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IN THE
GAME SOUTHEAST GEORGIA
A MAN OF MANY SPORTS
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$4.00 / Issue
Alex Colon Glynn Academy
Madison Lloyd Ware County
April 2017
THE SLIDER SPECIALIST
BE AGGRESSIVE
In The Game | 1
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In The Game | 3
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IN THIS ISSUE 8 The Slider Specialist Alex Colon Glynn Academy
29 U-Haul Season for Football Coaches in Southeast Georgia
12 Blazing His Own Trail Andrew Evans Pierce County High School
14 Pirates Play for Second Title
30 A Man of
Brunswick High School
34
Many Sports
Benji O’Neal Brantley Middle School
16 Wrestling Champions 34 Be Aggressive 22 Books and Birdies Chase Weathers and Thacher Neal Camden County
Madison Lloyd Ware County
8 22
11 19
Postseason Basketball Awards
21 37
Basketball Alumni Hoop it Up for the Hall of Fame
Ware County
Soccer Programs Taking Off Bacon County
Pierce County
Cribb Named New Football Coach Wayne County
In The The Game Game || 55 In
FROM THE PUBLISHER
TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS!
I do believe we’ve seen the last of the cold weather for 2017. It’s officially spring on the calendar and Easter is just around the corner. The sports of spring are in full swing and are in the heart of their schedules as each team tries to position itself for a playoff run. There are big showdown series in baseball with region implications on the horizon for several classifications. Appling, Brantley, and Pierce are exchanging blows in AAA each beating the other trying to via for the top spot in Region 2. In soccer we have a battle for first between Glynn Academy and Richmond Hill as they vie for the top spot in Region 2-AAAAAA and the Okefenokee Golf Club and the Ware County Gators are gearing up to host the Area Championship in May. It’s all happening here in SEGA and In The Game will keep you up to speed. If you’ve been around baseball you’ve heard people say that pitching is a craft. Not just mechanics and technique but subtle nuances in timing and mimicking body movements. Glynn Academy’s senior pitcher Alex Colon is honing his craft with every appearance on the mound. Colon’s favorite pitch, the slider, is a big part of his success. It is the pitcher's pitch, one thrown only by true craftsman of the mound. Do yourself a favor and catch one of his games and watch Colon master his craft. Camden County has a pair of student-athletes winning on the courses and classrooms of SEGA. Thacher Neal and Chase Weathers are scoring low on the golf course and high in the classroom. The two are only ju-
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niors but they are solid students. Neal is ranked 69th in his class and Weathers carries a 4.23 weighted GPA. On the course, they are leaders of their Wildcat golf team. A role their coach has encouraged even though they are just juniors. They have the resumes to back up that leadership role having both already scored holes in one in their relatively short playing careers. An ole adage is “Never be the man who follows THE Man" but our Coaches Corner relishes that opportunity. Andrew Evans is the new head baseball coach at Pierce County High School. He takes over for legendary coach Greg Gay who had great success coaching the Bears. Evans was a part of that staff who won all those games and made all those playoff runs and knows the history of Bears baseball making him the perfect fit to replace coach Gay. In addition he knows the talent level and the players donning those Pierce County uniforms making it a little easier decision to be the man who follows the man. Football, basketball, track, and tennis are the only four sports Brantley Middle School's Benji O’Neil plays because it is physically impossible to do anymore. Benji considers himself a two “S” guys. Sports comes down to Speed and Strategy. As far as speed, he has that covered running a 4.75 second 40-yard dash. But he also loves the analytics of sports. Breaking down your opponent’s mindset so you can gain the advantage and strategizing a winning game plan. Benji considers football his favorite sport and he hopes to one day fill the shoes of the electrifying Heron QB Mikel Collins at Caney Bay. Every soccer team needs a banger. Meet Madison Lloyd of Ware County High School. When
you ask players what they like best about playing soccer and you get the answer “you can be aggressive and it’s acceptable” you’ve found your banger. Madison started soccer as a defender but has moved from a defensive mid-fielder to winger. Coach Cook looks to Madison to be a leader on the field for the Gators as well as the occasional aggressive banger. We hope you enjoy reading In the Game as much as we enjoy producing and publishing it. We would like to thank our friends at the Georgia High School Football Historians Association (ghsfha.org) for their assistance. We are always open to suggestions as well as story ideas or ways you think we can improve our magazine. Please visit our website at www.inthegamesportsnetwork. com and Facebook at www. facebook.com/inthegamenation. Follow us on Twitter @SEGAInTheGame and on Instagram at inthegamesega. You can now keep up with all the Friday Night scores across SEGA and the state with our new partner App Scorestream. Download the scorestream app at Google Play or the Appstore today. Join us every Thursday evening live from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. as we broadcast live from Firehouse Subs in Waycross. Listen to “In the Game on Radio” on WWUF 97.7 FM or stream the show live on www. waycrossradio.com. While you’re online, don’t forget to nominate a deserving student-athlete or coach for one of our feature articles. You’ll be glad you did.
Email us at info@itgsportsnetwork.com to let us know what you thought of the March edition of ITG!
Contributors Publisher Shawn Smoak Editor Mark Dykes Graphics Mandy Douthit Cover Photography Michael Brinson Feature Photography Jennifer Carter Johnson Michael Brinson Feature Writers Rob Asbell John DuPont John Wood Copy Editor Cole Parker
Anna Limoges
Advertising/Marketing Shawn Smoak shawn@itgsportsnetwork.com Mark Dykes mark@itgsportsnetwork.com Website Manager Cole Parker SEGA Prep Sports P.O. Box 2960 Waycross, Ga. | 31502 Corporate Office: Dykes Media Group LLC P.O. Box 812 Valdosta, Ga. | 31603 In the Game is published monthly (excluding July). The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without consent from the publisher. Dykes Media Group, LLC 2017 makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2015 Dykes Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.
In The Game | 7
The Slider Specialist Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Michael Brinson
The slider: a pitch feared in Major League Baseball for its uncanny ability to freeze batters who can’t tell if it is a fastball or a curve. Pittsburgh Pirate Hall of Famer Willie Stargell once compared hitting a slider to “trying to drink coffee with a fork.”
Imagine seeing the lethal pitch at the high school level. Sliders are what opponents of Glynn Academy have been facing – unsuccessfully – since last season. The slider is the specialty of Terrors senior pitcher Alex Colon. “I want the batter to see the same arm slot and mechanics as the fastball,” he said of his best pitch. According to Dickson’s Baseball Dictionary, a slider is a breaking pitch that tails down in the strike zone. It is thrown faster than a curve ball but slower than a fastball. When thrown by a right-handed pitcher, like Colon, the slider breaks down and away from a right-handed batter and down and in on a lefty. “Alex always had a lot of ability and tremendous stuff on the mound,” said Glynn Academy head baseball coach Greg Roberts. “Over the last year he has really learned the craft of pitching. He has learned how to control his body and command different pitches effectively.” Colon is a finesse pitcher who is able to throw hard with a lot of movement on his pitches. These abilities make Colon a formidable pitcher, but hard work has also developed him
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into a solid hitter and infielder. Next year the 6’3”, 175-pound righty will take his talents to Augusta University, where he will throw sliders for Jaguars coach Chris Howell while majoring in computer science. While he had looks and offers from other schools, Augusta University was just the right fit. “I love the older style of the campus as well as the field,” Colon said. “From the moment coach Howell and I met, I felt like we really connected. He cares about me and the goals I am striving for.” Colon signed his National Letter of Intent to play at Augusta University last November during the NCAA’s early signing period. The son of Alberto and Hope Colon, Alex has a 3.5 GPA at Glynn Academy and was an ambassador to the Glynn County Sports Hall of Fame. Anyone who has been to a Terrors baseball game at Edo Miller Park in Brunswick has seen his parents at every game.
