Gwinnett Daily Post

North’s Walker signs with Army hoops

North Gwinnett grad Matt Walker, who is currently enrolled at the Post Graduate Leadership Program at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy, signed a letter of intent this week with the Army men’s basketball program.

Walker, whose older brother also played at Army, is a power forward on the St. John’s post-grad team. The Delafield, Wisc., school’s post-grad program is designed, among other goals, to prepare cadets for successful acceptance into one of the nation’s service academies.

Bendickson back with Gladiators

Forward Aaron Bendickson was assigned to the Gwinnett Gladiators from the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.

Bendickson had a goal and an assist in seven games with the Americans after he was called up Oct. 27. He also had 12 penalty minutes while with Rochester. The Minnesota native was named the ECHL rookie of the month for October. He posted nine points (two goals, seven assists) in four games, which is still good for a share of sixth overall among rookies in the ECHL.

In the first game of the season, Bendickson had a goal and an assist at Florida and recorded a short-handed tally the next day. In the home opener, the Wisconsin product had four assists and a plus-five rating in a win over South Carolina.

He was back with Gwinnett on Tuesday and will be available for Friday’s trip to South Carolina.

Lanier girls make all-region softball team

Lanier softball players Hannah Coursey and Kaylee Ramos made the second-team All-Region 8-AAA team as voted on by the region’s coaches. Coursey, a shortstop, hit .422 with 16 RBIs this season and Ramos, a pitcher, was 6-3. Both players are freshmen.

Atlanta Xplosion to host last open tryouts

The Atlanta Xplosion women’s professional football team, which plays in the Independent Women’s Football League, will host the last of its three open tryouts Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at Georgia Training Alliance in Lawrenceville.

The tryouts are open to women 18 years or older and include a variety of evaluation and testing. Cost is $75 in advance or $85 on the day of the tryout.

To register, call Mashonda Gilmore at 678-949-1010. For more information, e-mail to roseannasmith@atlantaxplosion.com.