April/May 2014 Columbus Valley Edition by ITG Next Magazine

in the

In This Issue:

game

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

Columbus Valley

April 2014 May 2014

Smiths Station High School

15 Academic Athlete Miara Elmore

Spencer High School

Austin Sanders

Jordan Vocational High School

32 Player Spotlight

Sydney Wright

Northside High School

35 Player Spotlight

Jamal Howard Central High School

40 Coach’s Corner Chris Gilstrap

Hardaway High School

44 Rising Star

Brandon Wright

Calvary Christian School

In The Stands

Sports Connection With Kacy Ingram

2013 Columbus Valley High School Athletic Winter Awards Banquet

Brookstone School

Calvary Christian School

Carver High School

Columbus High School

Hardaway High School

Jordan Vocational School

Kendrick High School

Spencer High School

Northside High School

Shaw High School

Competitor’s Creed, FCA

Joshua Jamieson

31 Freshman Focus

Also Inside Ten Questions With Todd Stanfill

Columbus Valley Area Schools

13 Wrestling Standout

CONTENTS

08 The Ladies of Soccer

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

game

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

Columbus Valley

April 2014 May 2014

Publisher

Mark Dykes

Editor

Mark Dykes Kaitlynn Passmore

Area Editor

Beth Welch beth.w@inthegamemagazine.com

Graphics

Jennifer Alexander

Cover/Feature Photography Jerry Christenson

Contributing Photographers Chris Hood

Feature Writers Robert Preston Jr. Beth Welch

Copy Editors

Crystal Hubbard Ashley Dailey

Advertising/Marketing

Mark Dykes mark@inthegamemagazine.com

Website Manager Kaitlynn Passmore

From The Publisher Don’t you just love this time of year? Spring is evident everywhere you look but none so much as on the playing fields of local high schools. Soccer, baseball, tennis, track, golf, and even lacrosse events are in full swing. After a long and nasty winter, it seems everyone is ready to be outdoors, and we have the spring sport rundown in this magazine to help you see just what is going on in the Columbus Valley area. Our cover this month features 15 local soccer athletes who are passionate about their games. These young women are tough and talented. Many have grown up playing soccer and some are headed off to colleges to continue their play. You can find out more about these great athletes by viewing their personal profiles inside the magazine. Our Player Spotlights, male and female, both have committed to colleges in Alabama to advance their skills as collegiate athletes. Northside’s Sydney Wright will be a Troy University Trojan in the fall where she will be a member of the university’s track and field program. Wright has had a stellar career at Northside High School but really turned up the heat on her competitors beginning her junior year. Likewise, Central High School’s Jamal Howard has had a spectacular ride as a two-sport athlete at Central where he played football and baseball. While Howard could have been a college football player, he has chosen to concentrate on baseball which earned him a chance to play at The University of Alabama. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn more about two of the best athletes currently playing spring sports in our area. Our Academic Athlete is a track athlete who, as part of a military family, moved to Columbus due to her family’s assignment to Ft. Benning. Miara Elmore attends Spencer High School and while she has played as many as four sports in a school year, she narrowed her focus to two this past year. Track is one of her best sports, but Elmore admits academics always trump athletics. Find out a little more about this intelligent and talented teen inside the magazine.

For advertising information call: 888-715-4263 Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. P.O. Box 812 Valdosta, GA 31603

Auburn Tigers • Beauregard Hornets Beulah Bobcats • Brookstone Cougars Callaway Cavaliers Calvary Christian Knights • Carver Tigers Central Red Devils • Chattahoochee Panthers Columbus Blue Devils Glenwood Academy Gators Grace Christian Crusaders • Greenville Patriots Flint River Academy Wildcats Hardaway Golden Hawks • Harris Co. Tigers Jordan Red Jackets • Kendrick Cherokees LaGrange Grangers • Lee-Scott Warriors Loachapoka Indians • Manchester Blue Devils Marion County Eagles • Northside Patriots Opelika Bulldogs • St. Anne Pacelli Vikings Russell Co. Warriors • Shaw Raiders Smiths Station Panthers Spencer Greenwave • Troup Tigers

Contributors

Freshmen Focus this month highlights a Jordan High School athlete. Known for having a tradition of baseball excellence, Jordan’s baseball program is what drew Austin Sanders to the school. Sanders is experiencing his first season as part of the Red Jackets varsity team and loving every minute of it. If you are a baseball fan, you will want to read more about this young man. Our Rising Star this month is Brandon Wright of Calvary Christian School. Any chance Wright can take, he manages to be outdoors. Baseball is one way he celebrates his passion for the outdoor world. He also plays football for the Knights, but baseball is a true love. Check out this feature for sure. Coaches have a great deal of influence in the lives of young people, but how many get the opportunity to come back to their alma mater to coach in the same sport they participated in while in high school? Such is the case of Chris Gilstrap, our Coach’s Corner feature for this month. Gilstrap played baseball at Hardaway High School, attended Columbus State University as a collegiate athlete, and will soon be nominated into CSU’s athletic Hall of Fame. Today Coach Gilstrap can still be found wearing a Hardaway Hawks hat because he is now the head baseball coach at the school. It’s a great story about one of our own coming back to their roots and giving back of their time and talent for other young people. While taking time to browse through the magazine, please note our Sports Zone feature this month highlighting Aaron Cohn Middle School’s new athletic program under the direction of ACMS Athletic Director Kacy Ingram. Also, read about the Muscogee County School District’s new System-Wide Athletic Director Todd Stanfill. Stanfill is familiar to many in the high school athletic community, and we are pleased to welcome him in his new role as the overseer of athletic programs in the MCSD. It is a broad and important job which requires Stanfill to wear a number of “hats.”

For distribution or subscription information contact: info@inthegamemagazine.com

Area Schools

in the

Last but not least, don’t forget to take a look at our In the Stands photo feature and perhaps read over the school pages. There is a lot going on this time of year in the world of high school athletics. If you get a chance, throw a lawn chair in the back of your car and head to an outdoor sporting event. The weather is great, and the support of local teams would be greatly appreciated. It’s always good to be In the Game!

Beth Welch,

Editorial & Features

Kaitlynn Passmore Editor

Robert Preston, Jr.,

Features & Commentary

Beth Welch

In the Game Magazine is published bimonthly excluding July. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2014 Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

www.inthegamemagazine.com

igh school athletics aren’t just about games, athletes, and coaches. Guidelines and regulations change continuously as do sports. In a county as large as Muscogee, high schools must share facilities, which requires strategic planning and cooperation between various parties. Add in overseeing professional development for athletic department personnel for every sport offered in the Muscogee County School District, and it is easy to see why a centralized office for athletics is essential. Fortunately, the MCSD has just a department. The system-wide department of athletics has a new director. The former director, Dr. Gary Gibson, left the position to become superintendent of education for Taylor County. Todd Stanfill was named the new system-wide athletic director in January and began his duties in February.

Ten Questions

In the Game High School Sports Magazine recently asked Stanfill 10 Questions about the job, his background, and why he wanted to head up this department.

With

by Beth Welch

In the Game: How long have you been involved in the field of education? Todd Stanfill: This is my twenty-first year in education.

Age: 54 Hometown: Columbia, Tennessee Education: B.S. University of Tennessee at Martin; M.S. University of West Georgia; Ed.S. Albany State University

ITG: What position did you hold prior to being named the new athletic director for Muscogee County School District? TS: My most recent position was assistant principal at Central High School in Phenix City. Prior to that, I was athletic director at Brookstone School.

ITG: What are the duties of the MCSD athletic director? TS: First and foremost, my job is to support the overall mission of athletics at the high school and middle school level within the district. I am responsible for facility use, maintenance, and scheduling with regards to our common use facilities. Another duty is the ongoing training and professional development of our athletic directors and coaches. Also, I am responsible for the development of local athletic policies and procedures as well as ensuring our schools are in compliance with all local and state athletic policies. There are other things I am responsible for, and I see the job as one that is constantly evolving. ITG: How many high schools and middle schools are involved in your department? TS: There are eight high schools and twelve middle schools in Muscogee County that I am involved with plus Harris County Carver Middle School and Faith Middle School play in our middle school league.

photos by Jerry Christenson

Todd Stanfill

ITG: Do you have a sports background? TS: Yes, I played baseball and basketball in high school and baseball in college.

ITG: Why did you pursue the job of Muscogee County School District System-wide Athletic Director? TS: First of all, I love athletics, and I have a deep appreciation for its proper place within the academic setting. The last couple of years I have truly missed being involved in the daily aspects of school athletics. When this position became available, I knew that I had to pursue it, and fortunately for me it worked out. I am very appreciative for this opportunity and the chance to do something I really enjoy every day.

Todd Stanfill

Family: I have been married to my wife Lisa for 25 years, and we have one daughter, Anslee, a junior at Central High School in Phenix City.

ITG: Do you have any staff members in your department? TS: I only have one person, Debbie Skipworth, that works directly with me in the District Athletic Department. She does a great job and has been a huge help getting me acclimated to the new role. ITG: Where is your office located? TS: My office is located in the Public Education Center on Macon Road. ITG: Do you have any immediate or long term goals in your new role as system-wide athletic director? TS: As far as immediate goals, I want to get out into the schools more so I can better assist them with their programs. Long term, I would really like to see our schools seriously compete for more state championships and ultimately, director’s cup championships, while at the same time ensuring that our athletes are doing well in the classroom. ITG: So far, what is the best thing about working in the Muscogee County School District? TS: First of all, I can say that everyone has been extremely friendly, helpful, and very supportive. Everyone seems very eager to build upon the long history of athletic success within Muscogee County. There are a lot of really positive things going on in this school district, and I am glad to be a part of it.

Hobbies or leisure time activities: I like to run, play golf, read, and go on vacations with my family. Person you most admire: There are several people that I really admire, for various reasons, starting with my parents. And, in my career in education I have been fortunate to work with some people that I have a lot of respect for. However, if I had to mention one person for this article that I admire the most, it would have to be my father-in-law, John Wiggins. He served as an officer in the booster club at Fitzgerald High School in Fitzgerald, Georgia, for 62 consecutive years and never had a child play sports. That just doesn’t happen very often. He never had a personal agenda, never tried to force his opinion on coaches or athletic directors, and always supported the athletic staff regardless of their win-loss record. When I was a rookie athletic director at Fitzgerald High School, he never once tried to tell me how to do my job (he certainly could have a few times and he would have been correct), and only offered his opinion when he was asked. His only reasons for being involved in the booster club were a love for his community and to help the coaches and athletes at Fitzgerald High School. If more people would approach athletics in the manner in which my father-in-law did, high school athletic programs would be much better off. Unfortunately, he passed away a few months ago, and I miss him very much. 7

Area Soccer Athletes Make Winning Season Goal for 2014

by Beth Welch photography by Jerry Christenson

ll over Columbus Valley soccer teams have taken to the field and are working hard toward producing winning seasons. Female soccer athletes have gained a lot of ground in recent years and have earned a reputation for being tough, smart, and talented when it comes to the sport of soccer. Local soccer programs offer the opportunity for the very young to learn the game and continue all the way to adulthood in recreational leagues. In this edition, In the Game High School Sports Magazine is highlighting 15 young women from area high schools who are passionate about the sport of soccer. Many of these talented athletes have been playing soccer more than half of their lives, and some have committed to taking their game to the next level by becoming collegiate athletes in the fall. ITG

Rachel Moore Brookstone School

Senior Age: 17 Parents: Chris and Kenny Moore Coach: Mary Sparks Have you committed to a college? No, I am trying to walk on at Georgia Southern Position: Forward How long have you been playing soccer? 12 years What is one of the most memorable moments youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had playing soccer?

