Football Team Claims 2022 Blue Cross Bowl State Title
The Baylor Red Raiders defeated a previously unbeaten Montgomery Bell Academy 38-34 in a thrilling come-from-behind victory to claim the TSSAA Division II AAA Blue Cross Bowl state title at Finley Stadium on Dec. 1. The championship capped off a season of winning 11 of 13 games.
The 2022 state title win is the first for Baylor football in 49 years when the 1973 team defeated Memphis Hillcrest 6-0 at the Liberty Bowl stadium and were later voted National Champions by the National Sports News Service.
Watch this archival footage of the 1973 Championship (no audio available)
Nineteen seniors anchored the squad, including senior running back Tennessee Titans Mr. Football finalist, Caleb Hampton ’23, who was named the game’s MVP after rushing for 170 yards on 24 carries and scoring two touchdowns. Junior quarterback Whit Muschamp ’24, completed 19 of 29 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns in addition to gaining 52 yards on eight rushing attempts.
Although all eight regular season victories were important, none was sweeter than the 31-27 come-from-behind home win over McCallie, convincingly snapping the archrival’s five-game series winning streak.
Relive the big win! Watch this highlight video!
Volleyball Returns to State Finals, Finishes Second
After a one-year absence, Baylor’s volleyballers were back in the state finals with a second place finish, riding the crest of a season that would end with a 35-8 record, including a spotless 15-0 record at home. Among the victories were two straight-set wins over rival GPS. After vanquishing Ensworth and Knox Catholic in the state tourney, the girls eventually fell to perennial powerhouse Briarcrest.
Junior Maggie Hansen and sophomore Sydney Sharpe were named to the All-East Region Team along with senior Elli Kinney, who was also voted Region MVP. In her final game, Kinney had a dozen kills and seven digs and at one point delivered a string of six-straight service points. Sharpe racked up 24 assists, and Hansen had nine kills.
Golf Teams Finish Second and Third in State
The girls’ golf team placed second in TSSAA tournament play with the boys coming in third. Individual medals went to junior Mattie Nall who finished fourth with back-to-back 75s on the par-70 course, and freshman Carlee Rogers tied for sixth. Senior Viktor Stöllinger finished third after back-to-back 70s, and junior Guillame Paquette tied for fourth with consecutive 71s.
Girls' Cross Country Third in State
The girls’ cross country team ran strong in 2022, placing third overall at the TSSAA State Championships in November. The girls were led by All-State runners Addi Greene (sophomore) and Mae Mae Powe (junior), who finished sixth and eighth respectively. Greene also placed third overall in the Front Runner Invitational at Baylor on Oct. 20, and seniors Addison Johnson, Helen Webb, and Charlotte Ann Haddock anchored the team performance.
The boys’ cross country team placed seventh in the state championship race, led by senior All-Stater Chris Knight’s tenth place finish. During the regular season, the boys placed second in the Front Runner invitational with Knight and senior Jack Gartman leading the team’s effort with top-ten finishes.
Soccer Makes State Final Four Appearance
The Baylor girls’ soccer team finished with a 15-6-1 record, was the region runner-up, and made yet another appearance at the state tournament with a thrilling 2-1 state quarterfinal win over Pope John Paul II. The Raiders fell in the state semifinal match, 2-1, to a tough Briarcrest team. The 2022 Division II AA All-East Region Soccer team included junior Elizabeth Stophel as MVP, along with all-region players Claire Holtzclaw, a senior; juniors Ellie Carico, Jada Cooper, and Sophia Mize; and sophomore Sara Hill.
Red Raider Rowers Have Good Showing at Fall Regattas
The girls’ and boys’ rowing teams enjoyed a great day of racing at Nashville’s 2022 Music City Regatta in October with the Women’s Youth Novice 8+ bringing home the gold and four additional teams placing in the top eight. At the 2022 Head of the Hooch Regatta, Baylor teams ranked an impressive 14th overall for the Youth Events Point Trophy out of over 60 clubs and schools attending the regatta. Baylor was also the second-ranked scholastic program at the regatta and defeated GPS and McCallie on the points list.
