South Georgia April/May 2020

Wrestling Is in the Blood Jakeem Littles | Richmond Hill

Teaming Up to Kick Cancer Clark & John Miller Valwood & VSU

Thomasville Tennis Star Gives It His All Niklas von Hellens

From From Behind Behind the the Backstop Backstop

Way Too Early Top 25

APR/MAY 2020

Seth Nelson | Lee County

LOCATIONS

• Hughston’s quality patient care has kept us #1 in orthopaedics for 70 years • Organizing preparticipation physicals since 1976 • Covering over 1,500 local sporting events each year

Albany Auburn Columbus Dothan Dublin LaGrange Macon Moultrie Phenix City Thomaston Thomasville Valdosta

• Saturday morning injury clinic • Researching and implementing concussion management software for local athletes

6262 Veterans Parkway Columbus, GA 31909

1-800-331-2910 706-324-6661 www.hughston.com

ITG Next | 3

FIVE DECADES. THREE GENERATIONS. ONE FAMILY. Seven franchises in Four South Georgia communities.

All 100% Committed to You. Prince of Albany 2701 Ledo Road

Albany

(229)432-6271

4 | itgnext.com

Prince Automotive Prince Ford 1410 Hwy. 82 W. 109 Westgreen Hwy.

Tifton

(229)382-2525

Douglas

Prince Automotive 4550 N. Valdosta Rd.

(912)384-2600

www.princeauto.com

Valdosta (229)242-3311

Who's Next?

ITG Next “The glory of sport comes from dedication, determination, and desire.

— Jackie Joyner-Kersee Get In the Game. Stay In the Game.

ITG Next | 5

6 | itgnext.com

Outfitting Teams Since 1997

WE ARE YOUR TEAM SPORTS EXPERTS

ITG Next | 7

Honoring South Georgia Athletes No Matter the Sport

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

1201 S. Patterson Street Valdosta, Georgia 31603 (229) 244-3585

3303 Inner Perimeter Road Valdosta, Georgia 31605 (229) 244-3585 8 | itgnext.com

www.fmb.net Member FDIC

ITG Next is available for FREE pick up!

You can get your copy of ITG Next magazine at one of these locations in South Georgia.

Adel

Cook HS Southwell Medical

Albany

Colony Bank Deerfield-Windsor School Orthopaedic Associates Pearly's Restaurant Phoebe Memorial Hospital Surcheros Synovus Bank

Alma

Bacon Co. HS

Ashburn

Carroll's Sausage & Country Store Colony Bank Kieth a Que Turner Co. HS

Bainbridge

Bainbridge HS The Bean Cafe First National Bank Flint River Outfitters Memorial Hospital Winn Dixie

Baxley

Appling Co. HS Pineland Bank

Blackshear Pierce Co. HS

Brunswick

Ameris Bank Brunswick Country Club Brunswick HS Glynn Academy Optim Healthcare South Coast Bank Summit Sports Surcheros Synovus Tipsy McSway's

Camilla

Mitchell Co. HS Westwood School

Cairo

Cairo HS First National Bank Grady EMC

Chula

Tiftarea Academy

Cordele

16 East Colony Bank Crisp Academy Crisp Co. HS Crisp Regional Hospital El Girasol Surcheros

Douglas

Coffee HS Coffee Regional Medical Center Colony Bank CVS Fireside Pizza Shop Hog N Bones Johnny's New York Style Pizza More Than Graphics Surcheros

Fitzgerald

Colony Bank CVS Fitzgerald HS Dorminy Medical Center

Folkston

Charlton Co. HS

Homerville Clinch Co. HS

Jesup

Wayne Co. HS

Kingsland

Camden Co. HS Pineland Bank Synovus

Lakeland

Lanier Co. HS

Leesburg

Big Chris Catering and Takeout DogOnIt Hotdogs Hog N Bones Lee Co. HS Synovus

Moultrie

Beans & Strings Colquitt Co. HS Colquitt Regional Medical Center Crystal Pharmacy CVS J. Harvey's Country Buffet Surcheros Vereen Center

Nahunta

Brantley Co.HS

Thomasville

Brookwood School Chick-fil-a CVS Grassroots Coffee Henderson's Restaurant The Plaza Restaurant & Oyster Bar Southern Interventional Pain Center Thomas Co. Central HS Thomasville HS

Tifton

CVS Hog N Bones Surcheros Tift Co. HS Tift Regional Medical Center Wing Addiction

Valdosta

Pelham HS

Advanced Dental Care Carter’s Produce Chick-fil-a CVS El Toreo (N. Valdosta) Lowndes HS Sculpt 24-Hour Fitness Surcheros Valdosta Dry Cleaners Valdosta HS Valdosta Toyota

Perry

Warner Robins

Nashville

Berrien HS SGMC, Berrien Campus

Ocilla

Irwin Co. HS

Pelham

Cherokee Pines Golf Club Chick-fil-a Perry HS Westfield School

Quitman

Brooks Co. HS Brooks Co. Hospital Lee & Pickels Drugs

St. Simmons

Frederica Academy

Sylvester

Carroll's Sausage and Meats Colony Bank Fat Boy's Backyard BBQ Worth Co. HS

Flint Energies Houston Co. HS Lowe Toyota Martin's BBQ Middle Georgia Orthopaedics Morris Bank Northside HS South Landings Golf Club Warner Robins HS

Waycross

Hog-N-Bones Memorial Satilla Health Surcheros Walker Jones Ware Co. HS

Brown Finds His Mamba Mentality

Teaming Up to Kick Cancer Clark & John Miller Valwood & VSU

33

Ricky Brown | Valdosta

23

More 21

Did You Know? WNBA

28

Rebuilding With the Trojan Culture

+ Top 5 Leading Scorers in Girls Basketball + Girls Basketball State Champions

Brooks County Softball

31

Are Prep Schools Good for High School Sports?

+ When Fandom Goes Too Far

38

44

Valdosta State Football: A Coaching Hotbed

+ Way Too Early Top 25 7A-4A + Kansas City Chiefs From South Georgia

48

From Behind the Backstop

Cecily Livingston | Berrien + Top Female Wrestlers in Georgia

53

Will the Proposed NCAA Transfer Rule Work?

54

When Sports Are No Longer a Salvation

56

Could VSU Go D1?

60

Former South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets Making an Impact at Division I Level

64

Baseball & Cheating: America’s Favorite Pastimes

Seth Nelson | Lee County

Thomasville Tennis Star Gives It His All Niklas von Hellens

Brad Harber Has Crisp County Fans Excited Again

47

Wrestling Is in the Blood Jakeem Littles | Richmond Hill

62

+ 2020 GHSA Team Duals State Champions + Most College Wrestling Championships 10 | itgnext.com

51

Livingston Wrestles With Dedication and Grit

+ Craziest Baseball Curses

66

Looking Into Preseason

+ Way Too Early Top 25 3A-1A + Top Recruiting Classes 2020

Player Profiles 19

Ty Anderson - Thomasville

27

Paige Hill - Tift Co.

30

Jacob Lauderdale - Brookwood

43

Cager Flowers - Brantley Co.

55

Cole Mathis - Harris Co.

65

Carson King - Worth Co.

World-class children’s care

is closer than you think.

Learn more at WolfsonChildrens.com/Georgia.

At Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, our team of doctors and nurses give kids of all ages nationally ranked care in a caring environment. From cancer treatment to neurosurgery to heart defects, our staff has the experience to help children overcome even the most serious conditions.

ITG Next | 11

May 2020

12 | itgnext.com

Get a leg up on the competition...

Earn college credit while in high school!

To learn more about Dual Enrollment, talk to your high school counselor or a Wiregrass High School Coordinator today!

229-333-2100 wiregrass.edu ACCREDITED

program

Equal Opportunity Institution A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia

ITG Next | 13

Our Team Contributors Publisher Mark Dykes Editor Kyle Grondin Graphics Mandy Douthit Annabelle Scott Cover Photography Eric Vinson Player Profile Photography Eric Vinson

Mark Dykes

Mandy Douthit

aNNA Limoges

Chief Executive Officer

Creative Director

director of operations

Founder Mark Dykes is the entrepreneur and mastermind behind the In the Game vision. Back in 2007, Mark set out to create a company that captured the passion, intensity, and unrivaled commitment toward high school athletics in the South Georgia area. Today, that vision has become a reality, and he continues to be the leading influence in what lies ahead for In the Game, despite his annual prediction that UGA will win the National Championship.

As a Pine Mountain, Georgia, native, Mandy’s move to Valdosta has brought enhanced artistry and intricacy to the ITG design team. The University of West Georgia alum graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in art with a concentration in graphic design. Her artistic nature has allowed her to use graphic design to win national and international design competitions, all of which are meant to serve as diversions and coping mechanisms for Alabama’s loss in the National Championship.

Anna became a member of the ITG Next team in 2016, serving as an intern for three semesters. After graduating from Valdosta State University in 2017, she remained with the team as an editor, devoting her editorial eye to the company for two years before becoming the Director of Operations. In her free time, Anna enjoys reading and writing. More importantly, although she claims to be a fan of the New Orleans Saints, there is fortunately no other sign of such irrational fandom.

Andrew Pipkin Account Executive

Kyle Grondin

Eric Vinson

Sports Editor

Photographer

Born and raised in South Georgia, Andrew attended Valdosta State University where he obtained a degree in marketing and business. He is passionate about sports, especially high school football (Go Cats!). Andrew’s focus is to develop and cultivate relationships with businesses all around South Georgia. Like so many other Georgia Bulldogs fans, his hopes of a national championship increase every year, but in the end they are just long lost dreams.

Kyle is a senior at Valdosta State University working toward a Bachelor of Arts in English with a track in journalism. He transferred to Valdosta with his wife from UCF and hopes to become a world class sports journalist. Most days, Kyle is taking his dog Stella for walks or playing sports at the local gym. Kyle is a bigtime UCF Knight fan, so you know he’s willing to claim himself the national champion of everything with little evidence supporting his cause.

Eric Vinson is a native of Lowndes County and a graduate of Valdosta High School. He recently got his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Valdosta State University in mass media. Eric loves taking photos, watching sports, and producing music.

Tyrah Walker

Nathan Dean

Micki Krzynski

Feature Photography Eric Vinson Dreaming Wild Photography Micki Krzynski Micki K Photography Feature Writers Kyle Grondin Phil Jones Alex Dunn Copy Editor Malia Thomas Advertising/Marketing Andrew Pipkin andrew@itgnext.com Mark Dykes mark@itgnext.com Digital Manager Mandy Douthit

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 2020 Dykes Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

14 | itgnext.com

Broadcaster Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Tyrah Walker is excited to join the ITG Next family as one of the on-air hosts. A graduate of the preeminent University of South Florida, she received her bachelor's degree in mass communications with an emphasis in broadcast news (Go, Bulls!).

