May 2016 Southeast Georgia Edition

MATTSON-PARRISH LADY BEAR INVITATIONAL HONORS NAMESAKES

SALIENT SENIOR YEAR-ROUND COACH STARR ROBERTSON JOHN BENNETT WARE COUNTY GLYNN ACADEMY

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA YOUNG WRITERS SHINE

LIFE THROWS SLIDERS

TEAMS CLAIM TWIN

ZACH MAINOR TRACK TITLES WAYNE COUNTY WAYCROSS MIDDLE

NICHOLS TAKES LIFE IN A

SPRINT AND STRIDE May 2016

Chandler Nichols | Camden County High School

IN THIS ISSUE 8 Nichols Takes Life In A

Sprint And Stride

Chandler Nichols Camden County High School

18 Salient Senior

Starr Robertson Ware County High School

23 Year-Round Coach John Bennett Glynn Academy

28 Teams Claim Twin Track Titles Waycross Middle School

30 Mattson-Parrish Lady Bear

Invitational Honors Namesakes

34 Southeast Georgia Young

Writers Shine

26

LIFE THROWS

SLIDERS Zach Mainor | Wayne County High School

FROM THE PUBLISHER Making The Play Choosing His Path Kobe Manders | Ware County

Mason Palmer | Needwood Middle School

Nothing Less Than His Best

Dalton Spires | Bacon County

Stokes’ rookie year ends with a title

+ LIBERTY BRINGS HOME

THE GOLD BALL

At Home

On The Mound

23

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2016. May your path to greatness be as smooth as glass.

I’ve enjoyed watching and reporting on the student athletes of this class since they were in 8th grade.

It’s been a pleasure to watch these student athletes grow from young wild eyed kids into respectful young men and women and I can’t wait to see what impact they have on their communities and the world. For the Class of 2016 I leave you the short but all powerful saying of a wise little green fictional character:“Do or do not. There is no try.” Yoda.

If you want to be good at something start early. Camden senior track star Chandler Nichols did just that starting his track career way back in the 5th grade. The Camden runner has been putting his spikes down on the track ever since. Chandler competed in the Jr Olympics as a 7th grader and the past two seasons has been the 100-meter champion for region 3-AAAAA. A stellar student in the classroom Chandler maintains a 4.1 GPA and plans to attend Kennesaw State University on a track scholarship in the fall.

Sometimes we are born with the right name and that is definitely the case with Starr Robertson. Starr is a “Star” on the soccer pitch for the Ware County Gators girls’ soccer team. She was the lone senior on the Gator’s squad and a leader by example to her teammates.

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Starr lead the team in goals by finding the back of the net an average of 22 times per season in her four years. A star in the classroom as well, she credits her teacher, Mrs. Lee Hatfield, for starting her interest in Biology which Starr plans to major in at college.

So you say you want to be a coach? I think Glynn Academy coach John Bennett might have taken that question to its limit.

The term “year-round coach” is befitting Coach Bennett. In the fall he is the head football coach at Needwood Middle School, in the winter he coaches the Needwood wrestling team and then in the Spring he’s at the helm of the traditional powerhouse Glynn Academy Girl’s golf team. The storied program which has seven State Titles to their credit won the Region 3-AAAAA title this past season under coach Bennett’s leadership.

It’s quite the achievement when a Middle School program wins a conference title but when both Boy’s and Girl’s teams win the title in the same season for the same sport, that’s total domination.

At Waycross Middle School this spring both the Boy’s track team lead by Coach Bill Epps and the Girls track team lead by Franklin Stephens won their respective conference titles. Quite the accomplishment for a talented group of young men and young women.

Pitching is a mainstay of the Wayne County Yellow Jacket baseball program. Many great arms have taken the field at Howard “Bo’ Warren field and the latest senior hurler to do so is Zach Mainor. Zach was normally the 2nd game starter but was the co#1 according to head coach Justin McDonald for the Jackets this season. Coach McDonald likes to have that senior leadership taking the mound in game two regardless of the outcome of game one.

Zach is a student of the game and somewhat of a throwback player.

As a pitcher, if he could face one major leaguer Zach’s batter of choice: Mickey Mantle. Always a competitor.

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. 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.

April 2016

CHAD WALLEN | GLYNN ACADEMY

TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS! Email us at info@itgsportsnetwork.com to let us know what you thought of the April edition of ITG

Contributors Publisher Shawn Smoak Editor Mark Dykes Graphics Ashlyn Peek Cover Photography Michael Brinson Feature Photography Jennifer Carter Johnson Michael Brinson Feature Writers John DuPont Rob Asbell John Wood Copy Editor James Washington 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 makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisments are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2015 Dykes Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

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Nichols takes life in a sprint and stride written by: John Wood | photography by: Michael Brinson

“I believe training with the right equipment is key in obtaining my goals. Having sprint spikes, vice distance spikes, resistance bands, compression clothing, and good blocks all have played a part in my development.”

Nerves calm.

The starter pistol releases a puff of smoke, but Camden County senior sprinter Chandler Nichols is conditioned to move the moment the hammer strikes the brass blank primer. Nichols’ pyramid-shaped track spike slams into the spongy track, the first five steps; all muscle memory. It’s that confidence and technique that has followed him throughout his track and field career for the Camden County Wildcats.

“I would say my track season has been ‘painfully great’,” Nichols said.

“There have been a lot of ups and downs in my track career; such as dealing with hamstring injuries and adjusting from summer league to high school.

Also, I’ve competed at high level track meets such as the Junior Olympics and State which have been really worth it.”

Nichols finished third overall in the 100-meter dash, eighth in the 200-meter dash, and second in the 4x400 meter relay, where the Wildcat team took second at the Class AAAAA State Championship

this year.

“We finally made it back to the state track meet, where I felt like it was redemption for my previous years in high school,” he said. “Each race, I gave it my all, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. In the end, I am really fortunate that I was able to end my senior year with the greatest team I have been on. Everybody worked hard on and off the field, so to see their hard work pay off just made coming to state even more worth it.”

Nichols found himself against familiar competition in the 100-meter and 200-meter races, battling against Bradwell Institute’s Chris Jackson. Jackson, according to Nichols, has been one of the toughest runners to face in region track meets. Jackson stayed the worthy opponent during the final high school meet, finishing second in the 100-meter dash and third in the 200-meter dash.

Nichols has been running track since 5th grade. He started participating in the Junior Olympics when he was in seventh grade; he earned a silver medal in the 100-meter in 2014 and was a 2014 USATF US Area Youth Olympic Trials Bronze medalist in the 100-meters.

“It is a reminder that there are some very talented and elite runners across the nation,” he said. “I must continue to work hard if I want to be competitive.”

In the last two seasons, Chandler was Region 3-AAAAA 100-meter champion and 2016 200-meter Region Three runner-up. Nichols anchored the 4x400-meter Region Three Championship team, setting a new Camden County Record.

Nichols set records in the 100-meter dash at the Swamp Relays with a 10.50 and in the 60-meter dash (15-16 year old division) at the Indoor Alumni Invitational.

The accomplishments have not been easy, and Nichols continues to work hard because he knows that his competitors are working just as hard. Five days a week, Nichols is honing is technique and speed in various sprints, from 800-meters to 50-meters. His training regimen also includes pulling sand bags and re-

10 | itgsportsnetwork.com

“Anytime I set a personal record, it lets me know I am getting better, and the hard work is paying off.”

sistance training with parachutes in addition to weight training.

“To me, it is 50 percent mental, 30 percent technique, 20 percent drive,” he said. “I believe training with the right equipment is key in obtaining my goals. Having sprint spikes, vice distance spikes, resistance bands, compression clothing, and good blocks all have played a part in my development.”

Dividends are manifesting in the time he has put into his track career. Chandler has maintained a stellar 4.1 GPA and will attend Kennesaw State University in the fall, where he was awarded a track and field scholarship.

“Sometimes I know my races will not be a personal record, and other times I feel as if I just ran a world record,” he said. “Anytime I set a personal record, it lets me know I am getting better, and the hard work is paying off.”