Playing in the Jefferson Cup in Richmond, Virginia. I scored four goals in the tournament, and my club team was ranked 21st nationally. Why do you love the game of soccer? I love to run; soccer seems to be a great sport for that. I love how competitive the sport is and also playing with my team. Nothing else matters on the soccer field except teammates and the beauty of the sport.

Katie Shannon Calvary Christian School

Junior Age: 16 Parents: Juli and Mark Shannon Coach: Jason Robertson Have you committed to a college? No Position: Outside mid/Forward How long have you been playing soccer: Since I was four

What is one of the most memorable moments youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had playing soccer? When I got my first hat trick Why do you love the game of soccer? Because of the energy and competitiveness. Do you play another sport? Basketball

Do you play another sport? Basketball and track Favorite food: Steak Best movie: Bridesmaids Hobbies: Going to any games no matter the sport Music: Little bit of everything Favorite team (college or professional): Auburn Person you would most like to meet: Mia Hamm Any pregame ritual? Just listening to music

Favorite food: Steak Best movie: The Proposal Hobbies: Listening to music, hanging out with friends, playing sports, running Music: Pop Favorite team (college or professional): Tennessee Person you would most like to meet: Alex Morgan Any pregame ritual? Pray

Jhordan T. Borboa Central High School

Junior Age: 16 Parents: Jorge and Tonia Borboa Coach: Wesley Taff Have you committed to a college? No Position: Defense How long have you been playing soccer? 10 years

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? When I was playing co-ed travel ball and I took the ball all the way down and scored on the biggest, meanest goalie I’d ever seen, and he was angry! Why do you love the game of soccer? Team work and the competition

Megan Parker Chattahoochee County High School Senior Age: 18 Parents: Tarkan and Jennifer Parker Coach: Wes Wilson Have you committed to a college? Yes, Columbus State University Position: Defense How long have you been playing soccer? Five years

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? Making the PK we needed to win the game. Why do you love the game of soccer? Because it is very competitive and builds character. Oh, and my coach is awesome. Do you play another sport? No

Kyla Wright-Marshall Columbus High School

Senior Age: 18 Parents: Taryn Parker Coach: Rusty Oliver Have you committed to a college? Yes, University of West Georgia Position: Center, mid, and forward How long have you been playing soccer? Eight years

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? One time I kicked the corner flag when taking a corner. Why do you love the game of soccer? When playing, you never wait for the action. There’s always movement and always a way to be involved. Do you play another sport? No

Emily Robertson Glenwood School

Senior Age: 18 Parents: John and Shannon Robertson Coach: John Robertson Have you committed to a college? No Position: Forward How long have you been playing soccer? 14 years

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? Winning the state championship Why do you love the game of soccer? I love it because it feels natural when I’m playing. I also love the competition and love winning. Do you play another sport? Yes, basketball

Tianna Price Hardaway High School

Sophomore Age: 16 Parents: Jerry and Jackie Price Coach: Karen Spradlin, Rick Spradlin, and Holly Hicks Have you committed to a college? No Position: Attacking midfield How long have you been playing soccer? Since I was five

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? Last year I tore my ACL playing against Chattahoochee County, and that was certainly memorable. Probably the most memorable moment is when I scored from outside the 18. Why do you love the game of soccer? It helps me to express myself and my

Do you play another sport? No Favorite food: Pizza Best movie: The Harry Potter series Hobbies: Reading. When I have free time. Favorite team (college or professional) Miami Heat Person you would most like to meet: Ian Somerhalder Any pregame ritual? We eat pizza before every game.

Favorite food: Anything mom and dad make. Best movie: Pain and Gain Hobbies: Soccer, drawing Music: Everything Favorite team (college or professional): n/a Person you would most like to meet: Alex Morgan Any pregame ritual? We pray

Favorite food: Potatoes Best movie: Bridesmaids Hobbies: Soccer, related activities Music: Everything Favorite team (college or professional): Florida State University Person you would most like to meet: Terry Crews, Hope Solo Any pregame ritual? No

Favorite food: Steak Best movie: Breakfast at Tiffany’s Hobbies: Playing sports Music: Miley Cyrus Favorite team (college or professional): Auburn University Person you would most like to meet: Miley Cyrus Any pregame ritual? No

feelings, but most of all it’s fun because I get a chance to get outside and play the sport I fell in love with years ago. Do you play another sport? Volleyball Favorite food: Steak Best movie: Act of Valor Music: All types Favorite team (college or professional): Auburn University Person you would most like to meet: Hope Solo Any pregame ritual? Wrapping around the top of my shinguard over my cleats and listening to “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. 9

Madison Plemons Harris County High School

Senior Age: 17 Parents: Alicia Plemons Coach: Rob Grant Have you committed to a college? Yes, Point University Position: Midfield and defense How long have you been playing soccer? Since I was four

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? My sophomore year when I got to play with my sister; it was a great experience. We’ll be going to college together, playing soccer, too. Why do you love the game of soccer? Because it keeps me in shape, and I love the competition.

Kayla M. Hasting Jordan Vocational High School

Senior Age: 17 Parents: Chantel Limoges Coach: Sheryl Green Have you committed to a college? Yes, Chattahoochee Valley Community College Position: Mid How long have you been playing soccer? Six years

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? My junior year at our state game, everyone was working as a team, and I just loved it! Why do you love the game of soccer? The game of soccer is probably one of the most enjoyable sports you can play. Do you play another sport? Softball Favorite food: Chicken Caesar Salad

Asia Raleigh Kendrick High School

Senior Age: 17 Parents: Twalla Glover Coach: Marilyn Lawton Have you committed to a college? No Position: Sweeper How long have you been playing soccer? Six years

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? Scoring my first goal. Why do you love the game of soccer? It is very calming and takes my mind off the negative. Do you play another sport? No

Georgia Barton Northside High School

Senior Age: 17 Parents: Scott and Mandy Barton Coach: Elizabeth Keller Have you committeed to a college? Yes, Georgia Gwinett Position: Center attacking and defensive midfield How long have you been playing soccer? 13 years

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? Scoring with a corner kick. Why do you love the game of soccer? It’s a beautiful game, and I love competing. Do you play another sport? No

Meg Hammonds St. Anne Pacelli

Senior Age: 17 Parents: Keith and Anna Hammonds Coach: Sheila Spikes Have you committed to a college? Yes, University of North Georgia Position: Defense How long have you been playing soccer? 12 years 10

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? Having my father as a coach and sister and brother as teammates. Why do you love the game of soccer? Everything. What’s not to love? Do you play another sport? Cross Country

Do you play another sport? Yes, volleyball Favorite food: Spaghetti Best movie: Lone Survivor Hobbies: Shopping, running Music: Any kind Favorite team (college or professional): University of Alabama Person you would most like to meet: David Beckham Any pregame ritual? Pray and do our warm ups

Best movie: Harry Potter Hobbies: Sports Music: Country Favorite team (college or professional): Boston Red Sox Person you would most like to meet: Luke Bryan Any pregame ritual? Praying

Favorite food: Spaghetti Best movie: Lion King Hobbies: Cheering and helping around school Music: All Favorite team (college or professional): Auburn University Person you would most like to meet: The president Any pregame ritual? Peanut butter sandwiches

Favorite food: Mac n’ cheese & Panera Best movie: White Chicks and She’s the Man Hobbies: Coaching, art, hiking Music: Beyonce Favorite team (college or professional): USA Women’s Soccer Person you would most like to meet: Jennifer Lawrence or David Beckham Any pregame ritual? Eating bananas and listening to Beyonce

Favorite food: Japanese Best movie: Taken and Taken II Hobbies: Drawing and singing Music: Any and all Favorite team (college or professional): USA Women’s Soccer Person you would most like to meet: Mia Hamm Any pregame ritual? Stretching

Charity Harris Shaw High School

Junior Age: 17 Parents: Ronald and Lavara Harris Coach: Monica Livingston Have you committed to a college? No Position: Midfield, forward How long have you been playing soccer? 10 years

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? My first goal. Why do you love the game of soccer? Because I’m good at it, and it motivates me to do better in school. Do you play another sport? No

Jennifer Johnson Smiths Station High School

Senior Age: 18 Parents: Steve Johnson and Gail Johnson Coach: Matthew Tarpley Have you committed to a college? No Position: Center mid How long have you been playing soccer? Since I was four (14 years)

What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve had playing soccer? My first varsity game I started for the high school as a seventh grader. Why do you love the game of soccer? Because it’s a competitive sport and nonstop with constant thinking about what’s next. Do you play another sport? No

Minnamina Allen Spencer High School

Freshman Age: 15 Parents: Shajunna Allen Coach: Kyndal Schaaf Have you committed to a college? No Position: Defense How long have you been playing soccer? First year

Why do you love the game of soccer? It teaches you to trust your teammates. Do you play another sport? No

Favorite food: Crabs Best movie: Kicking and Screaming Hobbies: Soccer, piano Music: R&B, Pop, Gospel Favorite team (college or professional): US WNT Person you would most like to meet: Sydney Leroux Any pregame ritual? Pray for a safe and fun game

Favorite food: Mac and Cheese Best movie: She’s the Man Hobbies: Swimming Music: Country Person you would most like to meet: Alex Morgan Any pregame ritual? No

Favorite food: Hot wings Best movie: Love and Basketball Hobbies: Singing Music: Bandit Gang Marco Favorite team (college or professional): Any college game Person you would most like to meet? Fantasia Any pregame ritual? No