Tyrah is also an author. She is looking forward to sharing sports stories with the community. When she's not hosting or blogging, Tyrah enjoys reading, photography, and spending time with family.

Contributing Photographer A native of Middleburg, Florida, and a graduating Communications and Sport Management student from the University of North Florida, Nathan has been striving to work in sports media for many years. He started interning for ITG Next in May 2019 to help cover local sporting events in the Northeast Florida area and co-host the weekly ITG Next show.

When it comes to loyalty to In the Game, it is hard to top Micki. Since the very beginning of In the Game, Micki has provided strong, creative, and highly professional photos. Consequently, Micki and her son/assistant, Jake, have become our go-to photo duo. With enough talent, equipment, and experience to make her dangerous, she continues to push ITG’s photography forward.

Phil Jones

Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Alex is a VSU graduate and contributing writer for In the Game. After interning for a year, she decided to continue writing for ITG after graduation. Now, she works for the Marietta Daily Journal, where she proofreads and designs page layouts for their publications. She uses her experience as a copy editing intern for ITG to help with the sports pages the most, while also using her freelance to keep her writing skills fresh. However, she only knows how well the Braves are doing when she is placing the game finals on the pages.

Phil Jones began lending his voice to In the Game in 2017. He serves as a radio station manager and host of two daily radio shows: “The Phil Jones Show” on WJHC Talk 107.4 and “The Afternoon Sports Drive” on WJEM AM-FM and on WJHC FM. Jones is a 20year veteran of the newspaper business, serving as manager of marketing and distribution for newspapers in Tifton, Albany, and Atlanta. He was recognized by the Georgia Press Association as “Georgia’s Top Newspaper Circulator” in 2003.

Tell us what you thought about the February/March issue of ITG Next! info@itgnext.com

Want to Join the Intern Team?

Apply online at itgnext.com

Graphic Design Social Media Journalism

Photography Videography Marketing

@ITGNext

Soccer T-Shirt

Team USA T-Shirt

Go to

If you’re in search of great stories, we have the answer.

itgnext.com

features apparel, stories from the magazine, and much more all at your finger tips. There is even a spot to submit your story ideas to us.

Classic T-Shirt

itgnext.com to Get In the Game today!

BE IN THE GAME

Alex Dunn

ITG Next | 15

itgnext.com

16 | itgnext.com

ITG Next | 17

Test drive the all-new 2020 Toyota Highlander at our award-winning dealership, & learn more about the $3,000 of added value with the purchase of any new vehicle, available only at Valdosta Toyota.

18ValdostaToyota.com/Highlander | itgnext.com

| 2980 James Circle, Valdosta, GA 31601 | (229) 299-4146

Thomasville Offensive Linebacker 2019 Stats 128 TKs 1 INT for TD 1 FR for TD Who is your biggest rival?

Ourselves. Every game is a big game.

How do you handle the pressure of a big game?

Step up and stay calm.

Top Offers

ITG Next | 19

Stay In The Game

Outcome-based treatment and therapy designed to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability.

Download the FREE

Tift Regional App Today

2 2 2 7 H I G H W AY 4 1 N O R T H , T I F T O N | 2 2 9 - 3 8 6 - 5 2 2 2 | W W W .T I F T R E G I O N A L . C O M / G S M

HERE TO HELP LIFE GO RIGHT Stuart Pate

401 Park Ave Sylvester, GA 31791 229-776-6906

Bryan Gainous

1204 E Jackson St Thomasville, GA 31792 229-226-6965

Did You Know?

Edition Written by: Tyrah Walker

As some of you may know, I’m not athletic, but I do enjoy learning about sports and athletes. I always find new interesting topics to write about, and I gain so much wisdom that I never knew before. For the next few weeks, I’ll be coming with a new segment called “Did You Know?” that gives some historical facts about athletes, organizations, sports, and leagues. Since basketball season is in full swing for high schools and colleges, what better way to start than present some facts about the Women’s National Basketball Association?

Top 5 Leading Scorers in Girls Basketball KAYLA MCPHERSON 36.3 PPG Madison County

KEYARAH BERRY 30.6 PPG Rockmart

PRENCIS HARDEN 29.6 PPG Emanuel County Institute

SYDNEY BOWLES 26.6 PPG Woodward Academy

GABBI CARTAGENA 25.9 PPG Jackson

BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONS

Things you may already know: • • • •

The WNBA was founded in 1996 and is composed of 12 teams.

The fanbase is not as big as the NBA, but popularity has grown over the decade.

WNBA athletes are not making nearly as much as the men who play in the NBA. Lisa Leslie, Penny Toler, and Sylvia Fowles are some of the most recognized names in the league.

• The WNBA regular season starts in May.

7A GIRLS

WESTLAKE 6A GIRLS

FOREST PARK 5A GIRLS

Things you may not know:

BUFORD

• Lisa Leslie made the first slam dunk in the league for the Los Angeles Sparks on July 30, 2002.

• DeWanna Bonner, who plays for Phoenix, earned $127,500 in 2019, making her the highest paid earner in the WNBA. • Rookies in the NBA make more than seasoned WNBA athletes.

• Six WNBA teams are associated with NBA teams, known as “sister teams.”

• Sheryl Swoopes was the first woman signed and sent to the Houston Comets.

AMERICUS SUMTER

4A GIRLS

3A GIRLS

GACS 2A GIRLS

DOUGLASS WNBA Assists Per Game Leaders 2019

Courtney Vandersloot 8.0 CHI

Erica Wheeler 5.9 IND

ATLANTA

1A GIRLS

WHEELER CO. 1A PRIVATE GIRLS

Brittany Boyd 5.8 NY

Natasha Cloud 5.8 WSH

Kristi Toliver 5.5 WSH

HOLY INNOCENTS ITG Next | 21

T H E BANK FOR YOU

HONORED TO BE NAMED

the Best .

Hahira | Morven | North Valdosta | Baytree Member FDIC |

Equal Housing Lender | www.citizenscommunitybank.net

9

22 | itgnext.com

Brown Finds His Mamba Mentality VALDOSTA Written by: Kyle Grondin Photography by: Micki K. Photography

Ricky Brown always knows how to get a bucket.

He lives, breathes and studies the game of basketball. His number is 24, based upon his favorite player of all time, the late, great Kobe Bryant. Bryant is one of the few major influences on Brown’s game.

“I watched a lot of Kobe,” Brown said. “I study a lot of players to get better, including him and Isaiah Thom“I wasn’t really interested in playing for as, as a look to develop my game and learn new moves. Kobe was a great my middle school team, but I loved the player and a great person off the court game of basketball and always worked on and always had a great attitude. He it. I hit the ground running in high school was an inspiration for me to get better.” and have continued to work hard, and now it’s starting to show us One of the things that winning games.” made Bryant so great Under new head coach was his “Mamba MentalDarrell Lockhart, the Wildity”, which is his tireless cats have put together work ethic to be the best. one of the best seasons in When Brown isn’t playnearly 10 years. They fining basketball, you’ll see ished the regular season as him fine-tuning his game. region champions, and are He takes close to 1,500 sitting as one of the favorshots a day for practice, ites to take home the state as well as running and championship crown. lifting weights to get fast“He’s instant offense er and stronger. for our team with that shot “I do a lot of training of his,” Lockhart said. “He in the off-season to get can attack the basket and better and improve my “I do a lot of get points in a variety of game. It’s all about being ways. It’s just incredible to the best athlete I can be training in the see him develop. The only when I’m on the court.” offseason to question will be how good You can see the imget better and he can get at the next levprovement has paid off. el.”

He’s cemented himself improve my Brown is starting to get in his senior season as game. It’s all the attention of schools one of the best shootabout being the across the country. From loing guards in all of Georgia, as he’s raised best athlete I can cal Valdosta State University to Division 1 schools such his game to 19.6 points be when I’m on as Northwestern, teams per game and was the court.” are beginning to realize his named the region one scoring prowess and just 6A player of the year. It — Ricky Brown what he can provide to a has been a gradual improvement since his freshman year, basketball team.

“He really is going to be a terrific playwhich was his first season playing orer in college,” Lockhart said. “He gets up ganized basketball.

early to take 500 to 700 shots a day and then doesn’t miss a beat in practice. He tried to get into the gym over the summer every day, but I had to tell him to take days off to rest because he would never stop on his own.”

His work ethic is starting to develop his all-around game, as he has gotten stronger, Lockhart noticed his defense improving as he has really emphasized that side of the court.

Brown didn’t want to be portrayed as just a shooter, so he continues to work on developing all parts of his game.

His region championship game against Lee County was the perfect example of what he can do on a court.

He finished the game with 25 points and contributed five three-point field goals to help the Wildcats win 72-45.

It was the school's first championship since 2012.

entire day, and really was just thinking about winning the game and making history on the court.”

He’s leading the way, guiding the team through to the state playoffs. In the tournament and at the next level, he sees an opportunity for himself to develop his game and the team to create something special.

“It’s all about taking it one game at a time, and the sky’s the limit,” Lockhart said. “We have to go hard at each other in practice, work together as a team and continue to make everyone better. That is how we can make a run at state. But it starts one at a time.”

That sure does sound like the Mamba Mentality.

Top 5 Leading Scorers in Boys Basketball JALEN GERMANY 31.3 PPG Young American Christians

KEUNDRE CAMPBELL 30.6 PPG Webster County

JORDAN JONES

26.1 PPG

First Presbyterian Day

JIM FULLER 24.8 PPG White Creek Christian

“It was just a level of focus I had never had before,” Brown

MICHAEL LOVINGOOD 24.3 PPG

said. “I didn’t talk to anybody that

Griffin Christian

BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONS 7A BOYS

WHEELER 6A BOYS

CHATTAHOOCHEE 5A BOYS

DUTCHTOWN “I watched a lot of Kobe. I study a lot of players to get better, including him and Isaiah Thomas, as a look to develop my game and learn new moves. Kobe was a great player and a great person off the court and always had a great attitude. He was an inspiration for me to get better.”

— Ricky Brown

24 | itgnext.com

4A BOYS

WOODWARD 3A BOYS

PACE ACADEMY 2A BOYS

SWAINSBORO HANCOCK CENTRAL

1A BOYS

1A PRIVATE BOYS

ST. FRANCIS

Game-winning drives start here.

Success under the bright lights starts with hard work under the hot sun. Here is where practice, preparation and perspiration give rise to cheering fans, game winning drives and character that will last a lifetime. We are proud to support our hometown teams.

1-888-SYNOVUS | synovus.com

Synovus Bank, Member FDIC.