Chandler loves the sprint races but equally enjoys the competition of the 4x400 meter relay, which allows him to compete in a team competition rather than individual.

“It’s not hard to make the transition from running with the team,” he said. “I seem to focus more to make sure I don’t let my team down. I run the anchor leg, and that is when you have to make up any distance or time. Just like every other relay member, one of my worst nightmares is that I would have a large lead and drop the baton before the finish line. But good technique and concentration keep me from doing that.”

Away from the track, he likes to hang out with friends, and like any coastal Georgian, he also loves spending time on the beach.

“My greatest influence out side of coaches and teammates has been my sister Natori, because she is always in my corner,” he said. “She keeps me grounded and challenges me to do better.”

What it feels like to run the 100 meter dash: “The moment that the starter shoots the gun, my mind goes blank and it’s all muscle memory for the first five steps. After that, I am focusing on my footwork and arm movement. I ask myself, ‘Am I moving my arms fast enough?’ ‘Is this my top speed, or can I move faster?’ These questions go through my mind in nanoseconds. About halfway through the race, all I can think about is what time I will have. When I finally cross the finish line, I survey myself, deciding whether or not I did all I could do and what I need to improve. One of the greatest things about track is the fun and intensity of lining up and competing the person next to you.”

Personal Records 100 meter: 10.50 200 meter: 21.76 60 meter- 6.97 55 meter- 6.68

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Printing and Embroidery: CS Hewett Advertising

written by: Rob Asbell Their products can be found on heads and backs throughout the area, from elementary school field day t-shirts to Ware County Gator fans at Memorial Stadium on Friday nights in the fall. Hats, t-shirts, signs and banners: If it shows local pride chances are it came from CS Hewett Advertising.

The Waycross store specializes in personalized promotional items that can be worn or seen: If it’s printed or embroidered, CS Hewett Advertising creates it.

“We service all of southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida as well,” said Marilyn Hewett who has owned and operated the business with her husband, Sean Hewett, for the past 11 years. “Both of us are local alumnae of Ware County (High School).

We’ve lived here all our lives.” CS Hewett Advertising creates t-shirts for businesses and events in Jesup, Douglas, Brunswick and, of course, Waycross. They print t-shirts and hats for everything from school functions to car dealerships. And of course, CS Hewett Advertising is the place for Ware County High School items. Fridays in the fall at Memorial Stadium in Waycross would not be the same without CS Hewett Advertising’s specialized products.

Gators’ accessories are available during the week at the store at 211 Knight Avenue. During football season, they are open at the stadium on Fridays starting at noon.

CS Hewett Advertising also provides some of the items for sale at the Gator Gear store at Ware County High School. Viewers can “like” their Facebook page which has examples of their work like custom t-shirts

for the Ware County Gators 2015 final four football playoff run. “This year we will start out with four or five basic designs and then every week we will include another design,” Marilyn Hewett said, adding that they will add new Gator shirts for events like Homecoming and playoff games.

Last year they designed shirts for specific games including the Ware/Coffee County game. And when the weather gets cool, they also have hoodies, sweatshirts and long-sleeved shirts.

Not all of their designs are focused on the Ware County Gators. CS Hewett Advertising is known for doing team uniforms for baseball and softball teams. All manner of groups and individuals come to CS Hewett Advertising because of their prompt service and attention to quality.

They also add their personal touch to custom screen printing, embroidery, promotional items like t-shirts and hats and signs and banners. CS Hewett Advertising also does sublimation printing on dry mesh jerseys and shirts. The printing never cracks, fades or peels. “It lasts for the lifetime of the shirt,” Marilyn Hewett said.

Stop by their location at 211 Knight Avenue in Waycross or call (912) 5480082. You can also shoot them an email at cshewettad@gmail.com. Check their Facebook page for pictures, specials and sales. As one Facebook reviewer said, “Luv this place,Custom Shirts with great quality, Nobody Do It like Hewett.”

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IN THE GAME | 13

APPLING COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

PIRATES CLAIM REGION BASEBALL TITLE written by: Rob Asbell

The Pirates baseball team of Coach Jeremy Smith won the Region 1-AAA championship in April with a 2-1 victory over Southeast Bulloch High School. The win gives the Pirates home field advantage through the first two rounds of the state playoffs. Appling ended the regular season at 18-6-1 (16-1-1 in Region 1-AAA) and won eight out of their last 10 regular season ball games, including seven in a row. The Pirates shut out Pierce County to claim the top seed in the sub-region. They then went on a scoring tear, putting up 44 runs in three games, including shutout wins to sweep Savannah High in the first round of the region playoffs. The Pirates then moved onto the first round of the state playoffs where they hosted Region Four’s fourth-seed North Clayton.

Track & Field The Pirates track and field teams continue to have strong showings at area track meets. In April, they competed in Richmond Hill at the Georgia Apex Game Changers Meet. The Lady Pirates of Coach Garrett Cranford had several athletes place, including Kelsie Jones, who placed first in the shot put; Samantha Mims, who was second in the long jump; Sharna Dasher, who placed fourth in the shot put; and Katelynn Paulk who was fourth in the discus.

The boys’ team of Coach Sheldon Pearce had a strong finish with several athletes placing. The 4x100 team of Bo Jones, Al Lewis, Japheth Morris, and Devon Moore, won their event, as did

Moore, who also won the 200-meters in a new school-record time of 21.52. The 4x400 team finished third with a crew of Jephtor Williams, Tamarick Nails, Jones, and Moore. Henrey Dasher and Ethan Johnson finished third and fourth (respectively) in the shot put, and Joshua McLean finished fifth in the mile run with a time under five minutes.

Later in April, the teams traveled to Brooklet for the Region 1-AAA meet hosted by Southeast Bulloch High School. Top finishers for the girls' team were: Kelsey Jones and Sharna Dasher (finished one and two in the shotput), sophomore Turkesia White, who was second in the 100- and 200-meters. She was also part of the team that finished second in the 4x100 meters.

Kaitlyn Paulk was second in the discus, Samantha Mims was third in the long jump, and Breona Dicker was fourth in the 400 meters.

On the boys’ side, junior Devon Moore won the 100- and 200-meters and was part of the 4x100 meters team that took first for Coach Sheldon Pearce's Pirates. The 4x400 meters team took third. Joshua McLean was fourth in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. Al Lewis was fourth in the 100-meters, Latrell Bell was fourth in the discus, and Ethan Johnson was fourth in the shotput.

Sectionals will be held at Southeast Bulloch on April 30. Qualifiers will advance to the State meets: Girls in Albany on May 5-7 and boys in Jefferson May 12-14.

IN THE GAME | 15

WARE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

GATOR SHOOTERS FINISH FOURTH IN STATE

written by: Rob Asbell | photography courtesy of Ware County High School Riflery The Ware County Rifle Team finished fourth in the GHSA State Shooting Championships at the Pool International Shooting Complex on post at Ft. Benning near Columbus, Georgia. The Gators shot an 1148 overall to finish behind East Coweta High School, Northside of Columbus, and Walton. Shooters for the Gators included Courtney Harris, Emily Jones, Kimberlee Nettles, Ashton Newland, and Johnathan Simpson.

Following another perfect 10-0 regular season and the Area Three title for the fourth straight year, the Ware County Rifle Team made its way through the state playoffs. The Gator shooters defeated Social Circle and Stephens County in the state tournament to go to 12-0 and qualified for the State Shooting Championships.

Golf The golf teams of Coach Tony Wheeler finished up the Region 3-AAAAA tournament with the girls' team placing second at the Okefenokee Country Club in Waycross. The Glynn Academy girls' won the event, followed Ware County and Camden. The Gator's Sutton Rollins was region low medalist with a score of 76. Kylee Wheeler's 88, Chyna Carter's 100, and Emily Wilson's 106 were also carded for Ware County. The girls' team will now compete in the state sectionals at Heron Bay Golf Club in Locust

Grove on May 2.

