A pair of local Mountain East Conference football players recently received preseason recognition in national publications.
University of Charleston punter Brett Benes was named to the preseason all-Division II team by Sporting News and to the all-Division II second team by Lindy's Magazine. He was joined on the Lindy's second team by West Virginia State linebacker Dennis Gardeck.
Benes was named to the 2015 Associated Press Little All-America second team and AFCA All-America team last season after finishing third nationally with 43.7 yards per punt. Gardeck finished with 93 tackles, 22 for a loss and 11 sacks.
2015 MEC champion Shepherd, which finished as national runner-up, was ranked second in Lindy's preseason poll and fifth in Sporting News' preseason poll.
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SENIOR GOLF: Scott Bodden of Charleston had the low round of the day with a 2-under-par 70 in the Senior Division in the West virginia Senior Series event Wednesday at the Brier Patch Golf Links. Ed McCall shot a 76 to lead the Silver Division and Roger Keaton took his second gross win in the Gold Division with a 73.
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JUNIOR GOLF: Zach Chapman and Whitney Milhoan won the low rounds of the day in the Callaway Junior Tour event Wednesday at The Resort at Glade Spring' Cobb Course. Tanner Walls took home the title in the boys 12-and-under division and Noah Hancock was the boys 13-14 champion.
Joseph Kalaskey defeated Ryan Butcher in a playoff to claim the the boys 15-16 crown and Mary Denny was the girls 10-14 champ.
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GOLF TOURNAMENT: The Foundation for Thomas Health Systems is hosting its 22nd annual golf tournament Monday at Berry Hills Country Club with a double shotgun format with 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. starts.
The hole-in-one prize on hole number 18 is sponsored by Smith Company Motor Cars ,with $35,895 toward the purchase of a 2017 Jaguar XE. For more information, call 304-766-5610.
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LOCAL TRACK AND FIELD: The 26th annual Capital City Striders Invitational will be held June 10 beginning at 4:30 p.m. and June 11 at 8 a.m. at University of Charleston Stadium.
The West Virginia District AAU Championship will follow on June 12 at 1 p.m.
For more information, call Paul Gilmer at 304-389-1982.