ITG Next | 25

COLONY BANK <R«;tiwM,�� Now is the time! The time to

dream big and be bold. Whether

you are continuing your education

at

college

or

entering

the

workforce, your future awaits.

Checking & Saving Accounts,

Mortgages and Loans, we're right

here with you for the journey.

ALB ANY ASHBURN CORDELE FITZGER ALD L EESBURG MOULTRIE QUITMAN SYLVESTER TIFTON VALDOSTA WARNER ROBINS

www.colony.bank 26 | itgnext.com

Member FDIC � Equal Housing Lender Bank NMLS# 408873

Tift County Pitcher & Short Stop What advice would you give to your younger self?

Listen to your coaches. Practice is the only way you're going to make it. Listen more because you don't know everything.

What are your goals for next season?

Hitting 65 on the mound is probably my top personal goal. But as a team goal, I want to make it to Columbus.

OUTSTANDING PLAYER

Rebuilding With the Trojan Culture Written by: Phil Jones | Photography courtesy of Lisa Vincent Brooks County High School has enjoyed success across several sports over the years.

The football program under Maurice Freeman has enjoyed season after season success, while the baseball and basketball programs also enjoyed some success.

To say the Brooks County softball program was suffering was a bit of an understatement.

The Lady Trojans program won a total of 10 games over four years from the 2013 to 2016 seasons. To try to find a reason why there was

such a stretch of futility in one program at a school whose other varsity programs enjoy success is up for debate.

One big reason, according to a long time Brooks County supporter who chose not to give their name for this story, was due to the success enjoyed at the middle school level not carrying over to the high school level. While the Brooks County middle school softball team would enjoy success, even winning region championships, the same could not be said

about the high school softball team.

Fortunately for Brooks County, that would take a turn for the better with the start of the 2018 season and the addition of a new head coach.

Lisa Vincent, a former high school and collegiate level softball player and coach of various varsity athletic programs for 20 years, was hired to take over the Lady Trojans softball team.

Vincent played and lettered in softball at Valdosta High School

302 E Screven St Quitman, Georgia (229) 263-4061

PROUD TO BE YOUR HOMETOWN PHARMACY.

as a four- year starter, graduating in 1993.

From there, she went to Valdosta State University, where she played for the Lady blazers during the 1994 -1995 seasons.

Vincent came to Brooks from her high school alma mater, Valdosta High, where she had coached since 2005.

Since taking over at Brooks County, Vincent has restored the Lady Trojans back to respectability. In her first two seasons, she has led Brooks County to a 32-24 overall record, including a 15-14 overall

record in her first season in 2018. It was the first time since 2012 that Brooks County softball had finished over .500 in a single season. That included a 6-6 region record, good enough for the no. 3 seed in Region 1-AA, and a trip to the state playoffs, a place that had otherwise been a foreign land to Brooks County softball for a long time.

Vincent and her Lady Trojans would go on the road and upset the higher-seeded Screven County Gamecocks in the first round, winning

the first two games to advance to round two.

There, the Brooks County season would come to an end with a loss to Dodge County. But, make no doubt, Brooks County was back.

Then, last season, Vincent would once again lead Brooks County to another winning season, finishing 17-10 overall and 8-4 in the region. That would give Brooks County the no.

2 seed headed into the state playoffs, where they would, unfortunately, fall to East Laurens in the opening “As a coaching staff, we have not presented a Most Valuable Player round.

Award because there has not been just one most valuable player. It Now, headed has been the team that has been valuable and has led throughout into her our turnaround.” third sea— Lisa Vincent son, Vincent wants to make sure that winning has become a staple within Brooks County High’s softball program.

“Since taking over the program two years ago, the team has really stepped it up,” Vincent said. “Getting the girls to buy into the philosophy of 'trust the process' has been one of our biggest challenges.”

That includes very structured practice plans and setting high expectations on the playing field, in the classroom, and the community. A lot of that also includes doing things differently now than most of the girls were used to doing before we got here, like more fundamental work both offensively and defensively.

“Overall, the work ethic is better,” Vincent said.

She has also stressed a true team-first concept.

“As a coaching staff, we have not presented a Most Valuable Player Award because there has not been just one most valuable player,” she said. “It has been the team that has been valuable, and has led throughout our turnaround.”

The 2020 season will have Vincent and her team moving into Class A Public, with new region opponents.

“We will be entering a new classification and region this next year,” she said.

“The season starts in August in Thomasville at a preseason tournament and ends in October. I see us remaining competitive in our new region, and hopefully at the top, advancing to the state playoffs once again.”

Brooks will now be a part of Region 2-A, along with Atkinson, Clinch, Charlton, Lanier, Echols, and Turner County. The Lady Bulldogs of Lanier County are the defending regular-season region champions.

Vincent will rely on a trio of returning seniors for leadership into the upcoming season. They are Meagen Willifird, Stephone Johnson, and Tayana Dawson.

ITG Next | 29

Brookwood Pitcher & Infield What has playing baseball taught you about life?

How to deal with failure. If you succeed 3/10 times in baseball, you go to the Hall of Fame.

Who is your biggest rival?

Tiftarea is our biggest rival.

It's a whole different game against them.

Committed

Are Prep Schools Good When Fandom for High School Sports?

Goes Too Far

Written by: Kyle Grondin

Written by: Kyle Grondin

Preparatory schools are growing across the United States, as is the incentive to become a major player in high school athletics.

The recently formed USA Academy, opening next fall in Coosada, Alabama, is the newest competitor in the circuit. USA stands for “Ultimate Student Athlete,” and the school is set to open no school buildings, as it has a virtual school curriculum with dorms to create an environment for the top student-athletes to excel on the field.

This is right in line with some of the best schools in the country, including IMG Academy, St. Thomas Aquinas, and many others. In fact, many private schools require students to participate in some sort of athletics, as they teach lessons of leadership and teamwork. But is this what is best for the sports and the students?

Many feel that prep schools create an unfair advantage in the sports landscape. Many coaches in states like Pennsylvania have proposed separate state championships for private schools and public schools.

In Florida, they created a new law in 2017 so that all students can go to whichever high school they want, which I believe many states will begin to adopt as a way for the athletic system to create a balance and fairness within the game. But even with that, prep school teams continue to be among the most successful in the state. St. Thomas Aquinas has won eight state championships in the last 12 years, including in 2019.

Prep schools undoubtedly have a competitive advantage, as they have the resources to pay for the best facilities and coaches. And they certainly benefit the athletes and their dreams to reach their full potential.

There’s no doubt that prep schools are putting athletes in the best positions to make it to the next level and even to the professional level. Many prep schools provide great exposure for student-athletes. IMG Academy delivers talented players year after year. Montverde Academy produced top NBA draft picks Ben Simmons and R.J. Barrett.

There’s no question that going to a prep school has its advantages if you’re a top student-athlete. You’re exposed to top colleges constantly and have the best coaching and facilities available to help build their game. USA Academy is conveniently placed in between Auburn and Tuscaloosa, giving students great exposure to both major universities.

The question becomes this: Which do we care about more? The competitive advantage in high school sports or promoting the best student-athletes?

NBA Assists Per Game Leaders 2018-19

Draymond Green GS PF 8.5

Russell Westbrook OKC PG 10.6

C

Nikola Jokic DEN 8.4

Ricky Rubio UTAH PG 8.6

Lou Williams LAC SG 7.7

Fan is short for fanatic. Fans think with passion and pride and typically consider themselves part of the team. Fans care about their teams as much as anything else.

Sometimes, fans cross the line.

That’s what happened on Jan. 21 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic, when No. 2 Sierra Canyon was in the middle of a game as they had an inbound pass on the sideline. The player inbounding the ball happened to be LeBron James Jr. Yes, he’s the son of that LeBron James.

“Bronny,” as he’s called, has taken the internet by storm with his ability on the court and of course because of his father being one of the best basketball players to ever live. But a fan, clearly not a fan of the older James, decided to use this as an opportunity to throw something at Bronny.

It ended up being a harmless plastic cup, but it is a prime example of a fanatic crossing the line.

It is never okay to throw something at a player during a game. From professional all the way down to Little League, throwing objects should never be the answer.

What makes this matter worse is that a fan’s view of LeBron James drove him to throw something at a minor.

It ended up being a minor who threw the object, but James Sr. said it best when asked about the situation after his game against the Boston Celtics.

“It’s just disrespectful, and it was a little kid, too,” James said to a pool of reporters. “I don’t know how old that little kid was. I don’t know.

I don’t know if he learned that on his own or learned it at home or whatever the case may be, but it’s disrespectful.”

James also elaborated on the fact that his children, especially Bronny, have learned to take the hate and abuse sometimes for their dad being who he is. But the bigger problem is, why do they have to face that burden? Minors should not be blamed for the actions of their parents, and expecting Bronny to do anything other than just play basketball and go to school is a disservice to his growth and development as a basketball player and human being.

So while you attend your local high school games as a fan, just remember: Kids are watching, and people are watching. The attitudes and actions you take will be remembered and spread to those around you. So set the right example as a positive fan.

ITG Next | 31

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

BEST DENTIST 10 YEARS IN A ROW!

BEST OVERALL BUSINESS

BEST DENTIST 2010-2019

2015, 2016 & 2018

Barclay Woodward D.M.D. • Hardy Gray D.M.D. • Ashley Moorman D.M.D

Full Family Dentistry New Patients Welcome 3211 Wildwood Plantation Dr • Valdosta, GA • 229.242.4441

Excited to announce our second location is open at: 3362 Greystone Way Valdosta, GA 229.242.0063 www.ADCTEAM.com 32 | itgnext.com

• All Insurances Accepted • In Network with many plans

Teaming Up to Kick Cancer VALWOOD Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Eric Vinson

Clark and John Miller of Valdosta didn’t play much football growing up.

In fact, the sons of Mary Ann Clark and Greg Miller never really gravitated towards the sport until they were in middle school. Then, once John and Clark enrolled at Valwood, head football coach Ashley Henderson spoke with both brothers about giving football a try.

“John started out as an offensive lineman in middle school, but that wasn’t the right position for him,” Henderson said. “After church one day, I approached John and suggested to him that he give kicking a try. He eventually worked his way to being a very good punter and kicker for us.”

As far as Clark goes, Henderson says he too needed to find his niche.

“I told Clark that his brother needed someone to long snap and snap field goals. Both are very important roles on the team,” Henderson said.

With the encouragement from their head coach, both Clark and John went to work on practicing their new-found craft. With their new responsibilities as Valwood Valiant, the Brothers sought out local coaches, camps, anyone that could instruct them on kick-

“I told Clark that his brother needed someone to long snap and snap field goals.

Both are very important roles on the team.”

