A number of former Polk County athletes are participating in collegiate athletics this spring.
Here’s an update on how the spring 2025 season is faring for each. All statistics are through Saturday.
BASEBALL
Brevard College: Senior Jordan Searcy has appeared in 10 games for the Tornados, compiling a 4-6 record on the mound.
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Searcy has struck out 26 batters in 41 innings. His best appearance came in March against Pfeiffer, when he scattered five hits in six innings in earning the win.
Gardner-Webb: Senior outfielder Nick Capozzi has been a constant in the Bulldog lineup this season, making 34 starts.
Capozzi is hitting .207 with a home and 13 RBI. His 13 steals are second on the team.
Virginia-Wise: Micah Hill has filled a number of roles this spring for the Cavaliers.
The sophomore has made 12 starts, recording 47 official at-bats. He’s hitting .255 with a homer and 11 RBI. Hill’s best effort came earlier this season against Bluefield State, a 3-for-4 day that included his home run and three RBI.
On the mound, Hill has made four appearances as a reliever, recording a 1-0 record in three innings.
EQUESTRIAN
Emory & Henry: Senior Emma Gurley has enjoyed a successful spring for the Wasps.
Gurley helped Emory & Henry qualify for the International Horse Shows Association National Championships for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. In the intermediate competition, she placed second over fences and third on the flat.
At the Zone 4-Region 5 Finals in March, Gurley won the Limt Equitation on the Flat championship.
The IHSA National Championship will be held May 2-4 at Tryon International Equestrian Center.
GOLF
Mars Hill: Freshman Avery Harden has taken part in both of the Lions’ tournaments this spring.
That includes the recent Trailblazer Spring Invitational at Cherokee Valley Golf Club in Travelers Rest, where Harden fired an 82-79 to place 25th.
He and his Mars Hill teammates began play Sunday in the South Atlantic Championship at The Preserve at Verdae in Greenville.
Virginia-Wise: Reilly Yoder is also competing in the SAC tourney in Greenville and doing so off two solid efforts.
At the Cleveland State Invitational on March 31, Yoder fired a 1-over 70 to finish tied for seventh. That followed a 71-77 effort at the Brad Rose Knoxville Open, giving him a 16th-place showing.
Shot 1-over 70,took 7t
SOFTBALL
Gaston College: Freshman Chloe Young has appeared in 26 games in her debut season, hitting .238 in 21 at-bats.
Young has recorded a double and triple and has seven RBI.
TRACK AND FIELD
Belmont Abbey: Tori Thompson has had a busy spring for the Crusaders.
Thompson has competed in the 400-meter run, 800-meter run, 4×400-meter relay, 4×800-meter relay and the pole vault. As a vaulter, she took top honors April 4 at the Tornado Classic in Brevard, setting a personal record with a jump of 9-6 1/2. Thompson was also part of the winning 4×800 relay team.
Thompson set a personal record in the 400 at 1:02.03 at the Davidson Relays earlier in the spring. She has qualified for the Conference Carolinas Outdoor Championships as a pole vaulter.
Gardner-Webb: Freshman Cade Bright has also been busy, competing this spring in the 800-meter run, 1500-meter run and 3000-meter run.
Bright placed 25th at the Weems Baskin Invitationa in the 1500, posting a time of 4:33.71.
Lenoir-Rhyne: Olivia Overholt notched a third-place finish in the Southside Power & Fitness Invitational, hosted this past weekend at Lenoir-Rhyne.
Overholt posted a tme of 2:18.09 in the event. She also helped the 4×400-meter relay team take fifth in 4:13.12.
At the Mountaineer First Chance in March at Appalachian State, Overholt placed second in the 1500 meters with a time of 5:04.85 and also helped the 4×4 team win the event in 4:20.75.
Mars Hill: Lindsey Jenkins helped the Lions set a school record late in the indoor season in the distance medley. She’s had a good spring as well.
Jenkins placed fourth in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the recent Asheville Bulldog Invitational, covering the course in 12:32.67. She’s also run this spring in the 800 meters, 1500 meters and 4×800-meter relay.
