Tennessee

Why Ensworth’s Lilly Robertson is following dad’s path to Tennessee swimming

Published

2 years ago

February 11, 2024

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Why Ensworth’s Lilly Robertson is following dad’s path to Tennessee swimming

Lilly Robertson wants to write her name in University of Tennessee swimming history like her dad.

Literally and figuratively.

The Ensworth junior, who successfully defended her 100- and 200-yard freestyle titles at the TISCA state championships at Centennial Sportsplex, is following in her dad Doug Robertson’s footsteps after committing to Tennessee in September.

Doug competed at UT from 1982-86, earning All-America honors in the 400 and 800 freestyle relay a combined four times.

Vols swimmers are allowed to write their names in the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center rafters after they finish the program.

“I’ve always had this dream of writing my name right under his,” Lilly said. “It’s kind of like a legacy thing, I guess. I think he’ll be able to show me where it’s at.

“He’s definitely one of my biggest swimming heroes. I never would have swam if he hadn’t pushed me.”

Doug, 59, still swims competitively as part of Ensworth’s U.S. Masters adult program.

“Some kids don’t want to follow their parents. But I look at Lilly’s pictures and all through her life she was wearing orange,” he said. “She just grew up loving Tennessee. It really wasn’t about me. She was just a Vol.”

Lilly Robertson won the 100 free Saturday with a time of 49.80 seconds after winning the 200 in 1:49.70 on Friday. She also helped Ensworth teammates Alex Glenn, Julia Mason, Riley Wagers and Lizzie McWilliams capture the 200 and 400 free relay titles.

Last year, the Ensworth team didn’t dress up with props for the finals like other teams during the musically themed walk to the starting blocks. This year, they all wore orange tutus.

“This year it had a little different vibe,” Robertson said. “We had some fun and it definitely calms you a little bit.”

Mack Schumann and Spencer Nicholas win multiple titles

Donelson Christian Academy senior Mack Schumann and M.L. King senior Spencer Nicholas also padded their medal totals on the championship’s final day.

Nicholas won the 100 backstroke with a time of 46.68, adding to his state-record 100 butterfly title from the day before.

Schumann won the 500 free in 4:22.38 for his second title after winning the 200 free Friday. They are his first state titles.

More: MLK’s Spencer Nicholas breaks state record in 100 butterfly twice in Tennessee state swim meet

“I think it was just a lot of the training, a lot of simple things, making sure I set those races up well,” Schumann said.

He pulled away down the stretch in the 500 to leave no doubt.

“That’s something I’ve been working on,” Schumann said. “Everyone has that push in the middle of the race. Just working on when they push, I just push back harder.”

There’s more for Nicholas. He’s gearing up for the U.S. Olympic team trials June 15-23 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

“I don’t know what will come out of that, but I’m excited about the opportunity,” he said. “I’ve been working for the past year to get prepared for a great swim season, a great state meet and then competing at the U.S. trials.”

Other notable wins from the state meet: University School of Nashville’s Anna Hulan won the girls 200 individual medley (2:02.71), Franklin Road Academy’s Matson Ballew won the boys 200 IM (1:48.08), Harpeth Hall’s Margaret Petty won the girls’ 50 free (22.08), Brentwood’s George Attmore won the boys 100 breaststroke (54.21) and Mt. Juliet freshman Bryce Winzenread won the girls 100 breaststroke (1:02.80).

Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.

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Tennessee

Deputies perform ‘life-saving measures’ after 5-year-old falls into swimming pool in Tennessee

Published

5 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Deputies perform ‘life-saving measures’ after 5-year-old falls into swimming pool in Tennessee

FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Tennessee sheriff’s office is asking the community to pray for a family whose 5-year-old was hospitalized after falling into a swimming pool.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and family members were “administering life-saving measures” Thursday afternoon after pulling the child out of the water.

The child was then transferred to a hospital, where they are still being treated.

“The child was subsequently transported to the hospital, where they are currently receiving medical care‚” said a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy, no further details will be released at this time.”

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Why first quarter was ‘crucial’ in Mississippi State’s loss to Tennessee

Published

17 hours ago

January 9, 2026

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Why first quarter was ‘crucial’ in Mississippi State’s loss to Tennessee

Sam Purcell felt good about the game plan for Mississippi State women’s basketball’s matchup with Tennessee.

But the Bulldogs gave up 26 points in the first quarter and trailed by seven points. It was a deficit they never recovered from in a 90-80 loss to the Lady Vols at Humphrey Coliseum on Jan. 8.

“You look at that that first quarter, I thought it was crucial. We had a great scout, a great game plan, but we didn’t talk on ball screens,” Purcell said. “Their largest quarter was that first quarter, and we’re going to watch back and go, dang it, we need to be more vocal. And you got to give them credit – top to bottom, they’re probably as good as anybody in the country with athleticism. So you can’t let those athletic kids turn the corner for wide open layups, and we did.”

Kharyssa Richardson and Madison Francis led the Bulldogs with 22 points each, but MSU didn’t have enough defense to pull off the upset.

Had Mississippi State been able to slow down Tennessee’s drivers in the first quarter, it may have been a different result. But once the Bulldogs started slowing that down, the Lady Vols were “phenomenal hitting some big-time shots,” Purcell said.

Tennessee only had the edge in points in the paint, 42-40, but it also went 10-for-27 on 3-pointers, which was an area Mississippi State couldn’t match. The Bulldogs shot 2-for-13 from deep.

MSU also couldn’t stop Tennessee freshman point guard Mia Pauldo, who scored a game-high 26 points on 8-for-12 shooting. The Bulldogs sent her to the foul line time and time again, and she went 8-for-9 on free throws.

“I thought (Pauldo) was poised, she was clutch,” Purcell said. “Obviously, that’s what you need in games like this that are gonna come down the to the wire. You need players to step up, and I thought she was the X factor for them.”

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Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig

The Tennessee Volunteers have been one of the main teams when it comes to producing talent and sending talent to the NFL, which is something that has often been discovered as a standard for the football program. This is something that has been going on for quite some time and isn’t anything new to the news cycle, as the Vols have been able to produce plenty of talented prospects.

Tennessee is the home of many stars, including some of the best defensive players in SEC history. Guys like Eric Berry have found their way through the Tennessee program and onto the NFL, where they would have legendary careers. However, the defensive side of the football is the only side that has produced plenty of talent, as Tennessee has produced a lot of offensive talent as well. With the likes of Peyton Manning and company, the Vols have shown a great track record in getting talent drafted.

The Vols have produced someone who could be considered as one of the best players to play the Tide end position, as the Knoxville, Tennessee program is the home to Dallas Cowboys legend, Jason Witten. Witten is someone who made the most of his career and has been viewed as a top player at the Tide in position, and someone who is often referred to as a legend for the Cowboys, along with being a legend in the game of football as a whole.

Jason Witten Accepts TE Coach Position For Oklahoma

Oct 10, 2010; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) on the phone in the bench area in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Cowboys Stadium. The Titans beat the Cowboys 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

Witten is now taking a new gig, which has him in a huge role inside the Southeastern Conference. The Vols legend is now the tight end coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have had some success out of their tight ends in the past, but the sky is the limit with a guy like Witten coaching up the players. Witten has the opportunity to do really well, as coaching tight ends won’t be an issue, and you have to imagine that he will be able to recruit very well, considering he has a huge name around him, as this is something that we have seen from positional coaches as well as head coaches who have done great work in the league. You have to imagine that the Vols will now have stiff competition for his son, Cooper, who is a five-star recruit for the upcoming 2027 class at the linebacker position.