The boys' team finished sixth in the region tournament. Camden won, followed by Glynn Academy, Statesboro, Effingham County, South Effingham, Ware County, Coffee County, Richmond Hill, and Brunswick. The Ware County boys scored Levi Jewell and Fred Windham at 77 each, Coby Eunice at 88, Acy Paulk at 102, Gunnar Hinnant 105, and Greg Delk at 106.

Levi Jewell had to beat teammate Fred Windham in a sudden death playoff for the right to advance to the state sectionals at Georgia National in McDonough.

Baseball The Gators baseball team went on a tear and won eight games in a row into early April. But it was the two-out-of-three Coach Tony Yeomans' team took from Camden County that put them at the top of the sub-region standings as the season ended. A combination of the Gators' win and a surprise loss to Coffee County by Glynn Academy put Ware County right where they wanted to be going into the Region 3-AAAAA Playoffs. The Gators hosted the first round of the Region 3-AAAAA Tournament against Statesboro and looked good as they took game one, 8-1. But the Blue Devils stormed back and took the next two games from the Gators that Saturday to end Ware County's season in the Sub-Region Playoffs.

Salient

Senior written by: John DuPont | photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

Being the lone senior on any team is a tall order, but that was the load Starr Robertson shouldered this past season for the Ware County High girls’ soccer team. And despite their relative youth, the Lady Gators took their state playoff chase down to the wire.

Effingham County ultimately denied WCHS a chance at the postseason; the Lady Gators finished 7-7-1 overall and 5-5 in Region 1-AAAAA.

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“I was the only senior this year, and I really pushed myself to inspire the other players to put their hearts into it,” said Robertson, the daughter of Annie Robertson (Charlie) and Terrence Freeman. “Put your all into it and you’ll get good results. Soccer is not just a sport; it’s a passion.”

Replacing Robertson will be no small task.

The striker/midfielder averaged 22.3 goals per season during a four-year career, finding the back of the net 89 times. Desiring to remain close to family, Robertson declined several out-of-state college offers in favor of competing collegiately at ABAC beginning next year.

“Starr is the most disciplined soccer player to come through our program,” said Ware County High girls’ coach Michael Cook. “She constantly improved her game by doing the work during the season and the offseason. People always comment that our future is bright because we are only losing one senior this year; but when they find out who we are losing, they normally retract their statement.”

Robertson is also a rare academic find, having held membership in Beta Club and National Honor Society. She scored 1560 on the SAT and 21 on the ACT. The owner of a 3.95

GPA, she cites science as her favorite subject and credits her biology instructor, Mrs. Lee Hatfield, with lighting the fire of interest.

“Two years ago I started liking science when I took an AP biology class,” Robertson said. “I probably had the greatest teacher of all time in Mrs. Hatfield. She has so many different ways she teaches it; not just with book work. It was not long and drawn out; we always had something visual, like pictures of cells. Biology just clicked, and now I plan to major in it in college.”

According to Hatfield, theirs is mutual admiration.

“Starr is as dedicated in the classroom as she is on the field and I'm sure she will be successful in anything she pursues,” Mrs. Hatfield said. “She was a joy to teach and coach. We will miss her next year.”

Although Robertson took up soccer at age 6, she wasn’t exactly a prodigy. In order to get playing time, she had to play up against tougher competition.

“It actually started at Williams Heights Elementary School in PE,” Robertson said. “It was the first day of soccer, and I was the goalkeeper. I was probably the worst goalkeeper of all time. I ran into the post and almost broke my nose. After that, I would play with the boys every day because it was more of a challenge. I played midfield my first year, and from then on I played striker.”

Through the years, Robertson toiled in other sports. She played basketball at Waycross Middle School, where she was a point guard.

As a high school freshman, she placed fifth in the region cross country meet, which qualified her for the state meet. Her knees took a pounding from the rigors of cross country, and Robertson chose not to compete the following year. She returned to running road courses as a junior.

“I figured taking a year off, it would help with soccer,” she said. “It did help a lot with endurance, playing time and whatnot.”

Nothing, though, replaced the thrill that soccer provides. On the pitch, Robertson patterns herself after USA women’s great Abby Wambach.

“She’s determined and very self-driven,” Robertson said. “I especially liked last year’s World Cup when she scored on a header.”

When it comes to game execution, Robertson’s own favorite soccer maneuver is the “Ronaldo Chop,” so named for the famed Portuguese national star that suits up for Real Madrid.

“If I’m running down the sideline and I have a defender at an angle to my left, I’m going to step over the ball, and then I’m go-

ing to chop it behind my leg with my right foot,” she said. “If the defender is jockeying back, it opens the field and I have more room to play the ball across the field.”

This season brought one of Robertson’s favorite personal highlights. It happened against Glynn Academy at home with the game tied 1-1 and six minutes to go.

“Sarah Hitt was throwing the ball in, and she was about 10 yards from the 18-yard box,” Robertson said. “I didn’t expect to score in that situation, because I usually don’t. But Sarah threw it in and landed right in front of a defender, so I flicked it over her head with my foot and scored. We won, 2-1.”

Coach Cook has been instrumental in Robertson’s development as a player, says the striker.

“I didn’t know anything about reading the game until my ninth-grade year,” she said. “I had the speed and the touch, but didn’t know where to go with the ball. He took me through drills that helped me read the game in a different way.”

Since then, Robertson has found ways to give back to others, and not just in soccer. She has assisted with instructing U-11 players from the Golden Isles Soccer Association. She also sought at one point to mold her younger sister, Adilania, into a soccer player. A third-grader at Williams Heights, Adilania quickly dismissed soccer in favor of running.

“She got out there for five minutes and complained it was too hot,” the elder sister said with a laugh. “Now she is getting into track.

She is really tall and extremely fast.”

Robertson says her interest in science is also born of a desire to be a healer. Her service projects have included work at area nursing homes.

“I’d like to be a researcher,” she said. “My mom has rheumatoid arthritis, so I want to find something that would help it and help others.”

As she develops her bedside manner, Robertson is already noted for ‘pet-side’ manner, having worked as a volunteer with the humane society and at Satilla Animal Hospital.

In fact, one of the loves in her life is the family’s three-year-old canine, a Chorkie named Big Papa.

“I guess I’m just better with animals than with people,” she said.

For now, though, Robertson remains as passionate about soccer as she does anything, and her enthusiasm isn’t fading anytime soon.

“I feel like it’s so much more complex than other sports,” she said. “It’s all about body language, reading the field, anticipation, and constant running. You are never just in one position; I just love how competitive it is.”

“IT’S ALL ABOUT BODY LANGUAGE, READING THE FIELD, ANTICIPATION, AND CONSTANT RUNNING. YOU ARE NEVER JUST IN ONE POSITION; I JUST LOVE HOW COMPETITIVE IT IS.”

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WAYNE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

WAYNE COUNTY FINISHES IN SECOND ROUND OF STATE PLAYOFFS written by: John Wood | photography by: Shawn Smoak Losing to Cartersville in the second round of the AAAA state playoffs, 4-3, after defeating the Purple Hurricanes, 14-2, in the second of a threegame series ending the 2015 season will be motivation for the Wayne County Yellow Jackets baseball team during the upcoming 2016 season.

The Yellow Jackets certainly have had talent on the mound, up the middle, and at the plate. However, with a couple of 20-plus wins under the belt a region title or two, Wayne County Head Coach Justin McDonald knows that he is still working towards the goal of playing for state championship.

“We still haven't attained the ultimate goal,” McDonald said. “I think it is okay to talk about that goal, but we as a program have to stay humble and appreciate the process of getting there. We have had some great years, but that is all credit to have great players and assistant coaches.”

The Yellow Jackets will finish their final season in Region 3-AAAA. With the bi-annual movement of schools, the GHSA will place the Yellow Jackets back in the friendly confines of Statesboro and South Effingham, two of the traditional powers that Wayne shared a region with for years.

“We have built some rivalries in that region and it is exciting to get to pick those back up,” McDonald said.

