Louisville’s Byrd takes gold in heptathlon at ACC indoor championships

KJ Byrd just keeps making history.

The University of Louisville freshman did so again during the Atlantic Coast Conference indoor track and field championships hosted by the Cardinals last weekend, earning a gold medal in the men’s heptathlon by totaling a program-record 5,903 points. Byrd also became the first freshman in ACC history to win the men’s heptathlon title at the conference championship meet.

A Connelly Springs native who graduated from East Burke High School last spring after capturing 19 state track medals during his prep career — including 10 golds — Byrd finished fifth in the 60-meter dash (7.01), first in the long jump (23 feet, 6 inches), sixth in the shot put (40 feet, 8.25 inches), and first in the high jump (6 feet, 11.75 inches) on March 1 before coming in fifth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.18), first in the pole vault (16 feet, 8.75 inches), and ninth in the 1000-meter run (2:52.61) the following day. His marks in the 60-meter dash, high jump, shot put, and 60-meter hurdles were all personal bests.

Byrd also previously finished second in the heptathlon during a home meet that was held on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 before coming in fourth in the high jump during the Eastern Indoors on Feb. 7 at Louisville and 11th in the pole vault during the Don Kirby Elite Invitational Feb. 14-15 in Albuquerque, N.M.

The NCAA Division I indoor championships are scheduled for March 14-15 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Va., while the outdoor portion of the track season starts later in the month (no schedule was available on Louisville’s website).

Fraley at East Carolina

Also a freshman who graduated from East Burke in 2024, Avery Fraley helped the Pirates finish second in the men’s distance medley relay during the Gamecock Challenge hosted by the University of South Carolina at the beginning of February, teaming with Nick Willer, Cooper Kleckner, and Zach Willer to post a time of 10:23.26.

Fraley then finished 11th in the pole vault and 18th in the shot put during the NCAA D-I Indoor Pre-Nationals Feb. 14-15 in Virginia Beach, Va., before taking third in the heptathlon with 5,150 points — breaking his own program record — during the American Athletic Conference indoor championships Feb. 28 and March 1 in Birmingham, Ala. Fraley started the heptathlon with a seventh-place finish in the 60-meter dash (7.22) before coming in 10th in the long jump (20 feet, 9.75 inches), fourth in the shot put (40 feet, 7.75 inches), third in the high jump (6 feet, 3.5 inches), first in the 60-meter hurdles (8.16), fourth in the pole vault (13 feet, 9.25 inches), and sixth in the 1000-meter run (2:55.73).

For his efforts at the conference championship meet, Fraley was named to the All-AAC team for the indoor track season, which concludes with the NCAA indoor championships March 14-15 before the outdoor track season for East Carolina begins with a home meet March 28-29.

Clay at Catawba

Following a stellar cross country season in the fall — during which she became the first runner, regardless of gender, in NCAA D-II South Atlantic Conference history to claim individual conference titles three years in a row — junior Madison Clay (Patton 2022) had a noteworthy indoor track season as well.

After finishing third in the women’s 3000 meters with a time of 10:09.55 on Jan. 26 at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, Clay posted a first-place time of 17:56.96 in the 5000 meters at the same track on Feb. 8 and another first-place time of 17:22.83 in the 5000 meters during the D-I Indoor Pre-Nationals in mid-February before coming in 18th in the 3000 meters during the SAC indoor championships March 1-2 at JDL Fast Track.

Following the NCAA D-II indoor championships March 13-15 in Indianapolis, the outdoor season for Catawba begins with a trip to Charlotte for the 49er Classic March 21-22.

Deacon at Davidson

Sophomore Katie Deacon (Freedom 2023) posted several top-10 finishes during a pair of late-season indoor track meets, including a 10th-place finish in the women’s 800 meters during the NCAA D-I Indoor Pre-Nationals and another 10th-place finish in the distance medley relay alongside teammates Elise Boyse, Chris-Ann Nelson, and Molly Sullivan during the D-I Atlantic 10 Conference championships Feb. 28 and March 1, also in Virginia Beach, Va.