— Ashley Henderson

ing, punting, and long snapping. Locally, the boys got help from a familiar source: their father.

Greg Miller had played football in high school and worked with each of his boys on their own game.

Also helping out was Andy Gibb, a local Valdosta resident and former punter at Valdosta State. While the boys were receiving help locally, Greg and Mary Ann Miller decided to look into national camps around the country.

They found the Kohl’s kicking camps in Wisconsin.

Widely known as one of the premier kicking camps in the country for aspiring kickers, punters, and long snappers, the Kohls camp has produced dozens of top flight kickers, punters, and long snappers who have gone on to kick in college and even professionally. While the Miller brothers were at the camp for the purpose of becoming better at their football skills, they also attended a presentation that would help them become better citizens.

It was called “Kick It for Cancer,” a fundraising charity effort that initially involved volunteers pledging money for points made by kickers on the football field.

ITG Next | 33

“There was a film presentation about the kick-it campaign. It explained how everything worked. After it concluded, I asked my mom and dad if we could do that, and they agreed,” John said.

The charity later expanded to also include snappers. There were a few important reasons that the Kick It Campaign mattered to John and Clark: their mom, Mary Ann, is a cancer survivor, having battled the disease back in 2005. Additionally, Henderson’s late brother, Doug, passed away after being diagnosed with cancer years earlier; and a fellow Valwood student battled cancer while on the team with John and Clark.

With this disease having touched those so close, the Kick It charity was an easy decision. That next football season, in 2017, John would promote the cause via social media, word of mouth, through the school, and to anyone else that would listen. Their work paid off, on and off the field. John was the top ‘Kick It’ fundraiser in the country.

This past season, Clark would join the ‘Kick It’ campaign. He would raise $11,000 in just one season. It was the third highest total raised in the entire nationwide Kick It campaign. Together, the Miller Brothers have raised over $33,000 in the three years of their involvement.

The decision to follow his brother’s lead in the ‘Kick It For Cancer’ fundraising effort was an easy one, especially after Clark realized the impact.

“The amount of impact that I can make by becoming involved with the charity influenced me to get involved,” he said.

“We knew before every game that for every point we scored, there would be another sum of money donated towards our goal of beating pediatric cancer,” John said.

He points to one game that was particularly satisfying.

“One of our highest scoring games was against Brookwood of Thomasville. We scored eight points on field goals and special teams and raised over 1,500 dollars in one night.” he said.

As far as continuing the fund-raising campaign, John says his work “is done for now”, while Clark isn’t ruling it out.

“It is possible, but I really haven’t thought about it yet,” he said.

Both John and Clark will now turn their attention to helping Valdosta State University win football games, and hoping they get the chance to do it as a unit. Clark snapping the ball, and John kicking it.

Whether it's for charity or not remains to be seen, but either way, it's a great story of the brothers that keep on giving.

34 | itgnext.com

Residential • Commercial New Construction • Service LICENSED / BONDED / INSURED

GA Lic #CN7050 • FL Lic #CAC058168

WWW.WALLERHVAC.COM

Thomasville, GA 15 Williamsburg Ave # 25 229.225.1200

Valdosta, GA

405 N. St. Augustine Rd 229.244.1200

Monday- Thursday 4-10 p.m.

Friday 4-11 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.

Happy Hour: Monday through Saturday 4-6 p.m.

Join us for lunch this weekend!

1824 Club House Dr. Valdosta, GA 31601 (229)242-4329

ITG Next | 35

All sports. All injuries. All year long.

No matter the sport, no matter the season, the Phoebe orthopaedics and sports medicine team works hard to get their patients back to what they love. From the field to diagnosis and treatment you can count on Phoebeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certified athletic trainers, orthopaedic specialists and physical therapists for a team approach to top-quality care.

To learn how Phoebeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comprehensive orthopaedic and sports medicine team can help you, visit phoebeortho.com.

36 | itgnext.com

Phoebe Orthopaedics of Albany

Phoebe Orthopaedics of Americus

2709 Meredyth Drive, Suite 450 | Albany, Georgia

132 US Highway 280 West, Suite B | Americus, Georgia

Troy Skidmore, DO Nur Nurbhai, DO Anie Uyoe, MD Jordan Knoefler, MD T. Daniel Smith, MD

John Fennessy, MD

229-312-5000

229-931-6830

Ryan Breland, MD

ITG Next | 37

From From Behind Behind the the Backstop Backstop LEE COUNTY Written by: Kyle Grondin Photography by: Eric Vinson

Seth Nelson has never been afraid of the big moment.

The senior catcher for the Lee County Trojans was on the team as a freshman when they made a run toward the state championship. It was one of his most memorable moments. Even if he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to play in the big game, he was ready. He took the tools he learned from that experience to develop his game and pass along the process of being a winner on to his teammates in Leesburg, Georgia.

Today, he manages the game behind the plate almost every game and has solidified himself as one of the best catchers in the state of Georgia.

Nelson is the backstop for the Trojans and has developed into one of the top catchers in the state. He’s developed his hitting every year and is gaining the trust of his coaches to be the defensive leader of the team.

The catcher is one of the most difficult positions in baseball. You’re on the ground most of the time, getting dirty. You have to manage the pitching staff and manage the pitching and defensive calls of the team. It’s a balancing act that Nelson has handled well.

“Catchers definitely get beat up back there," Nelson said. "It’s a hard life. To me, it’s one of the hardest positions on the field. You have to make the pitcher look good and lock up every single ball. It comes down to you many times making that play because one passed ball can cost your team the game. I love that every play comes through me though.

I love the challenge, and I love taking on the position and being the best I can be.”

Last season was a career year for Nelson, as he hit with a .341 batting average, coming up with 46 hits, nine doubles, and was one of the top hitters on the team. He is trying to buck the trend that catchers can’t hit as many of the modern catchers have more emphasis on the defensive game.

“As a catcher, we’re always taught defense, defense, defense,” he said. “It is important, but the ability to hit is another tool that will get you looked at (at) the next level. I’ve been blessed with a nice batter's eye, as I see the ball really well.”

Nelson has taken the ability to improve in stride, as he’s begun getting more looks from colleges with his ability at the plate and behind it.

“Last year was really a monster year for me,” Nel-

son said. “I feel like I gathered a lot of respect pitchers in my hitting game, as they came to learn the in’s and out’s of what I can do at the plate. That just makes it a challenge for me to improve any weaknesses they see in my game.”

Nelson comes off as a confident kid, but he takes everything in stride. Baseball is one of the most difficult sports to master mentally. Each play involves 10 moving parts, including the batter. It’s a game of strategy as much as physical gifts.

As the great catcher Yogi Berra once said, “Baseball is 90% mental, and the other half is physical.”

Nelson embraces that mental challenge in all parts of his game. When he is at the plate, he takes into account his position and what he thinks the pitcher is going to throw. When he worked to improve his hitting, he noticed some trends

he could improve upon.

“I’m mainly just looking for the fastball at the plate,”Nelson said.“If you can see the fastball and time it up, you hit it hard.

If not, it’s by you. I began to get my home runs up a little, and then I noticed I was getting a lot more pitches outside. Fastball, change ups,and breaking pitches to the outer part of the plate, so now I have to have the approach taking what the pitcher gives me and hitting the ball to right field if necessary.”

But he also isn’t afraid to bring the power still when necessary.

“If a pitcher makes a mistake and throws one inside on me, it’s important to myself and the team that I take advantage,” Nelson said.

ITG Next | 39

In the Path of a Legend It’s never easy walking in the path of a legend. There’s expectations, pressures, and the easy ability for any fan to compare you to one of the best to ever do it. But Seth Nelson isn’t worried about the noise; he makes his own path. Nelson stands as confident as ever. As he warms up his pitchers, he continues to go through his game plan with an intense focus.

When you hear about Lee County Trojan baseball, you typically think of catcher Buster Posey.

Posey was the 2005 Gatorade Player of the Year at Lee County High School and has gone on to become one of the greatest catchers in the history of baseball. Since his time at Lee County, he has won three World Series championships with the San Francisco Giants, and he was named MVP in 2012.

Following in the footsteps of a player like Posey can be difficult for any young player, but Nelson has embraced the tradition set

by Posey and models his game after the Leesburg legend.

“I definitely watch a lot of Buster Posey, especially as a local guy," Nelson said. "Like me, he played shortstop as a kid and eventually moved to catcher in college baseball. Now they have an award named after him. That is just something I carry with me as a small-town kid 40 | itgnext.com

that made it to the MLB. I just watch him and take in anything I can about the right way to do things on the field."

Even with that desire to be like Posey, Nelson admits that being a catcher from the same small town is “a lot to live up to.” But Nelson’s desire is still to be the best player he can be every game.

“He’s out there living the dream right now, and I want to learn anything I can from his experience,” Nelson said. “I hope to one day be able to get to where he’s at. If I can make it provide for my family, that’s the goal.”

One area he’s learned from Posey and many other great catchers is mentally preparing pitchers on the Trojans staff. Pitching is a mental contest in baseball, as you pit yourself against the batter. A lot can go through a pitcher’s head about what pitch to use, how to place it, and

what the batter might be thinking. But the catcher’s job is to reel in the pitcher and keep them focused.

“I try to sit down and have a talk with them before each game,” Nelson said. “I hype them up a bit, remind them that ‘You’re an animal. Get out there and pound the (strike) zone.’ Just stuff like that to keep them focused. Some pitchers need more communication from a catcher than others to reel them in, so it’s just finding that balance and making the right calls.”

Lee County head coach Brian Trivette told Seth that he is now

Most Hits All Time 1.Pete Rose 2.Ty Cobb 3.Hank Aaron

4256 4189 3771

4. Stan Musial 5. Tris Speaker

3630 3514

ready for him to step in as a leader and make some calls on the field.

“Typically in high school, the coach is making the pitch calls from the dugout,” Nelson said. “But I’ve learned from the coach and developed an idea of what he likes on the field and the calls he makes. So he’s going to give me opportunities to make those decisions as a senior.”

Nelson joked, of course, that he hopes “he didn’t mess it up,” but saw the opportunity as a blessing from the coach to reward him for his hard work to prepare for his senior season.

For college, Nelson is set to take his talents to Columbus State University, and he's happy with the decision.

“Columbus State is a dream come true,” Nelson said. “It’s close to my family, so they can come see me play. Their

facilities are second to none, and they were just rated as the best field in Georgia for Division II. My family and I were just up there watching them play Auburn, and the vibes you get are very welcoming. It’s a baseball town.”

His senior season though has three simple goals: improve his batting average over .400 on the year, increase his home run totals to double digits, and improve on last year’s third-round finish in the state tournament.

