ITG Next South Georgia June/July 2022 Magazine

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR Youth Athletes of the Year Community Involvement Award Lowndes Athlete of the Year Valdosta Athlete of the Year Scholar Athlete of the Year

Chairman of the Board Bo Bridges - Colquitt County

JUNE/JULY 2022

Presented by:

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Celebrating Athletes’ Success On And Off The Field

4 North Carter Street Lakeland, Georgia 31635 (229) 482-3585

978 Valdosta Highway Homerville, Georgia 31634 (912) 487-1200

202 W. Washington Ave. Nashville, Georgia 31639 (229) 686-9451

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Contributors Publisher Mark Dykes

Feature Stories

Copy Editors Phil Jones Anna Limoges Graphics Mandy Rodriguez Cover Photography Brandon Pham Player Profile Photography Eric Vinson Dreaming Wild Photography Brandon Pham Feature Writers Phil Jones Kennedie Weems Allen Allnoch Advertising/Marketing Mark Dykes mark@itgnext.com

ITG Next is published bi-monthly. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher.

Dykes Media Group LLC makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2022 Dykes Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

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Chairman of the Board - Bo Bridges - Colquitt County

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Laila Foster Named 2021-22 Georgia Female Youth Athlete of the Year

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Kaniya Johnson Named 2021-22 Lowndes High School Athlete of the Year

28

Hannah Hamilton Wins 2021-22 Georgia Community Involvement Award

32

Emily Asola Named 2021-22 Valdosta High School Athlete of the Year

41

Ellie Runyan Named 2021-22 Georgia Scholar Athlete of the Year

44

Aaron Kearce Named 2021-22 Georgia Male Youth Athlete of the Year

Player Profiles: 6 8

Liam Gray | Tift Coutny

27

Collin Souter | Worth County

Landon “Cubbie” Crosson | Tiftarea

31

Luther Marable | Thomasville

34 36

DJ Palmer | Westwood

13

Dametris Green | Westover

15

Jack Perry | Brooks County

16

Marcus Christian | Thomas Co. Central

39

Mo Wilson | Cairo

20

Lavoris Hines | Pelham

42

Howell Burns - Valwood

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Rhett Adams | Northside (WR)

45

Kerstan McCook | Pelham

Kenyon Walker | Northside (WR)

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Chairman of the Board Written by: Allen Allnoch Photography by: Brandon Pham

When you’re a youth diving phenom with designs on being an Olympic competitor, you don’t have a lot of idle time. Especially in summer, one’s days are packed with workouts, travel and championship meets.

But for Moultrie’s Bo Bridges, there’s nothing else he’d rather be doing.

“A lot of people ask me, ‘You don’t get vacations?’” says Bo, a rising junior at Colquitt County High.

“I look at it like, ‘Well, I feel like I’m kind of on vacation. I’m in the pool every day.’”

Bridges is the ITG Next 2021-22 Georgia Male Diver of the Year, presented by Sterling Group Orthopedics, and the 2022

GHSA Boys 1-Meter Diving State Champion in Class 7A. In the state championship meet, held at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in February, Bridges posted a score of 725.10 to give Colquitt County its third straight boys title. Fellow sophomore Ruth Anne McCranie won the girls competition to make it a clean sweep for Colquitt.

Bridges’ gold medal came a year after he finished second as a freshman to teammate Carson Tyler, who set the state record with an 878.95 score.

“It felt great to represent my hometown and my school,” Bridges says. “To

come in with my teammates and sweep the boards, it was awesome.”

Bridges trains at Moultrie’s Moss Farms Diving, where he’s been under the tutelage of Head Coach John Fox for seven years.

“When you’re in it day to day, it seems like a slow burn, but then when you look at it in hindsight, you realize, ‘I’ve been coaching this young man seven years’ and it’s unbelievable the progress he’s made,” says Fox, who presides over a state-ofthe-art diving facility that’s lauded by coaches across the nation. “You think about some of the tallest mountains and

that’s what Bo has summitted. It’s been really fun to watch that.”

