June 2016 South Georgia Edition

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Year In Review

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PLAYING IN MEMORY: DEANDRE PIERCE

The Wild

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NEWEST ME MBER OF TH E LOS ANGELE S ANGELS Kaleb Cow art

JUNE 2016

3

February

BARNES, MANAC TO IN THE GAME LIFE OF A COACH’S STAY WITH GEORGIA REBRANDING WIFE: MELIS SA HOLLAND IN THE GAME’S SOUTH GEORGIA FOOTBALL AWA RDS BANQUET

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LOCATIONS Albany Auburn Columbus Dothan LaGrange

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Hughston Clinic 706-324-6661 6262 Veterans Parkway, GA 31909 1-800-331-2910 / www.hughston.com

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In This

Issue 13 Fast Breaks: Lucky Number Seven Lowered Rims, Lowered Expectations?

18 South Georgia’s 2015-2016

Athletic Awards Banquet

22 Record Breaker Danaiza Burns Hardaway High School

26 West Central Georgia’s

Fellowship Of Christian Athletes Banquet

32 History Unfolds Columbus Museum

34 South Georgia State Champs Recap 36 A Bond Stronger Than Family Aldair Cortes and Cole Phillips Cairo High School

38 Winning Teams & Exceptional

Athletes of Chattahoochee Valley

54 LADY KNIGHT TAKES PLACE IN SCHOOL HISTORY Parker Belle Morgan Deerfield-Windsor High School

47 Glenwood wins fourth straight

state soccer title

PLUS Check out our 2015-2016 Top 5 Stories of the year and Top 10 Pictures of the year throughout This Year In Review Edition!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Summarizing an entire year of high school sports happenings is no easy feat, but the ITG Team is proud to present to you our In the Game Magazine 2015-2016 Year in Review Edition!

From summer preparation to the final championships being played at the end of last month, it has been yet another incredible year for high school sports in our local communities. Our South Georgia and Columbus Valley area, produced numerous state champions, both as teams and individuals, and have provided us with plenty to be proud of. Repeat titles, Cinderella stories, seemingly impossible achievements, all brought together into one place.

On top of recognizing all of our state champions from all fall, winter, and spring sports over the past year, we also wanted to take a look back at the top moments from the year.

After much debate and deliber-

ation, our staff narrowed down what we believe to our Top 5 Stories of the Year and our Top 10 Pictures of the Year. We are incredibly thankful for our team of writers and photographers, as they are an essential part of what makes our magazine so special. This magazine could very easily serve as an elaborate portfolio of their talents, so sit back and enjoy!

Speaking of talent, hopefully you didn’t miss our In the Game South Georgia 20152016 Athletic Awards Banquet!

If you did, you missed out on an evening of awarding the top male and female athlete in every sport, but don’t worry… we have you covered. In this issue, you will find a recap of that event and a list of our selected winners, but you can also head to our website or Facebook page to see more pictures and video from that memorable evening spent in our corporate office.

Lastly, it wouldn’t be an In the Game Magazine if we didn’t have some new stories that showcase some amazing individuals in our local communities. From Cairo to Albany to Columbus, records have been broken, friends have become family, and history is unfolding before our eyes. Even as we wrap up this school year, there is no shortage of inspiration and encouragement to be found.

The 2015-2016 school year was one that we look back

upon with much fondness, and we hope that you feel the same. As In the Game Sports Network continues to develop and evolve, we want to thank you, our loyal followers, for your continued support of not only us, but of your local schools and sports programs.

We are incredibly proud of what this company has become and what it stands for, but we are even more proud of the culture that we have all taken a part in creating: a culture of greatness not only on the field of play, but also in the classroom, in the home, and out in the community. We want to help you instill into these developing young men and women a culture of support, love, passion, and excellence in all facets of life.

So join us on this comprehensive journey through the past year of In the Game. Before we look forward, let’s take one last look back.

