Central Georgia Sports ReportOctober 23, 2019Comment

Wednesday's Daily News 'n Notes: 'Pay for play' bill coming to Ga.; Mercer Tennis Classic; Honor Roll; Fromm honored, & more

Central Georgia Sports ReportOctober 23, 2019Comment

Wednesday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.

Georgia joins the college sports ‘pay for play’ movement

It won’t affect them, but players no longer in college seem to back a proposal offered by State Rep. Billy Mitchell that’s similar to California’s “fair pay to play” bill.

Top seed cruises, defending champ out at Mercer Tennis Classic

The only lock in the 2019 Mercer Tennis Classic is that somebody new will be holding the singles trophy on Sunday.

Defending champion Varvar Lepchenko was leading veteran player Coco Vandeweghe 4-3 when Lepchenko had to retire because of an injury.

That lifted Vandeweghe into the second round.

Top seed Astra Sharma rolled past Alexandra Yepifanova of the U.S. 6-1, 6-0, and second seed Whitney Osuigwe knocked off Andrea Renee Villarreal 6-3, 6-1.

“A lot of respect for her as she has had some good results,” Sharma said in a release. “It was a tricky match in a lot of ways. It was a lot closer than the score.”

Former Georgia Tech player Irina Falconi hasn’t been on the court too much this year, but enjoyed Wednesday and a 6-2, 6-3 win over Valentini Grammatikopoulou.

Lepchenko was joined by Mandy Minella as top-8 seeds to lose, Minella falling 6-2, 6-1 to Guiliana Olmos.

Minella is part of the top seed in doubles with Johanna Larsson.

Wednesday’s singles results

Astra SHARMA (AUS) [1] Alexandra YEPIFANOVA (USA) 6-1 6-0

Grace MIN (USA) Sophia WHITTLE (USA) 7-5 6-3

Marina MELNIKOVA (RUS) Ellen PEREZ (AUS) 7-5 6-4

Stefanie VOEGELE (SUI) [3] Gabriela TALABA (ROU) 4-6 6-3 6-0

Coco VANDEWEGHE (USA) Varvara LEPCHENKO (USA) [4] 3-4 Ret.

Whitney OSUIGWE (USA) [2] Andrea Renee VILLARREAL (MEX) 6-3 6-1

Katerina STEWART (USA) Hanna CHANG (USA) 0-6 7-6(1) 6-2

Elysia BOLTON (USA) Alycia PARKS (USA) 7-5 6-1

Usue Maitane ARCONADA (USA) [5] Jaimee FOURLIS (AUS) 6-2 6-2

Caroline DOLEHIDE (USA) [7] Estela PEREZ-SOMARRIBA (ESP) 7-5 6-4

Giuliana OLMOS (MEX) Mandy MINELLA (LUX) [8] 6-1 6-2

Shelby ROGERS (USA) Gabriella PRICE (USA) 6-4 6-1

Irina FALCONI (USA) Valentini GRAMMATIKOPOULOU (GRE) 6-2 6-3

Danielle LAO (USA) Johanna LARSSON (SWE) 6-0 6-4

Ann LI (USA) [6] Anhzelika ISAEVA (RUS) 6-3 6-1

Sanaz MARAND (USA) Ingrid NEEL (USA) 6-3 6-3

Who did well?

Check out a new feature, the Tweets from area high school football teams with their honorees for the week. Coming Thursday in Latest Coverage.

Coming Thursday

The Sports Report’s predictions for the week, latest statewide polls, Maxwell Ratings updates, and tentatively a combo high school/college/Loughdmouthings column.

The Latest Coverage.

Honor Roll

Rutland grad Pyon of Mercer earns SoCon golfer of the week

Georgia College runners earn PBC academic honor

Around/About Central Georgia

GMC women seeded third in GCAA soccer tournament

Scoreboard

College

Soccer

W-Young Harris 3, Georgia College 0

Peach State college football Report

UGA: Fromm named to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team