Athletics

Student-athletes to enjoy enhanced safety, maximum performance

Through a generous gift by an anonymous donor, the Lipscomb Academy football field has been replaced with artificial turf by FieldTurf® . By using turf, the academy will conserve financial resources by eliminating the need to re-sod, mow, water and line the field and will positively impact the environment as there is no need to treat the turf with pesticides or herbicides .

FieldTurf® has a much higher success rate helping with injury prevention over natural grass . On average, football concussion injuries are reduced by 44 percent and ACL injuries by 43 percent . Furthermore, a heavyweight infill was selected, thereby, leading to lower incidence of total injuries and severe injuries .

FieldTurf® is certified by the International Organization for Standardization and by Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series . This brand is the only turf to receive third-party testing for player safety on its fields .

The addition of new equipment in the football performance center adds sixteen stations of state-of-the-art Sorinex equipment; Swiss Swing, used to reintroduce an injured player back to the field; Power Plate; and two Keiser functional trainers that allow for training rotary movement and power .

With the renovation of both weight rooms, including the weight room located under the upper school auxiliary gym, enhanced performance centers are now accessible for the entire student body through fitness classes . These renovations have expedited our ability to install methodologies based around teaching movement, core strength and proper lifting techniques . Sixteen racks, numerous dumbbell and kettlebell racks and increased space also give the athletics program the necessary tools to teach effectively and efficiently .

Saying goodbye to longtime coach and friend

Deeply saddened by the loss of Coach Lynn Griffith on June 13, 2020, Lipscomb Academy is forever grateful for the legacy he leaves behind . Coach Griffith, a veteran icon on Lipscomb University’s tennis courts, began coaching at the academy in 2010 . He coached both girls’ and boys’ middle school and high school tennis and high school swimming . In 2016, he coached the boys’ tennis team to an undefeated season (20-0) and a TSSAA State Championship, the first team state championship for that program in more than four decades .

Coach Griffith's son Samuel was a member of the class of 2020 .

Coach Griffith loved coaching at the middle and high school levels after coaching at the collegiate level for many years . He was known for reminding his players to: “Just take it one point at a time .” When academy alumnus Nathan Pugh, a studentathlete on the boys’ tennis team during Coach Griffith’s inaugural year to coach at the academy, was asked what he remembers about Coach Griffith, his reply was instant: “Coach taught us tennis at the foot of the cross . He led us to Jesus first and then to victory on the tennis court . He taught us many, many things that we’ll carry with us forever: loving Jesus, serving others and the game of tennis . In that order . ”

Strong year of new initiatives

The athletics department introduced several new programs this past academic year benefiting both student-athletes and coaches . Inside Out Initiative: Joe Ehrmann and Jody Redman presented to coaches, faculty and staff about the benefits of transformational coaching; academy served as a state facilitator for the initiative and is in the process of becoming an Inside Out School Eventlink Scheduling software: provides the academy the ability to house all practices, games and venue schedules in one location accessible in real-time to families, coaches and student-athletes; allows for academic, school and fine arts events to be on the same calendar

Healthy Roster: enhances the communication between trainer, parents and coach on the well-being of student-athletes; tracks data for injuries, referrals and outcomes; serves as a COVID-19 symptom screening platform Arbiter Pay: provides the ability to pay athletic officials electronically for all events Hudl/Hudl Focus: provides video review and performance analysis within 12 hours of game completion; academy purchased and installed cameras in football/ basketball venues with live-streaming capabilities Donuts and Devos: spiritual formation for student-athletes and coaches twice monthly Coaches Connection: head coaches’ meeting every six weeks to discuss Inside Out Initiative, leadership growth and other relevant topics

School Champions

State Bowler

Freshman Jenna Hedgepath won the 2020 individual TSSAA state bowling title and was named 2020 Tennessee Miss Bowling of the Year . She was selected to the All-Midstate bowling team by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association . In June, Hedgepath was named the 2020 Tennessean Girls’ Bowler of the Year .