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FIRST-ROUND PICKS
“My mom tends to slack off some games, but I still love you mom,” he said. “My dad always pushes me to be the best me I can be, whether it’s on the field or off.” Like most boys, Colon grew up playing many different sports: soccer, football, basketball, and baseball. But above all, baseball has been his key to success. “I’ve been playing baseball ever since I could remember,” he said. His baseball career started when a well-known travel ball team called the Nationals asked his father if Colon would like to play with them in a tournament, a huge opportunity for any up and coming
prospect. It was there that coach Sidney Bowdoin taught the young Colon much more than just baseball. “From day one he taught me work ethic, hard work, and how to love and respect the game,” Colon said. Playing with seasoned athletes also pushed the young Colon to get better. In a close district championship game, he hit a grand slam and followed it with a two-run homerun. He also had the opportunity to play in a tournament in Cooperstown, New York, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. By the time he was playing in middle school, he was good enough to be one of the few who made the
“From day one he taught me work ethic, hard work, and how to love and respect the game,” Colon said.
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A fan's guide to identifying pitches
team as seventh-graders. In high school he gave up other sports and focused solely on baseball.
Fastballs
Changeups
“I am mainly a pitcher but can also play anywhere on the infield a coach needs me,” Colon said.
“I want the batter to see the same arm slot and mechanics as the fastball.” — Alex Colon
Breaking Balls
Information courtesy of lokeshdhakar.com/
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He made the Terrors varsity team his freshmen year but got his big chance at the beginning of last season when Roberts was looking for a third starting pitcher to go along with Chad Wallen and Will Bowdoin. Colon became a steady presence on the mound well into the playoffs. As a junior in his first year in the starting pitching rotation, Colon went undefeated and was named All-Region Pitcher of the Year. His most memorable game came last season at the start of the state playoffs. Colon had never been to the playoffs, and not only did he play, but he pitched the first game and ended up getting the win. Colon’s favorite part of the game is connecting with his Terror teammates like Will Bowdoin, who he sees as one of the hardest working players on the team. “He is an outstanding athlete and works extremely hard,” Colon said. “My goal is always to work as hard or harder than him. This is not a simple task.” As a senior, Colon began developing new skills in team leadership. “If I had to pick one player that I could mold and bring back each year to show other players how to do it right, it would be Alex,” Roberts said. “Alex has been one of the hardest working players I’ve ever coached. He is 100 percent all the time. He never takes reps off and is always looking to gain an advantage.”
WARE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
POSTSEASON BASKETBALL AWARDS Written by: Rob Asbell | Photography courtesy of WCHS
BASKETBALL
Following a stellar 25-5 season for the Ware County girls basketball team of coach Mandy Lingenfelter, the postseason accolades piled up. Junior Shondell Vickers was selected to the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association's All-State girls team for South AAAAA. Junior Arviniece McDonald was selected as an alternate. Vickers will also play in the junior all-star game on April 1 at Brunswick High School. Lingenfelter was selected to be the head coach of the South AAAAA All-Star team. Vickers was also named to the All-Region 2-AAAAA first team with sophomore Mataea Boyd. Lady Gators senior Kennedy Sanders was named to the second team.
BASEBALL
Coach Tony Yeomans’ Gators baseball team faced strong competition this year during a tough season. Despite wins over Glynn Academy, Appling, and Brantley, Ware fell on hard times on the diamond until they started region play against Statesboro. The Gators swept three games from the Blue Devils with shutouts in two of the games. All Ware County baseball games are broadcast live on the radio. You can listen to all the Gators baseball action with legendary coach James Conley and In the Game SEGA publisher Shawn Smoak on WWUF, 97.7 The Wolf.
TRACK AND FIELD
At the Seventh Annual Swamp Relays held at Ware County High School on March 11, coach Alesia Gibson's girls track team fared well. Arviniece McDonald took second in the girls 100-meter and third in the 200. The Lady Gators also took second in the 4x400-meter relay and third in the 4x100 relay. In the field events, Tyteyannah Bailey took second in the long jump, while senior Traveshia Birden took third in the discus. For the boys, Matthew Hamilton took second in the 800, Logan Millard took second in the 3,200, and the boys relay teams took second in the 4x400 and third in the 4x200.
In the field events, Tre Cobb won the discus with Jordan Howell finishing second. Austin Sweat took second in the pole vault for the Gators. Ware County will host the Region 2-AAAAA track meet in mid-April with the state tournament scheduled for May 11 at Carrollton High School. In an 11-team home meet a few days after the Swamp Relays, the Gators boys finished first, and the Lady Gators took second behind Jeff Davis County. Among the top finishers for the Gators were the No. 1 4x100 relay team of Bailey, Mataea Boyd, Demya Gibson, and McDonald. McDonald finished second in the 200; Chyna Bacon was second in the 300-meter hurdles; Bailey finished second in the long jump; Hannah Boggan was second in the pole vault; Bre Etheridge was third in the triple jump; Kayla Youngblood finished third in the 1,600; and the 4x400 relay team of Bacon, Gibson, Shanya Washington, and Youngblood finished third. For the Gators boys, Tre Cobb won the discus, while Howell finished second. Austin Sweat won the pole vault followed by Hudson Spurlock and Kooper Thomas. Logan Millard was first in the 3,200 and second in the 1,600. In the 400, Sharod Cobb took first with Shaquan Bellamy finishing third. Sharod Cobb also won the 300, and Alex Sayles was second in the 200. The meet included teams from Berrien County, Brunswick, Coffee County, Colquitt County, Glynn Academy, Pierce County, Jeff Davis, McIntosh County Academy, Lanier County, and Valdosta.
Blazing His Own Trail Written by: John DuPont Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson
Growing up in Milledgeville, Andrew Evans displayed indicators of a successful baseball career. A standout at Baldwin County High School, he also achieved great success for Georgia College and State University. There, Evans helped lead the Bobcats to three conference titles, a southeast regional title, and a berth in the Division II College World Series. These days, Evans is earning acclaim as the head baseball coach at Pierce County High School. His Bears ranked second in the state heading into spring break in what has been a
successful passing of the torch from longtime PCHS skipper Greg Gay.
“For the most part, I’d say we’ve been a case of ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’” Evans said. “There are a few things here and there that are different now. For example, some practices have been formatted a little differently, and we might play a little more competitive games at practice. We also brought back the JV this year; that’s a positive step. But what Greg
did worked well for him, and what I tried to do was take everything he taught me, tweak it, and make it my own.” Under Gay’s direction, PCHS won 250 games in 10 seasons while winning several region titles and setting numerous records. Evans served as an assistant during the last four seasons and helped PCHS win three region titles and two Elite Eight berths. The Bears also finished in the top 10 three times, earning state playoff berths each year. For his efforts, Evans was a three-time recipient
of the Region 1-AAA Assistant Coach of the Year Award. Gay retired from the dugout following last season to pursue an administrative career, and PCHS quickly tapped Evans to carry on the winning ways.
