February 2014 Southeast Edition by ITG Next Magazine

in the

game

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

In This Issue:

SouthEAST Georgia

February 2014

09 Academic Athlete Damarko Dixon

Appling County High School

CONTENTS

13 Player Spotlight Luke Littlefield

Ware County High School

19 Nutrition

Offseason Nutrition

20 Coach’s Corner Sarah & Cam Helder

Frederica Academy

26 Rising Star LaGondric Snell

Also Inside Georgia High School Football The Four Seasons of Football

Football Means Big Money – The Biggest Money of Them All

Liberty County High School

Camden County High School

Bacon County High School

Wayne County High School

Pierce County High School

Listen to John and Shawn Every Thursday night at 6:00 PM on WWUF 97.7 The Wolf

Bacon County Middle School

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game

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

SouthEAST Georgia February 2014

From The Publisher It’s hard to think that Old Man Winter is upon us as I sit here and write this in 70-degree weather, but it is South Georgia so I’m sure it will change in the next few hours. Winter sports are starting to wind down as we get ready for basketball playoffs which are right around the corner. Wrestling has already crowned its team dual champions, but area wrestlers are getting geared up for traditional state titles that will begin February 13, 2014. Hard to believe, but baseball season begins this month with teams all over SEGA taking to the diamond at mid-month. If you get the chance, check out a high school sporting event and support these student athletes; you’ll be glad you did.

Publisher Shawn Smoak

Editor Mark Dykes Kaitlynn Passmore

Graphics Jennifer Alexander

Cover Photography Bo Carter

Bo’s Sport Photography

Feature Photography Jeffrey Griffith

Old Goat Photography

Bo Carter

Bo’s Sport Photography

Jennifer Carter Johnson

Jennifer Carter Johnson Photography

John Wood

Feature Writers John DuPont John Wood Rob Asbell Robert Preston, Jr.

Copy Editors Crystal Hubbard Ashley Dailey

Advertising/Marketing Shawn Smoak shawn@inthegamemagazine.com

Mark Dykes

mark@inthegamemagazine.com

Website Manager Kaitlynn Passmore

SEGA Prep Sports P.O. Box 2960 • Waycross, GA 31502

One of the great things about publishing In the Game Magazine is the fact that I get to see these student-athletes grow into young men and women. In our inaugural edition of In the Game we featured an eighth grade tennis player who made it clear to us during the interview that his first love was wrestling. Well, Ware County Senior Luke Littlefield has followed his passion and solidified himself as one of the best wrestlers in the state. We’ve written about multiple athletes in our features. We have written articles on brothers, cousins, and good friends, but this is the first opportunity we’ve had to write about a husband and wife. Frederica Academy coaches Sarah and Cam Helder coach girls’ basketball and cross country, respectively. Both were successful studentathletes themselves, so they bring a unique perspective to coaching. I doubt they are the only husband and wife coaching duo in the country, but they have the market cornered in SEGA.

Area Schools

in the

Appling County Pirates Bacon County Red Raiders Bradwell Institute Tigers Brantley County Herons Brunswick Pirates Camden County Wildcats Charlton County Indians Frederica Academy Knights Glynn Academy Red Terrors Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets Liberty County Panthers Long County Blue Tide McIntosh County Buccaneers Pierce County Bears Ware County Gators Wayne County Yellow Jackets

Contributors

How does one follow up a championship from his junior year? With an encore, of course. Appling County senior Damarko Dixon will have his shot to do so this month as he prepares to defend his AAA state title in wrestling. A winner in the classroom as well as on the mat, Damarko is a humble athlete who battled through injuries early in his wrestling career to reach the top last season. Achieving those heights will serve him well as he heads off to Air Force Academy to further his education. Leadership, intensity, and heart. If you are coaching any sport, that’s all you can ask of your student-athlete. Bacon County Middle School’s own LaGondric Snell has all three. Whether on the football field, basketball court, or the track, LaGondric exudes these qualities. I’m sure you’ve heard “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog that matters.” LaGondric exemplifies that saying. We hope you enjoy reading In the Game as much as we enjoy producing and publishing it. 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. inthegamemagazine.com and Facebook at www.facebook.com/inthegamemagazine. Join us every Thursday evening live from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. as we broadcast live “In the Game on Radio” on WWUF 97.7 FM or stream the show live on www. waycrossradio.com. We have an excellent opportunity for fundraising whether for your sports team, organization, or booster club. Please give us a call at 888-715GAME or email us at info@inthegamemagazine.com for details. 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.

John Wood,

Features & Commentary

John DuPont,

Features & Commentary

For distribution and subscription information contact: info@inthegamemagazine.com For advertising information call: 888-715-4263 Corporate Office: Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. P.O. Box 812 Valdosta, Georgia 31603

Shawn Smoak,

Southeast Georgia Publisher

In the Game High School Sports Magazine is published monthly 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.

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Georgia High School Football

The Four Seasons of Football by Jon Nelson, GPB Sports Correspondent

I was doing the math in my head before I sat down to type this column out. And, please, let me know if I skipped one. I counted seven post-season all-star games for high school football players here in the state of Georgia- three in the border series that takes three weeks to complete between athletes in Georgia and Florida. I think that concept is really cool: a “best of” idea with two of the top five to seven states when it comes to high school athletes. It’s also the time where the higher-profile athletes enroll early at their respective schools to get a leg up on their competition and make sure they adjust to life in college. Two athletes I know of off the top of my head are Gainesville quarterback DeShaun Watson (even as he’s nursing a little surgery) and Liberty County linebacker extraordinaire Raekwon McMillan. They are headed off to Clemson and Ohio State respectively for the next stages in their athletic lives, and it will be interesting to see how they adjust to Dabo Swinney and Urban Meyer. But as National Signing Day comes and goes again, remember that it’s not all of those five-star recruits that get your favorite college team to have more wins than losses. It’s the so-called two and three stars plus the walk-ons that provide the depth you need in those situations where you really need it. Don’t worry so much about a star figure attached to an athlete. Good character

and high work ethic are what really build a strong foundation for a team. That’s what makes or breaks programs in the long run. We’ll review National Signing Day next time around. For me, it’s always interesting to see who ends up going where. Because, frankly, until the day comes and those faxes come across the coachs’ desks and the players (as Alec Baldwin so eloquently said in Glengarry Glen Ross ) “sign on the line which is dotted…” all the pre-NSD talk is just that. I have always maintained that here in the South there are four seasons, and they’re not summer, fall, winter, and spring. They’re football season, spring football, recruiting, and National Signing Day. And when you have close to 20 football programs that are working their way through the fall, a lot of quality athletes get to attend quality institutions to get quality educations. Be sure to keep checking us out here at In the Game Magazine and at inthegamemagazine.com for all the cool things going on these days in high school athletics. We’ll keep you posted on all that’s going on, and I would like you to do the same. Let me know about all the cool stories out there that need to be discovered and spread around the South so we can all keep “ In the Game .” Play it safe, everyone. I’ll talk to you soon.