“Nobody really counted on us to do anything as a four seed last year in the playoffs, but we were able to win a few games," Nelson said. "There’s a lot of young talent coming up, and I think we can make some noise this year.”

Breaking your humerus isn’t funny. { We fix broken bones. }

Breaking your arm is no laughing matter. But when it happens, we’ll get you up and laughing again – fast.

42 | itgnext.com

912-417-5423 I sghs.org/summit

Brantley County Running Back & Defensive Back What makes you different from other athletes?

My passion for the game, my hard work, and dedication.

If you could play with one professional athlete in your sport, who would it be?

Julian Edelman.

The way he electrifies the game is unbelievable, and I want to play with him.

ITG Next | 43

WAY TOO EARLY

7A - 4A

Valdosta State Football: A Coaching Hotbed Written by: Kyle Grondin

Valdosta State football has been a Division II powerhouse in their 39-year history. From their start in 1981, the Blazers have won four national championships since 2004, and they’ve consistently had revolutionary offenses that paved the way for what college football looks like today.

It started at the top, with Athletic Director Herb Reinhard, who has been at Valdosta State since 1992. He’s been in charge of hiring the staff of the athletic programs, and he’s been great at hiring football coaches.

It started with his first season, when he brought Hal Mumme with him in 1992. Mumme was 4017-1 as the head coach of the Blazers, but he brought with him the revolutionary offense called the “air raid.” He, offensive coordinator Mike Leach (now the head coach at Mississippi State), and quarterback Dana Holgerson (now the head coach at the University of Houston) developed what is now the most used offense in college football.

44 | itgnext.com

The air raid uses multiple shot gun sets to spread the field and uses intricate crossing routes and quick passes to create easy passes for the quarterback. The offense’s strength and philosophy is that passing is the best offensive play, and you’ll see quarterbacks throw 50-60 times a game in an air raid offense.

Not only did the Blazers start winning, but the well-known offense we see today began to take shape.

Chris Hatcher won the Harlon Hill Trophy for top player in Division II. When that staff moved on in 1996, the plan had been in place. Chris Hatcher, now the head coach at Samford, won two national championships with Kirby Smart (University of Georgia head coach) and Will Muschamp (University of South Carolina head coach) now on staff.

David Dean replaced him and won a national championship, and Kerwin Bell, former Florida Gator quarterback, also won the school’s fourth championship in 2018

before moving onto the Division I level.

Valdosta State is the stepping stone for a lot of great careers for these coaches. Leach is one of the school’s three former coaches now headlining an SEC school, and the Blazers continue to be one of the best football teams in the area. They were once again the No. 1 team in the country for the majority of the year before an upset in the second round of the Division II playoffs under first-year head coach Gary Goff, who played for VSU under Mumme and Leach.

VSU’s football program continues to stand out, but losing those great head coaches is down to one thing: the inability to compete financially with Division I schools.

Is that what's holding the Blazers back from making that leap to D1?

They clearly have the infrastructure to compete with anyone.

2

1

3

Parkview - 7A

Grayson - 7A

4

Buford - 6A

6

5

Carrollton - 6A

7

Lee Co. - 6A

Camden Co. - 7A

8

9

Blessed Trinity - 5A

Warner Robins - 5A

10

11

Lowndes - 7A

12 Colquitt Co. - 7A

Ware Co. - 5A

13

14

Harrison - 7A

16

15

North Gwinnett - 7A

17

Collins Hill - 7A

Valdosta - 6A

Marietta - 7A

Richmond Hill - 7A

21

Coffee - 5A

22

Westlake - 7A

Cartersville - 5A

23

Mill Creek - 7A

24

Allatoona - 7A

18

20

19

McEachern - 7A

Milton - 7A

25 Bainbridge - 4A

Super Bowl 2019 Champs from South Georgia Cameron Erving Tackle Colquitt County

Tyreek Hill Wide Receiver Coffee

Demarcus Robinson Wide Receiver Peach County

1402 W Hill Ave Valdosta, Georgia (229) 247-2623

— DREAMING WILD PHOTOGRAPHY —

Contact info: cevinson9216@gmail.com dreamingwildphotography 46 | itgnext.com

Crisp County football fans have not had it very easy for a long time.

The Cougars hadn’t tasted real success since 1995, when the team reached the final four of the state playoffs. After that, the team toiled in mediocrity year after year, reaching a season high of seven wins only once, in 2004. They averaged just 3 wins per season each year through 2015.

In fact, the 2015 team finished 3-7 under first year head coach Felton Shelton. The very next season saw an amazing turnaround at Crisp, as Shelton led the Cougars to an improbable undefeated regular season and a trip to the final four. Crisp would finish 13-1 overall.

To the surprise of many fans, Shelton announced that he was leaving Crisp to take an assistant coaching job at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

Brad Harber, who had ar-

rived at Crisp as the team’s offensive line coach in 2016, was named as the interim head coach. It was Harbers first head coaching job after spending 23 seasons as an assistant coach. Everyone wondered if the first time head coach would be able to keep the football magic going in Cordele.

Harber quickly answered those questions, leading Crisp to a 9-2 record overall, including a perfect 4-0 region record and a trip to the state playoffs. The next season would see the interim tag removed from Harber’s title. He would lead the Cougars to their third straight regular season region championship, and while Crisp finished with just seven wins, things were starting to line up for a promising 2019 season.

Harber had recruited the coordinators that he felt could help him put Crisp in a position to compete for a state championship: Of-

fensive Coordinator Jason Slimp, Defensive Coordinator Will Connor, and Special Teams Coordinator Pat Jordan.

Harber points to having the right guys, players and coaches, in place as the key to sustaining the success that Crisp first found in 2015, after so many years of futility.

“We have had a great run of athletes come through here (crisp), and the new weight room has been a huge help. But I think most of all having the right guys and stabilizing our coaching staff has been the biggest thing in sustaining our success,” Harber said.

Speaking of great athletes, Harber and his staff were poised for a solid season last year, returning eight starters on both offense and defense. That included several key starters at key positions, including starting quarterback AJ Lofton, along with returning Region 1-3A Player of the Year Chris

Paul Jr. on defense.

Harber knew that despite the talent of the players, his Crisp football team had a daunting schedule awaiting them.

“We had a difficult non-region schedule,” Harber said. “We dropped three games by a total of ten points. But, we were able to stay injury free, the players got better each week, and we landed in a favorable playoff bracket.”

Once in the playoffs, Harber and his Cougars fought their way to the title game.

“We faced Cedar Grove,” Harber said. “They had a great program, and had enjoyed success over the past few years. They were the team that put us out of the playoffs in 2016, so we were familiar with them.”

In the title game, it was two plays that made the difference.

“We failed on a fourth and goal from the three

yard line, and a fourth and goal from the seven yard line. Those two plays were the difference in the game,” said Harber.

Cedar Grove would win 21-14 to capture the state championship.

According to Harber, two players from last year’s squad have signed on to play collegiately. Jayren Fox signed with Mississippi Valley State, while Trent Richey signed with Shorter College.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Harber sounds excited to get going again.

“We are fortunate. We’ll have a big class next year, with 19 of 22 starters from last year’s team returning,” Harber said.

Finally, happy days are here again for those fans of Crisp County football.

Brad Harber Has Crisp County Fans Excited Again CRISP COUNTY Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Eric Vinson

ITG Next | 47

Livingston Wrestles With Dedication and Grit BERRIEN COUNTY

Written by: Alex Dunn | Photography by: Micki K Photography

Cecily Livingston has been on a wrestling team since her middle school days.

Now, as a senior at Berrien High School, she has learned to value the great qualities that come with being a part of a team, which she hopes will continue as she moves her athletic career into the collegiate path.

Livingston described the teams she has been on as more like family, a strong support system that she can always count on, especially when it came to adapting to the physically challenging sport. She said this was the case because she realized that not only is wrestling about having strength, it is also technical.

“When I go against guys, it's really 50/50," she said. "Sometimes they'll try to muscle me, but I have more technique sometimes, so it doesn't always work. Other times, I might be stronger.

I've seen some females who can beat guys all the time, but when they go against other females, they lose. Vice versa for males too.

Sometimes I'll get strong girls or technical girls or someone who is both, but it doesn't really make a difference if they're a female or male; I still get after them regardless.”

One special figure in her athletic career that helped Livingston shine is Jamie New, who has coached her for a little over two years. Livingston said that New likes to work the technical side with her based on where her strengths are.

“The biggest challenge that Cecily faces is the strength factor,” New said. “Cecily is naturally not as strong as most of her male competitors. Using technique is key for her to have an advantage in the matches. I feel that it has been more of a different mindset in how I approach certain situations with female wrestlers.

“Ceilcy's main strength is how locked in and determined to achieving a goal she can get. If she sets her mind to something that she wants to do or accomplish, she will reach that goal.”

Livingston proves that every day with the amount of hard work and dedication she puts into her wrestling.

“I think my determination is what makes me a great athlete because whenever I do a sport, I always do my best and work to the best of my abilities,” she said.

“Regardless of how grueling a sport is, I always work to be the best version of me I can be so I can be successful and so I can help my team be successful.”

Livingston has not received any official college offers yet, but she is in contact with Limestone College and the University of Saint Mary.

“To any girls out there who want to do wrestling but haven't because they're scared of how people will judge them, just go for it,” Livingston said. “Go out there and show them what you're capable of regardless of the negativity you might receive, and for anyone who wants to try any sport, just go out there and do your best at it. You can never get worse, but you can always get better.”

Top Female Wrestlers In Georgia AMANI JONES Ola

48 | itgnext.com

AKI CHOATES Duluth

CATHERINE BERTRAND

DIANNA HOLMES

TRISTEN MUSIC

Mount Pisgah Christian

North Gwinnett

Pierce County

50 | itgnext.com

Thomasville Tennis Star Gives It His All THOMASVILLE

Written by: Alex Dunn Photography by: Micki K Photography

Thomasville senior Niklas von Hellens has played tennis his entire life.

He started tournaments at a young age when he realized that this was the sport for him, eventually leading him to now be one of the top ten tennis players in Georgia.

Looking up to his favorite professional tennis player, Australia’s Alex de Minaur, von Hellens strives to be just like him by fighting for every point he can and never giving up. With all that determination, he said that he had improved tremendously from the start of his tennis career to now because of the amount of hours he dedicates to practice.

Along with that passion to be the best, there was also a strong coaching presence to keep him on the right track and improve his technique. Kellie Grave de Peralta has worked with von Hellens for four years now and has helped shape him into the tennis player he is today.

“My coach helps me improve every day by not only focusing on keeping my intensity high, but also by constantly noticing small parts of my game that need improvement such as on my forehand, backhand slice, or serve,” von Hellens said. “My coach helps me improve the little things in my game, which are the most important part of a tennis player’s game.”