“Personally, I feel very fortunate to have a mentor like Greg and to have worked under him,” Evans said. “Not only was he extremely good at what he did, he also was a very good teacher and took time and was patient to work with me. He taught me more than just x’s and o’s. No doubt he’s one of the best to learn from, and I feel blessed to have worked for him for so long.” Evans cultivated his own formula for success that saw the Bears win their first three games and six out of their first seven en route to a 14-5 mark (4-0 region) heading into March 31. And like his mentor, he has not been afraid to use unconventional means. For example, he installed senior journeyman Kris Wishall – primarily a courtesy runner heretofore – as the everyday centerfielder and bestowed upon him the title of captain. Evans also used senior transfer Cody Grant, the team’s starting catch, as a long reliever. The righthander picked up the win in a come-from-behind, 7-5 region win over Tattnall County on March 24, tossing 4 ⅓ scoreless innings, striking out four while walking just one, and yielding just two hits. Two other seniors – starting shortstop Stetson Bennett and outfielder/ pitcher Walker Reddish – solidified the lineup. Two of the team’s college commits, infielder Klay Allen (Georgia Southern) and outfielder Cody Williams (North Carolina), both juniors, have been critical
pitching mainstays. Juniors Blake Bishop, Ben Tuten, and Walker Sinclair complement the regular starting lineup. Elsewhere, Nick Golub, Bryce Bowen, Tanner Bryant, Ben Baker, Johnny Waters, Derrin Cox, and Blane Jowers all contributed to the team’s success. “The people in the community really support us, but they don’t always see what these boys go through on a daily basis,” Evans said. “They work extremely hard, and it shows most of the time on the field. The thing I would want the community to know is that these boys are working hard to represent what this community is. The entire school system goes with ‘Excellence is the standard’ as its motto, and these boys strive to be excellent at what they do. We don’t want to just be good; we want to be excellent. And that goes all the way across the school system and all the way across the community. We’re just trying to keep up that image that everyone else has put forth. And if we can add a little bright spot here and there, that’s what we want to do.” Practicing what he preaches, Evans always displayed a personal commitment toward academics. A high school honor graduate, he was named to the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll several times at GCSU, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a master’s in kinesiology. Evans now works daily with high-risk academic students at the PCHS alternative school. He holds certifications in special education (K-12), middle school science, and physical education. Evans was recognized by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as the area FCA’s Coach of the Month. He is engaged to Lacie Dowling, the head girls basketball coach at PCHS. They will tie the knot this summer. Already a rising star in the coaching ranks, Evans has every reason to expect an equally promising future, and his confidence
remains high regarding PCHS baseball. He is particularly appreciative of his staff, which includes assistants Jacob Evors and Tyler Rogers, as well as the Bears character coach, Lynn Harris, and trainer, Marlin Brown.
“Winning is important, but I think a lot of people focus on just winning,” Evans said. “In my short experience, if you simply go after the winning, it’s not going to work as well as trying to make them better and trying to make them the best team they can be. But if you do the things right with the boys and you put the work in, you put the time in, and they know that you care about them, the winning takes care of itself.”
In The Game | 13
Pirates Play for Second Title Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Jamie Knowles
For the second time in three years, the Brunswick High Pirates basketball team made it all the way to the big show. This time, the state championship eluded them. Coach Chris Turner’s Pirates went head to head with Langston Hughes High School from Fairburn, Georgia, for the 2017 GHSA Class AAAAAA championship. Unfortunately for the blue and gold, they came out on the losing end of a 73-52 contest. “We are really proud of the Pirates and what they were able to accomplish this year,” Turner said. “The team got better every day, and our players and coaches brought their best every day in practice. We also played a very tough schedule that ended up helping us advance all the way to the championship.” The championship game was played at the 10,000-seat Stegeman Coliseum at the University of Georgia in Athens. A large contingent of those in attendance were from the Golden 14 | itgsportsnetwork.com
Isles cheering on their Brunswick team. Despite 14 points by Marcus Scott and 10 each from Kymani Dunham and Derrick Lampkin, the Pirates lost control of the game in the fourth quarter and were outscored by the Panthers 26-8 in the final stanza. Langston Hughes, which had the lead most of the game, was led by 26 points from Landers Nolley, a junior with offers from nearly every major college program in the nation. It has been four long months and 32 games since the Pirates began their journey toward a second state title run. It started in November with an 86-73 overtime win against Savannah power Johnson High School. During the season, Brunswick split a pair of games against Liberty County and their star, Auburn signee Da-
vion Mitchell. They also defeated Beach High twice and took two out of three against crosstown rival Glynn Academy. One of Brunswick’s few losses this season was to Ohio school Olentangy Liberty at a tournament in Gwinnett County. Brunswick boasted its own star player, center and In the Game January cover athlete Kymani Dunham, who was strong in the post all year. Dunham signed on for a scholarship to play at the College of Charleston next year. Brunswick won the Region 2-AAAAAA championship by beating Effingham County in the tournament final just a week after they had lost to the Rebels. With a No. 1 seed, the Pirates then made an improbable run through the state playoffs, first defeating Forest Park and then getting a two-point
GOLF PROFORMANCE
WAYCROSS
victory over Dacula. A big win over Tobias Oliver and Northside Warner Robins led to a final four berth at Fort Valley State University, where the Pirates beat North Cobb to get to the championship game. In 2015 the Pirates defeated Allatoona to win the Georgia Class AAAAA championship under coach Turner. “After not making the tournament last year, our program was on a mission to get back and make a run in the playoffs,” Turner said. “Even though we didn’t win it all, we got the opportunity to play for it, and that’s all you can ask for.” The 2017 championship game marks the final high school court appearances for Pirate seniors Kymani Dunham, Derrick Lampkin, Danijah Gammage, Wiley Golden, Deandre Delegal, and Chris Reid. Brunswick ended the season at 23-9 and ranked second in the state.
“I want to thank all our players, coaches, administration, teachers, radio stations, and fans for the amazing support we received during this run,” Turner said. “Our fans and community were behind us the entire way, and I’m forever grateful. Hopefully through a great basketball team and season, our fans and community have grown and gotten closer.”
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Wrestling Champions Todd Carter
CHAMPION, 113 POUNDS, AAA FRESHMAN — PIERCE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Years wrestling: Five. Toughest match this year: State championship match. Favorite move: Does not matter as long as I am on the mat. Favorite thing about wrestling: The feeling of your hard work paying off. Who inspires you and why? I do not have just one person. My whole support system (family and friends) help inspire me to do my best. I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of this amazing sport.
FAVORITES Food: Japanese. Drink: Milk. College Team: Iowa wrestling. Pro Player: David Taylor. Movie: “Jarhead.” Video game: “Call of Duty.” School subject: Science. Pets: Dogs. Place to travel: Gulf of Mexico.