Bridges began diving at age 7 after he tried a number of other sports, including baseball, football and soccer, but found them wanting. He decided to give swimming a shot, and when he saw a local diver, Parker Hardigree, go off the 3-meter board, he was intrigued.

“I thought that was pretty cool,” Bridges remembers. “It looked fun. I looked at my mom and said, ‘I think I want to try that.’” Within a week, he had transitioned from swimming to diving and “clicked with it,” he says. “I fell in love with it.”

Since then, Bridges has been consumed with the sport while steadily developing into a top-tier talent.

In addition to his high school heroics, he was a Platform finalist at the 2021 USA Diving Junior Nationals. This year he won YMCA national championships in 1-meter, 3-meter, and platform.

Fox analyzes Bridges’ strengths in terms of physicality and personality: “I think he definitely has what it takes to be an elite athlete. He has the athleticism, the ability to move his body, aerial awareness and such. And he’s determined, he is very focused on detail and he does his best to heed advice. Even ITG Next | 11

though sometimes that’s a hard thing to stomach, he’s done really well at receiving that and implementing it.”

Bridges agrees – he has no problem with criticism. In fact, he’s plenty hard on himself.

“I think the reason I love diving so much is that it’s a very technical sport, and I’m a perfectionist,” he says. “When you’re in the air, it’s all you – you’re making the movements.”

As one of the older divers at Moss Farms, Bridges has taken on a mentor role to the many younger boys and girls who come through the program.

“A lot of the little kids will ask me, ‘What about this dive?’ or, ‘How do you keep a good attitude?’ and I try to talk to them like they’re my age,” he says. “I just try to connect with them and encourage them on a diving level and treat them like I do any other teammate.”

Those efforts aren’t lost on Fox, who says, “I have a team of 65 kids and he’s definitely one of our top leaders in the program.

Most of the young children aspire to be like him. That kind of speaks to his general leadership qualities and his heart.”

Bridges is equally selfless with his peers, always encouraging them and celebrating their triumphs. One of his fondest memories, he says, came at the 2021 USA Diving Ju12 | itgnext.com

nior National Championships, where he and Tyler shared a special moment.

“It was my last dive and he told me, ‘Rip this one,’” Bridges recalls. “I went in and ripped it, did awesome. Then it was his turn and I said, ‘Why don’t you rip this one?’ And he said, ‘No problem, I got you.’ And right before he did it, he was on 10 meter, he looked down at me and smiled, then turned around and crushed it for perfect 10s. He was leaving for college right after that, and we were sitting there talking and we started hugging each other, and next thing you know we’re falling on the floor and crying like babies.”

Events like the Junior Nationals are part of the journey toward qualifying for Team USA, which is very much Bridges’ goal.

“Ever since I found out you can go to that level, my mind has been set on going to the Olympics,” he says.

Fox says the 2024 Olympics are a possibility for Bridges, and the ’28 Games are even more likely.

He’ll meet increasingly stiffer competition, particularly as he begins competing in international events.

He’ll also need to decide where to compete in college; as a high school junior, he’ll soon be hearing from coaches eager to land his talents.

“The recruiting

process is going to be really important, so that he ends up at a place where he can continue his development,” Fox says.

So the road ahead is full of challenges, and it’s a daily grind.

But Bridges embraces it all.

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he says.

And why should he? To do otherwise, he would be like a fish out of water.

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Fellowship of Christian Athletes Update

We have had an awesome year so far at FCA. Our first four months consisted of five banquets in Lowndes and the surrounding area. Stetson Bennett, Tommy Bowden, Mark Richt and Darryl Strawberry were some of our guest speakers, and they each did an outstanding job. We also had a golf tournament in Tifton with 24 teams participating.

Southeast Georgia FCA combined with Southwest Georgia FCA is sending more kids to camp this year than ever before. We have kids going to Leadership Camp at Black Mountain and softball teams going to camp in Columbus, Georgia. Georgia Southern will be hosting camps that we have basketball teams, cheerleading teams, and volleyball teams attending. About 30 students from our area will be attending a Leadership Camp in St. Simons Island.

