Tyler wins synchro title at Winter Nationals

Dec. 29—MOULTRIE — Carson Tyler and Joshua Hedberg teamed up to win the 10-meter synchro title at the USA Diving Winter National Championships held recently in Knoxville, Tenn.

It was the first time the two has competed together and they had been practicing together just three months.

The win qualifies Tyler and Hedberg for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships to be held in February in Doha, Qatar.

Tyler, the former Colquitt County and Moss Farms diver who is now a junior at Indiana University, also placed third on platform in Knoxville.

He is the reigning NCAA platform champion.

Moss Farms Diving's ElliReese Niday, who is 11, competed in the senior women's 1-meter and 3-meter events at Winter Nationals.

Of this and that:

—After spending his freshman season at Tennessee, former Colquitt County safety Jack Luttrell entered the NCAA transfer portal and is heading west to play at the University of Arizona of the Pac-12.

The Wildcats finished the 2023 season with a 10-3 record after defeating No. 12 Oklahoma 38-24 in Thursday's Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

The former Packer got some playing time for Tennessee in 2023, but still kept his red-shirt.

Luttrell, son of Packers assistant coach Stan Luttrell, played just his senior season at Colquitt before signing with Tennessee and leaving high school early to join the Volunteers for spring practice.

—Former Packer and three-time All-American Ty French, who played the last four seasons at Gardner-Webb, has transferred to West Virginia.

French will have one year of eligibility remaining.

The outstanding pass-rushing defensive end had 239 tackles, 61 tackles for loss, 34.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception in his career at Gardner-Webb.

Last season, he was named to the All-Big South first team and led the conference in sacks.

—Among those who signed National Letters of Intent with Auburn on Dec. 20 was five-star long snapper J.R. Buckner of Auburn High School.

Buckner is the son of former Colquitt countians Bo and Anna Funderburk Buckner.

Anna, an outstanding tennis player at Colquitt County High and at Brigham Young and Auburn, is a member of the Colquitt County Sports Hall of Fame.

J.R. is ranked as the No. 5 snapper in the country. He recently competed for the Alabama team in the 37th annual Mississippi/Alabama All-Star game in Harrisburg, Miss.

He was 8-for-8 on his snaps in Alabama's 27-16 victory.

—Defensive back Omar Daniels was credited with a tackle in Georgia Tech's 30-17 victory over Central Florida in the Dec. 22 Gasparilla Bowl played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Georgia Tech finished the season 7-6 and was 5-3 in the ACC.

—Lemeke Brockington had two kickoff returns, including one that went for 51 yards, in Minnesota's 30-24 win over Bowling Green in the Dec. 26 Quick Lane Bowl played at Ford Field in Detroit.

Brockington is a sophomore wide receiver for the Golden Gophers.

—Freshman Carliss Johnson is averaging 9.7 points in 10 games, including six starts, for the St. Petersburg College women's basketball team.

The Lady Titans are off to a 2-8 start.

—Austin Paradice is 3-2 with two pins while wrestling at 157 pounds at UT-Chattanooga.

The former Colquitt County High two-time state champion is a red-shirt freshman.

He was 5-3 in two tournaments last season, but maintained his red-shirt status.

Paradice went 198-27 in his high school career and was a three-time NHSCA All-American and both a Fargo Junior Nationals and U.S. Open All-American.

—Ethan Sellers is contributing to the 11-0 and No. 2-ranked Life University wrestling team.

In a recent win over Brewton-Parker, the red-shirt freshman got a first-round 15-0 technical fall win.

The Eagles will compete next in the National Duals, which will be held Jan. 5-6 in Des Moines, Iowa.

—Jesus Grijalva is wrestling at 174 pounds for Brewton-Parker.

The Barons will compete next on Jan. 10 when they play host to Emmanuel University.

—Chase Blanton competed in several fall tournaments for the Georgia College and State University men's golf team.

The Bobcats will compete next on Feb. 5 in the Matlock Collegiate Classic in Lakeland, Fla.