Some of the games that Wayne County has played against Statesboro in the past have been considered some of the best baseball played in Southeast Georgia and certainly delighted a baseball loving fan base.

As the Yellow Jackets opened practice for the 2016 season, McDonald preached a simple but effective philosophy; a philosophy that has helped his Yellow Jacket veterans succeed.

“We want to play as well as we possibly in all phases of the game and execute 100% of the time,” he said. “If we can do this we will win games.”

Wayne is sitting at 14-4 so far in the 2016 campaign as the season starts to move towards that region tournament. McDonald has always built a tough non-region schedule, and while it usually does lead to a few losses early in the season, that tougher competition has been what has paid off in making the Yellow Jackets play harder and more focused in the stretch leading to the region tournament and state playoffs.

“I am a firm believer in that early competition will bring out the best in your team at the end of the season,” McDonald said. “We will be tested

early and that is how we have always done it. No doubt we will know a lot about our team and we will be better after those trips.”

This season, Wayne lost a close game to Wesleyan, 4-3, but defeated John’s Creek, 7-4, the next day. The other three losses this season have come at the hands of old time foes Statesboro, Ware, and 3A-AAAA region member Thomson. Despite the four losses this season, Wayne County battled back to defeat Statesboro, Thomson, and Ware in subsequent meetings.

Pitching coach Jordan Mullis’ impact continues to help produce strong pitchers in a program that has been pitching rich for years.

“Pitching is going to be good again,” McDonald said. “Coach Mullis does an outstanding job with our staff and I can assure you that they will be playoff ready come May.” Another area that has been a constant for McDonald’s teams is that he will continue to have a strong cadre of upperclassmen, but there will be young players that will be able to contribute almost immediately.

“We have a good group of seniors along with some newcomers,” McDonald said. “We will look for guys from all classes to contribute.”

The Yellow Jackets find themselves in a more competitive region than other years. The improving Liberty County Panthers, who finished as fourth seed in Region 3-AAAA, create a better local region opponent.

“Can't take anyone lightly in our region,” McDonald said. “It's important to play them one game at a time and see what happens.”

Wayne’s baseball staff includes Mullis, Jesse Barfield, Andrew Carroll, and Mike Roberts.

“We will use the first part of the season to fill out the best lineup as well as build positive chemistry that wins,” McDonald said. “Also we have a tendency to get off to a slow start. We want to change that this season and remain consistent throughout.”

Wayne won its region and defeated traditionally strong Perry High School in a three-game series, but ended up having to make a long trip to North Georgia to face Heritage High School in Ringgold Gap, Georgia.

Heritage, who has a couple of Division I signees, swept Wayne County in a two-game set. The Yellow Jackets finished the season 21-8 overall and 8-1 in region play.

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BRANTLEY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

BRANTLEY TENNIS HAS ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE SEASON

written by: Matt Thrift

photography courtesy of Brantley County High School

The Brantley County boys and girls’ tennis teams once again had a pair of impressive seasons in 2016. The Lady Herons finished the 2015 season with a 16-7 overall record. They also finished the region in 3rd place going 8-3 in region play and advanced to the 2nd round of the state playoffs. The Herons ended their 2015 campaign with an 18-5 overall record and won the Region 1-AAA Championship going 11-0 in region play. The Herons also advanced to the 2nd round of the state playoffs.

Last year's high achievements are a part of even higher standards that the Brantley players sought to achieve entering this tennis season.

The Lady Herons did not disappoint in 2016. After winning 8 out of their first 12 matches, the girls from Brantley played in the Coastal Empire Tennis Classic in Savannah and beat Savannah Country Day and Richmond Hill to make the Finals before losing in the Championship to Savannah Arts Academy. Brantley's girls would take another loss to Savannah Arts Academy in their Region 1-AAA Championship Match. Due to their region runner-up finish, the Lady Herons hosted and defeated Decatur High School in the first round of the state playoffs before falling the Central Carroll in the 2nd round. Overall the Lady Herons finished their season 15-8 (8-3 region). Coach Matt Thrift, "Our girls had a great season. Three of our eight losses were to Savannah Arts and they were the eventual State Champions due to Westminster having to forfeit the title. We actually were a few points away from beating them once so we feel as if we know what it takes to get to the next level. We also didn't have a senior on the girls’ team so we definitely are raising our expectations for next year".

The Herons once again had a stellar tennis season going

19-5 overall and 11-0 in region play. Brantley's boys won their seventh region title in the past eleven years. The Herons also advanced to the state "Final 4" for the fifth time in nine years.

They defeated Washington High and Cedartown in the first two rounds of state before squaring off against last year's state runner-up, Calhoun. With the overall match tied 2-2, Brantley took the last match in a third set to upset Calhoun and advance to the state semi-finals vs Westminster. In the semis, Westminster ended Brantley's quest for a state championship 0-3. Coach Matt Thrift, "The boys did their best all season. I can't ask for a better effort from any of them. Westminster is probably one of the best high school teams in the country, and we knew that going in. We gave them a battle but came up a bit short. Despite this loss, I am so excited to see where this tennis program is going for both the boys and girls."

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Year-Round

COACH written by: Rob Asbell | photography by: Michael Brinson

IN THE GAME | 23

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The orange wrist bands and ribbons bear the words, "Ansley's Army." They are in support of Glynn Academy sophomore golfer Ansley Jones who has been diagnosed with Leukemia for the second time.

"Our goal from early on has been to win a state championship and bring Ansley a ring," Coach John Bennett said.

The Red Terrors Golf Team, as well as the entire community, has rallied around Ansley, who has been hospitalized in Jacksonville while undergoing treatments most of the school year.

"We're playing this season for Ansley," Collett said.

Many other schools have begun to wear the ribbons, too.

There is also a Facebook page entitled "Prayers for Ansley Jones," with some posts having as many as 400 replies.

"We have been overwhelmed with the support," Ansley's father, Danny Jones, said. "People from all over the place, not just local, but I mean other states and we've even had letters come in for other countries."

Some have seen Ansley's story on Tim Tebow's website, timtebowfoundation.org.

"The main thing we ask for is prayer. Prayer got her through the first time, and it will help her through the second time," her father said.

Ansley knows about the community's support even though she is secluded in the hospital. The golf team visited Ansley at Wolfson's Children's Hospital and took the trophies they won this season to be displayed in her room.

The daughter of Danny and Alicia Jones of Brunswick, Ansley received a bone marrow transplant from her 12-year-old brother, Joseph, on February 15, 2016. Patients must usually wait 100 days before they are able to go beyond 30 minutes from the hospital, so Ansley stays at the Ronald McDonald House when she is released.

"She's had a positive attitude since day one," her father said.

"WE'RE PLAYING THIS SEASON FOR

ANSLEY."

TRAIN LIKE A PRO ATHLETE written by: Whitney Cole and Byron Paidoussi

It's considered to be one of the prime coaching positions in southeast Georgia: Coaching an always-loaded and highly ranked Glynn Academy girls’ golf team. Playing at the nicest courses in the area while guiding a talented group of young ladies sounds like, well, a walk down the fairway, but for Coach John Bennett, it is part of a loaded schedule. Bennett is a year-round coach; from young men learning to wrestle for the first time to young ladies who are at the top of their golf game, he coaches them all.

When school starts in the fall, Bennett is the head football coach at Needwood Middle School in Glynn County. In the winter, he becomes the Warriors' wrestling coach. But it is in the spring when he moves to the high school level and takes on the task of coaching one of the state's top golf programs.

For the past five years, he has been at the helm of the ladies' golf team at Glynn Academy, winning the Region 3-AAAAA Championship this year for the second time.

"We have had some great moments in each sport, but just seeing the kids experience success has been the best,” Coach Bennett said. “Wrestling and golf especially lend themselves to be individual sports, so seeing the teams come together and really pull for one another is always pretty special."