This is all made possible by our generous donors. We could not help send these kids to camp without your support for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. We appreciate how the community supports us, and we thank you.

For more information on how you can get involved, call Bobby Willis at 229-460-2223.

For more information on EmSculpt NEO or Emsella, or to make an appointment, please call 229-585-0661.

Ben Hogan, MD 117 W. Northside Drive Valdosta, Georgia 31602

Laila Foster Named 2021-22 Georgia Female Youth Athlete of the Year

Written by: Kennedie Weems Photography by: Brandon Pham

Laila Foster, a standout softball and basketball player at Hahira Middle School in Hahira, Georgia, has been named the ITG Next 2021-22 Georgia Female Youth Athlete of the Year, presented

by Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Foster found her love for softball playing t-ball when she was around 4 years old. That is also when her parents noticed she was athletically inclined. She then continued on with coach pitch and finally fast pitch.

“Laila could run and hit the ball well, but the thing that impressed me and her coaches was her arm strength,” said her father, Ramon Foster.

It was not until the sixth grade that she decided she wanted to try basketball too. Mr. Foster said that he told her

not to be upset if she did not make both teams, as it is difficult to do both.

But, she did and has never looked back.

In softball, where she mainly plays first base and pitcher, Foster seemed to always be the girl up during the biggest moments, but she did not mind. Those moments were just another at-bat for her.

“She would drive runs in every game; she was dubbed as an RBI machine,” said Mr. Foster.

On the Hahira Middle School basketball team, Foster is a threeyear starter and already has experience playing junior varsity basketball with the high school team, which is a huge honor.

“Coach Tookes, the girls varsity basketball coach at Lowndes High School, asked if I mind

having Laila play some ninth-grade and JV basketball towards the end of the middle school season, and of course we were excited about this,” said Mr. Foster.

As mainly a post player and occasional wing, Foster led the middle school team in points, rebounds and blocked shots. Her best game was against Valdosta Middle School, where she scored 12 points to seal the victory.

Balancing academics and two sports in middle school is challenging, but, according to her father, Foster is ambitious and “wants to be the best at everything she does.” She even made the honor roll throughout the entire school year.

Foster and her family said they are proud and thankful for the award,

as it shows that the hard work has paid off.

“As a parent, it's one of those things where you are proud and emotional at the same time because your kid is being recognized for the work,” said Mr. Foster. “You always want to see your kids do well at anything they attempt, but I'm most proud of her work ethic.

Laila wants to be the best, so she's willing to work

hard for it. We call it the Foster Mentality.”

Foster is a special talent, and you do not want to miss her upcoming four years playing softball and basketball for Lowndes High School.

Congratulations to Laila Foster, the ITG Next 2021-22 Georgia Female Youth Athlete of the Year, presented by Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

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A Travel Baseball Podcast

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LOWNDES

Lowndes Athlete of the Year

Presented by:

KANIYA JOHNSON

Kaniya Johnson Named 2021-22 Lowndes High School Athlete of the Year Written by: Phil Jones | Photography By: Brandon Pham

Kaniya Johnson, a track athlete, has been named the ITG Next 2021-22 Lowndes High School Athlete of the Year, presented by Publix.

Before she moved to Georgia and enrolled at Lowndes, Johnson lived in Florida and then South Carolina. She had always been sports-minded growing up, and running track was her favorite sport. But, she wanted to stay active when track wasn’t in season, so she began to play basketball too.

When she reached middle school, she also reached a decision that paved her way in sports for the rest of her high school career. She dropped basketball after her eighth-grade season to focus exclusively on track, and she hasn’t looked back.

“I’m glad I decided to stick with track only,” she said during a break at a recent photo shoot at our ITG Next studio.

Johnson isn't the only one glad she decided to focus on track. Her dedication to the sport has not only served her well individually, but this past season, after joining the Lowndes High School girls track team, Johnson helped lift the team to new heights.

With Johnson’s contributions in the 100-meter dash and 200 dash and as part of two relay teams, the Lowndes girls track team won the Region 1-7A title and went on to capture the Class 7A state title as well.