Smiths Station

Wrestling Athlete Takes Down Opponents for State Title by Beth Welch

ne thought went through Smiths Station High School senior Joshua Jamieson’s mind when he was declared the Alabama Class 6A State Wrestling Champion (126-pound weight class) back in February: “Finally.” Jamieson defeated Oxford’s Matt King, 4-0, to win the state title. It was Jamieson’s third visit to the state tournament, and he made it to the winner’s circle by defeating four straight opponents in the 126-pound weight class. Beginning February 14 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Jamieson plowed through the competition, starting with a win over Alex Davis of Minor at the 2:50 mark in the match. Jamieson next had a resounding win over Mountain Brook’s Drew Reed, 14-1, before defeating Hall Morton of Oak Mountain, 7-1. Those wins set up the championship match on February 15 between Jamieson and King. “By that time, I was really motivated. I had already decided when I went to state, I was going all the way,” says Jamieson. The 5’4” wrestler wasted no time accomplishing his goal. Just 32 seconds into the first period of the match with King, Jamieson scored a two-point takedown. For the second period, he opted to start down and scored two more points on a reversal at the 1:05 mark. “After that, in the third period I just rode it out. I was really motivated and knew I had it after the second period,” recalls Jamieson. According to Smiths Station wrestling coach Tommy Sanders, Jamieson has been motivated the entire road to the state title. Sanders provided stats for his top wrestler which includes Jamieson being named twice First Team All Bi-City, a two-time 6A Sectional Champion, winner of 102 matches in two years, and Jamieson only had two points scored against him in four state matches in February. The third trip to the state finals was the charm for Jamieson. As a sophomore, Jamieson wrestled for Russell County High School and was the state runner-up in Class 5A for the 120-pound class. After transferring the next year to Smiths Station High, he made another trip to the state tournament where he placed fifth in the 120-pound class for Class 6A. “This year was a blessing for him because he was city champion, sectional champion, and state champion at the 126-pound class,” says Coach Sanders, who has been coaching at SSHS for six years. Jamieson got his start in the sport in the seventh grade. His older brother was a high school wrestler, and Jamieson’s interest was sparked in part by his brother’s participation and also for one other reason. “I needed to do something because I was kind of

Wrestling

photography by Jerry Christenson

fat,” says Jamieson, laughing. Today the 134-pound athlete shows no sign of those earlier, heavier days. He has gone from wrestling in the 103-pound weight class while weighing 96 pounds to competing in the 126-pound weight class at two different times. For Jamieson, wrestling is all about the physical nature of the sport. He tried football at a very young age, but once he discovered he was pretty good at wrestling, he hasn’t diverted attention away from it. He also would like to extend his time participating in the sport by becoming a collegiate athlete. “I probably will try to be a walk-on at some place. Right now, I like Arizona State, but I am still looking,” he says. Sanders has coached three students to four state championships during his career. Jamieson is Sanders’ second athlete to bring home a state title at Smiths Station. The Panthers coach has seen a lot of talented wrestlers and knows there is more to being successful at the next level than just ability. In his opinion, Jamieson has all the right stuff. “Joshua definitely [has] the talent to compete on the collegiate level, and he is tough enough mentally and physically to raise his level to that of a college athlete. Joshua is a model student-athlete who excels in the classroom, has never been a behavior problem in school, and is always the leader when our team is conditioning. Joshua has what each of the previous state championship wrestlers for me possessed. Joshua thinks that he is going to win every match that he wrestles. He intends to win instead of hoping to win,” says Sanders. Fresh off his career high of being a state champion, Jamieson may be undecided about his destination after high school, but he is pretty clear on what is the best thing about wrestling at this point in his life. “Winning,” he says. ITG

Age: 17

Graduating year: 2014

Parents: Donald and Tracy Jamieson

Family: Seven siblings Pets: Two dogs; two chickens

Joshua Jamieson Pre-match ritual: Listening to some pump-up music

Future plans: Attending college to pursue degree in Engineering 13

Jacklyn Williams is all bundled during the Cavalry Christian tennis match

Dorothy Bryant enjoys the match Cavalry Christian Tennis

Charles Sherwood enjoys a Cavalry Christian Tennis match

land Susanne and Riley Strick show their support for Cavalry Christian Tennis Jennie and Eli Sanders supporting Smiths Station at the City Wrestling Tournament

The 2014 City Wrestling Tournament was held at Columbus High School with many families and fans in attendance 14

Penny Holley and Beth Goodwin supporting Smiths Station at the City Wrestling Tournament

ing rahamsen stay warm dur Autumn and Elizabeth Ab e gam ll eba Bas ian a Cavalry Christ

Chandler Sheffield and Megan Ryan chee

ring on their favorite Cavalry Christian Baseball player

Mac Hill keeps his eyes on the Calvary Christian baseball game

Cavalry Christian baseball player rounding third base

Professional Photography by Chris Hood Photography ÂŠ www.chrishoodphotography.com 15

he Muscogee County School District opened its newest middle school in August when Aaron Cohn Middle School officially became the district’s 12th middle school. Located on Garrett Road in Midland, the school is named after the late Judge Aaron Cohn, who served decades as an area juvenile court judge. Aaron Cohn Middle School houses approximately 500 students in grades six through eight. The opening of a new school is exciting, but it brings about its own unique set of issues. Putting together an athletic program completely from scratch can be challenging. Fortunately, ACMS has a physical education staff of capable and dedicated teachers and coaches led by Bulldogs athletic director Kacy Ingram. The new athletic director was a PE teacher and coach at Midland Middle School before being named AD at ACMS. In the Game recently asked AD Ingram 10 questions about her background and the new athletic program at the school.

Sports Connection Aaron Cohn Middle School’s Athletic Director Kacy Ingram by Beth Welch

In the Game: When did you begin your coaching career and what sports have you coached? Kacy Ingram: I have been coaching for 15 years. Midland was my first teaching job, and I was there for 14 years. I have coached cheerleading, track, and adaptive sports. ITG: Is this your first job as an athletic director? KI: Yes. ITG: Since Aaron Cohn Middle School just opened in August, does it offer the same sports programs as other middle schools in the Muscogee County School District? KI: Yes, we have all the same sports as the other MCSD schools. ITG: Are you coaching any sports this year in addition to your athletic director responsibilities? KI: Yes, track here at ACMS, and I also help with adaptive basketball. ITG: How many students are involved in athletic programs at ACMS? KI: About 150 in the sports we offer. ITG: Starting a new athletic program from the ground up has its own unique set of issues. What surprised you most about developing a plan for sports teams and programs at a new school? KI: The cost of starting a new program. I had no idea of the expense involved! Especially, since we were starting from nothing and were outfitting all physical education classes and sports teams.

photos Beth Welch

ITG: How has your coaching staff handled the transition from coaching established teams to building teams from the ground up? KI: The coaching staff has really “gelled.” It has definitely been a building year, but I could not have asked for a better group of people to work with to make this year a success. ITG: As athletic director, did you set any goals for this first year for your athletic program? KI: Not really. I just went into the job as a day by day thing since it was completely new to me and to everyone here. ITG: So far, have you had good participation in sports programs from students? KI: Yes, the students have come out for tryouts, and we have teams for every sport. ITG: What is the best thing about being athletic director at Aaron Cohn Middle School? KI: The coaches I work with. We have a great staff, and we have had to fill in with some community coaches, but everyone has been just wonderful in this situation.

Kacy Ray Ingram Job title: Athletic Director, Aaron Cohn Middle School Hometown: Clanton, Alabama Education: Chilton County High School; BS in physical education, Troy State University; Masters in Sports Fitness, Troy University Family: Husband, Morgan (Northside High School athletic director); two daughters, Romie, 14, and Riley, 11 Person I most admire: My mom Favorite past time: Watching my girls. Romie is involved in band, soccer, volleyball, and track, and Riley plays softball, soccer and volleyball and also cheers. 17

Academic Athlete

Miara Elmore

Spencer High School

Education is Athlete’s Ticket to Future Plans

by Beth Welch photography by Jerry Christenson

S Her love of basketball and her natural skills in track and field have given Elmore hope she will be able to move from the high school level to becoming a collegiate athlete. She is still looking at colleges but when she makes a decision, she wants two things: to get a degree in psychology and to be a two-sport athlete.

pencer High School track athlete Miara Elmore is used to jumping hurdles. The 17-year-old senior participates in many track and field events for the Greenwave, including the 300-meter hurdles. Last year, Elmore placed fifth at the state track meet in the 300-hurdles event. When it comes to academics, Elmore faces no hurdles because she has long been focused on her grades. “My parents have always encouraged me to do well in school. They always say grades before sports. But I have wanted to do well in school. I think it comes to me naturally to want a good education,” says Elmore. If education holds a higher priority than sports, academics must be very important to the multisport athlete, with the emphasis on very. Each of her high school years, Elmore has played at least two sports and sometimes four. Such commitment to athletics often causes sports participants to maintain average grades in order to juggle all their activities. Not the case for Elmore. She has been involved in a sport this winter and now in the spring, and she still manages to take AP classes and keep her grades well above average. In 2012, Elmore moved from Texas with her military family. She has lived in a few different places but called Killeen, Texas, home long enough to establish a good foundation of academics and athletics. Her last year at Killeen High School, Elmore participated in four sports. When she came to Spencer as a junior, she scaled back to volleyball, basketball, and track. For her senior year Elmore has concentrated on basketball and track. In her beginning days at Spencer, sports helped her make friends and fit in. Coming from a larger school environment, Elmore worried about her ability to compete in sports and to establish relationships such as those she left behind. Today when she walks through the halls of Spencer High School, she is well-known and respected among her peers, many of whom know her from 19

sports teams she has been a part of the past two school years. The 5’7” athlete is a natural for track and field. She participates in both the 4x400-meter and the 4x100-meter relays as the third or fourth anchor. In addition to the 300m hurdles event, she also competes in the triple jump and 400-meter race. She exhibits all the characteristics track coaches look for in athletes. Elmore is strong, she has endurance, she has a long stride, and she is willing to work hard at improving her time and techniques. “My best triple jump was at the state meet. It was 36.3, and that was my first time ever reaching 36 feet. I saw other jumpers using the 36 board, and I had always used the 32. I decided to try the 36 board and I did it! I know now that I can use the 36 board, in practice because I have a goal of 38 feet this year,” she says. In that event at the state competition, Elmore placed third. She is looking to better all of her stats from her junior year under the direction of new Spencer track coach Janele Deloatch, who recently joined the Spencer faculty. Deloatch has been coaching track since 2007. Although she had never coached Elmore prior to the 2013 season, she knew the talented athlete was a plus for her program. “As a veteran, we are looking for her to bring leadership and inspiration to the team,” says Deloatch. Elmore comes into track season after experiencing a successful season with the Lady Greenwave basketball team. The small forward helped advance her team to the first round of the state playoffs for Region 5-AA. Elmore loves basketball and says that with each passing year, she has come to enjoy the game more than previous years. “I started out playing basketball as something to do but, I don’t know, somehow it just became more important to me. I guess I really began to get the game, to understand how to play it, and now, I really love it,” says Elmore. Her love of basketball and her natural skills in track and field have given Elmore hope she will be able to move from the high school level to becoming a collegiate athlete. She is still looking at colleges, but when she makes a decision, she wants two things: to get a degree in psychology and to be a two-sport athlete. The vision of being an athlete at the next level is one Elmore’s coach thinks is possible for the senior.