Jon Nelson, GPB Sports Correspondent

Follow me on the Twitter machine at “@OSGNelson” and be sure to like us all on Facebook at Sports and Inthegamemagazine.com

Failure is not an option, when the sky is the limit!

Academic Athlete sponsored by:

by John Wood photography by Jennifer Carter Johnson

ppling County senior wrestler Damarko Dixon knows what it’s like to wear a championship ring. Finishing his junior year 39-6, he won the 3A state championship in the 152-pound weight class. His journey to the championship certainly wasn’t easy after battling a shoulder injury and a broken ring finger his sophomore season. Dixon received his state championship ring in a ceremony at a Pirates football game last fall during a halftime ceremony. “Wrestling in itself is a very tough sport but the part that challenges your mind the most is cutting weight. I won state at 152 pounds but my natural weight was 165 pounds. It takes a lot of willpower to lose 13 pounds, eat healthily, and practice hard every day for four months. Cutting weight is what made me so mentally tough because sometimes you want a doughnut or soda but you know you can’t. When they presented me with my ring at a home football game, I felt like people finally realized all the work I put in to reach my goals,” Dixon says. Son of Gerald Dixon and Clifton and Kuytonya King, Dixon credits his family and his faith for his success on and off the mat. Willpower is not something Dixon practices only on the mat. It’s visible in the classroom and his life. Willpower and discipline have helped him earn a 3.52 GPA and a 27 ACT score. Through his academic performance coupled with his wrestling talent, Dixon earned an appointment to the Air Force Academy’s Class of 2018.

Damarko Dixon Appling County High School

“I chose the Air Force Academy because of the great academics and because something about the wrestling program attracted me. After my graduation from the AFA, I want to be part of the World Class Athletic Program and be a Combat Rescue Officer,” Dixon says. “Every year that I’ve wrestled I have fallen in love with it more and more. That love of the sport is what got me to this point. I’ve been most influenced wrestling wise by my middle/high school coaches Mark Green and (former coach) Ricky Barnes, my club coach David Mathews, and the various clinicians of camps that I’ve been too,” Dixon says. As Dixon’s wrestling career started to take off in his sophomore year, he broke his finger. When he tried locking up a move, an opponent peeled his hands back and his finger snapped. Though it ended his season, it forced him to learn to use his left side, which allowed him to become a much better wrestler.

being a child and receiving what was at the top of your Christmas list,” Dixon says. Winning the state title has made Dixon even more driven for in his senior year. His record stands at 51-2, and he is hoping to win another state title before graduating and heading to the Air Force Academy to wrestle for the Falcons. “Damarko is one of those few student athletes that programs are blessed to have on rare occasions. Besides his wrestling ability, he possesses other attributes that are not seen during his three periods of competition. He is a good leader during practice and during a match. Just the other night I had a coach’s wife come to me and say that Damarko was a tremendous athlete and she was not talking about

ixon was attracted to wrestling when he went to a mini-clinic but it was a one-time deal. Originally, Dixon started playing baseball but ended up trying wrestling since middle school coach Ricky Barnes asked him to wrestle every time he saw him. It turned out that wrestling would be his passion.

“If not for that injury I don’t know if I’d be the mat wrestler that I am today. My junior year I sprained my elbow in mid December, but the injury wasn’t very severe. Two hours before my state finals match, I was nervous out of my mind but I never let it show,” Dixon says. Dixon had trained, endured tough cardio workouts, withstood a season-ending injury a year earlier, and thirty minutes before the state final match, he knew he was ready and he would win. “Only about 30 minutes before my match did I find my peak mental state and I knew that I could and would win a state title that night. I remember when the referee called the pin and I jumped up into the air. I was beyond happy. The joy I felt is comparable to

how good he was on the mat, she was referring to the way he carried himself and the way he lead the team. I am very proud of his achievements and know there will be many more in his bright future on and off the mat,” Appling County head wrestling coach Mark Green says. Dixon will attempt to add a second state championship ring this season. His next goals are a Class of 2018 Air Force Academy ring and a second lieutenant’s commission in the United States Air Force. “I’m a really goal oriented person and those goals are what drive me to be better than I was the day before. I refuse to tolerate failure in my life, and not improving is, to me, the same as failing,” Dixon says. ITG 11

“Luke hates to lose and always has. He’ll shake hands with a guy after a match, but losing hurts his feelings.

