Strudwick signs five during fall signing period
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman women’s golf coach Suzanne Strudwick announced the signing of five student-athletes on Monday as Allie Fletcher, Mason Jewell, Reagan Kinnie, Katie Medley and Rachel Watts will all join the Eagles’ program during the fall of 2016.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman women's golf coach Suzanne Strudwick announced the signing of five student-athletes on Monday as Allie Fletcher, Mason Jewell, Reagan Kinnie, Katie Medley and Rachel Watts will all join the Eagles' program during the fall of 2016.
"I think just really good talent and talent we can work with and really develop as the years go by," Strudwick said about what she targeted with the signing class. "I want girls that are really passionate about golf and really want to be a part of a team for their college experience and develop their game as outstanding players. I believe that's the history that we have at Carson-Newman is developing talent and I believe we have that."
Allie Fletcher (Cumming, Ga.): Fletcher, the daughter of Jeffrey and Alan Fletcher, will join the program after graduating from West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga. She is a two-time All-Region team member and qualified for the Georgia sectional and state tournament as a senior with the Wolverines. Fletcher was coached by David May. Academically, Fletcher is a member of the National Honors Society and Beta Club at West Forsyth. Fletcher was born on June 15th, 1998 and will study Business at C-N.`
Strudwick on Fletcher: "Allie was really highly recruited in our region and in our area. I'm excited she chose Carson-Newman. She comes from strong academics. She also comes from a very athletic family; both of her siblings play college sports and her mother played professional women's golf. She's a very high caliber, all-around player. I expect her to perform straight away, similar to Reagan (Kinnie), to threaten for a place on the team. I'm excited we were able to get her and she fell in love with Carson-Newman and the team."
Mason Jewell (Athens, Tenn.) @masonjewell9: Jewell, the daughter of Todd and Buffy Jewell, signs with Carson-Newman after spending the last four seasons with the McMinn County Cherokees. With the Cherokees, she was the team captain and finished as a runner-up in the District 5-AAA. Jewell also served on the McMinn County Student Council. She was coached by Jerry Quirk. Jewell will study Accounting at C-N. Her father, Todd, played collegiate golf at Austin Peay.
Strudwick on Jewell: "Mason is another local girl that I think will need time to develop her skills and take a couple of years. Once again, she has strong academics and loves to be a part of the team. She doesn't have that much tournament experience. I'm just excited we can still capture these local girls that want to be here and want to be a part of a team. We want them here. It's going to be fun. She's going to enjoy her college experience here being a part of the Carson-Newman women's golf team."
Reagan Kinnie (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) @ratchet_reagan: Kinnie, the daughter of Tom and Patty Kinnie, signed with Carson-Newman after graduating from Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn. As a Warrior, Kinnie qualified for the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association State Championship all four years where she finished tied for 13th during her senior season as an individual. She is a four-time first team All-Area selection, three-time Daily News Journal Team MVP and two-time DNJ Female Golfer of the Year. Kinnie was a two-time District 7-AAA Champion and a two-time Region 4-AAA Runner-Up. She won the Stones River Invitational twice and the 2015 Murfreesboro Invitational. She finished her senior season with a 76.7 stroke average and 24 career top-10 finishes. Her coach at Riverdale was Ernie Rivas. Kinnie was also a diver and gymnast.
Academically, Kinnie was a member of the National Honors Society, Beta Club, the Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society and named the Outstanding Latin III Student Award. She received the United States Junior Golf Tour Excellence in Play and Academics Award. Kinnie was born on Oct. 30th, 1997 and will be a Health Pre-Professional major at Carson-Newman.
Strudwick on Kinnie: "Reagan is a strong player. She has some really good results in the regional tournament history. She's shot some low scores. She will do very well starting out. I see her as another Elizabeth (England) or Taylor (Hayes), that caliber player that will come in straight away."
Katie Medley (Cleveland, Tenn.) @katie_medley_98: Medley, the daughter of Keith and Amy Medley, comes to Carson-Newman from Walker Valley High School in Cleveland, Tenn. With the Mustangs, Medley won the District 5-AAA title every season and placed second in Region 3-AAA all four seasons. As a senior, she was the top-medalist at the Region 3-AAA Championship. Medley was coached by Bob Williams at Walker Valley. Academically, she is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Anchor Club and Alpha Beta Gamma, which is an international business honor society. Medley was born on April 22nd, 1998 and plans to study Chemistry at Mossy Creek.
Strudwick on Medley: "Katie is someone I've known for a year and a half; I've been working with her specifically on an individual basis so I know the talent she brings in. A tremendous academic prospect for the school as well. She's just somebody that is dedicated to the game and improving her skills and wanting that team experience in college. I'm really pleased. She comes from a great family; I'm excited for Katie."
Rachel Watts (Newport, Tenn.) @rachiee__w: Watts, the daughter of Ricky and Carol Watts, joins the Carson-Newman family after graduating from nearby Cocke County High School. She recorded two top-five finishes in the Inter-Mountain Athletic Conference Championship and two top-10 finishes in the District 2 Class-AAA and Region 2 Class-AAA Championships. Watt is a two-time member off the All-Conference team. During her high school playing career, the Fighting Cocks won the IMAC and District 2 championships and Cocke County finished as runners-up at the Region 2 Championship. The Cocks went 17-1 during her junior campaign and went undefeated during her senior season. Watts also swam at Cocke County. Her coach at Cocke County was Boddie Bible. Academically, Watts is a member of the National Honors Society and Beta Club and is an AP National Scholar, AP Human Geography Award winner and named Student of the Week as a junior and senior. Her cousin, Whitney Cogburn, plays volleyball at East Tennessee State University. Watts was born on May 1st, 1998 and is undecided on a major.
Strudwick on Watts: "Rachel is a local girl from Newport. She grew up in this area and it is always fun to recruit local girls because they will bring in that local following. She doesn't have as much tournament experience as I would like, so next summer, I'm asking her to go play in a few more events. She will be one that we definitely be developing her skills as she is here. I fully expect her to be a valuable member of the team in the years to come."
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