Johnson won individual region and state championships in the 100 dash and 200 dash, then was part of the Vikettes’ state title wins in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Johnson said that as she grew up developing her love for track, it wasn’t always clear which events she wanted to focus on, and that would have to come through trial and error.

“In the sixth grade, I began trying out the different events,” Johnson said. “I tried the 100-meter, 200-meter first. And then in the seventh grade, I tried the 400-meter. And then as I went into my freshman year in South Carolina, I tried the long jump and even hurdles.”

During that first year of high school in South Carolina, her coach helped her realize that her strength was in sprinting, so Johnson settled on the 100 dash and 200 dash as her specialty events.

She won her first state championships in high school in South Carolina before coming to Lowndes, where she blossomed this past year as a member of the girls track team. Not only did she win those state titles, but she set the Georgia high school state record in the 100 dash with a time of 11.26 seconds and helped break the state record in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:43.29. It was also recorded as the second-fastest time in the country.

What’s next for one of the fastest athletes in the country? Does Johnson have Olympic aspirations? The short answer is yes. Her goal is to make the 2024 and 2028 U.S. Olympic teams, and she will participate in the upcoming qualifiers.

In the meantime, Johnson will attend Florida State University on a full scholarship, where she will continue to sharpen her track skills as a member of the Lady Seminoles track squad. She also plans to major in criminology and wants to one day become a civil rights attorney.

That’s a lot to juggle, although the Lowndes graduate’s priorities are crystal clear.

“My education comes first, no doubt about it,” she said with no hesitation.

This young lady has a plan. You probably need to get out of her way.

Congratulations to Kaniya Johnson, the ITG Next 2021-22 Lowndes High School Athlete of the Year, presented by Publix.

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Hannah Hamilton Wins 2021-22 Georgia Community Involvement Award Written by: Kennedie Weems | Photography By: Brandon Pham Hannah Hamilton, a junior golfer at Crisp County High School, won the ITG Next 202122 Georgia Community Involvement Award, presented by Crisp Regional Hospital.

The Hamilton family lives on the fourth hole of their local public golf course. As children, Hamilton and her brother both enjoyed walking with their father, JP Hamilton, around the course and hitting golf balls.

This sparked the idea for Hamilton to try out for the Crisp County golf team her sophomore year.

“We now have something we share together and will last a lifetime,” said Mr. Hamilton.

Hamilton picked up golf relatively easily and

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placed fourth out of 32 girls her very first season in the area tournament held in Statesboro, Georgia.

“Her coach noticed her form, swing pattern, and natural ability to make a beautiful golf swing,” said Mr. Hamilton. “We, as her parents, quickly saw this as well and her potential based on us observing her swing as well others noticing how she performed swinging the golf clubs.”

She barely missed the individual state tournament last season as a sophomore, but this season she accomplished her goal of qualifying and competing for a state championship. She qualified and played in the GHSA 3A State Champi-

onship that was held in Thomson, Georgia.

Hamilton, who is on track to graduate on the honor roll in 2023, has shown insane discipline and motivation to keep both her academics and athletics at an excellent level. Her ability to handle pressure and stay the course has come in handy on the golf course before.

“During her state play, she had two difficult holes that quickly escalated her score,” said Mr. Hamilton.

“However, she wasn’t fazed by those difficulties, and her coach kept encouraging her to keep swinging and following her drills. Several other parents and coaches told us that they can’t

believe how she held things together and her game together after two disaster holes.”

It takes more than athletic talent to win a community service award of this magnitude. It takes love and dedication to the community one is in.

Hamilton displays just that. Her father said that her involvement in community events is a “taught behavior” from their family’s Christian faith. “(Our faith) teaches us to serve others before self and find ways in making sure we honor that principle,” said Mr. Hamilton.

“Both my wife and I were both taught that by our parents, and we have carried that on down to our own two children.”

Hamilton specifically

loves working with younger children and serves as a volunteer leader at a Summer Connect camp.

Both Hamilton and her family are honored to accept the award, but know it takes a village to succeed in anything in life.