Player Spotlight sponsored by:

– Dan Littlefield Ware County High School

L by John DuPont photography by Bo Carter

uke Littlefield has now come full circle. Four years ago, Littlefield was featured as In the Game Magazine’s (Southeast) inaugural Rising Star. At that time, he was a tennis player at Waycross Middle School who also dabbled in wrestling. Littlefield’s grappling skills were actually discovered at age seven by a martial arts instructor who thought the tyke had the makings of a good wrestler. Littlefield took up the sport competitively in sixth grade, but by the completion of middle school he still had not begun to tap into his full wrestling potential. In the years subsequent to the 2010 ITG profile, Littlefield established himself as one of the area’s premier wrestlers, averaging a remarkable 50 wins per year. Ironically, as he hits the homestretch of his high school career, Littlefield is picking up his tennis racket once more. “He eats and sleeps wrestling,” notes Littlefield’s father, Dan. “Last year Luke ran track and he has run cross country several years. But he recently decided he needed a break from running and some of the boys talked him into playing tennis again.” Before his tennis comeback unfolds, there is the issue of punctuating a career that has seen Littlefield rack

“W

“Matt Collins is someone I look up to a lot,” says Littlefield. “He talked to me a lot and would get me pumped up before matches. When I don’t feel like going hard and am drained, Coach E (WCHS head coach Joe Eichfeld) keeps me going. Also, my drill partner Jake Gourley is someone I have known since I was five. We’re like best buds, but we go at it and make each other better every day. Kirby Malone’s Dojo (in Blackshear) is a place where we can go at it, drill, wrestle, and get better. Jacob Allen and I usually spend a pretty good bit of our offseasons there.” Littlefield finished fourth in the state last year in class 5A at 106 pound. He has spent most of this season ranked second at 113 pounds. His totals also included 28 pins in his first 46 victories of 2013-14. “Luke has the best stamina on the team,” notes Eichfeld. “He is a true team player and team leader. He is the one of the most dedicated athletes that I have coached in the sport of wrestling.” Littlefield’s stamina is the product of many years of running. Littlefield owns a personal best time of 17:25 on the cross country 5K course. He also has run the mile in under five minutes. “I ran cross country all four years of high school,” notes Littlefield. “I mainly did it to stay in shape and I actually

hatever Luke likes, he is de One of his attributes is that being around people.”

Littlefield’s Personal File: Attends Trinity United Methodist Church in Waycross More than 200 career wrestling victories 3.6 Grade Point Average 1470 SAT score Preferred college major: Exercise Science 14

up more than 200 career mat victories. After bursting onto the scene with a 4910 record his freshman year, Littlefield went 55-7 as a sophomore. As a junior, he posted a cumulative mark of 57-4 between the 106-pound and 113-pound divisions. The Gators captain has split time this year competing at both the 113-pound and 120-pound classes where he had amassed a record of 49-4 through the final week of January. Always the gracious winner, the humble Littlefield is all too happy to share the accolades.

had one of the best times on our team.” By some accounts, Littlefield is nothing short of the Energizer Bunny. “Luke has never had any trouble cutting weight,” states his father. “He is very dedicated. He lifts weights at school and at home.” “Passion is the word that sums it up about Luke’s love for wrestling,” says Littlefield’s mother, Laurie. “He is extremely dedicated to the sport and is always working out and doing drills on off days and even after practice. Luke has given lessons to middle schoolers and hopes to start that back up

after the season ends. As a parent I am extremely proud to see such dedication.” Outside Georgia High School Association (GHSA) competition, Littlefield has also enjoyed success with USA Wrestling and in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circles. His highlights are too numerous to list here. Still, there are a few recent moments that rank among his favorites. “This year at duals, I knocked off the number-two guy in my weight class,” he says. “I teched the guy (earned technical victory), 15-0. I also competed at the USA Super 32 qualifier last year and got fourth place.” Adds Eichfeld: “My most memorable moment with Luke was actually kind of funny. It was when we went to McIntosh for a summer tournament before his ninth-grade year. Luke got dropped on his head and knocked out during a match, but wanted to get up and keep wrestling. Also, his performance at state duals in 2013 when he went 5-0 as well as his placement in the traditional tourney last year stands out.” Littlefield has literally been making the grade for some time now. He carries a 3.6 GPA and scored 1470 on the SAT. A member of Beta Club and the Junior Bank Board at Waycross Bank and Trust, he has taken several honors and AP classes at WCHS and will be an honor graduate this spring. Still, he is not even regarded as the top scholar in the family. He readily concedes that title to twin brother Stape, a swimmer, golfer and cross-country runner who totes a 4.0 GPA. “I’m a better athlete, but Stape is mainly committed to academics,” he laughs. Through the years, the brothers have pitched in occasionally with the family business, Littlefield Construction, though both harbor dreams of working in medical-related

edicated to it. He has lots of friends. t he is so well liked. He just likes – Dan Littlefield, father careers. For all the glory wrestling has brought him, it’s still unclear whether Littlefield will compete beyond high school. He hasn’t made a college choice yet, but exercise science tops the list of preferred majors right now, with long-term plans that include graduate studies in physical therapy. “I have been looked at by Shorter, Brewton-Parker, Mount Union (Ohio), and Ferrum College (Virginia). I will probably decide at the end of the season if I will wrestle again and it will probably depend on if I still have the same love for it that I do now. Whatever happens, I’d just like to be remembered as the kid that was a good athlete, stayed hard on the books, and maybe everybody liked.” ITG

Football Means Big Money – The Biggest Money of Them All by Robert Preston, Jr.

n the recent past, I have written here of the ongoing controversies facing football and football participation at all levels of the game. We have heard more dialog regarding head injuries and hot weather dangers and various other issues over the last couple of years. As a result, in most areas, fewer and fewer kids are playing football. Former pros, some Hall of Famers, have said on the record that they would prefer that their kids stay away from the game. We have also discussed that in spite of the issues, football in Georgia is at an all-time high. There has never been more players, more schools, more media coverage. And there has never been more money. At the time I am writing this, it is Dec. 11. The football state championship games begin two days from now. In early December, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution released two articles discussing the amount of money the football postseason generates and how that compares to other sports, namely basketball. According to the AJC, the 2012 football playoffs generated nearly $1.4 million throughout the state. By comparison, the 2013 basketball playoffs brought in $389,003. There were seven football state championship

games compared to 14 basketball title games. The difference in revenue generated by those championship games? $757,593 for football; $185,580 for basketball. About 12 percent goes to the GHSA (which, according to the AJC, pays $50,000 to use the Georgia Dome for the state title games over two days). The participating schools receive some of the money as well. The least amount of money a school received last year was about $13,000. The most was almost $60,000 (which went to a 5A school). You can draw a lot of conclusions from these reports. I’m sure individuals a lot smarter than me are still crunching numbers and looking for trends. To me, the conclusion is quite simple: Football means big money. It means even bigger money for colleges and the communities that have NFL franchises. You can’t separate the violence from football. No matter how many rules get passed, no matter what kind of safety precautions governing bodies enact, football is an inherently violent sport. That will never change. Yet it remains incredibly popular and generates tremendous revenue – mind-blowing revenue – for its schools and communities. That is why football is the nation’s numberone sport. And that won’t change, either. ITG

Nutrition Giving yourself a rest between peak periods of training is important to keep yourself mentally sharp and fresh, but too many athletes overindulge and find themselves binging on fast food and taking in extra calories while burning fewer than ever. That’s a recipe for disaster, but one you can avoid with some simple offseason nutritional tips. Here are five to get you started.