Gage Clark
CHAMPION, 126 POUNDS, AA JUNIOR — TOOMBS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Years wrestling: Seven. Toughest match this year: Veterans. Favorite move: Roll through tilt. Favorite thing about wrestling: The grind. Who inspires you? My mother. Superpower you would like to have? Fly.
FAVORITES Food: Mexican. Drink: Dr. Pepper. Pro Team: Atlanta Falcons. College Team: Georgia Bulldogs. Pro Player: Julio Jones. Movie: “Top Gun.” Video game: “Black Ops.” School subject: History. Pets: Duke (dog). Place to travel: Bahamas.
Tyler Crew
CHAMPION, 113 POUNDS, AAAAAAA SOPHOMORE — CAMDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Years wrestling: Six. Favorite move: Front headlock. Favorite thing about wrestling: It is one-onone competition. Who inspires you and why? Family and coaching staff. They have supported me from the beginning.
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FAVORITES Food: Reese Cups. Drink: Dr. Pepper. College Team: Washington and Lee University. Movie: “Fast & Furious.” School subject: Government. Pets: Pit bull named Scrub. Place to travel: New York City.
Nicholas Krug
CHAMPION, 106 POUNDS, AAAAAAA SOPHOMORE — CAMDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Years wrestling: Six. Toughest match this year: Semifinals match at Clash of the Titans versus Briar Jackson. Favorite move: Power half. Favorite thing about wrestling: The competitiveness and the fact that you hardly ever have to rely on anyone else to win. It is all on you. Superpower you would like to have: Ability to fly. Who inspires you and why? Jesse Marunde is one of the most influential people on my life. He was a world strongman who passed away in 2007. He was a very good friend of my dad’s, and I have early memories of him placing very highly at strongman competitions all over the place. He also showed me very early that with a good work ethic you can achieve your goals, and he did just that. He was very inspiring in his example of how to be a great man and a great athlete as well. Without his great early guidance, I would not be the wrestler or young man I am today.
FAVORITES Food: Doughnuts. Drink: Code Red Mountain Dew. Pro Team: Pittsburgh Steelers. College Team: Stanford. Pro Player: Antonio Brown. Movie: “John Wick.” School subject: Science. Pets: Dog named Cooper. Place to travel: Mountains of Alaska.
Brandon Orum
CHAMPION, 120 POUNDS, AAAAAAA JUNIOR — CAMDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Years wrestling: 2 ½. Toughest match this year: Semis match at the state tournament. Favorite move: High crotch. Favorite thing about wrestling: The challenge of determining who's the better wrestler between just me and my opponent. Superpower you would like to have? Flying. Who inspires you and why? My parents because they both inspire and motivate me to do my best in all aspects of life.
FAVORITES Food: Steak. Drink: Dr. Pepper. Pro Team: Pittsburgh Steelers. College Team: Georgia Bulldogs. Pro Player: Lebron James. Movie: “The Longest Yard.” Video game: “NBA 2K17.” School subject: Math. Pets: A dog named Fireball and a cat named Cain. Place to travel: The Bahamas.
Ricardo Santana
CHAMPION, 120 POUNDS, AA SOPHOMORE — TOOMBS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Years wrestling: Three. Toughest match this year: State championship match. Favorite move: Low singles. Favorite thing about wrestling: Competition and hard work. Superpower you would like to have? Telekinesis. Who inspires you and why? Isaiah Martinez ‘cause when it got hard he did not run away from the pain; he pushed through it.
FAVORITES Food: Buffalo wings. Drink: Lemonade. Pro Team: Barcelona. College Team: Florida Gators. Pro Player: [Lionel] Messi. Movie: “Furious 7.” Video game: “FIFA.” School subject: Math. Pets: Dogs. Place to travel: Puerto Rico.
In The Game | 17
Sangobunmi “Bunmi” Smith CHAMPION, 170 POUNDS, AAAAAAA SENIOR — CAMDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Hardest Match: I felt confident this year with all of my matches, [so] none. Favorite Move: Super duck. Favorite thing about wrestling: It’s a great character builder and keeps me focused. Superpower: To be able to fly. Who inspires you and why: My coach...Coach Wilder. He's known me for a long time. He believes you can get better every day with hard work. He's never given up on me.
FAVORITES Food: Pancakes. Drink: Blue Gatorade. Pro team: Falcons. College team: Gators. Pro player: Odell Beckham Jr. Movie: “Transformers.” Video game: “NBA 2K.” School subject: Math. Pets: My dogs. I enjoy raising them from puppies into good hunting dogs. Place to travel: Florida.
Denton Spencer
CHAMPION, 145 POUNDS, AAAAAAA SENIOR — CAMDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Years wrestling: Eight. Toughest match this year: Brandon Graves finals. Favorite move: Low single or power half. Favorite thing about wrestling: Everything but the weight cut. Superpower you would like to have: Read minds. Who inspires you and why: Logan Stieber just because I've always loved watching him wrestle and just too see how hard he works is inspiring to me.
FAVORITES Food: Steak. Drink: Aloe water. College Team: Gardner-Webb University. Movie: “Captain America: Civil War,” School subject: World history. Pets: Four dogs. Place to travel: I want to go to the Philippines.
Antonio Stewart
CHAMPION, 195 POUNDS, AAAAAAA SENIOR — CAMDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Years wrestling: Seven. Toughest match: Semifinals at state. Favorite move: “Ball and chain.” Favorite thing about wrestling: Prepares you for life. Superpower you would like to have: Teleportation. Person who inspires you and why: Conor McGregor. His motto is cocky in prediction, confident in preparation, but always humble in victory or defeat.
FAVORITES Food: All food. Drink: Sprite. Pro team: Atlanta Falcons. College team: Florida Gators. Favorite player: Jarrad Davis. Movie: “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Video game: “Battlefield 1.” Class: History. Singer: Pit bull. Place to visit: Russia.
Raydan Wilder
CHAMPION, 138 POUNDS, AAAAAAA SOPHOMORE — CAMDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
18 | itgsportsnetwork.com
Years wrestling: Eight. Toughest match this year: Logan Smith of Archer in sectional finals. Favorite move: Roll through tilt. Favorite thing about wrestling: Team bond, friends, trips, and winning. Superpower you would like to have? Telekinesis. Who inspires you and why? Martin Luther King Jr. inspires me because he showed that by maintaining a positive mindset and continuously working you can overcome any challenges or difficulties that life may present you and achieve your goals.
FAVORITES Food: French fries. Drink: Sweet tea. College Team: Florida State University. School subject: History. Pets: One dog, Mocha. Place to travel: Taiwan (Southeast Asia).
BACON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
SOCCER PROGRAMS TAKING OFF Written by: Rob Asbell | Photography by: Debra Tanner
The brand new soccer programs at Bacon County High School are only in their second season of play. The boys won two matches in their inaugural season last year, and the girls are coming into this season looking for their first win. “This year I would like to see our boys team have a few more wins at the end of the season,” boys coach Cliff Hutto said. Bacon County does not have an organized recreational soccer program, so many people in the Alma area have never been exposed to the game. For many of the players, this is their first time playing together on a team.