Grave de Peralta knew right away that von Hellens already had a lot of tennis knowledge under his belt from starting out at a young age. She discovered that her main job for von Hellens was to keep him on the right path and help him continue growing his game.

“He is extremely competitive and has a drive and determination like I've never seen,” she said. “He continues to improve his game each year and to work towards his goals. He has really become a leader on our team and someone for the underclassmen to look up to. His ITG Next | 51

work ethic and love of the game really encourage others to push themselves.”

That dedication paid off when von Hellens became ranked in Georgia which, according to him, was one of the most memorable matches he ever played.

“The state championship semifinals against the number one player in the state of Georgia,” he said. “It was over one hundred degrees in Macon, Georgia in the middle of June. We played a four and a half hour-long match in the heat of the day, and I ended up winning in a third set.”

He went on to lose in the state championship, but after that tournament, his ranking was set.

With all that hard work paying off, von Hellens was happy to learn that the University of Georgia was interested in recruiting him for their tennis program.

“I can’t describe the feeling,” he said. “The feeling was surreal, and I couldn’t contain the happiness. The amount of hours and hard work I had put into tennis and I had finally reached my goal. I couldn’t believe I had actually achieved my dream. I am extremely excited, motivated, and grateful for the opportunity to play for one of the best tennis programs in the country.”

Von Hellens plans to major in international affairs or international business at UGA. He is eager to learn all that he can when the time comes for him to play in college.

“I am excited the most about the opportunity to develop as a college athlete,” he said. “The University of Georgia has some of the best facilities and coaching staff in the country for developing their athletes. I can’t wait to improve and become the best tennis player I can possibly be.”

“The best advice I can give to others trying to improve is to never give up and follow your dreams. Anything is possible when you work hard and put in the time and effort to succeed.”

Grave de Peralta believes that von Hellens’ future is a bright one, knowing he will succeed if he puts his mind to it.

“It has been a great four years with Nik, and I will be sad to see him leave,” she said. “I only wish we could clone him. We're very excited to see what the future holds and proud that we can have a Thomasville Bulldog become a Georgia Bulldog.”

52 | itgnext.com

Will the Proposed NCAA Transfer Rule Work?

Written by: Kyle Grondin

Fewer things have sparked more debate than the idea to give more power to NCAA student-athletes.

This past year, we’ve seen debates on the NCAA's use of a player’s name, likeness, and image and if they should compensate the players for that usage. Now, debates surround a player’s freedom of movement.

Last week, the NCAA proposed a new rule to their transfer policy. Student-athletes would be granted one free transfer with immediate eligibility. This is a change to the longstanding rule that players would have to sit out one year after transferring, pending an NCAA waiver.

The waivers are what have started this debate. NCAA has made a mess (as with most things) of the waiver system with inconsistent rulings and decisions on what is an approved waiver. This brought about the solution of the free transfer.

It simplifies the complicated rule, as there becomes four simple requirements to transfer schools. Under the proposed rule, to transfer without sitting out a year, a student-athlete must: • • • •

Receive a release from their previous school.

Leave their previous school academically eligible.

Maintain their academic progress at their new school.

Leave under no disciplinary suspension.

Of course, the rule was immediately met with disapproval. Todd Berry, the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, told Sports Illustrated that the vast majority of D-1 college football coaches are against the rule, citing that the transfer rules prevent college coaches from recruiting players off of college campuses.

Mark Richt, former Georgia and Miami coach, tweeted about his displeasure with the proposed rule change.

“I know, I have an idea,” Richt said. “You recruit and develop players and when I think they’re good enough I will poach them from your roster! Welcome to what the new normal will look like in college football!”

Of course coaches will be against the ruling, which just proves the hypocrisy that is college football.

Just last week, longtime Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio decided to resign from his position as head coach of the Spartans. This was 24 hours before National Signing Day and also less than a month removed from the $4.3 million bonus he received in his contract. The bonus kicked in well after the season and the coaching carousel had settled.

Dantonio left the program in a mess, with a $4.3 million payout. You know who is stuck playing for a new coach, receiving no money? The players Dantonio left in East Lansing. It’s the continuing hypocrisy of college sports. Coaches have the freedom of movement and a six- or seven-figure salary to fall back on.

Meanwhile, players are forced to live with their mistakes. To ask a player to stick with a difficult decision they made at 18 years old, when their careers and dreams are now in jeopardy, is unfair.

The power to the player is growing, and the NCAA is facing more and more scrutiny for not giving more opportunities to their student-athletes. They need to get ahead of the crowd on these subjects or risk falling behind. Congress is already getting involved in the pay to play rules, and the Big Ten and ACC have thrown their support behind the free transfer rule. The NCAA needs to pass this and grant players the freedom of movement.

ITG Next | 53

When Sports Are No Longer a Salvation Written by: Kyle Grondin

With the widespread shut down of sports at all levels, including high school, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we’re left reeling as a society with no level of salvation. So, what’s next?

It was one of the most bizarre moments I’ve ever seen transpire on TV. My nightly routine typically involves dinner, some homework, and the NBA action of that night. March 11 we had the Utah Jazz on the road at the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Jazz had been reeling of late and were missing all-star center Rudy Gobert due to an “illness,” while the Thunder had been exceeding expectations all season with the aging Chris Paul at the helm. It was a setup for a great battle.

Then, it wasn’t. Five minutes into the ESPN telecast, all we saw were referees talking. To each other. To the coaches. Not much else was happening, and you could see confusion on the faces of players and fans alike. Suddenly, everyone went back to the locker room, and the announcement was made: “Tonight’s game has been postponed,” the Oklahoma City announcer said. “You’re all safe, and take your time leaving the arena and do so in an orderly fashion.”

Like I said, it was a bizarre experience, and I was waiting for Ashton Kutcher to come out like they were bringing back Punk’d. I immediately opened Twitter and saw what was going on. Gobert’s illness was that he tested positive for COVID-19, the virus that has spread throughout the world. Up until that night, much of the talk of the virus was that it wouldn’t affect us. That is, until the NBA stopped.

Soon, all other leagues followed suit. The NHL, Premier League, and MLB are on suspension. The NCAA Tournament is cancelled.

The Masters is postponed. NASCAR is postponed. All sports have come to a halt. Even in Georgia, the high schools have come to a stop, and spring sports have been suspended indefinitely. Immediately, almost selfishly, I thought to myself, “What are we going to do without sports?”

54 | itgnext.com

Sports have often been a salvation for communities and even the country as a whole. I remember when the Atlanta Braves played the New York Mets on September 21, 2001, and we began to feel a sense of normalcy after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I remember going to an Orlando City soccer game after the Pulse Nightclub shooting that took 50 lives, and it was a chilling experience. Sporting events become a place for communities to grieve and to rally together.

Now, that's simply gone until further notice.

In my line of work, I’m asked often, “Why do people care so much about high school sports?”

I answer them matter of factly: It’s about the community. It’s your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your city banded together and proving your fighting spirit. Few things are infused with the same amount of passion as high school sports, and taking that away is hard to swallow.

There’s real world problems in every town in the country. But for just a couple of hours, none of that matters. All that matters is your team's colors and the importance that brings to everyone around you. It’s a salvation that we took for granted and now feel empty without.

Obviously, the grand scheme of things puts safety first. No one should risk getting seriously sick over sports, but just four days without it shows how much I miss it every day. How so many players are battling for college scholarships and not getting the chance to prove themselves out on the field. How players were bracing for spring practice, potentially preparing for life with a new coach. This is what I think about as sports shut down.

Soon, we’ll have our sports back. But for now, continue to pray for the health and safety of others. Continue to help however you can. And most importantly, continue to stay safe during this scary, unsure time.

Harris County 3B/RHP Is there a specific routine or ritual you do before a game?

When I go to the mound, I walk to the foul line then sprint to the mound.

Who is your biggest athletic inspiration?

Clayton Kershaw because he is a Christian and is at the top of the game.

Committed

Could VSU Go D1?

Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Eric Vinson

Valdosta State Univer- right? Well, according to sity has enjoyed success Reinhard, it's not quite with several of its athletic that easy. programs over its history “I get asked about as one of South Geor- (moving to Division I) gia’s premiere collegiate quite often,” Reinhard programs. said. “I’ve had everyone Initially known as Val- from our faculty, to our dosta State College, VSU sponsors, to our fans has seen its Blazer athlet- ask about moving to ic program grow under Division I, and like I tell the guidance of Athletic them, there’s more to it Director Herb Reinhard, than everyone thinks.” who kicked off his 30th As he explains, there season entering the 2020 are quite a few challengathletic calendar. The es to overcome.

“The first hurdle to Blazer athletic department’s 12 clear is the teams have minimum “I get asked enjoyed number s u c c e s s , about (moving to of athletic racking up reDivision I) quite teams numerous quired to often. I’ve had conference be D1 staand national which everyone from tus, championis 16,” he ships under our faculty, to our said.

Reinhard. sponsors, to our c u rVreSn t lUy With this success, fields just fans ask about fans and fol12 teams. lowers have moving to Division Then there approached I, and like I tell is the issue Reinhard of any Diviand other them, there’s more sion I team U n i v e r s i - to it than everyone being rety officials quired to thinks.” about the maintain a possibility minimum — Herb Reinhard of VSU movathletic departing from Division II status up to ment budget.

Division I. After all, if the “Our annual athletBlazers can enjoy such ic budget right now is success at D2, surely that approximately $5 milsame blueprint for suc- lion," Reinhard said. cess can be replicated "The minimum athletic at the next level as well, budget required for Di56 | itgnext.com

www.kinderlou-golf.com

Come for a visit.

Stay for a lifetime.

4005 Bear Lake Road Valdosta, GA 31601 R

vision I status is $10 mil- athletic teams are comlion. That would require petitive year in and year us to raise an additional out. That would most $5 million in one year, certainly change at the above our current bud- next level. get. We would then be “All of our athletic required to sustain that teams compete now number — $10 million — quite successfully as a year over year.”

D2 school," Reinhard There’s also an ap- said. "However, almost plication fee, which every one of those same isn’t cheap. According teams would have zero to Reinhard, the NCAA chance of being successrequires a $1 million ful at the Division I level.” application fee from any There are a few exschool seeking to apply amples of schools to for Divibenchmark sion I staagainst in “All of our tus. That’s deciding athletic teams a steep the advanprice for a tages and compete now team with disadvana $5 million quite successfully tages of budget. the move as a D-II school.