“As Christians, we accept recognition, but we quickly acknowledge that positive things happen when placing and maintaining our priorities in order: faith, family, friends, fun. This order allows for special things to happen,” said Mr. Hamilton.

Congratulations to Hannah Hamilton, winner of the ITG Next 2021-22 Georgia Community Involvement Award, presented by Crisp Regional Hospital.

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STAY UP TO DATE • RANKINGS • INTERVIEWS • GAME HIGHLIGHTS • INSPIRING STORIES itgnext.com/newsletter

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VALDOSTA

Valdosta Athlete of the Year

Presented by:

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EMILY ASOLA

Emily Asola Named 2021-22 Valdosta High School Athlete of the Year Written by: Phil Jones | Photography By: Brandon Pham

Emily Asola, a hurdler for the Valdosta High School girls track team, has been named the ITG Next 2021-22 Valdosta High School Athlete of the Year, presented by Publix. And while she is a top hurdler for the Wildcast, it wasn’t the first sport that she tried and did well at.

“My first sport was tennis,” Asola said. “My uncle actually began teaching me tennis when I was 5 years old, and then my Dad stepped in and just took over because he plays everything. My Dad is a professor of kinesiology, so me and my brother played a lot against each other growing up.”

Asola began to run cross country in the seventh grade and continued to do it and play tennis up until the 10th grade, which is when she decided to quit tennis and focus strictly on track and cross country. She now focuses on the track events of the 100-meter hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x100 relay hurdles, and 4x200 relay hurdles, in addition to cross country. Which does she prefer?

“Well, between track and cross country, I prefer track,” she said. “I like going fast. I love speed.”

Asola said that she has tried the 100 dash and the 4x400 relay, but those were not for her. She said that while both are challenging, the endurance and distance running can be tough.

“Cross country is no joke,” she said.

Her performance this season on the track has been no joke either. She qualified for the state meet with her performances in several events at the region meet. She qualified for the girls 100 hurdles and 300 low hurdles, as well as the 4x100 relay. At the GHSA Class 6A meet in Carrollton, Asola placed fifth in the state in the 300 hurdles with a time of 15.12 seconds.

Asola was born in Accra, Ghana, to parents who are both teachers. She said that her father moved to the United States to obtain a master’s degree and ultimately a doctorate in kinesiology.

“My dad earned his degrees and then brought us over to America when I was 3,” Asola said.

Asola and her family first came to Boston upon entering the U.S., and from there they moved wherever her dad’s teaching jobs took them.

“After Boston, we moved to Alabama, then to Wisconsin, then to Atlanta, and ultimately to Valdosta, where her father was hired as a professor at Valdosta State University.

Asola said she is glad to be here.

“I met a lot of great people around the country, but this (Valdosta) is home,” she said.

Well, for now, anyway. Asola plans to pursue a degree in computer pcience while attending Georgia State University. As far as a scholarship to run track with the Georgia State track team, Asola said that hasn’t materialized yet, but she remains hopeful.

Congratulations to Emily Asola, the ITG Next 2021-22 Valdosta High School Athlete of the Year, presented by Publix.

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ST. SIMONS ISLAND

Ellie Runyan Named 2021-22 Georgia Scholar Athlete of the Year Written by: Kennedie Weems Photography by: Brandon Pham

Ellie Runyan, a senior soccer player for Frederica Academy in St. Simons, Georgia, has been named the ITG Next 2021-22 Georgia Scholar Athlete of the Year, presented by Summit Sports Medicine.

Runyan is not afraid to work hard, whether it is leading the Frederica girls soccer team to the Final Four or scoring a 34 on the ACT. She is headed to Auburn University, where she will try out for the club soccer team.

In addition to being a star soccer player, Runyan is also a four-year starter and All-Region cross country runner. Runyan is also the two-time No. 1 runner in the state and has been named Altamah Runner of the Year twice. But, even with all the success in cross country, soccer has remained her constant love.

“Her favorite was not the sport,but the camaraderie of her team,” said her mother, Kelley Runyan.

“She has been blessed to play since the age of 5 with great teammates.”