Contributors: Publisher Mark Dykes Editor Cole Parker Graphics Ashlyn Peek Feature Photography Micki Krzynski Micki K Photography Lindsi Jones Lindsi Jones Photography Marque Milla Reese Milla Creationz Photography George McDuffie Feature Writers Robert Preston Jr. Cole Parker James Washington Beth Welch Shane Thomas Copy Editors James Washington Beth Welch Advertising/Marketing Mark Dykes mark@itgsportsnetwork.com Cole Parker cole@itgsportsnetwork.com Julie Michaud julie@itgsportsnetwork.com Kara Fountain kara@itgsportsnetwork.com Website Manager Cole Parker

Tell us what you thought about the May issue of In the Game!

info@itgsportsnetwork.com JORDAN SOCCER ATHLETES MAKE REGION TITLE SEASON GOAL

WALDO EDWARDS AND ANDRES ESPINOZA

First Win Fuels Rivals United Desire For More Valdosta and Nyana Geisler Lowndes High

Dameon’s Inspiration

Dameon Pierce Bainbridge High School

PLUS The Greatest

Story Never Told Lowndes High Women’s Basketball

A Valiant

Victory

Over Cancer Scott Cregger | Valwood School May 2016

In the Game is published monthly excluding July. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. Dykes 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 2016 Dykes Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

Contributors

Mark Dykes

Cole Parker

Ashlyn Peek

James WAshington

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Operations Officer

Lead Graphic Designer

Director of content

Founder and CEO 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 unrivalled commitment towards 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 Sports Network.

As a recent Cornell University graduate, Cole dove head first into the working world by taking on a leadership position with In the Game. As the Chief Operations Officer, he has come on board to manage all business operations, digital development, and company expansion.

Combining his experience in entrepreneurship and marketing with his extensive sports background, Cole is looking forward to further establishing and growing In the Game Sports Network.

The magazine that you are holding in your hands now is the direct result of Ashlyn’s talents, the master of our magazines as the leading designer on our ITG Team. Ashlyn is a recent graduate of The Illinois Institute of Art - Schaumburg Illinois. She made the big move from the North to our quaint town of Valdosta in 2015 and quickly became a vital part of the ITG Team. She also designs our apparel, event collateral, and just about anything we ask for.

Joining the staff in July 2014, James brings his passion for sports writing and research to the In the Game Sports Network. After earning a B.A. in English (Journalism Emphasis) from Valdosta State University in 2013, he also just earned his M.A. in Communication Arts.

James brings his experience of writing for various collegiate and professional publications, as well as having played for numerous basketball teams throughout his educational career, to the ITG team.

Beth WElch

Shane Thomas

Robert Preston Jr.

Marque Milla Reese

Columbus Area Editor

Contributing Writter

Contributing Writter

Contributing Photographer

Beth has been a part of the ITG Team since 2009 when she began writing for the Columbus Valley edition of In the Game. Now, she heads up all of the Chattahoochee Valley content as Area Editor. Having children who participated in sports in local high schools and later were collegiate athletes, Beth has been involved in athletics in the area for many years, making her the perfect fit for her current role.

Shane Thomas is a journalist with a jump shot looking to make his name.

So not only is Shane one of our basketball experts, he is also an award-winning author that has hit the ground running with his contributions to In the Game. While his journey started as a player, it has now taken a turn towards giving his unique perspective on the sports world with vivid story telling and strong reporting.

Robert Preston Jr., a resident of Coffee County, has been contributing to In the Game High School Sports Magazine since 2008. He has 25 years of experience in journalism in South Georgia.

His previous work experience includes public relations work for two state agencies, sports editor at a daily newspaper, and managing editor at both weekly and daily newspapers. Currently, Mr. Preston is self-employed. One of his ventures is the online news site DouglasNow.com.

Marque “Milla” Reese was born a humble, ambitious child on the south side of Tifton, Georgia. He has always had a vision to see things differently than others as he drew out his imagination, and he went through numerous potential career choices before finding “the one”: the dream of becoming a photographer. With the helpful hand of his wife, Rebekka Reese, Milla is living out that dream as a key member of ITG.

George McDuffie

Jerry Christenson

Daniel Horne

Kim Hoy

Contributing Photographer

Contributing Photographer

Lead Videographer

North Florida Area Director

George may have retired from the Muscogee County School system in 2013, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t staying busy. With a background in Business Management, a love for the Auburn Tigers, and knack for photography, George has been able to capture amazing sports shots for our Columbus Valley schools. We are always excited to have George’s photos featured in our magazines!

In an area as expansive as the Chattahoochee Valley, covering it with great stories and photography is no easy task. Thanks to Jerry, however, In the Game continues to be able to do each story justice. Teaming up with Beth Welch, the Area Editor, they are the tag team that makes it all happen. Jerry’s experience in photography and familiarity with the local sports scene make him a vital piece of the ITG puzzle.

Daniel joined the ITG Team as an intern in August of 2015, but due to his clear drive to better himself as a professional, he worked his way into a full time position

by January 2016. Since then, he has used his passion and talents to lead our videography department; so when you see our ITG videos on TV, DVD, or social meida, you can thank Daniel for that.