“With that in mind, we are already starting out behind the 8-ball,” Hutto said. “This year we focused on conditioning our student-athletes so that they would be ready for the rigorous demands that the sport of soccer puts on the body.” On the other end of the practice field is the girls team. The ladies could not break into the win column last season, so they came into the spring still seeking their elusive first win, which came March 8 against Montgomery County 5-2. “Before the game, I showed the girls what the ‘streak’ was up to, which was 21 straight losses,” girls soccer coach Ryan Morgan said. “I challenged them to change the streak to ‘W-1.’ They responded well to that challenge.” The Lady Raiders did not take long to jump ahead. Just 30 seconds into the match, sophomore exchange student Laetitia Schwarz scored her first goal and then went on to score three more, making her the all-time leading scorer in Bacon County girls soccer history. “She has been an amazing surprise,” Morgan said. “She’s one of our captains and one of our play makers.” Senior Tana Bennett added another score. The defense and midfielders played well, and the Lady Raiders were up 4-0 at the half. “I made a lot of subs in the second half,” Morgan said. “Every girl on the
team played at least 20 “At offense we are reminutes, and I believe they turning Roberto Fernanwill benefit greatly from dez, Dylan Kelley, Ronaldo that.” Juarez, Pablo Bocanegra, Morgan knows that the first and Michael Rich,” Hutto goal was to win that first said. “On defense we have game. Jorge Lopez, Richard Pitti, “My hopes for this year J.R. Smith, and Ron Woodare that we can make “Our hope is that we can continue s o m e to play schools with established noise in reprograms in order to strengthen gion play our program,” Hutto said. and play into the second day of our region all that are returning.” tournament,” he said. Of the nine returning Region 2-AA is made starters, only three are seup of Vidalia and Toombs niors. County, who are always “As a coach of a new prostrong along with St. Vin- gram, this is what makes cent’s of Savannah, Bryan our future promising: havCounty, Metter, Jeff Davis ing a young team that will County, and Swainsboro. continue to progress toOn the boys side, the gether through their high Raiders came together as school years,” Hutto said. a team and are improving One missing piece from every day. Hutto’s team last year was the loss of a has a few starters return- senior goalkeeper. A freshing from last year, each of man, Ramon Gonzalez, whom will have an impact stepped into the position on play. for the Red Raiders.
The Red Raiders ladies team returns impact players Cheyenne Taylor, Moriah Holton, Keely Ingram, and Yaritzi Flores. “Moriah has made the move from goalkeeper to midfielder,” Morgan said. “Taylor Tomberlin has stepped in at goalkeeper and has done a fantastic job.” Playing in such a tough region, the Raiders scheduled difficult non-region opponents to help them prepare for Region 2-AA. Larger schools such as Coffee and Ware put Bacon County’s soccer teams to the test. “Our hope is that we can continue to play schools with established programs in order to strengthen our program,” Hutto said. “I am very proud of the group of young men that I have.”
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PIERCE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
BASKETBALL ALUMNI HOOP IT UP FOR THE HALL OF FAME
P
Written by: John DuPont | Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson It was a true blast from the past for basketball-playing alumni who gathered in Blackshear on March 16. The upstart Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame invited all graduates of Pierce County High School, as well as those from the pre-consolidation era schools – Blackshear High, Lee Street High, and Patterson High – for a reunion game to raise money for the HOF. The event was co-hosted by the Pierce County Recreation Department. “It was just like old times for these ladies and men this evening,” HOF board member Diann Strickland said. “Some of them were here more than an hour before tipoff, ready to go. And some of them are already talking about coming back next week for their own pick-up game. We appreciate them lending their talents once more to Pierce County, and it looks like they enjoyed getting back out there again on the court. Everyone apparently had a lot of fun.” Longtime area coaching legends Genevive Strickland Pope and Wayne Sasser strode
the sidelines once more. Both coached at Patterson High School and later at PCHS. Former Blackshear High coach Wes Bennett, who later served as principal at PCHS, was also named an honorary coach for the event. Marlin Brown, the certified athletic trainer for PCHS, served in that same capacity for the all-star event. The following players competed in the women’s game: Jennifer Carter Johnson (PCHS, 1992), Stephany James Smith (Patterson High and PCHS, 1982), Carrie Myles Jackson (PCHS, 1983), Lori Altman Marx (PCHS, 1998), Kathy Watkins Bradley (PCHS, 2000), Lisa Aldrich (PCHS, 1987), Kathy Jacobs (Blackshear High, 1975), Millie Knowlton Walker (Patterson High, 1979), Nancy Tyre As-
pinwall (Patterson High, 1971), Ala Mae Myles (Patterson High and PCHS, 1983), Wendy Bennett Puryear (PCHS, 1987), and Lori Aldrich (PCHS, 1987). Competitors for the men were as follows: Anthony Smith (Patterson High and PCHS, 1983), Keith Ambrose (PCHS, 1990), JoJo Jackson (PCHS, 2010), Marquise Foreman (PCHS, 2015), Tony Callahan (Blackshear High,1973), Darrell Hunter (Patterson High, 1978), Andrew Cuneo (PCHS, 2008), Wesley Martin (PCHS, 2008), Bernard Johnson (PCHS, 1988), Jeremy Carter (PCHS,1997), Caleb King (PCHS, 2008), Rufus Edwards (PCHS, 1985), Josh Henderson (PCHS, 2015), and Damon Moody (PCHS,1995).
