Sports
Johnston’s journey to pro baseball
July 15, 2026 by Jake Nichols
On Sunday, July 12, Jett Johnston sat in his living room and watched his lifelong dream come true.
The 2023 Farragut High School graduate was picked by the Detroit Tigers in the 13th round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.
In the process, he became Farragut’s 25th draft pick in program history.
“Obviously it’s been a dream for as long as I’ve been playing baseball,” Johnston said during an exclusive interview with the farragutpress. “This is a really great milestone, and I’m super pumped I got to spend it with my family.
“Anyone who knows baseball knows this is just the beginning, and there’s a long road ahead. Now it’s time to put my head down and go to work. God’s great, and I’m fired up for the opportunity.”
But that opportunity would not have come without Johnston’s two years as an Admiral, as well as a crucial decision that determined his future in professional baseball.
Formed at Farragut
From the moment Johnston arrived in Tennessee from Texas, Matt Buckner could tell he was different.
“He could throw really hard,” the former Farragut coach recalled. “Pretty elite velocity early in his career.”
Buckner molded Johnston throughout the two years he spent at FHS, as he led the Admirals to a pair of state titles with an All-State selection in 2023.
“Coach Buckner was very confident in my abilities, and he gave me every opportunity I could have asked for,” Johnston said. “I had some ups and downs, but he rolled me out there every day and told me that baseball is a hard game and to keep going.
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July 15, 2026 by Ken Lay, Correspondent
Owen Fulford had a banner year for Christian Academy of Knoxville and he concluded the season with a flourish at the Division II-A state championships at the University of Tennessee’s Tom Black Track in Knoxville in May.
He was recently honored when the Tennessee Sports Writers Association released its boys All-State teams.
Fulford earned all-state honors in the decathlon, the 100-meter hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles and the pole vault. He won the decathlon, swept the hurdles events and finished second in the pole vault.
CAK’s Devin Young earned All-State honors in the pole vault as he finished third at the state championships.
Concord Christian School had a pair of selections as Kohbe Ward was recognized for winning the 400-meter dash at state. The Lions’ Dasani Moulden was honored for his runner-up finish in the 200-meter dash.
In Division II-AA: Knoxville Catholic’s J.R. Fowler received All-State honors from the TSWA as he won the state title in both the shot put and the discus. Cade Duncanson, the Irish’s distance specialist, was honored as he took second in the 3,200-meter run.
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July 15, 2026 by Jake Nichols
Several All-State awards have rolled in over the last few weeks from the 2026 spring sports season, and multiple area players were honored in the process.
Farragut High School standouts Rylee Raby and Hallie Grace Johnson earned Tennessee Sports Writers’ Association (TSWA) All-State nods for Class 4A while Emily Bogoski and Amelia Williams earned the same honor in Division II-A for Christian Academy of Knoxville.
For FHS, Raby batted .439 on the year with 50 hits and 44 RBI with a .719 slugging percentage and a .489 on-base percentage. Johnson, meanwhile, totaled a .447 average at the plate with 51 hits, a .781 slugging percentage and a .515 on-base percentage. Notably, she and Raby both drew 16 walks on the year.
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July 15, 2026 by Jake Nichols
Steve Prince looked up at the Neyland Stadium Jumbotron as his Concord Christian track runners flashed across the screen.
Those Lions were just a few of the athletes recognized at the Knox County Night of Champions on Tuesday, June 16.
The event — hosted by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs — recognized each state championship team and individual, as well as the Guardian Foundation Players of the Week.
“This was the brainchild of Jane Jolly in my office,” Jacobs said. “We just wanted to do something to celebrate the Knox County high school students who won state championships. It’s quite an achievement, and it’s really just about celebrating them and their accomplishments.”
Area state champions recognized in this event were: Farragut baseball (which won its fifth straight state title);
Webb girls cross country (which won its third straight team title); Hardin Valley unified flag football; Hardin Valley boys golf; Christian Academy of Knoxville girls golf; Bearden girls soccer (fourth in last five years); Webb girls basketball (back-to-back); CAK’s Owen Fulford, who won three individual championships in the ninth title for the for Fulford family; Knox Catholic’s JR Fowler, who won state championships in discus and shot put;
Concord’s Kohbe Ward in the 400-meter dash; CCS girls 4x400 relay team; CCS mixed 4x400 relay team; the CAK girls 4x800 relay team; Catholic girls 4x200 relay (third in a row) and the Webb girls’ track state team title, their 13th as a program and sixth in a row.
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July 15, 2026 by Jake Nichols
This past season, both Farragut lacrosse programs saw a fair share of success.
The boys lacrosse program won its second-straight region title and advanced to the state semifinals for the second consecutive year.
On the girls side, the Lady Ads fell to Cookeville in heartbreaking fashion to end the season.
Both programs received All-State nods, as several players were recognized for their efforts.
Admirals senior captain Brock Lockhart earned his second consecutive All-State award from the Tennessee Boys Lacrosse Association, totaling 121 goals and 190 points in his career to become the all-time points leader in FHS history.
He also exemplified the kind of leadership that can leave an indelible mark on a program.
“He was what every coach wants and needs as a leader,” said head coach Ben Sachs of Lockhart. “It didn’t matter who you were. He lifted you up on and off the field, sharing any knowledge he could with anybody. A prime example of what it means to be a captain. He had a selflessness and dedication, making sure guys were in the right spot, at practice, talking to them to build them up.
“He is really someone I wish every team could experience because it changes the whole dynamic of the group with the way he brought leadership to our team. I truly feel privileged to have spent the last two years with him. His numbers speak for his talent, but the leadership was a whole different ballgame.”
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July 15, 2026 by Jake Nichols
Fox Den Country Club hosted its 18-Hole Ladies Guest Day event, themed “Golf is a Gamble,” Thursday, June 11.
On that day, a club member can bring up to three guests to form a foursome. Or, two members can bring one guest each for one of several events in
the Fox Den Ladies’ Golf Association.
“It’s a good chance for them to bring their friends and guests show up,” said Danny Ackerman, the head golf professional at Fox Den. “We had people from Texas and New Jersey here, and people who are members are really proud of the club and love a chance to show it off. It’s a neat thing for the members, and we’ve had people want to join after experiencing that.”
The gambling theme stretched onto the course with a new format, “Gamble Two Ball,” where all four players played their own ball and did not find out which two teammates’ scores would count until after the hole was completed.
They also incorporated rolling the dice to determine additional team scoring elements throughout the day.
A particular highlight came in the creative outfits and decorated golf carts, which only added to the festivities.
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