Somehow he is able to juggle the three sports, which are fundamentally different in almost every way: Ladies' golf is a mental game requiring years for proficiency, football is a physical team sport, and wrestling requires constant thought and movement. Considering his ability to handle all three almost simultaneously, it's no surprise that Bennett did not take the usual path to become a coach. Instead, he chose to serve his country in uniform before going to college.

"I left for the Marine Corps on the night I graduated from high school," he said.

He eventually got a degree in business but decided to become a coach due to the influence of his own high school wrestling coach, who instilled discipline in him as a young man.

The former Marine started his coaching career at Needwood 10 years ago. He has been head football coach for eight years and started the school's wrestling program five years ago.

"We have won the wrestling championship for the last four years,” he said. “Watching those guys find success on an individual level, as well as win-

ning as a team, has been fun to watch."

It was also five years ago that Bennett got the opportunity to coach the Glynn Academy girls' golf team. Many of the players have taken lessons and learned from their own golf instructors for many years, so Bennett works to reiterate what the pros have them working on and helps keep them on track.

"I try to help all the girls with course management, and slowing things down in their head,” he said. “If you’re not careful the game speeds up, and can get away from you."

During his years as a coach, he has seen some amazing players come through his programs: Current Brunswick High School football stars Shawn Smith and D'Ante Demery, former Glynn Academy golfer Katy Harris (who now plays at Ole Miss), and current New England Patriots' defensive back Justin Coleman. His roster currently includes two-time state golfer of the year Julianna Collett, who has signed to play at Georgia Southern next year. "(Coach Bennett’s) influence extends beyond just the high school season," Collett said. "(He) has caddied for me in several tournaments over the summer. He has helped me reach my potential as a golfer and made my high school golf experience unforgettable. I couldn’t ask for a better coach."

Juggling so many sports can be difficult, especially when the seasons overlap. A good year in football may mean less practice time for wrestling.

"We have a good support system at Needwood, from other coaches that often step up to help all the way to the administration that are very supportive and give assistance when it is needed," Bennett said.

Bennett's coaching philosophy can be described as "fluid," making him able to adapt to situations in each sport.

"Scott Spence (Glynn Academy principal) told me about 12 years ago, 'If you make every decision based on what’s best for the kids, you will always be right’,” Bennett said. “I use that quite a bit."

Bennett tries to make participating in sports an enjoyable experience for players while maintaining a high level of performance.

When he is not teaching and coaching, Bennett and his wife Kristy are busy raising 6-year-old twins, and he is the current club champion at Heritage Oaks Country Club in Brunswick.

"But if recent play is any indication, probably not for long," he said with a laugh.

Do you want to be more like the guys you’ll be watching every Sunday during the NFL season? Well then you need to train like one. Trust me, no NFL players pump up their muscles by spending hours on a treadmill, elliptical or a stationary bike. So ditch the steady-state cardio workouts and start a more structured strength, power and anaerobic fitness routine.

START LIFTING HEAVY

In order to gain maximum strength and muscle, you need to move heavy weight, and increase the load and intensity of the workouts. Lift heavy and work out hard for short bursts of time - pushing your body harder, but for short durations. Cardio is necessary, but upgrade slow steady-state cardio for intensive cardio that gets the heart rate high and keeps it there for a short time, followed by an equal amount of recovery time.

I’m not saying that you should go out and try to bench press 275 lbs. like professional football players, but I would suggest using the heaviest weight that you could manage to lift (with correct form) for a total of 5 repetitions. Focus on the large muscle groups that function as prime movers, such as quadriceps, hamstrings, chest, and back. Pay less attention to smaller muscles such as biceps, triceps and calves. Alternate cardio days with sprint intervals at 85% of you max heart rate (220 – your age), and use a heart rate monitor to ensure you’re working at the correct intensity.

STRENGTH WORKOUT: Power cleans – 5 sets x 3 reps Squats – 5 sets x 5 reps Bench press – 5 sets x 5 reps DB rows – 5 sets x 5 reps Dead lifts – 5 sets x 5 reps DB overhead press – 5 sets x 5 reps Pull-ups – 5 sets x 5 reps Burpees 5 sets x 10 reps with 30 seconds between sets Core plank for 1 minute Crunches on SB using band for resistance Plate twists

This information is coutesy of muscleandfitness.com

Life throws written by: John Wood photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

Baseball is highly regarded as the national pastime, and the love of the game is continually deepening in Wayne County. Kids grow up playing baseball with hopes of being able to be a part of the winning tradition of the Yellow Jackets varsity baseball team.

Wayne County senior Zach Mainor has been playing baseball since he was 3 years old. He credits his grandfather with inspiring his love for the game.

"I realized I had a chance to be a good ball player when I was about 10 or 11 years old,” Mainor said. “Around 13 years old, I started to realize I would be a better player if I actually took my coach's advice.”

Learning to really heed the advice of coaches helped Zach start to find his stride. However, the coaching is just part of what made Zach a better baseball player; the other part was all of the hard work that he had to put in himself. Hours of hands stinging from hitting balls in the cage, taking fly balls, and firing balls out of the perfect crow hop to make sure of accuracy in hitting the cut-off man helped to beef up his resume.

"It's a great feeling knowing that I worked really hard to reach the success I had as an upperclassman," Mainor said.

Baseball is a game of execution, and nothing demands greater execution than the role of a pitcher. Zach got a lesson in mental toughness early in his senior year on the mound.

"This season started off a little rough on the mound, but as the season went on I began to pitch better and get better run support which allowed for a strong ending,” he said. “I would have to say I like pitching more than centerfield. When I'm on the mound I am able to control the 26 | itgsportsnetwork.com

sliders speed of the game.”

A pitcher’s go-to is said to be descriptive of the personality of the person who throws the pitch. For example, you easily associate a blazing fastball with Nolan Ryan's tall Texas frame; the knuckleball resurrected the career of Tim Wakefield when he found out he couldn't throw hard anymore. Zach Mainor's favorite pitch is a slider. Even a hitter that knows it's coming may cut air or just hit a dribbler in the infield for a quick out.

"I can use it to throw hitters off balance," Mainor said.

Mainor is definitely a student of the game. Pitchers at every level dream of facing the best hitters, regardless of time.

Zach's hitter that he would like to see 60 feet way from him isn't the typical response of today's players, Bryce Harper or even a Derek Jeter. Mainor's pick is the original power hitter, Mickey Mantle.

"If I could pitch to any batter, it would be Mickey Mantle,” he said. “The count would be 1-2, so that I could see if he would chase one in the dirt. I would most likely throw two sliders, and if he didn't offer, I would run a two-seam slider in on him. I chose Mickey because he had a lot of success in his days of baseball. I feel like it would challenge me to locate my pitches and throw harder.”

Playing baseball in Wayne County is a special experience and something that Mainor has truly enjoyed during his career.

"I want my teammates to think of a really hard worker when they think of me,” he said. “Someone who never stops pushing to be the best I can be. I hope they realize with hard work they can also be a big impact on the program. All of my teammates

are really good guys and they always encourage each other to get better every day. My catcher this past year (Christian Ruff) was one of the best teammates a guy could ask for. We had a special pitcher/ catcher bond that made it hard to beat us on the field.”

Once Mainor did settle down this season, he ended up posting a serviceable 3.29 earned run average and recorded 36 strikeouts and two wins.

"The only advice I could really give is to take the coach's advice and give it your all,” he said. “Never take days off or half-do anything. Work as hard as you can, and it will pay off eventually.”

His work ethic has merited him looks from a few junior college programs, including South Georgia State College.

Away from the field, one of his favorite classes at Wayne County High School is Ms. Jenny Graham's anatomy class.

“She made the class fun, but was always able to get the point across,” he said.

Wayne County head baseball coach Justin McDonald has certainly noticed the hard work and leadership that Mainor has put in during his time with the Yellow Jackets baseball team.

“Zach is an exceptional player and person,” McDonald said. “He has been a part of our program for four years and has done some great things. As an underclassman, he was able to step in and play a significant role in our success as threetime region champions and two appearances in the Elite Eight. This season, his leadership and work ethic was some of the best I’ve seen in my tenure here at Wayne.