1. Stay away from fast food The calories and fats in fast food, combined with the lack of useful nutrients, makes these foods the most counterproductive way to spend your offseason. If you want to indulge in a combo meal once after your season has ended, enjoy yourself. But make fast food a very rare factor in your offseason nutrition, and don’t be afraid to avoid it entirely.

2. Keep your calories under control Many athletes get excited about the prospect of taking some time off and eating to their hearts’ delights. But when you take a physical break from your sport, you’re also decreasing the number of calories you need in a given day. If you increase your caloric intake while reducing your physical exertion, you could start putting on pounds fast. Indulge a little, but try not to consume more than a few hundred extra calories per day, relative to what you’re burning off.

3. Continue drinking water

4. Match proteins to your strength training Many offseason training programs focus on building muscle mass. If that’s the case, then you might want to tailor your diet to feature greater protein intake. Increased protein consumption will improve muscle mass development, giving your body the fuel it needs to succeed.

5. Load up on fruits and veggies Many offseason athletes lack constant interaction with nutritionists and coaches preaching proper diet habits. The offseason is a crucial time for maintaining these habits on your own, ensuring you get the nutrients you need. Use fruits as a replacement for candy, and work vegetables into your daily meals to avoid overloading on calories. This extra roughage will keep you fit and trim, and build a strong foundation for your training.

Nutrition

Offseason

by Jonathan C

very sports season comes to an end. When you reach the end of the road and face an offseason gap in your training and competition, it’s tempting to ease off the accelerator and cut yourself a break—not only in your workout intensity, but also in your diet and nutrition regimen.

Hydration demands will decline in the offseason, but water remains important to your health and key to cleansing your body of unwanted toxins. Allow your water intake to decline slightly, but try to maintain your regular inseason rhythm as far as the number of times you urinate in a day. Doing so will keep your body in great condition for the start of the next season.

Coach’s Corner sponsored by:

Sarah & Cam Helder

Frederica Academy School

Mr. and Mrs. Coach by Rob Asbell

hen Sarah and Camden Helder got married, their vows included “for better or worse,” but little did they know it would be measured by wins and losses at Frederica Academy. Camden Helder is the Knights boys cross-country coach while his wife heads the girls basketball team at the private school on St. Simons Island. Eleven years ago, Sarah Helder, née Russell, was setting records at Glynn Academy where she averaged a double-double her senior year. Half a continent away, Cam Helder was starting out as a high jumper and cross country runner for DeSmet High School in South Dakota. The two met while earning their master’s degrees at the Dallas Theological Seminary in Texas. “It was the first day and I saw him. He’s 6’10” and I thought, ‘Great. Someone to play basketball with me.’” They started working out, then dating and in 2011, they married. The couple then made their move back to Sarah’s hometown, where they started coaching for Frederica Academy. While Sarah teaches physical

photography by Jeffrey Griffith

education at the lower school, Cam’s day job is counselor at a private facility on St. Simons. “He comes to about 90 percent of my practices,” Sarah admits, adding that her husband is also not above cooking team meals on occasion. The students in her elementary PE classes also like when Cam visits because they like to watch him dunk the basketball. He enjoys helping his wife at position coaching. “I don’t call it ‘coaching,’” he says. “I call it ‘helping.’” Although she is primarily remembered as a standout basketball player at Glynn Academy, Sarah got her start in athletics at Frederica Academy, making the All-Region team as a soccer midfielder in eighth grade. She was also an All-Coastal Georgia selection as a center for the Lady Knights basketball team her freshman season. She transferred to Glynn Academy prior to her sophomore year and was named the Coastal Georgia Player of the Year her senior season, when she averaged 22 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest. During one game, she scored 33 points,

The Sarah Russell Award There is an award named for Frederica Academy girls basketball coach Sarah Helder at Mercer University in Macon. Then Sarah Russell, she lettered all four years and scored more than 1,000 points during her collegiate career. But it was her drive and determination to overcome a potentially career-ending injury that encouraged officials at Mercer to establish an award in her name. “My best year was my junior year but I tore my ACL in the conference tournament,” she says. Sarah spent the next year rehabilitating her injured knee, determined to return for one final season. She red-shirted her fourth year and spent hundreds of hours working to strengthen the torn ligament. Under NCAA rules, players have five years to play four, and Sarah returned as a fifth-year senior. Her positive attitude on and off the court inspired the Sarah Russell Award to honor a woman’s basketball player who “exemplifies fighting with heart, courage and integrity in the field of battle as well as giving honor to the game of basketball and Mercer University.” Her advice for students is to start by setting priorities. “My relationship with God is number one, and along with my relationship with my family, comes before basketball.” was 100 percent from the foul line, and even hit a half court shot to beat the buzzer at halftime. In the opening round of the playoffs, she mimicked Michael Jordan’s famous “Flu Game” when she ignored doctor’s orders, took to the court, and scored 18 points while sick with the flu. Her efforts paid off and schools such as Boston College were recruiting Sarah, who decided to stay in warmer climes and went to Mercer University in Macon. She got her first taste of big time basketball when the Lady Bears traveled to play Iowa in the 15,000 seat CarverHawkeye Arena in Iowa City. “I was overwhelmed as a freshman,” she says. She eventually dominated opponents at Mercer, lettering all four years she played and scoring more than 1,000 points during her collegiate career. An injury caused her to redshirt her senior year but her drive and determination was the spirit behind Mercer’s creation of the Sarah Russell Award for women’s basketball players.