Books
Wrtitten by: Rob Asbell | Photography by: Michael Brinson
Birdies
Golf is a thinking person’s game: more of an exercise in situational planning than a physical activity. You compete against the course rather than against your opponents. Figuring out the bumps and breaks on the fairway and choosing spots for perfect ball placement on the green take strategy. Camden County High School juniors Thacher Neal and Chase Weathers have the mindset that helps them manage a golf course and makes them stars in the classroom. “Good grades ensure that I think before hitting a shot, looking at higher percentage shots over the crazy, hard, flashy shots,” Neal said. Despite being juniors, Weathers and Neal are mature young men and experienced junior golfers. They posted the Wildcats’ lowest scores last year as sophomores and were coMVPs. “The biggest area that they have each improved on this year is leadership,” said Camden County golf coach Brian Benton, who is in his second year as head coach but was an assistant prior to that. “They have both taken on responsibility of holding their teammates accountable.” Neal is academically ranked No. 69 in a class
22 | itgsportsnetwork.com
of 578 at Camden County 4.23 weighted GPA, and High School. He has a 3.8 although he hasn’t decidGPA and is a member of ed which school he will DECA. He plans on playing attend, Weathers plans golf in colon getting lege and has his business “Good grades two schools degree in fi– Valdosta ensure that I nance while State Uniplaying golf think before in college. versity and Furman – hitting a shot, E x c e l l i n g looking at academilooking at higher cally helps him. Neal has percentage shots him on the been on the course as over the crazy, well. Honor Roll the last two “It gives hard, flashy years and me confienjoys U.S. shots,” Neal said. dence to history class, s u c c e e d ,” which is what he plans on Weathers said. “Plus, my majoring in at college. parents highly encourage History is also the favor- good grades and academite class of Weathers, who ic success.” is a member of the Senior On the course, Weathers Beta Club and the National was low medalist at the Honor Society. He carries a Blue Devil Classic and was
named MVP for the Camden County golf team his freshman and sophomore years. He once shot a 67 to win the David A. Wall Junior Invitational by seven shots. He has become stronger mentally, which helps his game. His key to improving himself has been persistence. “Many years of practice and hard work,” Weathers said. “My dad has been my best support. I also get swing coaching and physical flexibility training from Sea Island Learning Center instructors.” A strong all-around player, Weathers can hit any shot and can recover from his rare missed shots. “Chase is very good at managing his way around a golf course and maintains an even temperament throughout tournaments,” Benton said. Neal was All-Region last year and was low medalist at the Camden Classic. He also tied for first at the Golden Isles Invitational, was second at the Trojan Invitational, and had the team’s lowest scoring average of the season. He started playing before his sixthgrade year when he was in a boot from a displaced growth plate in his heel. Neal took to the game like a duck to water, and within a year he was playing junior tournaments. He recalled his first big shot playing at Mossy Creek near Helen, Geor-
24 | itgsportsnetwork.com
“Plus, my parents highly encourage good grades and academic success,” Weathers said. gia. On the 17th hole, with the pin positioned back left and the green sloping dead to the front, he was 35 feet right facing a putt that broke six feet. “I made that putt and made par on 18 to win the tournament,” Neal said. Around this time, lightning struck, and Neal hit a hole in one. He was 13-years-old with a seven-wood from 155 yards. “I was so small and young it was pretty exciting,” Neal said. He became serious about golf his freshman year and gave up football in high school. Weathers scored his ace at the Brunswick Country Club’s eighth hole, a 202yard par 3. He picked up golf in the third grade at the knee of his father, Hal Weathers, a former PGA Class A Professional. “My begging to go play golf actually got him back into the game,” Weathers said. The first time he played he nearly scored a hole in one on the third hole. Last year he got to play at the legendary Augusta National Course with his dad. Neal was the MVP of the golf team’s championship his freshman year at North Forsyth High School before moving to Camden County last year. Once he was
in southeast Georgia, he worked with Jekyll Island PGA professional Rob Ellis to compact his swing. “My ball-striking has elevated my game,” Neal said. His favorite part of the game is meeting people from all over the world. On the tee box, he thinks about his swing. His plan is to pick a conservative line then put a confident, aggressive swing on the ball. Once he reaches the green, he is deadly. “Thacher’s strongest part of his game is his putting,” Benton said. “Last year during the region championship, he missed a green right on his second shot into a par 5. He followed with a chip that left him a 20-foot putt, which he drained for birdie. Thacher also hits his irons very accurately and sticks approach shots in makeable range for birdie.” Benton added that both players bring low scores to the Wildcats’ totals and have helped their teammates stay focused and keep a positive attitude during tournaments. “All the players on our team believe we always have a chance to win, and even if they hit a bad shot, they believe their teammates are playing well, so they stay focused and committed,” Benton said.
What’s in the Bag? Thacher Neal:
Callaway GBB Epic Subzero Driver RBZ 13 degree 3 wood Callaway XR 3 hybrid Ping I20 irons 4-pw Mizuno MP-T4 wedges 50 and 60 degree Ping Tour Gorge 53 degree Favorite club: 60-degree lob wedge Favorite course to play: Chattahoochee (Gainesville, Georgia)
Chase Weathers: TaylorMade M1 Driver Odyssey Mizuno Titleist Vokey Favorite club: 7 Iron Favorite course to play: Amelia Island Plantation Ocean Links
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Sign Up for Kids Bowl Free Written by: By Rob Asbell
Free family fun is just a click away at The Strike Zone, Glynn County’s only family fun center. Now, parents can register their children at no charge for “Kids Bowl Free.” “Now through October 31, kids bowl two free games every day,” said Michael Brinson, general manager of The Strike Zone. “All you do is pay for your rental shoes.” Parents go online to sign up at KidsBowlFree.com/SZ. Parents must sign up children (15 years old and under) individually, and then each week they will be emailed passes. Ask about the family fee for children 16 years old and up. “We are trying to drive families back to doing things together,” Brinson said. The Strike Zone is also home to “Rock-nBowl” on Friday and Saturday nights, which
featured black lights and music videos that are kid friendly until 10 p.m. Sold in three-hour blocks from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m., the cost is just $5 per game or $14 for unlimited bowling including shoe rental. The Strike Zone specializes in making every visit a special occasion. League bowling for all ages – including youth leagues on Saturday mornings – and arcade style video games are fun for the kids. There is a pro-shop on site and a large banquet facility that can accommodate meetings and parties. An amazing bowling experience awaits the whole family with stateof-the-art equipment and features for every level of bowler. The Strike Zone even has the Quibica-AMF BES X system with upgraded graphics and scoring systems. “It’s linkable to Facebook,” Brinson said. “It
will show videos of you and the people on your lane. It’s a lot of fun.” The system also has several different games for bowlers to play including “Battle On The Lanes” and “Monster Factory.” “You build a monster for every pin you set down,” Brinson said. “Then you pick legs or arms, and when you are finished, you go to the front desk, and we print it out for you.” If you are a student or staff at any of the local colleges, bring in your
ID and get two free games Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and all day Sunday. Bowling is America’s number one participation sport, primarily because it is a low-impact, easy activity that can be enjoyed with family and friends. The Strike Zone offers fun for people of all ages, from grade schoolers to grandparents. “And as we say around here, weather is never a factor,” Brinson said. The Strike Zone is the place to play and create the perfect party for any occasion. Whether it’s kid-friendly or office-approved, every party is better with bowling. The Strike Zone has something for everyone – from amateur to pro, kids to grownups. Each of the 28 lanes has its own seating area where you can relax between frames or just sit back and enjoy the action. “People come in for
the environment itself,” Brinson said. “It’s clean, family-friendly, and non-smoking.” The Strike Zone is a great place to have fun with family and friends at prices that won’t break your budget. The Strike Zone is open Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. Monday are all you can bowl for $10 per person 5-10 p.m., shoes included. The Strike Zone is the place to play with bowling and so much more. It’s located at 380 Millennium Boulevard in Brunswick off Exit 38 at I-95. Call 912-265-6600 or reserve your lane online at www.tgistrikezone.com. You can also like them on Facebook.
In The Game | 27
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U-Haul Season for Football Coaches in Southeast Georgia Written by: John Wood
2016 was a crazy season for high school football in Southeast Georgia, almost to the point of bizarre. A tropical storm and a hurricane played havoc with the schedules of every team in the 20-county area of the Georgia coast. The offseason beckons to be as raucous with a large movement of coaches in Southeast Georgia this season. No less than nine programs in the SEGA area had head coaching openings this year.