Deacon also teamed with Amelia Monohan, Isabella Darce, and Bella Godoy to post a seventh–place time of 9:19.75 in the 4x800-meter relay at the conference championship meet.

Next up for the Wildcats is their first outdoor track meet of 2025, which will be the 49er Classic March 21-22.

BASEBALL

Logan, Jensen at L-R

Lenoir-Rhyne was 15-3 overall and 4-2 in NCAA D-II South Atlantic Conference play entering this weekend’s three-game home series against Newberry, which started on Friday and continues with a doubleheader today (Saturday, March 8) beginning at 1 p.m.

Outfielder Michael Logan (Freedom 2019), who previously played at both Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute as well as North Carolina A&T, is one of four players to start every game this season for the Bears, and thus far the graduate student is batting .333 (fourth on team) with 22 hits (T-fourth) including five doubles (fourth), three home runs (T-third), and two triples (T-second). In addition, the Morganton native has 17 RBIs (fourth), 17 runs scored (T-fourth), 40 total bases (third), and four stolen bases (third).

Also on L-R’s roster is redshirt freshman outfielder Trey Jensen (Draughn 2023), who has two hits — a double and a single — in four at-bats across four games. Jensen has one RBI and two runs scored as well.

Mozeley, McGee at CVCC

After transferring from UNC Greensboro, Mason Mozeley (Freedom 2022) is now a redshirt sophomore at Catawba Valley Community College (13-10, 6-2 National Junior College Athletic Association Region 10 D-II West) who is listed as a catcher and corner infielder on the Red Hawks’ roster.

The only Red Hawk to play in every game this spring, Mozeley is currently batting .261 with 18 hits (fourth on team) including six homers (first), two doubles, and one triple. He also has 26 RBIs to lead all CVCC players and his 12 runs scored are tied for fourth on the squad, while his 40 total bases rank first and his 13 walks are tied for first.

Although he hasn’t appeared in any contests, Logan McGee (Draughn 2024) is also listed on the roster for CVCC, which hosted Caldwell Tech on Friday before visiting the Cobras today at 4 p.m. and facing them again on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Cherryville High School.

SOFTBALL

Crouch at Southern Wesleyan

Maddie Crouch (Draughn 2024) is off to a flying start as a freshman shortstop for the Warriors (11-3), as she entered Wednesday’s home doubleheader against Georgia College leading the team in batting average (.500), hits (21), runs scored (20), and stolen bases (eight).

Crouch, who has played in all 14 games (13 starts), is also tied for the team lead in walks (eight) and triples (one), and she ranks third in total bases (31) as well. Furthermore, she has recorded two homers, two doubles, and five RBIs.

Winkler at Brevard

Junior first baseman Regan Winkler (Draughn 2022) is one of four players to start every game this year for the Tornados (2-2), who were scheduled to host a doubleheader against Covenant College on Friday.

Winkler is presently batting .462 with six hits including a double, three RBIs, and a run scored. In addition, she has been a part of three double plays on defense.

Powell at Caldwell Tech

Sophomore infielder Maddison Powell (Draughn 2023) has appeared in 17 games for the Cobras (10-8), who were looking to extend a five-game winning streak during Thursday’s home doubleheader against Florence-Darlington Technical College.

Thus far, Powell is batting .250 with nine hits including a double, three RBIs, nine runs scored, five walks, and a stolen base.

Hamm at Lees-McRae

Katie Hamm (Draughn 2024) has made three relief appearances as a freshman pitcher for the Bobcats (4-14), who have a 9 a.m. doubleheader scheduled for today against West Virginia State in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

A right-hander who was Burke County’s pitcher of the year as well as an All-Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference selection last spring, Hamm has struck out four, walked three, and hit a batter in 4 2/3 innings while allowing seven earned runs.

Cozort at L-R

Listed as a sophomore outfielder on Lenoir-Rhyne’s roster, Katie Cozort (Draughn 2023) has played in six games (one start) for the Bears (12-10, 1-1 NCAA D-II SAC) this spring, reaching base via both a walk and a hit-by-pitch.

L-R hosts a doubleheader against Catawba today at 2 p.m.