After college, Sarah continued playing with the Atlanta Battlecats and trained with the team from the Czech Republic. Cam was a jumper at South Dakota State University, specializing in the high jump and triple jump for the Jackrabbits. He started high jumping in middle school and progressed through high school. In his senior year, South Dakota State University called and wanted him to visit so he could consider accepting a scholarship. “I had no idea about recruiting,” Cam says. “I was an easy sell. I told them I didn’t need to visit, that I’d just do it.” Jumping 6’2” his sophomore year, Cam started concentrating on the technical aspects of jumping and by his senior year at SDSU, he tied a school record by jumping 7’ ½” inch and earned All-Summit League honors. “He’s super shy,” Sarah says of her husband. “He was in the running to be on the Olympic

team but he was injured.” Sarah and Cam decided to attend the Dallas Theological Seminary in 2010. While earning her master’s in education, Sarah worked as head girls basketball coach at the Covenant School in Dallas, Texas. She was offered the position with the Lady Knights after Randy Rogers left, following five seasons on St. Simons Island. Since arriving in the Golden Isles, the Helders have helped and supported each other on and off the playing field. “He gave me the best coaching advice ever,” Sarah explains. “He told me I was doing too much. We needed to concentrate and be really good at a few things rather than be okay at a lot of things. Work on ball handling and dribbling and then work on other things.” For Cam, moving to St. Simons Island has offered surroundings that are much different than his rural South Dakota upbringing. “When it was 20 degrees here a few weeks ago, it was 20 below back home. I traded up.” ITG

Liberty County Panthers Donell Woods Stadium • Capacity: 6,000 • Hinesville, GA Liberty’s Natural

by John Wood

Liberty County High School

It would be hard to follow the directions to get from Statesboro, Georgia, to Champaign, Illinois, but that is what Liberty County Lady Panther softball pitcher sophomore Kathryn Carter is doing. Carter, a sophomore at Liberty County High School, committed to play softball for the Lady Illini, after being recruited by the University of Illinois last year. Carter has been playing softball since she was old enough to stand up and hit off of a tee. Though it was a Lady Eagles’ softball camp not far from the sidelines of Paulson Stadium, Erk Russell put her on a destiny filled path that led her to the Land of Lincoln.

“I went to the Georgia Southern camp when I was six, and I used to be a short stop and took ground ball, after ground ball. I got bored, and when they were switching stations they called for pitchers. I went over there, and I fell in love with pitching and never looked back,” Carter says. Natural ability is not enough for a pitcher to move from the good to great status, it requires a great coach that specifically teaches his pupil the art of manipulating the softball in such a manner that challenges the batter. The work ethic of the pitcher and the craft taught by the coaching pitch is the deciding factor between the various divisions of college softball. “It is very important to have a good pitching coach. The pitching coach I have now is Mary Morris, and you become more than friends with them. Her and my dad’s constructive criticisms have only made me that much better. I trust them more than anyone and they have taught me to believe in myself as a pitcher, even when nothing is going right. Pitching is nothing like the other positions on the field,” Carter says. Carter’s parents, Sanford and Sheri, have been extremely supportive of her softball career, especially the pitching and hitting lessons along with the never ending tournaments that come associated with elite travel teams. “I play on a team that is based out of Atlanta, and my parents take me back and forth from Atlanta. My family has been the main reason why I became successful. My travel team is my second family, and we are together most of the summer and wouldn’t have it any other way. I have two brothers; they are

both super supportive even if they have to come to the ball field during their summers,” Carter says. Six pitches have helped Carter become a strong pitcher in travel ball and in high school. Carter throws a drop ball, rise ball, drop-curve, curve ball, screwball, and a change-up. Her favorite is the drop curve, a wicked pitch that once it leaves her finger tips drops down and away from a right-handed hitter. Cy Young and Walter Johnson used the same pitch, but it was called a slurve (combination of slider and curve). The travel ball, pitching coaches, and even her arsenal of pitches have helped Carter become successful on the diamond, but one additional item, the X-factor of good athletes and successful individuals in general, is mental toughness. “Pitching is nothing like the other positions on the field. Anyone can pitch, but you have to practice every day to get better. You must be able to handle the pressure from the other team cheering against you and the pressure from the game itself. In 2011, I started playing out of Atlanta and against national competition, and this is where I realized I could play against the best in the country. Mental game is 95% of it. If someone hits a homerun off of me, it is how I react afterwards. It is still a 0-0 ballgame, and my team has strong bats and killer defense. Just have to get these three outs,” Carter says. This past season was Carter’s first at Liberty County High School after transferring from Savannah Country Day. “Carter had a good first season here this year. She is a strong pitcher, and she changes speeds and hits spots,” Lady Panther Head Softball Coach Jerome Standard says. Changing from Class A SCD to AAAA Liberty County High School gave Carter an opportunity to play against tougher competition. Carter continues to work at softball year round while also playing basketball for the Lady Panthers. Even with the commitment to Illinois settled, Carter still has two seasons before she throws her first collegiate pitch. “Honestly I work better under pressure. You just have to trust the eight other girls on the field knowing that they have your back no matter what. The biggest transition going from a single A school to a AAAA school is the level of competition. The larger schools normally have a competitive team. During my junior season, I have a goal of at least making it to the Elite Eight in Columbus and senior year hopefully a state championship,” Carter says.