Girls’ Bowling Lipscomb Academy won its first bowling team title when the girls' bowling team became the TSSAA Division II State Champions by defeating Friendship Christian in early 2020 . Casey Mobley, Jenna Hedgepath and Maddie Yates all qualified for the TSSAA state individual tournament . The boys’ bowling team also qualified for the TSSAA state tournament, and Samuel Griffith qualified for the boys’ TSSAA individual state tournament as well . Additionally, Coach Diana Benson was named All Midstate Girls' Bowling Coach of the Year .

Girls’ Middle School Basketball Congratulations to Coach Emily High and our girls’ middle school basketball team for winning the HVAC Championship over Ensworth and finishing the season with a record of 20-2 . For the last three years, the team has finished first in the regular season and won the HVAC tournament two of those years .

Indoor Track and Field Legend

Mikele Vickers was named 2020 indoor state champion for both the long jump (18’ 8 .5”) and triple jump (37’ 0”) . Vickers, a track and field student-athlete since the age of eight, has amassed many titles in her career . She has held the Amateur Athletic Union national long jump title for 10-year-old girls since 2012 and won a total of 13 AAU national medals, including two gold medals . As a high school student-athlete, Vickers has earned five outdoor and four indoor state titles . Currently, she holds the Lipscomb Academy school record in long jump, triple jump, 100M, 200M, 4x100M relay and 4x200M relay . This is her second state title in the long jump event . She amassed many titles all while having to miss her senior season due to the cancellation of spring sports by COVID-19 .

This summer, a new record board was purchased and installed at the McCadams Athletic Center. This board recognizes and highlights the accomplishments of Lipscomb Academy’s track and field and cross country student-athletes.

2020 McCadams Athletes of the Year

Congratulations to the 2020 McCadams Athletes of the Year . Seniors Mikele Vickers and Mason Long, in addition to dedicating countless hours to their respective sports, showed grit, determination and character, leaving a tremendous legacy behind for other Lipscomb Academy athletes .

As a member of both the volleyball and indoor and outdoor track teams, Vickers became one of the academy’s most decorated athletes in school history . During her three years as part of the track team, she won nine state championships and six school records .

Long, a multi-talented athlete, competed in soccer, bowling and football . He showed genuine leadership on all three teams and is the ultimate team player .

Mustangs launch inaugural concert series in 2019

As part of Coach Trent Dilfer’s vision for Mustang football, Lipscomb Academy partnered with Lipscomb University to launch a new concert series coinciding with home football games . The inaugural event boasted a record number turnout of approximately 2,500 fans in attendance to hear headliner singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow .

The event was fashioned as a welcoming community festival for the general public . Week two brought another record crowd with fans enjoying a concert from The Voice contestant Ele Ivory . For Homecoming, singer/songwriter Jerrod Niemann entertained the crowd from the Stampede stage, and Lipscomb Academy’s own Chaffin Brothers captivated fans with their talent to close out the concert series at the end of regulation season .

2020 Signed Athletes

Shaun Allen | Football Bethel University

Jake Bowman | Football Western Kentucky University Mikele Vickers | Track University of TennesseeKnoxville Hannah Blackburn | Volleyball Union University Jack O’Dowd | Baseball Vanderbilt University Mimi Herring | Soccer Harding University Maggie Keenan | Volleyball Austin Peay University

Houston High | Baseball Union University Koby Roy | Football Bethel University Kyle McNamara | Football University of Michigan Nicholas Paschall | Football Cornell University Cole McDowell | Football Murray State University

Clay Campbell | Football Wheaton College Tyler Chitty | Soccer Harding University

Matthew George | Football Tusculum University

Samuel Griffith | Soccer Freed-Hardeman University Hank Hutcheson | Basketball Trevecca Nazarene University

Winning the day with transformational coaching

Since much of student-athletes’ time outside of academics is spent with their coaches, there is no doubt coaches play a significant role in their lives . Lipscomb Academy seeks to help student-athletes win in all areas of their lives by offering transformational coaching that moves beyond the respective fields of play and penetrates into the lives of student-athletes . Commencing with coaches who know and articulate “why” they coach, Lipscomb then equips its coaches to create an environment not singularly-focused on winning seasons, but instead centered on our allencompassing higher purpose . As part of the academy’s intentional investment in student-athletes through transformational coaching, five coaches were appointed to reinvigorate the soccer, golf, basketball, and softball programs during the 201920 academic year .

