Student-athletes receive help from friends and rivals

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Tusculum University athletic department and its fall sports teams have found assistance from not only the alumni, friends and neighbors, but from two of its long-time in-state rivals.

 

Due to the depletion of the water supply in Greeneville and Greene County caused by last Friday's strike of Hurricane Helene, Tusculum's fall sports teams have relocated outside the affected area thanks to the kindness and generosity of two rival institutions as well as two former TU coaches.

 

FOOTBALL: The Pioneers received an invitation from arch-rival Carson-Newman University to have the team and members of the staff stay on the Jefferson City campus, utilizing extra residence hall space as well as its dining facilities. The team is conducting its practices and training at nearby Jefferson County High School thanks to Patriots' head coach Spencer Riley, who served as TU's offensive line coach for seven seasons.

 

WOMEN'S SOCCER: The women's soccer team has relocated to Baneberry in nearby Hamblen County with former head coach Mike Joy and his family and friends serving as host. Several of the student-athletes where recruited by Coach Joy and are guests of his family as well as others in the Baneberry Community. The Pioneers are practicing and training at Lakeway Christian Academy in White Pine.

 

MEN'S SOCCER: The Pioneers received an invitation from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate where the Pioneers are utilizing extra space in their residence halls while utilizing access to their dining facilities and will be training on the LMU campus.

 

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: First-year head coach Hannah Barrett utilized some personal ties and host families in the Knoxville area where members of the Pioneer team are staying. The team continues training and practicing at the University of Tennessee as well as the K2 Volleyball Training Center in Louisville, Tennessee.

 

CROSS COUNTRY: Members of the cross country team are staying with host families outside the affected area and continues running and training with head coach Alaric Gwynn.

 

"We are so appreciative of all the individuals and institutions who have reached to our student-athletes and coaches with open arms," said Josh Ealy, Tusculum Vice President for Athletics. "I'm very appreciative of the administrations at Carson-Newman and Lincoln Memorial for reaching out and taking our student-athletes in. What a tremendous gesture by some remarkable people."

 

"Special thanks to former coaches Mike Joy and Spencer Riley for going the extra mile in making our student-athletes welcome in their respective communities," added Ealy.

 

The remainder of our student-athletes either went home or found accommodations outside the affected area. Teams will resume athletic activities when regular water service returns to campus.

 

"I would like to thank our coaches, athletic trainers and leadership team for helping navigate the housing situation of our student-athletes," Ealy said. "This has been a tremendous undertaking which came together very quickly due to the hard work of so many people.

 

The athletic department is also very thankful to the local churches and community groups who have provided water, supplies and other essential services four our students during this crisis.

 

Tusculum University continues to send its thoughts and prayers to all those affected by Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. We are all in this together.

 

Women's Soccer: Tusculum at Lincoln Memorial*, 5 p.m., Harrogate, Tenn.

Women's Volleyball: Tusculum at Lincoln Memorial*, 7 p.m., Harrogate, Tenn.

Men's Soccer: Tusculum at Lincoln Memorial*, 7:30 p.m., Harrogate, Tenn.

 

Women's Volleyball: Tusculum at Anderson*, 1 p.m., Anderson, S.C.