“Miara has the potential to do very well on the collegiate stage. College athletes must be multi-dimensional, and with Miara’s talent in sprinting and field events, she can add a lot to any college program,” Deloatch says. Elmore says her favorite subject is math, sharing that being able to put formulas to work is something she enjoys. When it comes to her education plan, it would seem Elmore is using her analytical mind in the same way. She has a formula of utilizing athletics to achieve an education at the college level. Recognizing athletics might pave the way, Elmore is practical in knowing academics will carry her on a much longer road. “The standards I set with grades and the classes I take will get me further. I am going to have many years to use academics to get my master’s and maybe even beyond. It’s what will keep me going for a better future,” she says. TG

Getting to Know Miara Family: Parents, Alfreda and Maurice; three siblings including twins, Deja and Maurice who attend Spencer Pets: Two dogs, Milo and Missy Favorite food: Fries Best place to eat: Cheddar’s (Their broccoli cheese casserole may just be my favorite food.) Music: All types Athlete she admires: Kevin Durant Favorite team (college or professional): Oklahoma City Church she attends: Grace Awakening Favorite movie: Tie between The Lucky One and The Notebook Place she would like to visit: Hawaii Ritual she practices: Separating myself from everyone while I stretch to get focused Person(s) she most admires: My parents Best thing about Spencer High School: There seems to be a better connection here with students. More like a family. 20

2013-14

Columbus Valley

High School AthLetic Awards Winter Banquet

Alex Haymond Jorge Orderique Mitchell Graham Parker Stowe Thomas Marsh

Chris Masenburge Deâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Andre Jackson Ethan Baber Evan Baber Jacob Afoa Jacobb Goodwin Jeruel Hunter Josh Sampson Joshua Jamieson Kalvin Harris Katrell Smith Maxwell Kauffman Tristan Catterton Tuyen Bowles

Sponsored by OBGYN Specialists of Columbus

Allie Murphy Lauren Crane Lauren Duncan Molade Olubowale Nyssa Goodroe

Sponsored by McDonalds

Alexia Manning Columbus High

Briana Davis Northside

Deja Cheatham Kendrick High

Erin Spencer Central High

Jacqueria Gunter Columbus High

Jimecheia Banks Central High

Kahlia Lawrence Kendrick High

Tamara York Glenwood

Tatyana Griffin Spencer High

Tyra Lacy Hardaway High

Jacob Afoa Chattahoochee County

Jacobb Goodwin Smiths Station

Jeruel Hunter Central High

Josh Sampson Spencer High

Joshua Jamieson Smiths Station

Boys Swimming 5

Alex Haymond Hardaway High

Jorge Orderique Columbus High

Mitchell Graham Hardaway High

Parker Stowe Harris High

Thomas Marsh Columbus High

Lauren Duncan Columbus High

Molade Olubowale Columbus High

Nyssa Goodroe Columbus High

John J. Gonzales Columbus High

Kelly Orck Columbus High

Girls Swimming 5

Allie Murphy Columbus High

Lauren Crane Columbus High

all the 2013-14 award recipients!

Rifle 4

Congratulations!

Kendrick High SchooL Girls Basketball Team and Coach Sterling Hicks on their GHSA 2013-2014 Class AA State Championship title! Way to go Lady Cherokees!

Freshman Focus

Outfielder Looking to Contribute to Team’s Success by Beth Welch

lthough snow was still visible in the shady spots on the campus of Jordan Vocational High School a couple months ago, the distinctive sound of an aluminum bat connecting repeatedly with baseballs signaled that baseball season had begun. The spring sport started off with some pretty cold practices at times, but 15-year-old Austin Sanders didn’t appear to care. For Sanders, the season just couldn’t get here fast enough. Baseball has always been a prominent focus in Sanders’ young life. He remembers playing tee ball at the age of five, and about the time he began “A” ball out at Northern Little League. Sanders knew he wanted to continue with the sport as long as he possibly could. He ended recreational league baseball when he began sixth grade at Arnold Middle School and started playing club baseball at the school. Because the local public school system doesn’t offer baseball as a sport, some middle schools have adopted baseball as a club sport. Sanders also played football at Arnold, where he saw time as a cornerback and wide receiver. When he knew he would be going to high school at Jordan, he decided to be a one-sport athlete, concentrating his efforts and energies into being a member of the Red Jackets baseball program which has a tradition of taking baseball seriously. “I love baseball. I can’t really explain why, but I do. And I knew coming to Jordan would be good because Coach Dimitri really knows baseball and wants us to have a winning program,” says Sanders. For those acquainted with Jordan High School baseball, the Dimitri name is familiar. Tony Dimitri is the head baseball coach at his alma mater, which also was the alma mater of his father, the late Anthony Dimitri. The elder Dimitri was a longtime baseball coach at Jordan, during which time he coached his twin boys, Tony and John, at the school. Tony returned last year to take over the program and is assisted by his brother, John. The tradition and heritage of the baseball program at Jordan is just one of the many reasons Sanders knew he would like to play for the Red Jackets. Another reason was he felt he would actually get to see more playing time early on at Jordan as opposed to some other larger schools in the area. That assessment obviously came true because Sanders plays on Jordan’s freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams. During his career as a baseball player, Sanders has primarily been an outfielder. He has some pitching skills he enjoys putting to good use occasionally - curveballs are his specialty - but his speed and strong arm have served him well in the outfield. Centerfield is his favorite position to

photography by Jerry Christenson

play, and he really enjoys it at the high school level. While he will see more time in left field, when he has a chance to play center, Sanders doesn’t loaf around. “Out there you are kind of in control of the outfield. My job is to keep us in the game and help us stay up. In high school, it’s not like before. More balls are hit out there, so I like it even more because I’m busy and things are always happening. It’s the best place to be,” he says. The 5’8” athlete weighs 149 pounds and can run the 60-yard dash in just over seven seconds. He is looking to shave some time off of that as the season progresses. He can switch hit but prefers to bat right-handed. Last year his batting average was .348 for club baseball, and one of his goals for his first season as a varsity player is to improve his batting average. Dimitri is using Sanders in the top of the batting order for the “younger teams” and mostly in the 7-9 slots on varsity. This means the freshman is seeing lots of action at the plate and out in left field, where Dimitri is utilizing Sanders’ defensive talents of speed, knowledge of the game, and arm strength. With just two freshmen on the varsity roster, Dimitri is hoping for an even better season than in 2013. The Red Jackets record was 20-8 overall and 13-3 in their region of play. Jordan’s varsity is hoping for a run at the region title this time around. “We made the state playoffs last season for the first time in over 15 years. I expect the kids now to believe they are one of the best programs in the state. I expect them to continue to work hard at practice and translate that into the game. I expect them to want and know how to win,” Dimitri says of his team. Playing on three teams in one season should give Sanders a lot experience to build on for his college career. His dream would be to play for a Division I school. He isn’t looking too far down the road yet, mainly because he is just excited about getting to play baseball so much. A good year would have been to be a member of the freshman and JV teams. An awesome year is not only taking up a spot on the varsity roster but actually getting pretty decent playing time among the veteran Red Jackets players. “We have a good team that works well together. We joke around a lot, but we know when it comes down to it, we are serious about playing. It doesn’t matter who you are or how long you’ve been here if you get the job done. When we make mistakes, we work on it and come back ready again,” says Sanders. Then thinking for a moment, he nods his head and says, “I love baseball. I can’t imagine anything I would like any more than playing baseball.” ITG

Austin Sanders Jordan Vocational High School

Getting to Know Austin Family: Mother and stepfather, Tonya and Greg Johansen; father, Jeremy Sanders; one brother and two sisters Pets: Three dogs Favorite food: Fried Rice Favorite place to eat: El Vacquero Music he prefers: All Kinds Church he attends: Cross Pointe Church Favorite movie: The Blind Side Favorite team (college or professional): Alabama and the Atlanta Braves Athlete he admires: Jason Heyward Person he would most like to spend a day with: LeBron James Favorite subject in school: Science Best thing about attending Jordan High School: It’s unique. It’s different from other schools. 31

Sydney Wright

Northside High School

Presented by:

Player

Spotlight Family: Mother, Veronica Wright; Father, Everett Wright; sister, Ashley Wright, 21 Pets: Yorkie named Titus. Actually, he’s my sister’s dog, but I claim him.

Favorite food: Chicken Alfredo Preferred place to eat: Red Lobster

Music: R&B

Athlete she admires: Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce Favorite TV show: Fairly Odd Parents Best movie: Harry Potter movies

Hobbies: texting

Person she most admires: My mom. She’s a breast cancer survivor and means the world to me. Best thing about Northside High School: My coaches and my friends.

st focused on her la ry ve is t gh ri W , lly that s off to college petitive but usua m Before she head co ly h ig h is am season. She though, for her te , ly d high school track ba ts an w t inward. Wrigh he feels the Lady S . on trait is directed as se is th s of championship e combined talent th h it to record a state w al go at od shot at th . Patriots have a go of the track team rs be em m r he ot d several seniors an 32

Northside Senior Sprinting Toward Memorable Season by Beth Welch

hree years ago Northside High School track standout Sydney Wright first stepped onto the campus of the local high school to begin her sophomore year. Reflecting on that time, Wright admits she had somewhat of an attitude. “I was not happy,” recalls Wright. “We had moved from Hampton, Georgia, and I had left all my friends. I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t know anybody, and I was not happy at all.” The move was a result of her mother’s new job at Fort Benning. Veronica Wright chose for her daughter to attend Northside and moved into the school’s district just in time for the start of school. Now a senior, Wright still remembers the loneliness of being a newcomer. “I had a really bad first day. I felt like a freshman again. I didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t know where to go. But the next day was better because some people actually took the first step and reached out to me,” she says. In time, Wright settled in, but it wasn’t until the beginning of track season that Wright finally felt like she belonged. Prior to moving to Columbus, Wright had been a track athlete in middle school and as a freshman at her former school. She specialized in sprinting, and she brought her love for it to Northside. On the track, Wright saw a little bit of improvement in her performance from her freshman year. She sort of cruised through the season, participating in the 100- and 200-meter dash events and was a member of the school’s 4x100-meter relay team and 4x400-meter team. While she made friends and held her up her end of the responsibility as a Lady Patriot, she confesses she was not very serious about athletics or academics. “I just didn’t care. When I was a freshman and a sophomore I really didn’t think too much about my grades or going to college. I was enjoying the time. And, I really didn’t understand that I was good enough at track to use that to get to college,” says Wright. Her attitude spilled over a little into her athletic endeavors. Occasionally, she recalls, her coach would have to get her attention by bumping her from the A team to the B team. Wright holds no animosity about the strategy because it helped her to realize she had the talent to run at the top level. She was the only thing holding her back. Northside track coach Joe Sanders has been coaching girls track for 16 years, eight of which