While from D2 However, almost to D1. Permuch of the talk about the every one of those haps jumping best exfrom Divi- same teams would ample is sion II to have zero chance Savannah Division I State Uniis mostly of being successful versity. focused on Offiat the Division I cials of the football team, the HBCU level.” there’s evmade the ery other decision to — Herb Reinhard athletic move from team to think about.

Division II to Division I “What most people in 2002. The Tigers inidon’t realize is that foot- tially decided to play as ball will be categorized an independent, until differently than our other deciding to become a athletic programs," Rein- member of the Mid-Easthard said. "If VSU were ern Athletic Conference, to go to Division I, the known as the MEAC, in football team would be 2010. The men’s basassigned to FCS (Foot- ketball team struggled ball Championship Sub- to be competitive, with division Status), formerly only three above .500 known as Division I-AA. seasons in Division I, But, every other sport while the Tigers football would be assigned to team went 80-137 as an FBS (Football Bowl Sub- FCS member. division) status. It would The Tigers hold the mean that the football dubious distinction team would play teams of being college footsimilar to our size, on the ball’s biggest underlower end of Division dogs heading into a I, while all other teams football game: In their would have to compete 2012 game against against your bigger Florida State Universischool programs, like ty, they were listed as the University of Geor- a 75-point underdog. gia, etc.”

FSU won 55-0 in a game As a member of Divi- mercifully called with alsion II, each of the Blazer most nine minutes still 58 | itgnext.com

remaining in the third quarter. Perhaps this one game is enough of an example as to why any Division II school should think long and hard before deciding on moving to Division I status.

Relax those thoughts and concerns about Valdosta State University staying in Division II and continue to enjoy having one of the nation's top D2 programs. They aren’t going anywhere.

Former South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets Making an Impact at Division I Level Six members of the nationally ranked South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets basketball squad that graduated in 2019 are already making quite an impact on Division I and Division III colleges and universities across the nation.

Bigue Sarr, a 6’3” center from Kaolack, Senegal; Ricka Jackson, a 5’10” forward from Ewa Beach, Hawaii; Fatou Pouye, a 6’0” forward from Kaolack, Senegal; Alyssa Nieves, a 5’7” guard from Tampa, Florida; and Mari Hill, a 5’6” guard from Aichi, Japan, each signed letters of intent to continue their education and play Division I basketball this season.

Sarr signed with Oklahoma State University. Jackson is playing at Texas Tech University.

Pouye is at Western Kentucky University. Nieves is making an impact at Morehead State University, and Mari Hill has made history already at Bowling Green State University.

The other graduate from the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets 2018-19 successful team was Aubry Maulden from St. Simons, Georgia, and she signed with Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia to play Division III basketball.

These six young 60 | itgnext.com

women led the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets to their first unbeaten regular season conference record for head coach James Frey with an 18 – 0 performance to capture the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) regular season title. The Lady Jets earned the right to advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for the fifth time in seven years and finished the season ranked 20th in the NJCAA during their sophomore season.

Sarr, who was a GCAA first-team All-Conference player at SGTC, is filling a key role for the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls. She was coming off the bench and averaging 2.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. She has played in each game this season but injuries to other key personnel have elevated her to a starter earning her nearly 32 minutes per game on the court in the last two games. Oklahoma State University is currently 12 – 7 overall and 3 – 4 in the NCAA Division I Big 12 conference.

Her teammate, Ricka Jackson, who was selected to the All-Tournament team and a second team GCAA All-Conference player, wound up play-

This season, the Lady Jets have six sophomores, and they are all scheduled to sign to play Division I basketball at the next level as well. They are currently ranked 16th in the National Junior College Athletic Association and are 11 – 0 in their conference. ing in the Big 12 NCAA Division I conference for Texas Tech University. The Lady Raiders are 13 – 5 overall and 2 – 5 in the conference. Jackson has played in 15 games and started one. She is averaging 4.4 points per game, 1.5 rebounds, and has 15 assists and nineteen steals.

Fatou Pouye, a second team GCAA player, is playing for the Western Kentucky Lady

Toppers in the NCAA Division I Conference USA league. She has played in 18 games this season and started once. She is averaging 3.3 points in about 14.8 minutes of play. She is a .436 field goal percentage shooter and a .647 free throw shooter. The Lady Toppers are 12 – 6 on the season and 4 – 3 in Conference USA. Alyssa Nieves, an NJCAA Honorable

Mention All-American and MVP of the District J championship game at SGTC, chose to play at Morehead State University which is Division I in the Ohio Valley Conference. She has started four games for the Lady Eagles.

She is averaging 15.3 minutes per game and 3.9 points. She has 12 assists, 13 steals and two blocks in addition to 16 rebounds. The

These six young women led the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets to their first unbeaten regular season conference record for head coach James Frey with an 18 – 0 performance to capture the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association regular season title.

Lady Eagles are 8 – 11 overall and 4-4 in the conference.

Mari Hill, MVP of the Region XVII championship tournament for SGTC, made history this season for the Bowling Green State University Lady Falcons, which compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference. She became the first Japanese basketball player in the Mid-American Conference. Her team is currently 8 – 11 overall and 1 – 6 in the MAC East.

She has started all 19 games for the Lady Falcons this season and is

averaging 7.3 points per game with 3.2 rebounds, 63 assists and 32 steals.

The sixth member of the 2018 -2019 Lady Jets to sign a letter of intent to play at the next level was Aubrey Maulden.

She has played in 17 games this season and is averaging 4.5 per game with 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists. The Lady Wolves are 1 – 18 overall and 1 – 9 in the conference.

This season, the Lady Jets have six sophomores and they are all scheduled to sign to play Division I basketball at the next level as

South Georgia Technical College

COMPLETE College Experience

The

well. They are currently ranked 16th in the National Junior College Athletic Association and are 11 – 0 in their conference. By clinching the GCAA regular season title, the Region XVII tournament and the District J championship, the Lady Jets are hoping to earn their fourth consecutive trip to the national tournament and their seventh trip in the history of the program.

• Named the top community college in Georgia for 2020 • SACSCOC Accredited • Over 200 degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit programs offered • On-campus housing • Nationally recognized intercollegiate athletics • Award-winning student life clubs and organizations • Outstanding job placement rate for graduates

www.southgatech.edu AMERICUS

900 South GA Tech Pkwy Americus, Georgia 31709 229.931.2394

CORDELE

402 North Midway Road Cordele, Georgia 31015 229.271.4040

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed a program, and other important information, please visit our website at southgatech.edu/academics/ gainful-employment/ As set forth in its student catalog, South Georgia Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, veteran status, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator, Karen Werling, 229.931.2902 or kwerling@southgatech.edu; or the Section 504/ADA Coordinator, LaKenya R. Johnson, 229.931.2595 or ljohnson@southgatech.edu.

ITG Next | 61

Wrestling Is in the Blood RICHMOND HILL Written by: Phil Jones | Eric Vinson

To watch a great wrestler is to watch poetry in motion.

Of course, we’re talking about true wrestling, not the choreographed, drama-filled sport of professional wrestling. Real wrestling requires strength, agility, speed, and smarts.

Some wrestlers demonstrate some of these skills, but few are able to master each one. The ones that do are special, and that pretty much sums up Jakeem Littles. The Richmond Hill senior has mastered each one of the disciplines required to be a top wrestler, and the results are an outstanding overall career record and two state championships.

Jakeem grew up playing baseball, football, and basketball in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It was when he and his family moved to Georgia that Jakeem became interested in wrestling, and credit for that can be attributed to his two older brothers, Akeem and Rakeem, who are twins. They were two years older than Jakeem, and were wrestling at school. According to Jakeem, his brothers sort of used their little brother for practice.

“My brothers would come home from wrestling practice and from matches, and would try out their moves on me, and that’s how I was introduced to wrestling,” he said.

Jakeem was instantly drawn to the sport and began wrestling in the seventh grade, at Richmond Hill Middle School. Jakeem spent his two middle school seasons learning the sport and developing his craft.

“My brothers would come home from wrestling practice and from matches, and would try out their moves on me, and that’s how I was introduced to wrestling.”

— Jakeem Littles 62 | itgnext.com

“I really like the individual function of wrestling. It’s a very structured sport where you can decide your own style.”

— Jakeem Littles

Once he reached high school, at Richmond Hill High, Jakeem had developed into a top notch wrestler. He played his final season of football as a freshman, deciding to turn his attention exclusively to wrestling. Jakeem says the main thing that drew him to wrestling versus the other sports he grew up playing was the freedom of controlling his own destiny and outcome.

“I really like the individual function of wrestling,” he said. “It’s a very structured sport where you can decide your own style.”

Jakeem’s style was successful from the beginning. In his first year of varsity wrestling, as a freshman, he wrestled at 138 pounds, and finished in the top 10..

He would move up to the 152-pound weight class during his next season as a 10th grader, and would place third at the state meet. Jakeem was getting closer to reaching his goal of a state championship.

Head wrestling coach Bill Evans has been leading the program at Richmond Hill since 2018 when he was promoted from his job as an assistant.

He began coaching at Richmond Hill in 2014 under former head coach Bob Parker, who is now an assistant under Evans.

Evans talks about Jakeem, and the influence his brothers had on him.

“Both of his brothers wrestled on the team during his freshman year, and I think the brotherly competition was fun for him,” Evans said.

Evans speaks glowingly about his star wrestler.

“Jakeem is an outstanding student athlete and has done everything expected of him while on the Richmond Hill High School wrestling team,” Evans said. “He puts the needs of the team first, wrestling at weights and in situations that are best for the team.”

That included Jakeem cutting weight during his freshman and junior seasons, then aggressively adding weight during his final two years in high school. “We needed heavier weight classes during my junior year and this season, so coach asked me to keep eating and lifting weights, so that’s what I’ve done these last two years to help the team,” Littles said.

Jakeem would add 30 pounds between his sophomore and junior season, jumping from 152-pound class as a 10th grader to the 182 pound class as a junior. The added weight didn’t slow Jakeem down one bit; if

2020 GHSA Team Dual State Champions Camden County 7A

anything, Jakeem became a stronger wrestler, becoming even more dominant in his style and approach on the mat.

He finished with a 48-2 overall record and won his first state championship. According to his coach, Jakeem also gained All-American status last year.

“He became a 2019 All-American at 170 pounds, placing seventh at the National High School Coaches Association Tournament,” Evans said.

Jakeem just completed his senior season at Richmond Hill, finishing with a perfect 49-0 record, and captured his second straight state championship at the state finals in Macon. He finishes with an incredible 169 wins against just 20 losses during his four-year career at Richmond Hill.

So, what’s next for the Richmond Hill High standout grappler? Jakeem hasn’t decided where, but it most certainly will include wrestling.

“I have quite a few offers, but I really haven’t decided yet where I want to go. I’ll take some official visits and then make my decision,” Jakeem said.