Kim has stepped up big time in the last year, transitioning from our Jacksonville Video Manager to our Northeast Florida Area Director. It was an easy transition for the recent graduate of Florida State University, and her Bachelor’s degrees in Communications and Sport Management has led her to excel in this new role.

Despite spending most of her time in Jacksonville, she is still a key player on our corporate team in South Georgia

Kara Fountain

Account Manager

Account Manager

Coming all the way from Boston, Massachusetts, where she ran her own business as a professional horseback rider, Julie has quickly proven to be an invaluable asset. Julie graduated from Nichols College where she obtained a Bachelors degree in Business Management and Marketing. With a passion for sports and media that accompanies her great personality, she feels right at home as she travels around South Georgia promoting In the Game Sports Network.

From pageants and broadcasts to public relations and marketing, Kara does it all. Despite being the newest member of our team, as a homegrown Lowndes and Valdosta State graduate with a love for sports and media, she fit in from day one. Her energetic personality and endless connections in the community make her a great representative of In the Game as she expands our reach in South Georgia.

Lindsi Jones

Micki Krzynski

Contributing Photographer

Contributing Photographer

Lindsi is an artist, a photographer, and a welcomed addition to our ever-growing team. Her fascination with art, imagery, and creation lead her to study Fine Art at Valdosta State University, and it was during that time that Lindsi discovered her talent and fell in love with the art of photography. She is as reliable as they come, and regardless of the task set before her, she always delivers beautiful, inspiring photos.

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

Lambert Bales

Jerrica Kelsaw

Marketing Intern

Marketing Intern

If you aren’t following us on social media, frequenting our website, and reading our weekly newsletter, you are missing a magician at work. Over the past year, Lambert has spent countless hours bringing our digital platforms up to speed, all while completing his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Valdosta State University. With a personality that always lightened up the office, he will surely be missed as he pursues a place in corporate America.

Steadfast and true, Jerrica had her hand in everything over the past year.

No matter what was asked of her, she took her marketing and public relations skills and tackled with full force.

Sharing in digital responsibilities and administrative duties, Jerrica has been the backbone of our intern workforce.

Her leadership, reliability, and work ethic are going to make her a valuable addition to any company that is lucky enough to have her.

BE IN THE GAME

Julie Michaud

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FAST BREAK

LOWERED RIMS, LOWERED EXPECTATIONS?

written by: James Washington | photography courtesy of gpbnews.org

Recently, basketball star Elena Delle Donne commented to the media that fans don’t give the WNBA enough attention because it is “not as entertaining” as the NBA, and that one major reason is that women cannot play to their full potential on the regulation rim that sits at 10 feet. She presented a solution: lower the women’s rim. Even though a specific height was not mentioned, her comments caused a temporary firestorm in the league, in the news, and throughout social media.

Fellow WNBA star Diana Taurasi chimed in on the thought, and her opinion, to say the least, was quite the opposite. When asked what she felt should be done about the rim height in the women’s league, Taurasi quickly quipped that it should remain as is, and expressed in her own words that lowering the rim would effectively be placing another obstacle in the way of women. Taurasi felt that lowering the rim would be the equivalent to admitting that women are inferior to the males of the NBA. The game of basketball was invented in 1891. Since its inception, the height of the rim has never changed. Why now?

It can’t be argued that men and women are different. Physically, mentally, and genetically, there are differences between genders. However, just because there are differences doesn’t mean that the game has to reflect that in its standards. Game action will already be different simply because men and women play different styles of basketball. But altering the basics of the game doesn’t accommodate; it only gives the fans a desired effect. A move of this capacity would be done purely with financial gain in mind rather than consideration of professional women that have spent their entire lives playing the game a certain way.

What does Delle Donne really have to gain from a change? At 6’5”, she already has quite an impressive resume since entering the league in 2013. She was the Rookie of the Year in 2013, she has been named an All-Star every year since being drafted, and she was even named the Most Valuable Player of the league in 2015. So, hypothetically, what happens if she enters a league with a rim sitting at, hypothetically, nine feet in height?

Well, you could argue that it would become the equivalent of a nine-foot rim being defended by the likes of Shaquille O’Neal or Wilt Chamberlain. A big body in front of a shorter rim makes defense exponentially easier. According to Delle Donne, lowering the rim would give women in the WNBA the ability to showcase their talents more efficiently. I, for one, disagree. I feel that, similar to Taurasi’s opinion, lowering the rim is forcing another barrier on women that should not be there.