He was always ready to work and brought it every single day.”

Test Your Knowledge 1. Famous track and field high jumper Dick Fosbury was known for doing one signature move. What was it called?

A. The Fosbury Flop B. The Fosbury Flip C. The Fosbury Fling D. The Fosbury Flyer 2. What year marked the first competition for women in Olympic Track and Field?

A. 1992 B. 1996 C. 2000 D. 2004 3. The first modern Olympics took place in what year?

A. 1896 B. 1900 C. 1904 D. 1892 4. The earliest pole-vaulting competition took place in Cumbria, England in what year?

A. 1843 B. 1900 C. 2001 D. 1867

ANSWERS

A, B, A, A

DID YOU KNOW? The hammer throw can be traced back to the Scottish Highland games.

Field events include the long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, javelin, and hammer throw.

Florence Griffith Joyner, also known as “Flo-Jo,� was the first woman to run the 100 meters in under 10.5 seconds. In 1988 she set records for both the 100and 200-meter races.

The three jumps of track and field are broken down into the hop, the bound, and the hump. The bound and the hop are off the same foot while the jump comes off the opposite leg.

The long jump is one of the oldest track and field events and can be traced back to the Olympics in ancient Greece.

28 | itgsportsnetwork.com

TEAMS CLAIM TWIN TRACK TITLES written by: Rob Asbell | photography by: Waycross Middle School

They are a group of up and coming young athletes who ran, jumped and threw their way into championship seasons. They are the members of the boy's and girl's track teams at Waycross Middle School, both of which brought home titles in the Southeast Georgia Middle School Athletic Conference. Young athletes like Ronasche Fluker and Dream Gainer who led their teams with big victories. The two day event was held at Ware County High School and hosted by the Waycross Middle School Bulldogs.

THE GIRL'S TEAM

The Bulldogs' girl's track and field team went out first on day one of the championship meet. Coached

by Ware County High School Head Football Coach Franklin Stephens, the girls got out to a fast start with Ronasche Fluker winning the 400 meter championship. She was also part of the 4X100 meter team that won the conference championship for the girl Gators with Jordan Williams, D'Yonne McClain and DeMya Gibson. Fluker also finished second in the long jump, third in the 200 meters and was on the second place 4x400 meter relay team. "She's a two time conference champion in the 4x100 and the 400 meters so she won as a sixth grader and a seventh grader," Coach Stephens said. "She works extremely hard and I think she can have a bright future in track and field if she so desires."

DeMya Gibson also performed well for the Bulldogs, finishing second in the 100 meters, fifth in the 200 meters and she was part of the 4x100 and 4x400 meter teams. "She's just a workhorse. She received the Coach's Award for this year because of the fact that she's one of the few kids that as a coach you come across that's willing to meet the challenge day in and day out of getting better."

Coaches praise her work ethic and ability to do

what is asked of her.

Other top finishers for the Lady Bulldogs were Cornesha Cannady who was fourth in the 400 meters and third in the high jump, Kaylah Youngblood who was third in the 800 meters and second in the 1,600 meters, Jordan Williams who finished second in the 100 meter hurdles and fourth in the long jump, D'yonne McClain who was fourth in the shotput and Katurah Williams who was third in the shotput. The Waycross Middle girls had 124 points to Jeff Davis' 99 and Pierce county's 83.

Coach Stephens has had experience with track and field programs through the years and chose athletes for specific events based on their ability to score points for the team. His strategy paid off as the Bulldogs won just two events during the championship meet but still won by 25 points. "We won the 400 and the 4x100 meters but we got a lot of second place finishes and a lot of girls who got points so we were able to get two people in each event getting points for us. That's the true indication of a team," he said. "There's ways to win.

You just have to figure out what your strengths are then you look in the conference and you see how everybody else is, then you get your people in the correct places." Coach Stephens worked to instill a

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Financing for

60 Months Proudly serving Nahunta, GA and Brantley, Glynn, Charlton, Ware, Pierce, Wayne, and McIntosh Counties

sense of teamwork in the girls this season and it paid off."They found out that if you work hard it will pay off on the track, in the classroom, it will pay off spiritually in everything you do in life," he said. "Ware County High has something to look forward to based on what's coming out of the middle school."

THE BOY'S TEAM

On day two of the Southeast Georgia Middle School Athletic Conference championship meet, the Waycross Middle boy's team of Coach Bill Epps went out fast and never looked back, scoring in every event except discus.

"We were very fortunate this year that the team was loaded with a lot of great athletes," said Coach Epps. "And it's pretty spread out. We've got sixth, seventh and eighth graders who all contributed."

Seventh grader Dream Gainer led the way for the Bulldogs winning the 100 and 200 meters. He also finished fourth in the high jump. "He had a great showing. He can fly." Eighth grader Hudson Spurlock won the 400 meters and set a new conference record in the 110 meter hurdles.

"Hudson is one we're gonna miss. He's a great track athlete. Hurdles, hands down the best in southeast Georgia in middle school," Coach Epps said. Spurlock proved that by going to the State Middle

School Championships in Lilburn and finishing sixth in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.83 and taking fourth place in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 44.41. Dream Gainer won fifth in the 100 meters and eighth place in the 200 meters with a time of 24.03. Spurlock and Gainer were also on the conference winning 4x100 meter team as well as the 4x400 meter relay team - with Thomas Castellanos and Cah'zer McCoy - which set a new conference record.

At the conference championships, Daquan Williams won the shotput, Kevon McKelvin was third in the 110 meter hurdles and Cah'Zer McCoy was second in the 400 meters. Going into the championship, Epps made some changes to the team, including putting McCoy, a sixth grader, on the 4x400 meter relay team.

It proved to be a wise coaching move as they went out and set a new conference record in the event.

"I'm very pleased with the work the young men put in," Coach Epps said. "At the beginning of the season when they came together our goal was to win the conference championship." Waycross Middle School won the meet with 113 points. Jeff Davis County was second with 67 and Long County had 54.

"We got better as a track team and they got better as young men and student athletes."

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7 FUN FACTS ABOUT GOLF Golf is a centuries-old sport that’s enjoyed by millions of people throughout the world. While most people are familiar with the general concept of golf, we’re going to share some fun facts that you probably didn’t know.

MATTSON-PARRISH LADY BEAR INVITATIONAL HONORS NAMESAKES

Longest Recorded Drive Was 515 Yards

English-American pro golfer and kinesiology expert Michael Hoke Austin is credited with making the longest drive. While playing in the U.S. National Seniors Tournament in 1974, Hoke drove the ball a mind-boggling 515 yards. PGA champion Chandler Harper, Hoke’s foursome teammate, said “This is impossible, but there is a ball over here.”

First 18-Hole Course Was on a Sheep Farm America’s first 18-hole golf course constructed on a sheep farm in Downer’s Grove, Illinois in 1892.

Businessman and golf lover Charles Blair McDonald moved to this quaint town and began constructing the course with his colleagues.

The Downer’s Grove Golf Course is still intact after all of these years, although its since been downsized to 9 holes.

Golf Balls Were Originally Made of Wood

Here’s a fun fact: some of the first golf balls were made entirely of hardwood, such as beech and box trees. These balls appeared during the 14th century and remained in use until the 17th century.

Of course, a typical wooden golf ball would only last for a few games before it needed to be replaced.

Other Golf Balls Were Made of Feathers

An alternative type of golf ball, known as a feathery, also appeared around the era of the wooden ball. A feathery was basically a leather pouch filled with chicken or goose feathers (hence the name.

Due to the extensive labor and materials required, a single feathery ball would often cost the modern-day equivalent of $10-$20 bucks.

30 | itgsportsnetwork.com

written by: John DuPont | photography courtesy of PCHS

The Mattson-Parrish Lady Bear Invitational has been renamed in recent years, but the showcase golf event for young women has only increased in popularity. Pierce County High head girls coach Erica Grady, the current tournament director, has witnessed the growth of this event from unique points of view. She first competed as a prep linkster at Ware County High School in the early 2000s.