Kathryn Carter, Lady Panther softball pitcher sophomore

Camden County Wildcats Kingsland, GA • www.wildcat.camden.k12.ga.us/ 2014 Wildcat Basketball Team

Camden County High School

As the play clock runs down in the CCHS gymnasium, head coaches William Moore and Keith Ellis prepare to return to the AAAAAA season with the goal of making it to the state tournament and becoming champions. While Moore is new as the head coach of the boys’ varsity team, Ellis is a returned veteran to the varsity girls’ team. Both Moore and Ellis have a “knack” for basketball and try to push every single drop of effort out of their players. Whether it is in a game or at practice, the coaches want to instill in the varsity team a sense of self-motivation. “Our goal for the season as a team is very short term,” Moore says. “We try and get better every single day. Our long term goals are focused mainly towards being the best that we can be and putting ourselves in a position to be successful.” Seniors Sam Daniel and Shari Larry agree with their coaches who constantly try to demonstrate the importance of diligence to the underclassmen. “We tell them that if you work hard you can achieve more things than you think you can,” they say. “If you go out on the court and be the best player and teammate you can be, we can be an undefeated team.” Coach Ellis has a different coaching philosophy. In his mind, everyone on the team has a role. Whether that player is in the game for three minutes or 30 minutes, he is still a part of the team, and it’s each teammate’s job to make himself and the people around him better and more successful. “You have to bind to the team concept,” Ellis says. “If you are a part of a team in sports, you have to be a part of a team in life, whether that is getting a job or any other type of situation where you have other people around you.” Coach Moore also wants to instill in his players a solid work ethic. Even though you cannot teach hardwork, you can, in Moore’s words, “pound it into their heads” until they get the idea. “Coach makes us work harder in practice than he does in the game,” Daniel says. “That way when it is time to play, it is a breeze for us. We run hard, and every time we do a drill we have to do it as best we can and as hard as we can. With that, I think we can be champions.” Coach Ellis wants to ensure that his players play with determination and aggression while also having fun. Larry agrees with her coach, believing that her team should continue to have confidence in the themselves. “I have always loved the feel of a basketball,” she says with a smile. “So when the time comes to work hard and give 100% of all that I have, I am ready to play the game that I enjoy playing, even if we win or lose.”

by Kate Slattery

Rising Star

Facing The Giants by John DuPont photography by Jeffrey Griffith

LaGondric Snell Bacon County Middle School

hen it comes to size, LaGondric Snell is not a guy who typically turns heads. Nonetheless, the Bacon County Middle School student has become one of the area’s premiere scene stealers while starring on multiple sports fronts. Snell, the son of Gonny Snell, Jr. and Shirrell Green, displays rare desire and work ethic for his age, according to his inner circle. “I’m afraid the lack of size runs on my side of the family,” laughs grandfather Gonny Snell, Sr. “But I have told him, ‘You can win without actually winning. You [go] out there and give it your best shot. Whether the score reflects the score or not, you are a winner.’” Taking his grandfather’s advice to heart, LaGondric Snell’s intensity in the competitive arena belies his 5’3”, 110-pound frame. “He plays out of his numbers - his height and weight - it’s all heart,” says Steve Owens, who coaches Snell in football and track at BCMS. “LaGondric just makes plays everywhere and you don’t know how. He runs the 40-yard dash in about 5.2 seconds and for a middle school kid, that’s not too bad. I think the biggest thing with him is the vocal leadership and energy he brings to the game. He keeps everyone accountable and doesn’t accept poor effort from his teammates.” A cornerback and running back, Snell helped lead the Raiders to a 3-3 regular season mark on the gridiron this past season. Offensively, he helped split the rushing load and reached paydirt as a receiver as well as on the ground. He also played on all special teams. However, Snell’s primary contributions came on defense. He was among the team’s leaders there with three interceptions and more than two dozen tackles (including several sacks). “I remember when I caught my first interception,” he says. “It was against Irwin County in a game we won. I had to run and dive for it and scoop it and I just had enough time to get to it.”

LaGondric’s Favorites

Owens says the aforementioned play ranks as his favorite among Snell’s highlights. “It was a perimeter play, a jet sweep going to the right side and he was on the far side of the field. LaGondric came all the way across the field and tackled the kid for only a 5-yard gain. It was an incredible hustle play and it was the key to us winning that day.” Snell is also a proven winner on the basketball court, having helped the BCMS boys to a 4-3 mark this past winter. He occasionally plugs in as a shooting guard, but prefers manning the point guard position. “I like point because you touch the ball more,” Snell says. “There was a really good game I had when we started the season at home against ATCO. I scored 12 out of the 15 points we had. I made two free throws and scored the rest from the field, but we lost by five in overtime. I also made a three-pointer against Echols County and we won that game.” This spring Snell will once again contribute his athleticism to the BCMS track team. His long legs make for an exceptional stride length, which make him a top hurdler. He also participates in the 4 x 100 relay and long jump. “My first time doing long jump, I jumped 16’5” and came in second,” he says. Last season as a seventh-grader, Snell received the team’s prestigious Raider Pride Award. “He’s explosive for a middle school kid, but the one thing that makes him such a good hurdler is his courage,” says Owens. “That’s the number one thing a hurdler has to have because if he doesn’t have it, the physical doesn’t matter.” “We always tell him if you want something, you’ve got to earn it,” says Snell’s father. “People underestimate LaGondric by his size, but his heart weighs 200 pounds. He says things like, ‘Mama and Daddy, when I get older I’m going to take care of you,’ and that makes me proud.’” Family and friends are important to the rising star, who is among four generations living locally. His favorite pursuits also include watching the Atlanta Braves on TV with his grandfather and fishing with his uncle Terry Snell. Quality time with younger siblings is also a must. “LaGondric is really humble and always wants to give a hand without asking,” says his mother. “If I have

to work late, he helps look out for his little brothers, making sure they do their homework and that they get to bed. He is a good big brother.” Pick-up basketball games at home often include pals Shawn Morgan, Jesus Brown, Anthony Madison, Jeremy Roberson and Arrington “Shady” Moore. It’s not always just fun and games at the Snell household, which also includes an older sister who is a cheerleader and two younger brothers who also play sports year round. “We make sure they do well in school or they don’t play,” says Snell’s father. “We don’t really accept B’s, but they might slip one in now and then.” LaGondric Snell attends tutoring sessions twice a week to ensure he stays on top of things in the classroom, where his favorite subject is social studies. He dreams of travelling to Gettysburg one day and he enjoys studying Abraham Lincoln, whom he admires for helping end slavery. “Social studies is an easy subject to understand because it’s not like math where it’s a bunch of numbers,” Snell says. “I like learning about the wars and battles that went on a long time ago. I did a PowerPoint on World War I in my tech class. I can remember that war because it’s when airplanes and submarines were first introduced into a battle or war.” Snell himself is a former 4H class president as well as a Student of the Month honoree. He has previously been named to the Principal’s Honor Roll and has received academic certificates of recognition from First African Baptist Church in Alma, where he attends services with his family. As his middle school career winds down, Snell casts an eye toward becoming a fixture in the high school weight room and ultimately on the gridiron itself with the big boys. “The weight room is something he will have to work on,” says Owens. “I think he can play corner, regardless if it’s cover-3 or cover-2 because he has such a knack. He reacts so well, plays the flats well, and gets a good break on the ball. He will have to work on nutrition, the weight room, and speed training and most likely will need a JV program. But he’s not a sideline guy. There’s got to be a role for him somewhere. LaGondric is passionate about winning and competing. Every little thing matters to him.” ITG

