UTC Tight End Bailey Lenoir (81)
photo by UTC Sports Information
Lenoir Brothers Jackson (left) and Bailey
photo by Patrick Lenoir
Milligan Senior Co-Captain Jackson Lenoir works on his backhand in a recent practice
photo by Milligan College Sports Information
"To be able to play our final conference tennis tournament in my hometown this weekend and at The Champions Club Is pretty special, since I won my first tennis tournament the Champions Club when I was nine or 10-years-old.”
Jackson Lenoir, senior co-captain for Milligan Colllege who plays SCAD today at 10 a.m.
It’s a big day, today, for the Lenoir family as older brother Jackson, 22, plays in a single elimination conference team tennis tournament this morning at The Champions Club, while brother Bailey, 20, will participate in the second UTC football scrimmage this afternoon at Finley Stadium.
“These four years at Milligan College have gone by fast as it seems just yesterday I was a senior playing tennis for CSAS,” said Jackson who is a senior co-captain for the Buffalos and FCA president after being a two-time state high school singles runner-up for coach Jerry Pate at CSAS as a junior and senior.
Conference Tennis Tournament at The Champions Club – Appalachian Athletic Conference
(men’s and women’s tournaments are Friday-Sunday …. The No.3 seeded Milligan women play this afternoon at 1:30.)
10 a.m. – Men’s Quarterfinals - No.3 SCAD (Atlanta) vs. No. 6 Milligan
Lenoir and his Milligan College teammates take on SCAD, a team the Buffs defeated this past Monday, 7-2, on senior day. Lenoir helped the Buffs to victory four days ago with a doubles win and singles victory at No.2
“To be able to play in this tournament in my hometown of Chattanooga and at The Champions Club is great since I first started taking tennis lessons and playing tournaments at the club when I was nine or 10,” Lenoir stated.
“SCAD is a tough team, but we are ready to play and hopefully gain another victory and advance to the semifinals Saturday.
A win by the Buffs would advance Milligan to Saturday’s semis against the Tenn. Wesleyan-Montreat winner. The finals are Sunday.
While Jackson’s college tennis career is coming to a close, a college football career for Bailey is just starting.
He and Malcolm Colvin are battling for the Mocs starting tight end spot and both should see playing time today in the second spring scrimmage at 3:30 p.m. at Finley Stadium. The Blue-Gold Spring Game is Sat. April 23 at 2 p.m. at Finley Stadium.
“I feel my best asset as a tight end is catching the football, while I have also been working hard on my ability to be a good blocker,” said Lenoir, a former all-region tight end at East Hamilton HS, who had a touchdown catch in last week’s first scrimmage.
Mental Toughness: Both brothers point to mental toughness as one big difference going from high school sports to college.
“I have to be physically and mentally ready for each tennis match as all my opponents are talented and having that mental edge is so crucial in winning or losing a match,” stated Jackson who has done well in the classroom earning a 3.8 grade point average last fall in business courses.
Bailey (6-4, 240) said, “I redshirted this past fall and I have had to learn so much this spring. The college game is played at a much faster pace (than high school) and the mental aspect of being prepared for every play is a key in earning a starting spot on the team.”
All Sports Family: There is plenty of athletic talent in the Lenoir household as younger sister, Emma, is a four-time all-state volleyball player for East Hamilton HS and will play volleyball for Christian Brothers Univ. (Memphis in the fall) … dad, Patrick, played offensive line for Tennessee while mom, Kristy, was an All-SEC volleyball player for UT.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net