Now in her third year as head coach at PCHS, Grady works passionately to ensure the event lives up to the standards of those for whom it is named.

“Mary Brantley Mattson was a longtime community servant by being a member of Lakeview Golf Club, offering lessons to juniors, and being a loyal supporter of Pierce County High School athletics,” Grady said. “Mrs. Mattson will always be remembered as an influential icon to this community. The ‘Parrish’ in the name was derived from Mrs. Libby Parrish of Blackshear. Mrs. Libby was the mother of Bailey and Ansley Parrish. Ansley played varsity golf at PCHS for Coach Maureen Brown in the 2000s (a stint that included a state title in 2005) and was beloved by all in the community because of her

devoted spirit to the game of golf and to Pierce County High School.”

The 2016 Mattson-Parrish Lady Bear Invitational was held on Monday, April 11 at Lakeview Golf Club in Blackshear. The event featured nine teams from seven schools (Glynn Academy and Vidalia each entered two teams) in a competition true to the spirit of its founders. Glynn Academy, last year’s runner-up, dethroned 3-time defending tournament champion Vidalia “A” in a four-stroke victory.

Julianna Collett, representing that victorious Glynn Academy “A” team, carded a nine-hole score of 36 to capture low medalist honors.

Vidalia “A” (128) finished second, followed by Ware County (129), Pierce County (141), Valdosta (149), Camden County (149), Brantley County (153), Glynn Academy “B” (164), and Vidalia “B” (170).

“In years past, the Lady Bear Invitational was known only as the ‘Mary Brantley Mattson Lady Bear Invitational,’ so named by Coach Brown,” Grady said.

“During this time several future SEC golfers competed in this event like Glynn Academy's Garrett Phillips (Georgia), Bacon County’s Ashley Medders (Arkan-

MORE FUN FACTS Golf Was Played on The Moon

Golf is one of the two only sports to be played on the moon. On February 6, 1967 Alan Bartlett “Al” Shepard, Jr. performed a one-handed swing with a six-iron, sending the ball flying through the moon’s low-gravity atmosphere. And in case you were wondering, javelin is the other sport that was reportedly played on the moon.

It’s a Good Workout!

Golf is an excellent workout that burns calories while promoting greater muscle mass.

According to the health and fitness website ShapeFit. com, a typical 190-pound golfer will burn 431 calories per hour — assuming he or she is walking across the course instead of riding a golf cart.

Development of New Golf Courses Is Banned In China

sas), and Valdosta’s Dori Carter (Ole Miss).”

Grady, the former Erica Still, also competed in the event for Ware County before embarking on a four-year career at Kentucky. Grady took over the girls’ program at PCHS in 2014.

“We wanted to remind people in the community just how much these women and the girls golf program are influential in the community,” Grady said.

Glynn Academy golfers also used the occasion to honor teammate Ansley Jones, who is battling leukemia for the second time and has been unable to compete in recent months. Each golfer in the field wore an orange ribbon on their hat, clothing, or golf bag honoring Jones. Glynn competitors also sported the “BL2X” logo, which means “beat leukemia twice.”

“Ansley played for us as an eighth-grader; she had a relapse after the Super Bowl,” Glynn Academy coach John Bennett said. “She said she would be sidelined 100 days and she is on Day 46. (as of April 11). She had good news the last day or two and is being transferred to the Ronald McDonald House. It seems she has the bad stuff behind her.”

Despite her team’s fourth-place finish, Grady was pleased with the success of the event overall.

“My girls look forward to this tournament every year and each year the parents and I come up with bigger and better ideas for this tournament and it keeps growing,” Grady said. "I cannot express how deeply devoted I am to this tournament and to this team. We have the best support from the community in Blackshear and from our administrators and faculty. Thanks to this support and for the food provided by Texas Roadhouse in Valdosta, everyone loves coming to this tournament to acknowledge two wonderful people from this community."

Grady also heartily acknowledged special contributions of support from Mrs. June Bennett, Pierce County superintendent Terri DeLoach, former superintendent Dr. Joy Williams, PCHS Principal Dara Bennett, PCHS athletic director Sean Pender, the parents of the PCHS girls golf team members, and their families and friends.

China’s government placed a ban on all new golf courses several years ago.

However, this hasn’t stopped cities and local communities from building them. To get around the ban, developers conveniently avoid mentioning the fact that they are building a golf course in the proposed plans.

This information is courtesy of rpga.com

GET MOTIVATED THE COURSE, 1 PLAYNOT YOUR OPPONENT

YOUR GAME 2 KNOW -- AND PLAY IT ON YOUR 3 PUT POKER FACE HARD FROM 4 TRYTHE START GIVE UP 5 DON'T WHEN YOU'RE DOWN

Please join us at

Second Annual

Southeast Georgia High School Media Day

Saturday, July 23 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

@

@ Waycross City Auditorium 865 Pendleton St Waycross Ga 31501

Come kickoff the 2016 High School Football Season with the Second Annual In the Game Magazine SEGA and Mayo Clinic Health System in Waycross Media Day! **Area Head Coaches and Key Players for the In the Game SEGA coverage area teams will address the crowd and media on the upcoming 2016 Football Season**

Come be a part of all the action!

ONE STEP AHEAD: CALEB MARTIN, WAYNE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL HARD WORK AND PERSISTANCE PAYS OFF: DEVONTE LAVALAIS-WHITE, CAMDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

FOOTBALL’S “HIDDEN YARDAGE”

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Going For The Win: Robby Robinson, McIntosh County Academy Preparing For The Next Step: Denver Anthony, Frederica Middle School Beating The Odds: Kennedy Russell, Robert Toombs Christian Academy

November 2015

$4.00

Contact Shawn Smoak at 229-834-9044 or shawn@itgsportsnetwork.com

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World Class

SPORTS MEDICINE

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From a sprain to a severe injury requiring surgery, the Bone & Joint Institute of South Georgia is the first choice for treatment of sports-related injuries.

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WRITING TIPS A few years ago I contacted some of my favourite children’s authors. I asked them: What advice would you give to young writers? Here are their responses.

1. Heather Vogel Frederick (author of the Spy Mice books). Number one most important thing: READ. Read as much as and as widely as you can. Soak up the language, the tempo of the best stories. Like a musician listening to the best music, reading wonderful books will influence the way you play your instrument – or in a writer’s case, the way you write.

2. Philip Caveney (author of the Sebastian Darke books) Keep asking yourself “what if” – and make sure we see the events through the eyes of your characters.

3. Andy Stanton (author of the Mr Gum stories). Edit!

Go back and edit your stories to improve them. But not immediately – put your story away for a couple of weeks or a month. Don’t think about your story. After that time, take out your story and have another look, and because you haven’t been worrying about it for all that time, you’ll be able to see with much clearer eye what needs to be done to improve it.

Other advice: if a scene isn’t working, try approaching it in a different way. Perhaps tell it from another character’s perspective or something.

Just keep writing – and never throw anything away, even the most rubish bit of writing may contain something you can use at another time.

4. Anne Fine (the second Children’s Laureate). Read, read, read. Then sit down and write the book you’d most like to read but no-one has written for you. And if all that planning and ‘wow words’ and connectives stuff you have to do at school (‘writing by numbers’) gets on your nerves, do it at home, the way you enjoy doing it.

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Okefenokee RESA hosted an awards reception to honor the RESA district winners and the teachers who encourage their accomplishments. “We wish them well as they compete at the state level,” RESA Executive Director, Peggy Stovall remarked. Winners pictured are: (front row) Camp Hopkins, Olivia Sanders, Erin Meeks, Randall Gunter, Luke Stone and (back row) Victoria Blaisdell, Dalton Santiago, Kayla Rowell, Alexis Purvis. Not pictured: Mylee Mills, Kennedy Brice, Jordan Williams, and Faith James. written by: Rob Asbell | photography courtesy of Okefenokee (RESA)

Writing: The spark of imagination that encourages a young person to put pen to paper, or, nowadays, to type out feelings on a keyboard. Whether it is a story, poem, or essay; whatever inspiration may strike, becoming a writer at a young age has long been accepted as the foundation of a solid education.