Car: Lamborghini Actor: Paul Walker TV Show: Duck Dynasty Food: Collard Greens College teams: FSU, Alabama Pro team: Seattle Seahawks Athletes: Marshawn Lynch, Golden Tate 27

Bacon County Red Raiders Morris Johnson Stadium • Capacity: 2,500 • Alma, GA • www.bcraidersfootball.com Green Plays Double Duty Or Bacon Basketball Program right direction,” he says. “But I can honestly say coaching these girls has been a joy.” Green goes on to describe the girls’ hard work: “They run every day. They come to practice with good attitudes and good spirits, and there is no drama on the team.” Although the girls haven’t won a game this season, Green’s influence has shown up in the girls’ attitudes, work ethics, and team spirits. “We had some of the softball girls turn out to play. They know and respect me and knew I would be adding discipline to the team, so they came on board. Once they bought into my system, they were ready to go. These girls are good athletics and are just having to learn the game in a short period of time.” Green began his “reorganization” of the team last summer when he refused to let anyone try out for the team who didn’t want to take part in the summer drills. “The point of this season is not to win or lose,” says one parent. “We just want to see our girls’ basketball program turn around.” Leading in scoring for the Lady Raiders is Kara Moore, with an average of 20 points, and she plans to go into the army after graduation. While the girls haven’t won a game, yet, Green’s boys are keeping pace with teams in their region

and hanging around the top 20 in the state. In contrast to the Lady Raiders, who depend on senior Moore to put most of the points on the board, five players are constantly leading the Raiders as they try to pull out a sub-region championship this season. Those five guys are M.J. White, Drell Green, DaVanta O’Neal, Rron Folsom, and Jackson Foster. Two guys missed last week’s McIntosh game: White and Green. We could really tell it on the offensive end of the board. “We lost the game, but it would have been much closer, or possible a win with those guys in the game,” Green says. The contrast ends with the teams there, however, as Green believes in running and working from the minute the practice time starts till it ends each day. Those players who are most successful for Bacon County High School have bought into the old school method of coaching where the coach runs the show, and the players play the game. Coach Derrick Green fits that suit to perfection. This will be the last season played in the “House that R.T. Johnson built.” The perfect ending for this building would be for Coach Derrick Green, coaching girls and boys, to win both ends of the double header February 7, 2014 when the Raiders/ Lady Raiders take on old rival Jeff Davis County. A short ceremony has been planned for anyone who ever played at the gym, with a special salute to R.T. and Betty Sue Johnson. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Bacon County high School

Basketball fans in Bacon County are accustomed to seeing Coach Derrick Green on the sidelines during Raider basketball. But this season, he has taken on a new challenge, to bring pride and winning ways to the Lady Raiders’ basketball team. “I guess you could say I really don’t have a life outside of basketball,” Green says. Green has been coaching the Bacon boys since the early 2000’s, and although he hasn’t got a state championship under his belt, he has a banner hanging in the gym where one team made the Sweet 16. “We usually have a small team, but they all play hard and competitive, and I feel that may have led our boys to many wins,” he says. Whether it is in A or AA, Coach Green’s teams have always managed to be competitive and draw the fans. Green’s new position didn’t come following his putting in an application for the job. He got it last year when Bacon County found themselves without a girls’ basketball coach. The school board reached out to Green, and he agreed to take on the task with the understanding that he would coach one year. “I haven’t made a decision about coaching next year. If they get a new coach, he (or she) will have to be the right person to keep the girls going in the

by Gail Fiveash

Wayne County Yellow Jackets Jaycee Stadium • Capacity: 4,500 • Jesup, GA Yellow Jacket Hoopsters Battling For Success The unblemished sub-region record didn’t last long, however. Wayne lost a tough home game to Statesboro, 60-51. Trailing by eight points at the half, the Yellow Jackets battled in the second half, but they could not stop the run and gun style of basketball that the Blue Devils play. A positive for Wayne was winning the county line rivalry game against Long County, 71-56. The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 22-9 lead and controlled the pace of the game for the first half. Three point shooting and turnovers helped the Blue Tide eventually cut the lead to 10 points, but Wayne came back to seal the win. Kody Washington had 20 points on eight field goals and four free throws. Sanders added 19, and Malique Jackson had 11 points. Wayne also added a win against former region rival Richmond Hill, 84-67. The game was knotted at 38-38 at the end of the first half, and a second half surge gave the Yellow Jackets the momentum for the win. Sanders led his team with 22 points and Stovall with 21. Yellow Jacket senior post Jeremy Patterson, who will be Sanders’ teammate at Wisconsin, added 12 points and provided an inside presence as he has all year. The Yellow Jackets hope to pick up momentum as they ready for the region tournament.

