
Welch College 48
November 1, 2013. The Flames traveled to Clearwater, Florida, for their season opener and came up short, losing 96-48. The Cougars led from start to finish in the lopsided contest.
Leading the way for Welch College was David Reeves with 15 points. Jeff Carter chipped in with 10. Tim Hutchinson led the Flames with 12 rebounds.
“We knew we were going to take our lumps early in the season,” said Flames’ coach Nathan Willhite. “We will just continue to work hard and try not to get discouraged.
by jowens | Oct 16, 2013
Welch College Negotiating Sale of Campus to Aquinas
NASHVILLE, TN—Welch College and Aquinas College are in negotiations regarding the purchase and sale of the Welch campus located in the historic Richland-West End neighborhood in Nashville, according to Welch College president Matt Pinson. Both parties signed a non-binding letter of intent and are moving toward a contract which will await approval from the institutions’ boards of trustees. Both schools hope to close by February 2014.
While many details are yet undisclosed, the parties are negotiating a transitional agreement for shared use of campus facilities. Plans call for the acquisition and transition for Welch and Aquinas to take 18 months, including a year when both colleges will occupy portions of the Welch campus property while Welch builds the first phase of its new campus in Gallatin.
In June 2014, Aquinas will renovate and occupy four buildings on the current Welch campus. Welch will maintain occupancy of the remainder of the campus buildings until August 2015, when Aquinas will occupy the total campus.
The presidents of Aquinas and Welch met with representatives of the Richland-West End Neighborhood Association (RWENA) on Tuesday, October 15, to discuss the benefits of an Aquinas campus to the Richland-West End neighborhood.
Welch College President Matt Pinson said, “Welch College has enjoyed an excellent, mutually beneficial relationship with its neighbors. Maintaining this relationship with the neighborhood and staying within the zoning is of uppermost importance to both schools. Aquinas will definitely continue to be the good neighbor Welch has been.”
The proposed sale would allow Welch College to begin construction on a new campus at its 66-acre site in Gallatin, Tennessee.
Welch acquired the new campus site in the fall of 2008. The size and layout of the site allows for campus growth, permits building outdoor sports facilities for students, and provides adequate parking for students, staff, and guests. It is a short 26-minute drive from the college’s current location.