As an eighth-grader, Runyan had the chance to play with the varsity team and learned how much value she really had as a soccer player. Her confidence soared year after year through the successes of soccer. She has now made it her mission to pass these traits on to younger athletes.

“I contribute that to the kindness of the older girls on the team,” said Mrs. Runyan. “Ellie got to follow and learn from an amazing group of Frederica women soccer players. Ellie has tried hard to pass that same gift on to the younger girls on the Frederica team.”

Due to Runyan’s small stature, many are surprised to learn that she plays defense for Frederica Academy.

“Coaches quickly saw that she is a tiny bulldog,” said Mrs. Runyan. “She never backs away from a tackle. She is also fast and is tireless, so she ultimately found her home as a midfielder.”

Runyan takes academics just as seriously as she takes athletics. She was able to find immense success in both, but that does not mean it was pressure-free or easy.

“Ellie has always put a lot of pressure on herself academically,” said Mrs. Runyan. “What I loved this year was watching her mature to where she has found a balance between academics and (being) social.”

It did not take Runyan long to decide on Auburn University for her collegiate career. Mrs. Runyan said that her daughter’s decision was largely affected by the fact that “the students are happy.”

“In the last six months, I have found the greatest joy watching it all come together for her. ,” said Mrs. Runyan. “My favorite quality in Ellie is her kindness, but more importantly she is humble.”

Congratulations to Ellie Runyan, the ITG Next 2021-22 Georgia Scholar Athlete of the Year, presented by Summit Sports Medicine.

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Aaron Kearce Named 2021-22 Georgia Male Youth Athlete of the Year Written by: Kennedie Weems Photography by: Brandon Pham

Aaron Kearce, an eighth-grader at Sumter County Middle School in Americus, Georgia, has been named the ITG Next 2021-22 Georgia Male Youth Athlete of the Year, presented by Wolfson Children’s Hospital. He is a shining star on the football field and is set to be a varsity starter for the Panthers this coming fall.

Though Aaron also plays basketball and baseball, football is where his father really noticed his great athletic talents from an early age.

“Aaron has always been pretty fast, so we noticed he was really good at football during his first few years of 5/6 flag football,” said Mr. Kearce. “He would get handed the ball, and once he turned the corner, it was usually over for you if you didn’t stop him before then.”

It took Aaron until he was 9 or 10 years old to hit a growth spurt, so he grew up playing much shorter and smaller than his teammates. But, once he hit his growth

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spurt, he became really dominating on the field because of his stature.

Mr. Kearce said that he expected Aaron to be stressed and anxious last season as it was his first year ever playing quarterback, but Aaron shocked everyone. He played well all season and handled the pressure that was thrown his way.

During the recent spring game for Sumter County, Aaron was the only eighth-grader to start with the varsity players.

“He looked like he had been playing with them for years,” said Mr. Kearce.

Though Aaron has played all over the football field from running back, towide receiver, linebacker and safety – look for him to fulfill the running back slot for the upcoming fall season.

“We have been most proud of his commitment and dedication,” said Mr. Kearce.

“He is always willing to work out when no one else is. …He loves getting out there on the field and giving 110%.”

It is hard being a student-athlete, much less a three-sport student-athlete, but Aaron has been able to find that balance and succeed in school as well.

“He maintained all As and Bs last year, and look forward to him continuing that through high school,” said Mr. Kearce.

The Panthers had a tough season last year winning only one game, but with a talent like Aaron coming up into the varsity program, there should be much optimism circulating Sumter County football.

“Winning the award is a testament of the hard work he put in before and during the season,” said Mr. Kearce. “It’s always great to be recognized for your hard work.”

Sumter County will start their 2022-23 football season with a non-region matchup against Schley County on Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

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While so much in our world has changed, kids haven’t.

They still want to get outside and play hard. So they may need care for a broken bone — or an illness, like severe stomach pain.

Wolfson Children’s Hospital is ready with expert emergency and specialty care, along with precautions to keep your child safe.

Don’t put their health on hold.

For wait times and a Wolfson Children’s ER near you, visit wolfsonchildrens.com/ER.

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