Photos By Jeffrey Griffith, Old GoaT Photography

While Wayne County’s football was in the middle of their record-setting season on the gridiron, Yellow Jackets’ head basketball coach Robert Cotton was getting the basketball team ready for its season. However, since the Yellow Jackets lost in the semifinals, some of the football players that also play basketball took a little longer to get ready for the hoop season. Wayne is currently 5-16 overall for the 2013-14 campaign, and 1-3 in Region 3A-AAAA. Though most were chasing the Jackets in that sub-region during football season, the tables have turned, and the sub-region of Liberty, Statesboro, and South Effingham are chasing Liberty. The Panthers have size and speed and have defeated everyone in the sub-region despite losing a close game on the road to Statesboro in early January. The Yellow Jackets posted their first region win of the season, 65-57, over a scrappy South Effingham team after the Christmas Break. Cotton credited a renewed focus by his team which attributed to a 1-0 in the 3A-AAAA sub-region. Wayne used a strong combination of ball movement, perimeter shooting, and strong inside play. Senior Krenwick Sanders had 20 points. Quinn Stovall and junior Joseph Worley scored 17 points each, including two treys each.

by John Wood

Pierce County Bears

Varsity Wrestling

by Brittany Howell Braddock (106), two wins, one loss; J.J. Mackey (145), two wins, one loss; Elijah Kirby (152), two wins, one loss, and Travis Courson (160), two wins, one loss. Pierce County’s students and staff are beyond proud of what our boys have done so far and are

A Season For Every Activity

Photo by Serenity Photography

“Whether it’s on the field, on the stage, at outdoor practice, or in the band room, remember one thing: One band, one sound,” says Pierce County High 10th grade trombonist Matt Knox.

looking forward to what they will continue to do this season. On January 18, Piece County hosted the Bear Brawl, welcoming over 12 schools to PCHS. This season is off to a wonderful start, and we are all looking forward to seeing what else our Bears have in store for us. Photo by Paige Parker

Pierce County’s wrestling team is off to a great start this year. They spend many hours after school pushing themselves and practicing at a high intensity. The boys wrestle in an aggressive style attack mode and would rather play offensively, not passively. The first match was against Jeff Davis and Vidalia, and PCHS won 45-36 against Jeff Davis and 51-24 against Vidalia. Other matches have included Johnson Duel, Coffee/Bacon, Brantley County/ MCA, and Ware/ Charlton. “I am very proud of our guys, not only for waking up and making a 5:00 am departure time, but for wrestling their hearts out,” says Coach Brandon Jernigan. “I’m extremely impressed for the commitment level that our guys have to become better wrestlers on a daily basis.” As of December 12, 2014, the leaders of the team were Kody Wolf (113), eight wins, no losses; Chago Ramirez (138), six wins, no losses; L.J. Fullard (132), five wins, no losses; Dustin Bryant (285), five wins, no losses; Lorenzo Clarke (126), five wins, two losses; Carter Malone (195), four wins, no losses; Michael Spoon (182), three wins, no losses; Ian Kessler (182), three wins, one loss; Josh Norton (152), three wins, one loss; Clay Parker (120), three wins, two losses; Landon

Blackshear, GA · www.pchs.pierce.k12.ga.us

by Ivy Young For those that are unaware, there is life for the band after football season. At the conclusion of the marching band season, the Pierce County High School Sound of Silver marching band began to transition into concert/symphonic season. This transition included the band working on Christmas and parade music. On December 3, the First Baptist Church of Blackshear hosted the annual middle/high school Christmas concert. Both the seventh and eighth grade bands played four songs each, and the concert then concluded with the high school band. The high school band played three songs: “And the Herald Angels Sang,” “Star of Wonder,” and “ChristmasSing-Along.” The Christmas Parade in downtown Blackshear

on December 9 marked the last marching event for the PCHS Sound of Silver. Throughout the parade, the band played a variety of festive Christmas tunes while the SOS color guard accompanied them by twirling large candy canes. As the marching season wrapped up, the symphonic band dove full force into symphonic music in order to begin preparation for upcoming festivals and concerts. Mr. Bob Edwards’s (PCHS band director) music selection typically consists of a march, a lyrical piece, and a technical piece. This year’s three pieces will include Lexington (Karl King), Ammerland (Jacob de Haan), and Where Eagles Soar (Steven Reineke). In addition to the approaching Symphonic Season, the GMEA District 8 Honor Band auditions were held on December 14. The PCHS band had 13 students audition and six students passed the first round (Gautham Mudireddy, Margaret Dye, Matt Knox, Brittney Duckett, Anna Carter, and Michael Cardenas). December was an eventful and joyful month for the band as they began working toward a superior symphonic season.

Pierce County Bears Blackshear, GA · www.pchs.pierce.k12.ga.us

Varsity Boys Basketball

by Maggie Santana

Photo by Jennifer Carter Johnson

Pierce County is proud to present the boy varsity basketball team. The Pierce County Bears have 13 athletic players on the team. Darius Foreman and Nate Carter are the two seniors on the team. The juniors consist of the following: Marcus Greene, Josh McDay, Terrell Carter, Josh Henderson, and Zed Pressley. The three sophomores are Blake Chancy, Alan Williams, and DeShawn Kitchens. Last but not least, our freshmen are Chase Dowell, JeMar Lincoln, and Leroy Mason. The PCHS Bears have been working hard and are working as a team to get where they want to go. They have to put in the time and practice hard. Hopefully the rest of the season goes great for our Bears. The boys’ basketball team has a new coach.

Photos by Jennifer Carter Johnson

Lawson Participates in All-Star Game

Coach E.B. Price is a former retired coach; he retired in 2006, but before he retired he had coached for 36 years. In those 36 years he worked with one of our honorable coaches, Coach Pender, the head coach of the football team. Coach Price says the following about the varsity boys: “The boys are in the process of learning a whole new system. They are showing a tremendous desire and hustle to be the best they can be. So far, the Bears have won five and lost five. Darius Foreman, Nate Carter, and Josh Henderson are without a doubt the leaders of the team. Since they started the team they have shown leadership and worked with the team.”

by Joshua McDay

On December 30, senior wide receiver Sennua Lawson participated in the GACA All-Star Game in Columbus, Georgia. The game consisted of talented seniors across the state of Georgia. Lawson was chosen to participate in the game as a member of the South. To be a participant of this game is truly an honor due to the fact that only a selected few in the state are chosen to play. To be chosen, the head coach has to nominate the player, and then the coach of the all-star game picks who will be on the team. Lawson’s talents caught the eye of the South’s coach, and he was chosen to play. When asked how he feels about the grand opportunity Lawson says, “I was excited to have another chance to play football”. Lawson performed very well, but the team fell short to the North, 24-7. Big things are ahead for Lawson as he tries to continue his football career throughout college.

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