Ryan Bouch

Director and Head Boys’ and Girls’ Coach of Soccer

With the vision to establish a comprehensive soccer program for both middle and high school, Lipscomb created the new position of director of soccer and appointed Ryan Bouch, former British semi-professional soccer player and coach, as the first director . Previously, Bouch led the varsity boys’ soccer team as head coach during the 2018-19 academic year .

As director, he has implemented a skills development program for all ages and both boys and girls, thus providing middle school student-athletes with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of soccer . In addition to coaching, Bouch has also focused on creating a comprehensive spiritual formation program for soccer student-athletes . As their coach, he invests in their lives so as to understand them as individuals first .

Bouch coached ages 13 and under and 16 and under on soccer teams in the United Kingdom . As a player, he played in the Cambridge City youth soccer system followed by semi-professional stints for New Market Town and Bishop Stortford Football Clubs, as well as for Debden and Sewards End’s men’s Cambridgeshire league .

Ben Pellicani

Director and Head Coach of Golf

PGA pro Ben Pellicani was appointed head coach and director of golf . With a holistic approach to coaching that includes strength and conditioning and nutrition, Pellicani has a deep appreciation for the spiritual aspect of what Lipscomb Academy aims to accomplish with transformational coaching . While serving on the coaching staff at Lipscomb University for five years, he helped the program reach new milestones as the Bisons qualified for the NCAA DI postseason twice, once reaching the national championship . As an instructor, he has been recognized by Golf Digest as a “Best in State” and “Best Young Teacher in America” golf instructor (2017, 2018 and 2019) . Pellicani was also named Tennessee PGA Section, Middle Tennessee Chapter Teacher of the Year . Pellicani served for three years as the director and head coach of the Mike Bender Elite Golf Academy . While at MBEGA, his students claimed over 30 junior titles . He also worked with two students who have been ranked No . 1 in the nation .

Becky Starks

Head Girls’ Basketball Coach

A 19-year-basketball coaching veteran who has professionally coached at the University of Mississippi, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Harding Academy, Grace Christian Academy and the Hutchison School, Becky Starks stepped into the role of head girls’ basketball coach during spring 2020 . Starks is an all-time three-point leader at the NCAA Division I University of Mississippi . At Harding, she was instrumental in creating a strength and conditioning program for female student-athletes . Under her tutelage as head basketball coach, Harding won the TSSAA Division II Class A state championship (2010) and eight district championships . Additionally, she coached the Tennessee Celtics in the AAU Junior Olympic Games (2002-04) and coached with the Tennessee Tigers AAU organization for 10 years . With her leadership, enthusiasm for program development and heart for God, her expertise will invigorate the girls’ basketball program and strengthen the faith of her players . Josh Story

Head Softball Coach

Former collegiate athlete Josh Story was hired as high school began his collegiate baseball career at Trevecca Nazarene University before transferring season as a graduate assistant coach for Lipscomb University’s baseball team . After playing baseball for nearly two decades, Story switched gears to become a softball coach for ages softball . Story believes that by marrying sports knowledge and athletic strength with exceptional experiences and genuine interactions, he can transform student-athletes holistically, making a Kingdom impact that influences them well beyond athletics . Kevin Starks

Head Boys’ Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director

Abilene Christian University athlete Kevin Starks joined the Mustangs after 22 years of leadership and coaching . Over the last 20 seasons as a head coach, he has coached his teams to the playoffs 19 times . He has coached as head varsity boys’ basketball coach at Dallas Christian, Fort Worth Christian High School and Harding Academy . During his 15 years at Harding, he coached his team to eight semi-finals and four state championship games . As a result of his strong leadership and relational investment in his student-athletes athletically, academically and spiritually at Harding, Starks was awarded TSSAA Tennessee Coach of the Year and twice was named Memphis MOST Favorite: Best Sports Coach . Additionally, he was named Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee Coach of the Year . Starks also served as associate head of school and director of athletics at Harding Academy . Because of his talent, work ethic and commitment to the advancement A .F . Bridges Athletic Director of the Year designation .

head softball coach . Story to Lipscomb University . Upon graduation, he served one 12 and under . Since 2012, Story has coached travel of all 16 sports at Harding, Starks received the TSSAA