photography by Jerry Christenson

have been as the head track coach at Northside. He’s seen his share of teenagers who need a little incentive to get on the right path. With Wright, Sanders says it was obvious from the very beginning that she had a gift to run track and to become good at it. “She didn’t necessarily see it that way when she first arrived. After some time adjusting, making new friends, settling down and adjusting to a brand new coaching staff, she started to change her attitude, work ethic, and perspective about running track at Northside,” says Sanders. Her coach credits Wright’s parents and Northside coach Christopher Porch as being instrumental in helping steer Wright in the right direction, but ultimately Wright had a reality check and made the changes she needed in order to succeed. “It just clicked my junior year. I found out that if I wanted to go college I needed the grades and track to get me there. So, I started focusing on my grades, and I guess I just matured, but it was something I had to do for myself. No one else could do it for me,” she says. Her junior year, Wright rocketed to the top of her game. She broke the school record for the 100-meter dash that had previously been held by former Northside track athlete Heaven Briggs during the Girls State Track Meet in Albany, Georgia. Wright’s new Patriots record stands at 12.29 (outdoor). She also holds the school record for the 60-meter dash at eight seconds (indoor), but she is planning on setting a new school record this year for the 200-meter dash while also looking to best her own record for the 100 meter. Wright is quite certain both of the goals she has set for the 2014 track season are attainable. The 5’3”, 110-pound athlete is lightning fast and has a few accomplishments to her name. According to Sanders, Wright is the defending region champion in the 100m and 200m dash. She has speed, but Sanders feels one of Wright’s greatest strengths is her determination. “Sydney has a very strong will when she wants to do something. She is able to stay focused and set goals that she can attain. She can be very witty, and she gets along well with others,” he says. Wright’s reinvention of herself paid off. Her hard work and talent have earned her a chance to be a collegiate athlete. In January, Wright signed a letter of intent to attend Troy University in Troy, Alabama, as a track athlete. Troy is a Division I school, and Wright is practically giddy about the opportunity she will have beginning in the fall. “I just can’t believe it. It probably will not hit me until I move into my room, but I am so excited! There were two reasons I chose Troy. One, they were the only ones to really act like they wanted me, and two, I just clicked with the coach. And, everything was new there,” she says with excitement. It’s hard to believe the confident and mature young woman of today ever had a few wayward years, but her truthfulness about the road she has traveled is refreshing. She might have redirected her focus, but the honesty still remains to some degree. “I love track because I am good at it,” she says. “Track meets are fun, but I hate practice. It’s very repetitive.” ITG

Jamal Howard Central High School

Presented by:

Player

Spotlight Central High Football Standout Headed to Alabama - To Play Baseball by Robert Preston, Jr. photography by Jerry Christenson

y now most of you have heard of Central High School All-Everything senior Jamal Howard. He’s been one of the most watched young athletes in the Columbus Valley area for a long time. He can do it all, and he can do it all on just about any playing surface, from the football field to the baseball diamond to anything else you can think of. Last year, however, Howard felt as though he needed to make a decision. With his senior year looming, he wanted to focus on one sport and one sport only. In the football crazy South, Howard went against the grain and chose to concentrate on baseball. “When I was younger, I didn’t even like baseball. But once I saw what I could do, all that changed. I fell in love with the game. That happened when I was about 10 or 11 years old,” recalls Howard, Central’s centerfielder. As he matured, the writing was on the wall - Howard was an exceptional athlete who had a future in football, baseball, or both. He put up good numbers during high school as Central’s quarterback, but he felt the irresistible tug of baseball. “I wanted to get really serious about baseball. I had been thinking about playing football in college for a while. People tell me I need to be somewhere running the football,” he says. Just how good of a football player was Howard? He played 10 games under center and threw for 1,270 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 358 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns. The decision to leave football behind wasn’t that difficult for Howard. He had an offer to play for an SEC school, and he is a potential earlyround draft pick in the upcoming Major League 35

Baseball draft. He wanted to get all of this squared away prior to his senior year so he could devote all his energy into becoming the student-athlete he could be. “It was important for me to do this before my senior year. I wanted it out of the way. I chose Alabama after my official visit last summer. I know some of the guys who play there, and it just felt like home,” he says. Howard, who hit .355 with six homeruns, 27 RBIs and 18 stolen bases last year, was 11 games into the 2014 season when he spoke with In the Game. His goals were to hit over .400, steal at least 25 bases, drive in at least 25 runs and hit 15 or more home runs. At the time, he was hitting .330 with a home run, 10 RBIs and two stolen bases. He would also like for Central to make a strong run through the playoffs. His sophomore year, Central went to the semifinals. He would once again like to be one of the last teams standing at the end of the year. “I’ve never won a state title before. I’d like to do that this year,” he says. The big question is whether or not Howard will even make it to the University of Alabama. He is the 159th-ranked baseball player in the country, the nation’s 35th outfielder and the top-ranked outfielder in Alabama. Getting drafted isn’t the issue - it’s where he will get drafted, and if the money will be enough to lure him away from the Crimson Tide. “I’m not

sure what will happen then. I try to block out all the attention and just play baseball. I want to go to Alabama, but we’ll see where I end up in the draft. We’ll decide then,” he says. ITG

Major League team:

Los Angeles Angels

Player: Mike Trout

Bat: Black Marucci

Sport you wish you could play: Golf Person to meet: Mike Trout Favorite thing to do outside of baseball: Fish

Superpower: Fly

Place to travel: Paris At 6’3” and ight not be over. m er re ca ll ba ot fo m to play Jamal Howard’s ze and athleticis si e th s ha y ad re to make the team 215 pounds, he al consider trying he ld ou W l. ve le ach Nick Saban, at the next talked to Head Co ’t sn ha He a? ll, and I think at Alabam out. “I love footba ng hi yt an g lin e a lit tle but he isn’t ru they mess w ith m a, am ab Al At it. at uld I’m pret ty good ere, anything co ain. When I get th ag ll ba ys. ot sa fo he g in ,” happen about play

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer and www.rolltide.com contributed to this story.

Brookstone Cougars Columbus, GA • www.brookstoneschool.org Competitive Riding: The New Sport For Brookstone Students? live animal. Brookstone Equestrian will mean a great deal to these riders. To Elle Turner, a junior rider, the acknowledgement is rewarding. And undoubtedly, it is well-deserved. Last summer, Turner was selected to participate with ten other young riders from across the states. Riders honed their dressage skills with former Olympic athletes Robert Dover, Debbie McDonald, and Jan Ebling, and International rider Shelly Francis. In 2012, Turner received the Shining Star Award, given by the United States Dressage Federation Youth Programs Committee. She is one qualifying score away from earning a Gold Medal with the United States Dressage Federation. Her greatest goal is to take the gold this year. “There is no higher achievement besides getting scores for the Grand Prix Freestyle,” Turner says. Brookstone Equestrians, including students Abbey Johnson, Amanda Schilling, and Geneva Taylor—as well as Turner and Clayton—participate in competitions year-round. Brookstone hopes to acknowledge these competitions as scholastic sporting events— much like basketball tournaments and football games. “I think it’s great that Brookstone is recognizing competitive riding as a varsity sport,” says Victoria Clayton in regard to Brookstone Equestrian. “It’s a big accomplishment.”

Real Martin

by Matt Hunter

“what hard work looks like, and that nothing comes easy.” Just looking at Ramos’s resume tells you that his dad’s words have gone a long way; his entire year is packed with soccer, between his club team, CFC Red Star, and Brookstone in the spring. Over holidays, Ramos has traveled to Spain to train with Real Madrid CF’s Select Program and worked with the Georgia Olympic Development Program since 2010. All of this playing time has afforded Ramos plenty of accolades, including All Bi-city first team as a sophomore and junior, the 2013 Columbus Valley High School Athletic Soccer Award, and selection to the Southwest Georgia High School All-Star Varsity Team in 2011, 2012, and 2013. In the end, Ramos pays most of the credit for his success to his excellent coaches, Coach Tony Frankovich from Red Star, Coach Billy Byrd from Brookstone, and of course, his dad. Without their continual confidence and investment in him, his passion wouldn’t exist, and he certainly wouldn’t have the invaluable opportunity to play at the next level. Division I soccer is a much tougher arena than the high school circuit, but expect much success and hard work from this player. In a year, don’t be surprised to see the name Martin Ramos on the roster sheet for a team with the word “Real” in its name.

Brookstone School

Eighteen years old, 16 years spent playing soccer, and hundreds of goals. Martin Ramos has a knack for dancing around defenders. As a massive Real Madrid fan, Ramos has dedicated his life to his passion and is now signed with the University of South Carolina to continue his soccer journey at the collegiate level. Being a D-1 caliber athlete requires a great deal of talent, but for Ramos, years of sweat, exceptional coaching, and sheer determination have played equal roles in making him one of the best players at his level. As long as Ramos has played soccer, he’s been one of the better players on the field. Weaving his way through the middle of the park and pinpointing weaknesses in defenses is ingrained in him; his supreme confidence over the ball often leaves opponents backing up, afraid of an inevitable missed tackle. He plays the game with charisma and flare that is just as entertaining as it is effective. On the practice field, Ramos has a fantastic work ethic and sets a near perfect example for the rest of his teammates. In fact, middle school players that practice alongside the varsity squad often talk about Ramos as if he were some sort of walking legend. But aside from all of his ability, there’s a part of Ramos’s game that is just as impressive: his dedication. According to him, his dad Jesus Ramos has shown him

Brookstone School

After training with Canadian Olympic Equestrian Kyle Carter, Brookstone senior Victoria Clayton and her horse Jackson were selected to represent Area 3 in the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJRYC). She and her teammates brought home the gold for the CCI One-Star Division. Clayton hopes to return to the Junior Olympics for the CCI Two-Star Division, the highest level of the event. Enter Brookstone Equestrian: a high school organization to honor athletes like Clayton who devote their time to competitive riding. The perk of creating an equestrian organization is that the participants will receive varsity letters, much like in other sports programs. When riders meet the criteria stated by the United States Equestrian Federation’s letter program, Brookstone will recognize and reward them for their accomplishments. The letter itself cannot truly equate to the equestrians’ long hours of practice, dedication, and hard work. It does, however, direct people’s awareness toward competitive riding as a scholastic sport and not simply a hobby. According to the sponsor, Mrs. Dradyn Hinson, in addition to hours and hours of training, showing, and traveling, equestrians also have the responsibility of taking care of their horses and keeping them fit. Riding requires a certain competitive drive, partnership, and a focus for improvement. It’s an exercise in independence, but it’s also an exercise in teamwork—with a

by Michael Gibbes and Gabrielle Resnick

Calvary Christian Knights Columbus, GA â&#x20AC;˘ www.calvaryknights.com A New Beginning For Calvary Baseball son Sellers, Cole Parker, Mason Kent, and Tim Thomas. Sellers is a very versatile player as he will see time as a pitcher, third baseman, shortstop, and second baseman. Parker will play all three outfield positions and work as a pitcher, Kent has taken the reins at first base, and Thomas will see action in left field. The Knights have two sophomores: Garrett McGlamory and Kyle Massey. McGlamory will also be seen playing multiple positions in the infield and outfield and Massey will be found on the mound and at third base. The Knights will have two freshmen starting in shortstop, Cody Russell and second baseman Jon Jon Brown, while also having valuable backup responsibilities for freshman catcher Crawford Ledbetter and outfielder Jake Sammons. Calvary only lost two seniors from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team, so they have a lot of players with varsity game experience heading into the season. There is a ton of excitement in the baseball program this spring. The new coaching staff and players are working hard and have the goal of bringing home a baseball region championship for the first time since 2001 at Calvary.