“Ever since I have been in Georgia, it seems that every two to four years the coaching carousel takes place,” Brandon Derrick, Frederica Academy head football coach, said. “As a coach, we are always reevaluating our programs every year, and we know if we have a shot to compete or not. I think coaches and society get caught up in winning way too much and sacrifice the betterment of kids just to win.” Camden County’s Welton Coffey is moving into the athletic director’s position next season, which left the Wildcats with a head football coach opening that garnered a lot of attention. Though the wing-T offense served the Wildcats well, the new head football coach at Camden is North Gwinnett’s Bob Sphire. Sphire took a medicore Bulldog’s program and turned it into a powerhouse using the air raid offense. It’s a fast-paced offense that Camden County will learn by doing, but the Wildcats have always had speed and skill players, and that offense will utilize those, according to Sphire. Longtime Pierce County coach Sean Pender will find himself in a different blue this spring now that he is the head football coach at Brunswick. Pender takes over for Larry Harold, who resigned shortly after last season. Though the Pirates did graduate Georgia signee offensive lineman D’Ante Demery and Virginia signee Shawn Smith, Pender will still have plenty of weapons left to put in his system. Pierce hired Jason Strickland from Fitzgerald High School. He was a head coach at Lamar County and an assistant at Jefferson County, Westside-Macon, and Charlton County. Brunswick will not be the only Region 3-AAAAAA team to have a new head coach. Ross Couch, who was a defensive coordinator at Swainsboro and assistant head coach at Bradwell Institute for two seasons, is coming back to Bradwell Institute for his first head coaching job. Last season, Couch was the defensive coordinator at Windsor Forest. “I’m in sort of a unique situation here, where I’m not exactly new to the program,” Couch said. “I was gone from Bradwell for nine months, almost to the day. When I showed up on campus – I think it was a Wednesday – it was like I’d only been on vacation. The faculty, administration, and players
all welcomed me back immediately. I could tell there was definitely some excitement there, especially on the players’ part.” Couch was hired by Bradwell Institute earlier this year and started in his new position in February. “Our players will be disciplined, on and off the field,” Couch said. “We are going to do things the right way, no matter what. Ken Eldridge is one my mentors, and I’m lucky enough to be bringing him on staff with me here to run our defense, but he really preached to me a while back that football was one of the last avenues for us to teach boys to become men, to teach them to deal with and overcome adversity, and to mold them into quality husbands, fathers, and citizens. I think all of that starts with discipline. If we don’t do the little things right, and if we don’t do everything the right way, we won’t find any lasting success.” Long County also changed coaches this season. Eric McNair, who was one of the youngest head coaches in the state when he took over the Blue Tide two seasons ago, resigned at Long County to take a coordinator position at Metter. The opening gave J.T. Pollock, long time Appling County coach, an opportunity to continue coaching in Region 2-AAA for Long. Appling filled their opening with Jon Lindsey from East Paulding High School. He coached at Irwin County and Cook County and has an overall record of 41-25-1. Wayne County was led by Derek Chastain, who came into the Yellow Jackets program in June of last year after the school system had problems trying to hire a replacement for Jody Grooms, who resigned in May because of legal problems. Chastain led the Yellow Jackets through a tough non-conference schedule. Wayne County finished 3-8 overall and 3-1 in region play and lost to Jones County in the first round of AAAAA state playoffs. The Yel-
low Jackets went across state lines to South Carolina, hiring Ken Cribb, who made the program at Bluffton High School a state power. The other Yellow Jackets in Jeff Davis County had to replace Ed Lovvorn, who resigned after one season. They hired Lance Helton, the assistant head coach of the Dublin Fighting Irish. He also coached at Coffee County. McIntosh County Academy, who lost to Macon County in the Class A-Public championship game this past season, will have a new coach. During the season, MCA head coach Robby Robinson was under investigation for possible hazing allegations. This past March, Robinson was charged with two misdemeanors for hazing and a second-degree felony for child endangerment. Upon Robinson’s resignation, the school board promoted defensive coordinator Terel Toomer to head football coach and promoted Scott Broker, middle school principal, to Athletic Director. Southeast Georgia hasn’t seen this kind of movement in many years.
“Overall, it is human nature to try to better yourself, but I have been coaching now for 20 years, and you also have to know what is best for your family and your mental and physical health,” Derrick said. “As the great Ed Dudley once told me, ‘If the grass looks greener on the other side, you probably need to water your own darn grass!’”
In The Game | 29
A Man of Many Sports Written by: Rob Asbell | Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson
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In this day of specialization in sports, finding a two-sport athlete is unusual, but a four-sport athlete who excels in every endeavor is especially rare. But that is Benji O’Neal, an eighth-grader at Brantley County Middle School who plays football, basketball, and tennis and runs track and field. “Age 7 I started playing football, 11 when I started track, 11 when I started tennis, and 7 when I started basketball,” he said. At 5’9” and 135-pounds, O’Neal plays quarterback for the football team and led the Herons offense with an average of 200 yards per game last season. In basketball, he led the team in scoring as a point guard. On the tennis court, after playing the game for just two years,
he has lost just once so far this year as the Heron’s No. 2 singles player. Then there are his exploits as a sprinter for the BCMS track team. He already runs a 4.75-second 40-yard dash, an 11.9 100-meter, and a 23.5 200-meter. His first big track meet came when he traveled to Waycross to run at Ware County High School. “I had to go up against top talents but ultimately prevailed in the end,” O’Neal said. The same was true of his first tennis match at Cof-
fee County High in Douglas – nerve-racking but ultimately victorious. For O’Neal, sports are more than just games. He looks at them from a different perspective. “I love the analytics of the sports I play and the strategy [and] mindset of the game,” he said. It’s an intense way to look at sports that are fundamentally different: Football is about ground acquisition, basketball is intense movement, tennis is placement of the ball, and sprinting is about run-
“I love the analytics of the sports I play and the strategy [and] mindset of the game.” — Benji O’Neal
ning fast. But they all share two common characteristics: speed and strategy. Common characteristics also run in the O’Neal family. Benji’s older brother, Spencer, is a sophomore who plays for coach Mark Walker at Brantley County High School. “Spencer has started for us on the offensive line for the last two years,” Walker said. As a result, Walker became familiar with Benji and his athletic abilities. But what impressed him most was the young man’s demeanor. “I met Benji for the first time at a Touch Down Club meeting,” Walker said. “Benji is a quiet, well-mannered, and very smart kid.” Over the years, O’Neal collected trophies for guiding his team to victories in recreation league football, winning or finishing in the final four in each of the last six seasons from the time he was seven years old. When he got into middle school, he started rewriting the BCMS record book. He set the record for the 100-meter in sixth grade, and he currently holds school records for the 40yard dash and 200-meter. He was also part of the region tennis champions his sixth grade year and helped win region in cross country that year. His favorite sport out of all of them? “Football,” he said. O’Neal hopes to fill some big shoes over the next few years. He aims to step in for the graduating Mikell Collins, the electrifying all-region, record-breaking quarterback for Brantley Coun-
ty High School last year. To attain that goal, he tries to improve himself daily. “I work hard and practice after hours,” he said. Walker noticed O’Neal’s athleticism watching him play catch with some kids outside of the field house. “Obviously his speed is impressive, but watching him play middle school football and the way he handled himself and the offense was impressive as well,” Walker said. The son of Brian and Brandi O’Neal of Hoboken, Georgia, Benji carries a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. His favorite class is social studies, and he hopes to one day become a forensic sociologist. When he isn’t playing or practicing, he is also the vice president of Health Occupations Students of America, a national career and technical student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. He hopes to earn a scholarship to a Division I college, no matter what the sport, although he plans to take part in football, basketball, tennis, and track in high school. O’Neal credits his father for helping him over the years. “He’s pushed me to be my best at everything I do,” he said.
