In Thursday’s roundup, Kings Mountain-Shelby cross country, Cleveland CC baseball signee, Charlotte 49ers All-Academic honor and preseason polls for Belmont Abbey

By Richard Walker

Dillon Dankowski signs a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Cleveland Community College. Seated with Dillon (left to right) are his sister Molly, father Chris and mother Laurie. Standing (left to right) are CCC Head Coach Gene Bowles and Assistant Coach Chris Sherrill. Dillon is a senior at Denmark, :Ga., High School

Kings Mountain’s boys and Shelby’s girls took victories in a dual cross country meet between the longtime rivals at a muddy Kings Mountain course on a 45-degree Thursday.

In the boys meet, Kings Mountain’s Parker Key was the individual medalist and finished the course in 18:40.21. Teammates Marty Lovingood (4th), Kohen Johnson (5th), Hunter Cruise (6th) and Elliot Hebel (10th) also finished in the top 10.

Top 10 finishers for Shelby were Daniel Schweppe (2nd), Julian Zumbado (3rd), Eli Wilbanks (7th), Brady Stout (8th) and Conner Rackley (9th).

In the girls meet, Shelby’s Haley Olvera was the individual medalist in 21:48.01. Hattie Hensley (2nd), Raven Griffin (5th), Ansley Walker (7th), Carly Pasco (9th) and Allie Mauney (10th) joined her in the top 10.

Top 10 finishers for Kings Mountain were Divinity Ervin (3rd), Thalia Kushman (4th), Ashley Gural (6th) and Parker Wilson (8th).

College baseball
Cleveland Community College signed Dillon Dankowski of Denmark, Ga., High School to a national letter of intent.

College football
Charlotte 49ers redshirt senior defensive end Tyriq Harris has been named to the 11-player Conference USA All-Academic team for the third time of his career, the league announced on Thursday.

A three-time 49ers captain from Roanoke, Va., Harris graduated cum laude with a degree in biology with a 3.684 GPA. He’s also currently pursuing a second undergraduate degree in business and has a 3.87 GPA.

College men’s tennis
Belmont Abbey was a third-place preseason pick of Conference Carolinas coaches and seniors Bailey Horne and Kent Shiell and sophomore Nelson Stafford are considered players to watch.
Mount Olive is the preseason favorite.

College women’s tennis
Belmont Abbey was a fourth-place preseason pick of Carolinas Conference coaches and seniors Erica Dorn and Talia Semaan and sophomore Kayla Vaughan are considered players to watch. Vaughan was selected as 2020 Southeast rookie of the year.
Mount Olive is the preseason favorite.