CalVary Christian

Calvary Christian would like to announce the addition of Steve Smith as the new varsity baseball coach. Coach Smith has an extensive background in coaching baseball and will bring his knowledge and expertise to the Knights program. Joining Coach Smith will be assistant coaches Matt Rossi, Brett Bowers, and McClendon Hill. While under new leadership, the Knights will also be joining a new association this spring. Calvary has joined the GICAA (Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association). The Knights region will consist of Cumberland Christian Academy in Marietta, Harvester Christian in Douglasville, Praise Academy in Powder Springs, and The Campus in Peachtree City. The Knights will be led this spring by two seniors: Andrew Walsh and Trent Burns. Walsh will be seen on the mound as a left-handed pitcher and in centerfield. Burns will be manning the catcher position and will also be seen on the mound. Burns has the opportunity to play on the collegiate level as he has signed with LaGrange College as a catcher for the 2015 season. Joining the seniors will be four juniors: Jack-

by Brian Osborne

Coach’s Corner

Chris Gilstrap Hardaway High School

Success On the Side Later this year, Coach Gilstrap will be inducted into the Columbus State Hall of Fame. He kind of knew this day would come. He had an incredible career in two short years. In two years at Columbus State, he hit .362 with eight home runs and 107 RBI. Fifty-eight of those RBI came in his All American senior year – the same year CSU won the national title. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to this day since I left Columbus State. I’m being inducted with one of my best friends who was also my roommate. This is an incredible honor and I feel like it will finally close the book on my career at Columbus State,” he says. 40

Chris Gilstrap Led Hardaway Hawks as a Player, Now as a Coach by Robert Preston, Jr.

ardaway High School is all Chris Gilstrap has ever known. Literally. Most of his life has been spent in the hallways of the Columbus, Georgia, high school - first as a standout baseball player and now as its head baseball coach. He first stepped foot on campus when he was 13 years old. Now in his 10th season as a coach (seven as an assistant, three as head coach), Gilstrap can’t imagine being anywhere else. “I’m a proud Hardaway alumni. This is the only place I’ve worked since getting into education. Except for four years of college, it’s been the only place I’ve ever been. I’m grounded here and I can’t see myself anywhere else,” he says. That’s good news if you’re a Hardaway baseball player or fan, bad news if your team is on its schedule each spring. When Gilstrap was a player, the Hawks won a region championship and were state runners-up two years in a row. After graduating from Hardaway, Gilstrap went to Young Harris College, where he played two years of baseball in the North Georgia mountains. He returned home to Columbus after finishing at Young Harris, where he was team captain and an eventual All-

photography by Jerry Christenson

American for Columbus State. He was also a member of the 2002 CSU national championship team. He earned All-World Series honors and will be inducted into Columbus State’s athletic hall of fame later this year. When he came back to Hardaway after his playing career ended, the Hawks were still playing pretty good baseball. They were winning 25-30 games per year and making deep playoff runs. Then, in 2007, Hardaway had an off year and that began a downward spiral that took several years from which to recover. Gilstrap spent seven years as an assistant baseball coach (he also coached football and softball) before taking over the program three years ago. His first season as head coach was a difficult one; the Hawks won just nine games and didn’t make the playoffs. For a player and coach used to winning championships, that was a hard pill to swallow. “It was a frustrating year. And thing is, this was a dream job for me. I was well known locally and I had the chance to coach at my alma mater. I didn’t like the way that season turned out,” he says. Two days after the season ended, he met with his players and they enacted a plan to turn around the Hawks’ fortunes. He was

also able to step away from coaching softball, which gave him more time to devote to baseball. Coach Gilstrap saw that his team needed to be more competitive with each other. They also needed more time in the weight room. The added competition and the confidence his players gained from getting bigger and stronger paid off. Early in the 2013 season, the Hawks played LaGrange. It was a close game that came down to the final inning. Hardaway won with a walk-off single that Coach Gilstrap believes was a pivotal moment for his team. “It showed we could win a close game. The year before, we lost 10 one-run games. When we beat LaGrange, we saw we could produce in big situations. That set the tone for the rest of the season,” he says. Hardaway went on to win 25 games and a region title.

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer contributed to this story.

This season, the Hawks are picking up where they left off. At the time of this writing, Hardaway was 4-0 and 1-0 in the region. They were averaging 11 runs per game despite having to re-build the heart of the batting order. “Our guys are playing very confidently. When they play like this, they are very good. They feel like they can win every day,” he says. Now that a sense of respectability has been restored to the Hardaway baseball program, Coach Gilstrap would like to continue this recent run of success. He would like to keep accumulating region championships and become a bona fide state title contender. The Columbus area has a proud baseball heritage and he would like for Hardaway to write another chapter in the valley’s baseball legacy. “This is where I want to be. I love it here,” he says. ITG

Carver Tigers Columbus, GA • www.carverhighschool.com G.W. Carver Baseball The G.W Carver High School Baseball has started the season at 3-0. Junior Javarrius Liddell is listed as a centerfielder and a pitcher. Liddell is a rising star for Carver’s baseball team and is a true talent. He is 16 years old and is a model for what all student athletes should be. The junior is not only excelling on the field, but he is also taking the time to be successful in the

classroom. As of now his current grade point average is 3.8, and he is continuing to blossom in every aspect. Liddell attended East Columbus Middle School and began at Carver in 2011. On the field he is a stellar athlete with blazing speed, a great glove, great bat, and a love for the game of baseball that we want all of our young players to

have. His baseball IQ shows that he is a student of the game, and if he continues to persevere, he will definitely make it to the next level. The main things Liddell brings to the team are commitment, leadership, sportsmanship, and work ethic. Liddell is definitely a trailblazer, and the future undoubtedly holds something big for this young man.

Program, FBLA, and the number one singles player for Carver’s Tennis team. Last year as the number one singles player, Beazer went 9-1,winning all of his region matches and his match at the region playoff. This year he is determined to lead the team to the state playoffs.

Beazer leads by example and sets the pace at practice every day. He takes the time to give pointers to other players to help with their games. He puts in the time at practice and on his own. He is always trying to improve not only his game, but every player on the team.

lead the girls this season and have been working towards getting to the state track meet. All three young ladies participated in the State Track Meet last year. The boys track team will be young this season, but they are excited to begin competing.

The team will depend on several underclassmen this season that have been working hard all winter and are eager to prove that they can compete on a larger level. Some leaders include Quentin Davis, Mekhi Brown, and Curtis Veasley.

Jarib Breazer Jarib Beazer is a junior this year at G.W. Carver High School. Last year as a sophomore he was honored with a spot on the All Bi-City Tennis Team and is anxious for the new season to start to show the improvements he has made on his game in the offseason. He is a member of the Carver’s Magnet

G.W. Carver Track The Tigers and new Head Coach Maurdrice McNeill are excited about the 2014 season. They have been working hard all winter and are excited to start competing. On the girls’ side, Tailar Lake, Tyneisha Quarterman, and Dymon Brown return to help

G.W. Carver Division 1 Signees Name

POS

School

Name

POS

School

Daquarius Williams-Johnson

LB Middle Georgia State College

Luckie Rozier

Point University

Kenneth Dorsey

Middle Georgia State College

Talik Quarterman

Fort Valley State University

Joshua Frazier OL/DL Middle Georgia State College

Drelon Freeman

Fort Valley State University

Garrett Coleman OL

Cordarius Smith OL/DL Fort Valley State University

Middle Georgia State College

Raequan Lowe

WR/P Middle Georgia State College

Timothy Whatley

University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Derrell Hicks

TE/FB North GA. Technical College

Niemus Bryant

Georgia State University

Timothy London

North GA Technical College

Kiante Walton

Indiana University

Dondrell Allen

North Georgia Technical College

Columbus Blue Devils Columbus, GA • www.columbushighga.org Columbus High School Spring Sports - The Start of the Season

Columbus High School

Baseball - The Columbus High baseball team enters this season with high expectations and senior leadership that should propel them into yet another GHSA Playoff spot. This season the Blue Devils are off to a good start with a 3-0 record heading into the Lowndes Tournament where they will face tough competition against several Florida schools. They are led by three seniors: Nick Poskey, Will Bice, and Will Kilgore. These young men have already signed letters of intent to play college baseball at Georgia Perimeter College in Atlanta, which is one of the junior college powerhouses in the state. All three share one common goal, and that is to win another state championship before their departures. Poskey is the man in charge behind the plate, while Bice and Kilgore share time on the mound and in the infield. Leadership and consistency are the keys to their successes this season, with others motivated to fill the void to make this an incredible year. These three seniors have put the Blue Devils team goals ahead of their personal goals. They have made a commitment not only on paper, but to their coaches, team members, families, and community. They are striving to add yet another state championship banner to the wall.

Boys Golf - Once again, the CHS boys golf team is expecting to compete for a chance to win the AAAA State title. The team has placed in the top five in the state tournament for the last 11 years while winning it all in 2010 and 2011 and earning three more runner-up finishes. They have won 12 of the last 13 region titles and had 35 All Bi-city recognitions during that span. The Blue Devils return several starters from last year’s team that finished third at the state tournament, including Stanton Schorr, Patrick Edwards, Carson Cummings, and Turner Butterfield. They also have several freshmen who are expected to step in this year and bolster a strong returning line-up. They include Ben Womack, Daniel Davis, Nolan Miller, Bo Pitts, and Jackson Jones.

Girls Golf - The CHS girls golf team is playing for their 16th consecutive region title this season. All but one of the girls return from last year’s state runner-up team. The Lady Blue Devils are expected to be led by seniors Brett Beavers and SuJin O, as well as sophomore Amy Clark. All three players were selected by the Ledger-Enquirer to the first team all Bi-City last year. The team will field both a varsity and a junior varsity team and are working hard to have another successful season.