FAVORITES:
Snack: Payday Bars. Food: Crab Legs. Hobby: Analytics. Pro Team: Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Pacers. College Team: Georgia. Pro Player: Aaron Rodgers, Paul George. TV show: “Criminal Minds.” Movie: “Star Wars” trilogy. Movie star: Robert Downey Jr. School subject: Social Studies.
Pets: Munson (dog). Place to travel: Ireland. Car: 67 Pontiac Firebird. Who inspires you and why? “Many people inspire me to be my best, and I’m surrounded by the best people I can ask for, and the good Lord placed me, thankfully, in the best community such as Brantley County.”
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In The Game | 33
BE AGGRESSIVE Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson
Watching Madison Lloyd on the soccer pitch for the Ware County Lady Gators, it’s easy to see that she is having fun. “My favorite part of playing soccer is that it’s a sport where you can be aggressive and it’s acceptable,” she said. And aggressive she is. Coaches refer to her as “Banger” because she “bangs” into other players during games. She is so aggressive, she once killed two birds with one shot, literally. “I went turkey hunting with my dad last year and killed two turkeys in one shot,” Lloyd said. Along with turkey hunting in the spring, Lloyd turns her attention to soccer, where, after playing every position on the field, she now plays outside forward.
“Madison has always been a defensive player and a ball winner,” Ware County girls soccer coach Michael Cook said. “However over the past year, she has developed an attacking mentality and was moved from defensive midfielder to winger.”
Lloyd has taken on every task on the field, from goal keeper and defender to an attacking offensive player. She prepares herself men-
tally to get the ball and only softball in middle attack, but admits that, school until someone despite her aggressive asked me to try out for style, she still gets ner- soccer,” she said. “I was vous. Also, like anyone kinda iffy about it at first who plays regularly, she because I had never deals with nagging inju- thought about soccer ries commonly suffered being a sport I’d play.” when playing. A few weeks be“Being as agfore tryouts, gressive as I she got a “My favorite am when soccer part of playing ball and I play, soccer is that it’s a s t a rt e d I’ve had multiple sport where you can working injuries, with a be aggressive and f r i e n d and I’ve it’s acceptable,” of her faplayed with inther’s who Lloyd said. juries so I had coached wouldn’t feel soccer. like I let my team “He taught me how down,” Lloyd said. to pass and the main Lloyd started playing rules of the game,” organized sports at 7 Lloyd said. “I pushed years old when she took really hard and did my up softball. She started very best to make the playing soccer in sev- team. I would’ve hatenth grade and fell in ed to try out for somelove with the sport. thing and not make the “I had always played team.”
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Lloyd was her team’s goal keeper through middle school. She played softball until ninth grade, when she became “The Gator” at Ware County High School. “When I quit softball, I became the mascot for our school my 10th grade year and also was on the color guard team in band.” She continued playing soccer, and now at the high school level, Lloyd has
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learned the nuances of the game.
“In the past I would make illegal fouls and just run anyone over just for the heck of it, but I would get carded,” she said. “Now I try to make legal tackles and be someone my teammates can look up to.” She also improved her footwork by practicing at home.
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“He has always pushed me and everyone he’s coached to do their best and to better themselves,” Lloyd said.
She has played for coach Cook’s travel team since seventh grade and credited him with helping her improve as a player. “He has always pushed me and everyone he’s coached to do their best and to better themselves,” she said. Lloyd worked on her ability to beat players in one-onone situations as well as her shooting and finishing ability, enabling her to put the ball in the back of the net with her feet or head.
“Madison is strong in many areas of the game, but her ability to get in behind the back line and create chances is her strongest,” Cook said.
Lloyd adds another attacking threat through her ability to both assist and score goals. Last season she played the most memorable game of her soccer career against Atkinson County, an attack-
ing-style team that is always a danger of coming from behind. “All of a sudden it started pouring down rain,” Lloyd said. “It was funny knocking people down and them falling in the mud and being able to slide on the wet grass.” The daughter of Donna and Matt Lloyd of Waycross, Maddie carries a GPA of 3.7. Her plans are to finish classes at South Georgia State College and become a registered nurse or perhaps a pharmacist. In addition to high school classes, college classes, and practice, Lloyd has a job to fill her schedule.
“My dad is always supportive of me, and he watches every game,” Lloyd said. “He helps push me to practice during the off season so I will be better the next year.”
WAYNE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
CRIBB NAMED NEW FOOTBALL COACH Written by: John Wood | Photography courtesy of WCHS
In about 30 school days, the Wayne County Yellow Jackets will go through their 2017 spring football practice. However, it will be with a different coach than the one who started last season. Derek Chastain – who finished with a 3-8 season, including a 3-1 region record and a loss in the first round of the playoffs to Jones County – resigned in early March after only one season. Wayne County opened the position and on March 21 announced that the Board of Education hired Bluffton High School head coach Ken Cribb at a special meeting. Cribb also had an opportunity to meet with community members, administration, student-athletes, parents, and teachers. Cribb coached Bluffton’s last seven seasons and was the school’s longest serving coach. He stopped at Georgetown, South Florence, and Stall before he
got to Bluffton, where he took over as head coach in 2010. Bluffton went through an amazing transition during Cribb’s time as head coach. The Bobcats had only mustered 18 wins under two different head coaches over six seasons before Cribb arrived. In Cribb’s first season with the Bobcats, they were 12-2. The following season the Bobcats were 14-1 and lost in the state title game against South Pointe High School from Rock Hill, South Carolina, 42-17. Cribb’s teams fared decently against Georgia schools when Bluffton crossed the Savannah River. The Bobcats struggled against Effingham and split in two games with South Effingham. Bluffton had large wins against Savannah Johnson and New Hampstead. Cribb’s Bobcats defeated Screven County in the Erk Russell Classic 35-25 at Paulson Stadium on the Georgia Southern University campus last fall. Wayne County shares its AAAAA region with
South Effingham and New Hampstead. During his time at Bluffton, Cribb was named the Hilton Head Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette Coach of the Year in 2010, in 2011, and last season during the 2016 campaign. The Bobcats finished the 2016 regular season with a perfect record and were 13-1 overall. Offensively, Bluffton had the highest scoring offense in the state of South Carolina with a record-setting average of 47.7 points per game. Cribb coached several players that went on to play at the collegiate level, including Shameik Blackshear. Standing at 6’5” and 250 pounds, Blackshear was so dominant in high school that it earned him a four-star rating and scholarship offers from all over college football, but he accepted an offer from his home state of South Carolina. When then South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier signed him, he was considered the potential heir apparent to defensive end Javedon Clowney.
Blackshear's first two years at Carolina were tumultuous on and off the field, but Carolina coach Will Muschamp expects him to make a lot of progress this spring and believes he could be a starter in the fall.
Cribb finished his career at Bluffton with an overall record of 63-26, including one state championship runner-up, two semifinal appearanc-
es, and a playoff run in 2016 that reached the quarterfinals. He is 38th on the alltime win list in South Carolina with 196 wins. In addition to being the head football coach at Wayne County High School, he will also serve as the athletic director.
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