Recently, close to 60 original written works were submitted by students from school districts belonging to Okefenokee Regional Educational Services Agency (RESA) for the annual Young Georgia Authors writing competition. Regardless of the format, if it was written, it was eligible.

"The only qualification is that it has to be original student writing,” said Cindy Hitt, an ELA/SS Specialist with Okefenokee RESA. “The student cannot have any input from a parent or teacher in terms of editing.”

Five school systems participated in this year's contest (Atkinson, Brantley, Coffee, Pierce, and Ware), with each sending its grade winners to be judged at the RESA. Listed below are the winners for each grade in this year's area contest.

Recognizing and encouraging the efforts of young writers is what the Young Georgia Authors writing competition is about. Students in every

grade submitted their work to the contest in hopes of making it to the statewide competition. Students first compete within their own school system, and winners are chosen and sent to the RESA. Winners from there go on to compete at the state level; last year, JaNoy Sumner, a student from Waycross Middle School, was a Georgia winner for seventh grade.

There are 16 judges at the area level who judge within grade bands to score the writing entries.

"We were thrilled to have retired teachers and community members who have experience teaching and working with student writing to help us judge the entries," Hitt said. “Judges look for good writing appropriate to the grade level.”

Guidelines emphasize qualities of good writing such as strong ideas, sequenced organization, cohesiveness and style, and good grammar.

For more than 20 years, the Young Georgia Authors competition has encouraged students to become enthusiastic about writing by recognizing their achievements. It is open to students enrolled in Kindergarten through 12th grades in a Georgia public school and sponsored by the Georgia Council of Teachers of English with the cooperation of the Georgia Department of Education.

YOUNG WRITERS SHINE

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

Winners of the Okefenokee RESA’s Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition

CONTINUED

WRITING TIPS

RECENTLY, CLOSE TO 60 ORIGINAL WRITTEN WORKS WERE SUBMITTED BY STUDENTS FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS BELONGING TO OKEFENOKEE REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AGENCY. 4th Grade

Midway Elementary, Pierce County Talmadge “Randall” Gunter The Poor Partying King

5th Grade

Waresboro Elementary, Ware County Erin Meeks The Edge of the Escape

6th Grade

Waycross Middle School, Ware County Kennedy Brice The Blue Crayon

7th Grade

Coffee Middle School, Coffee County Alexis Purvis Curiosity Killed the Cat

8th Grade

Waycross Middle School, Ware County Jordan Williams The Lightning that Never Struck

5. Malorie Blackman (the eighth Children’s Laureate and author of Noughts and Crosses). Write from the heart; write what you care about; write your own style and in your own voice (don’t copy someone else’s style but make it your own). And most importantly, don’t give up!

6. Andrew Lane (author of the Young Sherlock Holmes books). Firstly, write a lot.

Write every day. Write lots of different stuff. Write a diary.

It’s all good practice.

Secondly, read a lot – and the trick is to read things that are bad as well as things that are good. You can learn a lot more from reading something bad because it’s easier to work out why it’s bad than it is to work out why something is good (and also you can use it as motivation by telling yourself that you can do better).

Thirdly, you need to realise that stories about things happening are much less interesting than stories about why things are happening.

7. Alex Scarrow (author of the TimeRiders series).

Make sure you have an ending in mind before you start.

That way your story has a direction of travel to help you pull through.

8. Cressida Cowell (author of How To Train Your Dragon).

I would advise them to READ a lot, as widely as they can.

Reading widely teaches you different ways to tell a story.

Kindergarten

9th Grade

9. Philip Reeve (author of Mortal Engines). When you finish the story that you are writing, go back to the beginning and write it again, better!

1st Grade

10th Grade

2nd Grade

11th Grade

10. Pat Walsh (author of the Crowfield series). First of all, to be a good writer, you have to read, read and read! You will get a feel for words, how they are used, the ideas they can convey. And then, you should write as often as you can; try for a little everyday.

Don’t copy books or writers you enjoy reading, but try and find your own way of saying things and telling a story.

Don’t try to be the next J.K. Rowling, be the first you! Tell the stories inside you – and most of all, enjoy your writing.

Patterson Elementary, Pierce County Luke Stone Einims Get In Trubl Williams Heights Elementary, Ware County Camp Hopkins The Miagicl Dino Dream Westside Elementary, Coffee County Mylee Mills The Battle of the Gods

3rd Grade

Wacona Elementary, Ware County Olivia Sanders The Woods

Atkinson High School, Atkinson County Faith James Yesterday is Gone Brantley High School, Brantley County Victoria Blaisdell The Yellow Room Atkinson High School, Atkinson County Kayla Rowell Obsessive Compulsive

12th Grade

Brantley High School, Brantley County Dalton Santiago The Day I Die

This information is courtesy of primaryfacts.com

PIERCE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

BOYS GOLF

written by: Ivy Young

photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

2016 has proven to be a successful year for the Pierce County High School Boy’s Golf team. Head Coach Stuart Stipe leads a team of 10 players, 2 of which are seniors, Emmett James and Clay Denison. Emmett has put forth much hard work and has earned a spot on the varsity/tournament team. Clay, in his first year on the golf team, used hard work and perseverance to show great improvements. “As a football player, Clay brings many great leadership qualities to the team,” mentioned Coach Stipe.

Practice and tryouts began February 15th and 16th, which happens to be President’s weekend. These boys are extremely devoted because they surrendered their holiday weekend to tryout for the team. During practices the boys are given the opportunity to work on fundamentals as a group, as well as time to improve personal weaknesses on an individual basis. The team always carves out time for FCA with the team chaplain, Philip Cochran. The golfers find great motivation through Bible verses, quotes, and tradition. This season the Bears participated in multiple tournaments against some of the state’s best teams, in all classifications.

When asked about awards and accolades, Coach Stipe replied, “As a team, we are 5-time defending Region 1-AAA champions.” Individually, there was also great succes. Jake Harvard,a junior, was a Low Medalist at this year’s region tournament. Jake Harvard, Zac Thornton, and Kole Kicklighter were all members of the All-Region team. Zac Thornton was a Low Medalist at the

Golden Isles Invitational hosted by Glynn Academy. The team was honored to represent the South well at the Spring Hill Ryder Cup that was hosted by Tift County. The fun, yet competitive match consisted of 6 of the best teams from the North against the 6 of the best teams from the South.

To be satisfied is to be settled; as a coach or player it’s always best to never be satisfied, but to push and expect improvement.

“I am pleased,” said Coach Stipe, “but at this point I am not satisfied.” Like many of PC’s other athletic teams, the boy’s golf team is young. However, after a slow beginning, the team is well on their way to meeting their ultimate goal. “The Region Championship was “A” goal, but “THE” goal is a State Championship.” added Coach Stipe. On May 16th, the Bear Golfers will participate in the AAA State Championship in Fort Gordon.

In closing, Coach Stipe added great appreciation for all our Bear supporters by saying, “Our Pierce County High School Golf Program has a great support system. We have an administration that believes in and supports its Student-Athletes. The Pierce County Middle School golf program, and Coach Corey Lesseig, serve as the lifeline for our high school’s success. The parents of our golfers make so many sacrifices to ensure that we have everything we need to create lifelong memories. We are also thankful to Lakeview Golf Course and its members for letting us call Lakeview home.”

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3353 Hwy. 84 Blackshear, GA 31516 Ben Bennett

87 B Hawthorne Lane P.O. Box 7140 St. Marys, GA 31558 Phone: 912-882-5656 Fax: 912-882-2737 Email: chrislamb@tds.net

Teen Night End of Summer Bash

Friday, July 29th 7pm-10pm At the YMCA of Waycross

Ages 13-19 ONLY

FREE EVENT Food will be provided

Slip & Slide down the hill + Slip & Slide Kickball

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09132 02141

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