Lacrosse - The lacrosse team celebrates its tenth anniversary this year with a promising season ahead of it that already has a fantastic start. There are a total of 48 people playing lacrosse for Columbus this year, filling both the junior varsity and varsity team completely. Two seniors have signed for lacrosse scholarships, while many others have been given offers. Traditionally, JV and varsity are separated by grade level: freshmen and sophomores on JV, juniors and seniors on varsity; however, this year four sophomores and freshmen play with both varsity and JV. Their home games are held at Britt David Park. Last year the varsity team went to the first round of state playoffs, but this year they are hoping to go even further. Boys Soccer - After a successful 2013 season during which the Blue Devils defended their title as city champs but suffered a respectable loss to Johnson County in the state playoffs, the boys soccer team was depleted: nine seniors graduated, and six juniors entered a program which enabled them to begin college a year early. Starting the season with such big holes to fill, the team looked young but has proven to be very strong. Captains Cameron Hite and Brandon Vance motivated the younger players to work hard in practice, and it has certainly paid off. All of players improved; the freshmen class in particular has stepped up to fill the roles that were vacated. Nolan Bidleman, Tristan Shytle , AJ Yerkes,

and Veer Shah help lead the class of 2017 and the team to success. At 4-0, the Blue Devils have a bright start to the season, and the freshmen have a bright start to their high school careers. Girls Soccer - The Columbus girls soccer team entered the season ranked number two in AAAA off of their state runner-up finish last year. With a large veteran group returning, an excellent group of freshmen arriving, and a pre-season win over Westminster, expectations are high this season. With one of the most difficult non-region schedules in the state to prepare them, the Blue Devils hope to capture their 10th region championship and be ready to make a run to their third consecutive state championship game. Boys Tennis - Last year the boys tennis team won the State AAAA Championship. Five seniors graduated in 2013, but seven players returned for the 2014 season. Leading this year’s team is senior Ryan Gordon who finished last season with a 20-1 record playing at number one doubles. The team is working hard this year to develop the players so that they will be able to win the region and make a run for the state title. Already the Blue Devils have started the 2014 season strong by defeating the state class A private school champion Marion County, 3-2, in a hard-fought battle. They have high hopes that their younger players will be able to gain experience and contribute to a successful season. Girls Tennis The girls tennis team made it to the Sweet Sixteen last year in the state playoffs. This year, with four returning starters and a strong freshmen class, the girls hope not only to win the region, but also the state title. The team is led by singles players Madelyn Boren and Abby Courville as well as seniors Kate Mize and Akshaya Shan. The girls have made a strong start to the 2014 season by defeating Marion County 4-1. The season looks promising, and all are excited to see how far this determined group of girls can go. Track and Field - The members of the track and field team are excited about their returning players Bo Bridges, for the 3200, and Brianna Dent, for discus. Besides these two, there are plenty of strong performers this year. As a result, the players and coaches have high expectations and have set challenging goals. These Blue Devils are preparing well by working hard during practice. They are are looking forward to a great season.

Calvary Athlete is an Outside Kind of Guy

by Beth Welch photography by Jerry Christenson

Brandon Wright Calvary Christian School 44

s much as he possibly can, 14-year-old Brandon Wright wants to be outside. Every chance he gets, the eighth-grader at Calvary Christian School enjoys hunting and fishing. It’s no wonder he plays two open-air sports as well. “I’ve always loved being outdoors. That’s just me,” says Wright. Also characteristic of Wright is his love of the two sports he plays. Baseball and football have deep roots in Wright’s life. His early start at playing baseball came from a passion he developed very young at the hands of a somewhat unlikely source. “When I was four years old, my grandmother would have me in the backyard and she would lob it in there and I would hit it as hard as I could. Of course, it didn’t go very far but I tried. It was back then that I started to love baseball,” he says. From there Wright began playing T-ball at Northern Little League at the age of six. He continued in Little League play until the sixth grade when as a 12-yearold his team went as far as the Georgia state championship. Even though Wright’s team didn’t emerge the winner, he has great memories of playing baseball during that time and it prompted him to continue the sport in middle school at Calvary. During the years Wright has played organized baseball, he has seen time at many positions. Most often the right-handed 5’7” athlete has been a catcher, pitcher, and first baseman. His first year in the Knights middle school baseball program, Wright was the starting catcher. He pitched in three games but his favorite place is behind the plate, as catcher, which Wright considers the best seat in the house. Wright considers the position of catcher a leadership position. In his mind, he has a job to do which not only involves watching every play and helping his pitcher, but also keeping his team in the game. He doesn’t call the pitches but Wright still feels a responsibility to lead the team. “In middle school coaches make the calls unless it’s not a very pretty game. If it’s not a very pretty game then I might get to make a few but I like being a leader. I like being in control and making things work,” says Wright. Making things work in baseball doesn’t mean Wright isn’t open to instruction or learning from others with more experience. Last year Wright played infield positions in one JV baseball game. The starting catcher for the JV team recently signed an athletic scholarship to

attend LaGrange College to play baseball. Wright took every opportunity to learn from his teammate’s talent and experience. “I’ve been very fortunate to be behind some great catchers. I’ve learned a lot from them by asking questions about everything you can think of to ask. I learned about throw downs. When you go from Little League when guys can’t steal until the pitch crosses the plate to guys who can steal as soon as pitchers start to pitch, you learn to be quicker, to be faster,” he says. Wright considers his arm strength to be his best asset on the field with his love of the game coming in a close second. He is counting on both to see him through this season on the middle school team and the Junior Varsity team. This spring Wright will be one of three seventhand eighth-graders starting the season on the JV team, according to new Calvary baseball coach Steve Smith. “Brandon will also be dressing for varsity games to provide depth off of the bench and by the end of the year, he could potentially see some time in varsity games,” says Smith. Smith expects Wright to have a productive year as a member of the JV team, where his primary positions will be catcher and first base. There might be a few opportunities for Wright to play third base and spend some time on the mound as a pitcher, which would give Wright a chance to perfect his favorite pitch, the fastball. Already Smith has seen that the young athlete has promise as a high school player. “Brandon has shown his strengths to be his lead-

ership ability with the middle school players. He has quickly picked up our new program that we have implemented this season with our players. His work ethic and drive to get better each day has given our coaches a window into the potential that he has. Brandon will play a big part in the success of the Calvary baseball teams both this year and the next four years after,” Smith says. Next year will be a big year for Wright. As mentioned before, he is a two-sport athlete, playing football in the fall for the Knights. He was the middle school quarterback for both his seventh-grade and eighth-grade seasons and also saw time as a middle linebacker. While he can trace his love of the sport back even further than when he started playing baseball, Wright did not actually participate in football until middle school. “I am a huge Auburn fan. I’ve been going to Auburn games since I was six months old. I have season tickets. I went to both the 2010 championship game and this year’s championship game. I always loved football and wanted to play,” says Wright. His enthusiasm is obvious when he talks about football. When asked which sport is his favorite, Wright hesitates before saying that’s almost too difficult to answer. Both are outdoor sports, both use his leadership skills and both are physical games that require him to be actively involved in every play. Maybe it just comes down to what time of year you ask the question because for Wright. Right now is all about baseball. “I can be having the worst day of my life but when I step between the lines on the field, everything changes. It’s the best day then,” he says. ITG

Getting to know Brandon Family: Parents, Dana and Donna Wright Pets: Eight horses and three dogs Favorite food: Grilled chicken Place to eat: Red Lobster Music: Country Favorite team (college or professional): Auburn; Atlanta Braves Favorite athletes: Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson

Person he would most like to spend a day with: Gus Malzahn Place he would most like to visit: Seattle’s football stadium to see how loud it really is Favorite movie: Facing the Giants Person he most admires: My dad Favorite scripture: Philippians 4:13 Best thing about Calvary Christian School: Bible class

Hardaway Hawks

Columbus, GA • www.hardawayhawks.com

Wrestling Season Ends Well 2013-14 Hardaway Wrestling saw a lot of new and old faces on the mat. Senior wrestlers Xavier Woods, Chris Masenburge, Taylor Stephens, Justin Rich-

by William Thrower ardson, and Cedric Johnson all made their marks by placing in the top four positions of their weight classes in the Region 5A Tournament. These four wrestlers, along with several underclassmen such as Emilio Pagan, Tyler Redmond, and Miguel Masenburge, would go on to qualify for sectionals with hopes of placing in the top eight and thereby making it to the state competition. After a very tough competition at Allatoona

Chris Masenburge, Xavier Woods, Justin Richardson, and Cedric Johnson

A Strong Beginning To The Lady Hawk’s Soccer Season was able to penetrate the goal line. That soccer net is defended by Hardaway’s Alexis Kelly. The hard work the Hawks put in during the offseason is showing. This early success has motivated many of these Lady Hawks to raise the expectations for this season. Hardaway senior April Wolf responded optimistically when asked about the future of this season. “The win streak has been a great way to jump start this season, but we have to stay level-headed and confident if a deep playoff is what we plan on achieving.” Tougher games are to follow for the Hawks with bouts against Brookstone and Northside Columbus. Senior captain Ceci Martinez hopes to lead the team to victory over these tough opponents. “One game at a time” is the Hawks’ approach, and so far it’s been working.

Lady Hawks Soccer Team 2013-2014

by William Thrower Hardaway High School

The Lady Hawks soccer team is kicking the season off right. The Hawks have opened up the year with a six game winning streak and hope to keep the ball rolling. This was a rebuilding year for the Hawks who had lost five seniors, but they pushed through with five starting underclassmen, including one of the two team captains Brett Coleman. The thirst for victory is high this year since the Lady Hawks haven’t had a playoff run in over four years. Big statements have already been made this year with convincing wins over Callaway and Central Phenix City. The key to this early success? When asked, Head Coach Spradlin says, “The offensive pressure early in games is critical. Confidence is key for our young team.” Offense isn’t the only thing leading the Hawks to victory. Out of the six games the Hawks have dominated, only Callaway

High School, Xavier Woods, Chris Masenburge, Emilio Pagan, and Taylor Stephens qualified for state. At the end of a long and arduous season, Woods placed fifth in the 170lb weigh class, and Chris Masenburge placed sixth in the 285lb weight class. The future looks bright for the upcoming season with experienced wrestlers eager to get back on the mat. Wrestlers looking to make their marks at this year’s state competition include Emilio Pagan, Miguel Masenburge, and a host of other eager Hardaway Hawks.

Lady Hawks in Action

Jordan Red Jackets Columbus, GA • www.jordanhs.com All In The Family As one of the oldest schools in Columbus, Jordan Vocational High School has a rich athletic heritage that has enriched one family’s own heritage; the heritage started with Coach Tony Dimitri, Sr., a long time baseball coach and teacher with the Jordan Red Jackets. Visit the baseball field on campus and notice the placards displaying his name, his efforts, and his championships. Coach Dimitri won over 400 games in his career and is in several halls of fame across the state. Building on that foundation are two stand-out names that are all too familiar in the Red Jacket family tradition – Anthony (Tony) Dimitri, Jr., and John Dimitri. The Dimitri brothers played under their father’s tutelage, taking the Red Jackets through many winning seasons. However, Tony Dimitri’s legacy does not end in writing on a score box on a baseball diamond. The heritage of excellence instilled in the brothers by their father is currently being passed down in both the classroom and on the field; the Dimitri boys are teachers and the current baseball coaches in Red Jacket town. According to Coach John, “[Tony Dimitri] always did things the right way. With hard work comes reward. Our father got to live his dream every day of teaching and coaching at the school he graduated. We are also getting to live that dream.”