We haven’t heard the last of Jakeem Littles.

Most College Wrestling Championships Oklahoma State 34

Pope

6A

Iowa

23

Woodland-Bartow

5A

Penn State

9

Woodward

4A

Iowa State

8

North Hall

3A

Oklahoma

7

Chattooga

2A

Minnesota

3

Trion

1A ITG Next | 63

Baseball & Cheating:

Craziest Baseball Curses

Written by: Kyle Grondin

The Curse of the Bambino

America’s Favorite Pastimes

Written by: Shelby Williams

This is probably the most famous, involving the Boston Red Sox and Babe Ruth. After Ruth was traded to the New York Yankees in 1919, the Sox went 86 years without winning a World Series until 2004. The Yankees became the best and most profitable sports team in history.

The Curse of the Billy Goat Another year, another Major League Baseball scandal. Cheating continues to go hand in hand with America’s favorite pastime.

Like clockwork, the league is quick to get ahead of the scandal, talking about preserving the “integrity of the game,” but is there still integrity in the game of baseball? For a sport that is so dependent on protecting its image and the ideal of integrity, no sport has been so laden with constant scandal and people trying to gain a competitive advantage.

In fact, you can go to Wikipedia and find an entire page dedicated to scandals in baseball.

They go all the way back to the infamous “Eight Men Out” 1919 Black Sox gambling scandal to the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal of 2019. One hundred years of history means cheating is as ingrained in baseball as baseball is ingrained in American culture. But why does it seem like baseball has more cheating than the other four major sports?

It starts with the “unwritten rules” of baseball.

The late, great catcher Joe Garigiola Sr. once said it plainly, “Baseball is a game played by human beings and governed by unwritten laws of survival and self-preservation.”

Baseball is a game of individuals, and survival 64 | itgnext.com

means taking any and all advantages to succeed.

Unwritten rules include a lot of different beliefs about not showing up a pitcher after a home run or no bunting when a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter. These are simple lessons on etiquette players are expected to follow.

You know what isn’t mentioned? Cheating.

From gambling to drugs to pine tar to sign stealing, there seemingly hasn’t been a decade without a baseball scandal.

It’s well-known in baseball circles that players will put extra pine tar on their bat to hit the ball further, or a pitcher may place rosin on his hat to allow his pitches to break more. There is no inspection for these maneuvers, unless a manager complains.

Otherwise, players can get away with cheating all the time.

The steroid era is the black mark in baseball’s history. Seemingly, several baseball players through the 1990s and 2000s (some would argue the majority of professional players), were taking performance enhancing drugs. Many home run records were broken, and nobody talked about it for nearly two decades.

That brings us to the Houston Astros. Alex Cora, an assistant coach for the Houston Astros, who then became the manager of the Boston Red Sox, is thought to be

the mastermind behind the intricate sign stealing methods used by the Astros, and potentially even the Red Sox. The Astros used the instant replay in center field to get the signals of the opposing team’s catcher, and they had a system that allowed the signal to be passed to the dugout. Someone in the dugout would then signal to the hitter at the plate which pitch was coming.

It's hit a level of conspiracy theory that involves Astros hitters wearing buzzers on their chests to signal offspeed pitches. While it seems no team has taken sign stealing to this level, it has been part of the game for decades.

Players would stand at second base and signal to the hitter which pitch was coming next, and for years this went unchecked.

It’s a bad look for the Astros, and the home and away splits for their players are pretty incriminating. But baseball hasn’t changed, and it’s just as much a part of the game as everything we love about it as well.

The Chicago Cubs suffered the wrath of this farmhouse animal from 1945 to 2016. Lasting 71 years, this came from Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis. Sianis was attending the 1940s game and brought his pet goat.

Fans soon got irritated by the smell, and Sianis was asked to leave. He then said, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more,” and the Cubs didn’t until 2016.

The Curse of the Black Sox

The White Sox were headed for another championship until several star players were suspended late in the 1920 season. This curse keep the White Sox from winning a championship from 1917 to 2005. A large group of Sox fans discredit the idea of a curse and say it was a ploy by the media to sensationalize the team just to increase viewership.

The Curse of Rocky Colavito

This affects the poor town of Cleveland, Ohio, as if Cleveland sports need any more bad juju. Rocky Colavito was a popular player and was traded in the 1960s. He didn’t place the curse, but his trade was strong enough to make sure the Indians haven’t won a World Series since. Colavito was traded to Detroit for Harvey Kuenn.

Colavito was the American league home run champion, and fans saw it as poor management.

The Curse of the Colonel

We can’t forget our friends overseas who love the sport of baseball as much as we do! In the '80s, there was a curse placed on the Kansai-based Hanshin Tigers baseball team by the ghost of the dead KFC founder - Colonel Sanders. Weird, right? Don’t worry. It gets weirder.

A fan who was celebrating after the 1985 Japan Championship series is held responsible. The colonel statue, resting peacefully in front at a KFC, was thrown into the Dotonbori River. After this, the team suffered an 18-year losing streak. Some fans thought the curse would not end until the statue was recovered. It was finally found in 2009.

The Curse of Coogan’s Bluff

From 1958 to 2010, the San Fransisco Giants were set to lose due to their move from the empire state to San Fran. The curse ended in 2010 when they won the World Series.

The Ex-Cubs Factor

This one gets deep. Imagine having three ex-Cubs players on your team and thinking you’ll win a World Series. Ha! Think again. This was a hypothesis that began in the '80s. It made a point to say that if you have too many of their ex-players, you won’t win. Several teams have had many ex-Cubs together and made it all the way to the final contest. But they never came out on top. The Milwaukee Braves; the LA Dodgers, twice; and even the Yankees all have experience in this area.

Worth County Centerfield Who is your biggest rival?

I would say Cook Couny because the last few years it has been us and them in the region championship and it's alway competitive.

How do you handle the pressure of a big game?

I try not to put any pressure on myself and play like any other game.

Top Offer

WAY TOO EARLY

3A - 1A (Public & Private)

1

2

3

Cedar Grove - 3A

Looking Into Preseason

4

Crisp Co. - 3A

5

Clinch Co. - 1A

Written by: Jon Nelson | Photography by: Milla Reese Photography

7

Question for you all.

Show of hands, how many of you have already started trying to find your favorite high school football team’s 2020 schedule? I’ll admit that, when I’m on social media, I like to take a peek at those teams that have already posted.

There are also those who are still looking for an opponent because of being in (what I call) one of those mini-regions (where you only have five or less region games and have to create a schedule on a yearly basis with a lot of phone calls, e-mails, and connections with other coaches).

Give you a couple of examples for this early treasure hunt.

Brooks County, now dropping to single-A public, now enters the “Region of Doom”- region 2. When those match-ups come around involving Irwin and Clinch, you may as well mark your calendars and get your tickets now. They may not be around very long. Oh, and Dublin is in single-A public in this round of reclassification, too.

Cairo is celebrating 100 seasons of high school football this year and their non-region schedule has Brooks and Fitzgerald on it, right out of the blocks Rabun County, with one of the most talented QB’s in the country in Gunner Stockton, has FOUR non-region games against teams from South Carolina (Pickens, Greenwood, Daniel, and Walhalla) to go with Oconee County in mid-September.

Before region play, Lowndes will take on Hoover, Jacksonville's Oakleaf, Valdosta, and Lee County. Warner Robins also has Valdosta on their schedule early on. But the Demons also add Archer, Northside, Houston County, Lee County, and Camden. And that’s before region play with Coffee, Ware, Wayne, and Veterans.

Head coach Brad Harber and Crisp will follow up their week 15 run in 2019 with a non-region schedule that includes Tift, Houston County, and ELCA before taking on Peach County, Mary Persons in the middle of their schedule.

Colquitt County, before their region sprint, gets Cedar Grove, Valdosta, and Northside. Coffee plays Godby from Tallahassee, Tift, Glynn Academy, and Camden before region.

I know I’m barely scratching the surface here when it comes to the upcoming season, but piecing together all the equations that will lead to ranked teams falling, teams not ranked getting an early run up the ladder, and all the tremendous prospects we’ll get to see.

As a result, with new teams in new classes all around the state, it will be (I think) more of an interesting year than what we’re used to seeing. Combine coaching changes, changing classes, and trying to put schedules together on the fly with all that added dynamic and we’ll see some interesting weeks in 2020.

Now, that the show of hands is back down, what match-ups are you looking forward to the most in 2020 with the schedules out?

Let me know and reach out either here on all of my social media channels as we all get ready with the schedules released across the state.

Play it safe, everyone. I’ll talk to you soon.

Oconee Co. - 3A

66 | itgnext.com

ELCA - 1A

6

Pierce Co. - 3A

8

10

9

Peach County - 3A

11

Brooks Co. - 1A

13

14

19

John Milledge Academy - GISA

18

Callaway - 2A

20

Hart Co. - 3A

Holy Innocents Episcopal - 1A

24 Jenkins - 3A

Benedictine - 3A

21

Pelham - 1A

22

Rabun Co.- 2A

15

Dublin - 1A

17

Prince Avenue Christian - 1A

Thomasville - 2A

12

Douglass - 3A

Fitzgerald - 2A

16

Irwin Co. - 1A

Mitchell Co. - 1A

23 Athens Academy - 1A

25 Thomson - 3A

Top Recruiting Classes 2020 1.

6.

2.

7.

3.

8.

4.

9.

5.

10.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Azalea’s Restaurant & Lounge Full Service Amenities Meeting & Reception Facilities First Class Accommodations 49” Flat Panel HD Televisions Family & Executive Suites Fitness Center & Business Center Hot Tub & Large Swimming Pool Complimentary Airport Shuttle

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER

I-75 (Exit 16) ♦ 1805 West Hill Avenue ♦ Valdosta, GA (229) 244-1111 (800) 465-4329 Ideal Hotel and Meeting Place for Teams www.WilliamsHotelGroup.com

Exit 16 229-249-8800 Valdosta

Exit 18 229-249-8900 Valdosta

Exit 18 229-245-1700 Valdosta

Exit 18 229-249-8880 Valdosta

Exit 16 229-244-1111 Valdosta

Exit 18 229-249-2000 Valdosta

Exit 16 229-249-1000 Valdosta

Exit 16 229-249-8000 Valdosta

Exit 39 229-896-4574 Adel

Exit 18 229-244-7600 Valdosta

Exit 62 229-382-3300 Tifton

Exit 62 229-382-8100 Tifton

Owned and operated by Williams Investment Company A proud part of South Georgia’s growth since 1963

Exit 62 229-382-8250 Tifton

Exit 18 229-244-8440 Valdosta

Exit 62 229-382-8505 Tifton

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