Coach Tony says, “We are happy to have the last name that he started. We just hope to continue what he has done and build Jordan into a state contender.” And the Red Jackets squad is lucky to have such a legacy. Committed to the character-building program that patriarch Dimitri began almost 30 years ago, Tony and John Dimitri have led the Red Jacket sluggers for three years now, focusing on developing both the player and the man. With discipline and baseball fundamentals, the Dimitri squad represents the Jordan Spirit established long ago when their own father walked the foul lines. Born and raised in Columbus, the duo has been playing baseball for 30 years and coaching for 10, each starting baseball at age five. From little league, to high school, to college, the Dimitri brothers had no real choice in the decision to play baseball. It is in their genes. With a coaching father of over 30 years, the brothers seemed destined to become successful on the diamond. To describe baseball in one word, Tony used history, while John chose unity. The transition from player to coach at the same school, the Dimitri brothers remark, was easy. Both coaches credited their father for the ease. Coach Tony says, “I learned from my dad about the game growing up. Playing for my dad at Jor-

dan was fun. Going back home to coach was easy because I knew the school. Some of the same people are still here coaching. I just had to get a staff together. Now, we as a staff work hard on teaching players the game.” John says, “Each day is a way to learn and get better. Jordan is home; as a coach or player it’s always been about working together and getting the most out of a teammate or a player I’m coaching. It’s important to have a team believe in who you are and the sacrifices you are willing to make with them.” Perhaps the most enduring aspect of passing a legacy along to future generations of players is that hopefully, one day, your own son or daughter can live that legacy. Such is true for the Dimitri family of Jordan High. When asked the most inspiring memory of having a father as a coach, the brothers recalled a senior year battle with higher ranked Hardaway for a playoff berth. The Jordan Red Jackets beat the number nine nationallyranked Hawks in two of three games, earning a trip to the playoffs. Their father proudly proclaimed, “WE SHOCKED THE WORLD!” After the remarkable win, the team had a big dog pile in the middle of the infield, and the brothers left with an inspiring memory. And so, the dog piles continue.

Jordan Vocational High School

Left: John Dimitri , Right: Tony Dimitri

Kendrick Cherokees Columbus, GA • www.khscherokees.org Kendrick High School Spring Sports Young, inexperienced, energetic, motivated, eager to learn, and hard working will be the foundations of the Kendrick High School baseball team this season. The Cherokees have increased the amount of participants this season with 27. Coach Michael Peek is the head coach, and Parise Bailey is the assistant coach. Promising newcomers include pitcher/shortstop Anthony Garrett, and pitcher/catcher/ infielder Eric Newman. The Cherokees hope that their hard work will translate into more wins for the 2014 season. Behind coaches Marilyn Lawton and Kendrick alumnus athlete Ronnie Baker, the Kendrick High

School boys and girls soccer teams expect to have great seasons. With a great group of kids taking the field this season, Coach Lawton says that their hard work will pay off. The year will be difficult, but she hopes that this season will be a successful one. The Kendrick High school golf and tennis teams behind head coaches Lola Farley and Jerry Dukes look to improve on their 2013 finishes. The Cherokees will be young, but the future looks promising for these teams. The boys and girls track teams also look to improve on their 2013 finish. The Cherokee girls track team include veteran sprinters and a host of young

spencer greenwave

new comers who are working hard daily and are eager to take the track. Veteran team members and sectional competitors include Taneshia Chambers and Destine Murph. The Cherokee boys track and field team are the 2012 and 2013 region 5-AA champions. With a host of veteran sprinters and young talent, the Cherokees look to be at the top of the region this season. Veteran returnees and sectional competitors include seniors Antonio Jones, Emmanuel Brown, Marvin Lewis, David Kitchens, Tyrell Griffin, and sophomore Tommy Davis. Davis placed sixth at the state meet in the 400m as a freshman last season.

Columbus, GA • www.spencerhighga.org

Spencer High School Track And Field This season, under the leadership of Coach Janele Deloatch, Coach Marshall Berger, and Coach Calvin Arnold, the Greenwaves are looking forward to an outstanding season. As a school that has both local students and a military influx, the team is a mix of veterans, transfers, and freshmen. This mix of student athletes has created a team with depth and unlimited possibilities. The ladies’ squad is full of potential. Our squad includes Nakia Abron, Rashonda Adams, Katelynn Dennis, Deyja and Miara Elmore, Alexus Griffin, Delvonna and Destinee Hubbard, Janae Lakes, Tanjie Moore, Kia and Kiana Newsome, Louise Skeet, Rayneequa Warner, Jasmaine Watt, Tahzma

Wicker, and Ladaisha Williams. Although we have many veterans on the squad, most will be returning next year. Our seniors include Rashonda Adams, Katelynn Dennis, and Miara Elmore. The ladies are multifaceted, and we should be able to fill many different areas to include sprints, middle distance, distance, and field events. We have a large boys’ squad. Our boys include Christopher Black, Kameron Blackshear, Dontae Bradley, Tae-Dashawne Eubaire, Cleveland Farley, Jermaine Hernandez, Da-Shae Hubbard, Kyle McClendon, Princeton Randall, Jayson Sims, Anthony Smith, Eddie Stafford, Brandon Taylor, Jaylan Thomas, Dayquon Thornton, Daymeonta White,

Tyrei Wicker, Ryan Williams, Michael Williamson, and Benjamin Wright. This team is a mixture of all classifications. Our seniors include Tae-Dashawne Eubaire, Anthony Smith, Eddie Stafford, and Jaylan Thomas. The boys are well-rounded and should perform well in many different areas. The Greenwaves are looking to prepare not only outstanding athletes but outstanding members of society. Through each member’s continual growth, we expect to not only see athletes score well at the regional and state level, but also go on to graduate and pursue higher levels of education. We believe that “we can and we will” achieve the goals that we have set for this season. SpEncer High School

Boys’ Track Team 2013-2014

Girls’ Track Team 2013-2014

Northside Patriots Columbus, GA • www.muscogee.k12.ga.us/northside Teresa Roberts: Renaissance Coach Being Northside High School’s senior school counselor, head cross country coach, and assistant soccer coach, Coach Teresa Roberts has been busy helping students reach their goals on the field and in the classroom. Having been inspired by her students, many of her own coaches, and the coaches she works with, Roberts strives to become the best leader and person she can be. “She is good at balancing being the senior counselor and being a coach. She is a great role model for our student athletes,” says Northside High School principal James Wilson. This commitment to her positions and inner determination to be her best has been admired by multiple coaches and students at Northside.

by Rachel Shehane

When Roberts began working at Northside, there was a need for a new assistant soccer coach. Roberts was interested in coaching and was asked to take the position. Not only did she help with soccer, but she also began to help out as much as she could with the school’s cross country team. The following year, the head cross country coach Coach Cobis called and asked her if she would help coach the team. She accepted the extra coaching job and respected Coach Cobis. “As a new coach, Coach Cobis taught me a lot, and being able to work with him was one of the most beneficial experiences from coaching that year. I still continue to go to him for guidance,” she says. Coach Cobis was not the only person to affect her in her coaching. Roberts says, “I like being able to get out with the kids and get to know them. Being the senior counselor, my job doesn’t get as much interaction with students of all grade levels. Coaching has allowed me to interact with various grade levels and be inspired by the kids on the teams. Their hard work makes me want to be a better role model and continue to guide them.” Her determination to be a role model and be there for the students has made an impact on the student athletes. Northside student Sam Pate runs cross country and plays soccer. She says, “Coach Roberts is always there for me both on and off of the field. She always pushes me to do my best even when I want to quit.” Other members of the soccer

team, Emily Walker and Julie Reynolds say, “Coach Roberts is encouraging and fun to be around. She pushes us to our abilities and has been a great leader for us.” She has also been admired by Coach Tuite and Coach Keller. Tuite coaches cross country with her, and he says that he loves coaching with her because “she really leads by example. She sets high standards, but doesn’t ask for anything out of the students that she wouldn’t do herself.” Coach Keller came to Northside after Coach Roberts and says that Coach Roberts was her first friend and very welcoming: “Coach Roberts is a very well-rounded person with a very positive influence on the girls. She is knowledgeable about the game and dedicated to fitness.” Roberts plans to continue her passion for coaching and counseling. “My goal as a coach is to help my teams win championships and grow both individually and as a team. I hope to help them continue to learn and reach their potential in upcoming seasons.” Roberts is also engaged to be married to Coach Chad Dean, who coaches at Veterans Memorial Middle School. She has bright plans for her future and hopes that as she builds herself up she can use her abilities to strengthen others. Northside High School

Coach Teresa Roberts

Roberts went to high school at Columbus High in Columbus, Georgia. Having a passion for athletics in her youth as well, she ran cross country and played soccer at Columbus. When she began college at West Georgia University, she continued to run on her own and race in events while keeping up with her studies. She majored in psychology and then began to take interest in being a school counselor. She remembered looking up to her old school counselor, Dr. Nelson, who is now the Guidance Director of Muscogee County. His example influenced her to pursue the career. With her career goal in mind, she then received a master’s degree in School Counseling. Roberts coaching NHS Cross Country Team

Congratulations

Glenwood High School Gators the girls basketball team won the 2014 AISA 1-AAA Region Title

Shaw Raiders Columbus, GA • shaw.mcsdga.net/football Shaw Raiders’ Baseball Shaw High School’s baseball team has been preparing for the start of the season with practice, practice, practice, and more practice. With a three hour practice every day since the end of January, the coach has been driving his team hard. This year’s team consists of thirty athletes, including six seniors. Coach Patrick McGregor has high hopes for this year and believes that he has put together an exceptional team. “The kids have been working hard, and they’re excited. It’s been a really good offseason, but now they’re ready to play someone else and show what they can do.” The team also has a strong junior class, and Coach McGregor believes that he has the basis to have an equally strong team next year, as well. Several juniors were described as rising stars on the team and may well take leadership positions next year. Antonio Evans is one of the team’s star seniors.

by Austin Nichols

In the game against Pacelli on February 20, he hit a grand slam, helping lead Shaw into a 17-0 victory. The athlete has been playing baseball since he was seven, starting ten years ago in the Eastern Little League. He began to play baseball because his father also played. “I respect my father. He taught me how to be a man.” This young athlete has a very supportive family, and his dream is to play baseball professionally. His goals are set, and Jacksonville State University is his first choice for college. Isaiah Arnold is another of the team’s shining stars. He is the leadoff batter and plays shortstop defensively. Baseball has been his passion since the age of four. “I was at a crossroads, you know? I loved baseball, but I also liked soccer, and I couldn’t decide which one to play. So I decided on soccer, and my mother took me to the field, and she asked me if it was really what I wanted

to do. I said no, so she took me to the baseball field, signed me up, and it’s been my passion ever since.” Arnold’s parents are divorced, and his father, a military veteran, now lives in Texas. The athlete describes his mother, who is both a military veteran and a breast cancer survivor, as his biggest fan. She supports him through all of his games and decisions, including his college choices. Albany State, LeMoyne-Owen College, and Brewton-Parker College have all offered him scholarships, and although he is flattered, his college of choice is Brewton-Parker, located in Mt. Vernon, Georgia. In college he plans to major in Business Management. After college, he wants to play baseball professionally. Arnold is on the path for success, and he knows how to get there. “As long as I keep my head on straight, and don’t do anything dumb, I’ll be fine.” Shaw High School

Antonio Evans at Shaw’s first game against Pacelli

Isaiah Arnold, shortstop, prepares to play