The current height of the rim didn’t do anything to stifle the memorable careers of players like Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Cheryl Miller, Dawn Staley, Katrina McClain, or Teresa Edwards.

All of the women listed took their natural talents to unbelievable peaks and eventually earned enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Think about the impact of a decision of this magnitude. Professional rims get lowered, collegiate rims follow, and the trickle-down effect comes soon after. It would eventually reach a point where a mother or father is having to explain to their young daughter why she’s playing on a different rim than her brothers. What do they tell her? It’s because she’s a girl? It’s because boys are stronger than girls?

There is no answer you could give a child that wouldn’t potentially alter their self-confidence. It doesn’t make sense. Women have been successful in the game thus far, and lowering the rim is not going to do anything but fuel the fires of equality (or lack thereof).

During the 2015 WNBA season, Delle Donne shot an astounding 95 percent from the free throw line. To put in perspective the significance of this accomplishment, since 1946-47, the inaugural season of the Basketball Association of America (the league that later merged with the National Basketball League to create the National Basketball Association), only five players have shot the same percentage or better for an entire year.

• • • • •

Jose Calderon, 2008-09 Toronto Raptors (.980) Calvin Murphy, 1980-81 Houston Rockets (.958)

Mahmoud Adbul-Rauf, 1993-94 Denver Nuggets (.956)

Ray Allen, 2008-09 Boston Celtics (.952) Jeff Hornacek, 1999-2000 Utah Jazz (.950)

The point? Her feat was accomplished on a rim that sat the same height as her contemporaries in the NBA. She has proven that her game is top-notch while playing on a 10-foot rim. And it is possible for her to prove because she has spent a lifetime playing on a rim at this height. There’s no reason to force an entire generation of female athletes to alter their game.

Delle Donne later commented in an interview that she was surprised that her comments about lowering the rims in the WNBA received so much attention. Perhaps the response came from everyone else in the world that feels that regardless of the rim’s height, women play the same game with the same heart.

In The Game | 13

FAST BREAK

Money Knows

No Gender

written by: James Washington

It’s the basis of American exchange: do the work, receive compensation.

However, while it may be the simple understanding in principle, it may not be adequately followed in practice.

Recently, members of the United States Women’s National Team filed a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation demanding equal pay parity. In other words, the Women’s National Team is looking to receive compensation on a scale equal to their male counterparts.

Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Hope Solo filed suit through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in hopes of fixing the pay issue that is currently hanging over their heads. In the suit, which was filed on behalf of the entire team, it is noted that, on average, the women’s team earns as little as between half and a quarter of the financial compensation of their male counterparts; the final figure depends on bonuses.

The situation is bad enough on its own, seeing as how women’s soccer brought in an estimated $20 million more than the men’s team in 2015 alone. But the problem gets even more obvious when the track record of the women is added to the equation. The Women’s National Team has won three World Cups (1991 in China; 1999 in the United States; 2015 in Canada) as well as four Olympic Gold medals (1996 in Atlanta, Georgia; 2004 in Athens; 2008 in Beijing; 2012 in London). On the other hand, the Men’s National Team has never won a World Cup; the closest the team has come is a third-place finish in 1930 (which was the inaugural tournament held in Uruguay) and a quarterfinal spot in 2002 (in South Korea/ Japan). To add to the disparity is the magic number of Olympic Gold medals earned by the men’s team: zero.

The lawsuit comes at an ideal time, as gender pay equality has become a hot topic of conversation between the Democratic candidates battling for the party’s presidential nomination.

Both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders feel that equal compensation is long overdue; they both also believe that the Women’s Nation Team will win their case easily.

It seems that winning isn’t everything in the eyes of the U.S. Soccer Federation, and the Women’s Nation Team looks to change that perspective.

14 | itgsportsnetwork.com

7

LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN: SPRING LEAGUES TAKE OVER THE GRIDIRON written by: James Washington

Student-athletes pride themselves on a pain, and sometimes simply working success. Nobody is comfortable sitting out to stay fit doesn’t fill the void that in second place, and it takes hard work regular competition fills for a portion of and dedication to reach the top of the the year. totem pole.

Another advantage may not show fully But sometimes, weight training and until the next season rolls around. Many film sessions aren’t coaches actually credit enough to fill the gap ONE OF THE MOST MEN- the proficiency of their created by the offsea- TALLY TRYING TIMES OF team’s offensive sucson. Lifting weights YEAR FOR ANY ATHLETE cess on the leagues won’t make your patand tournaments. It IS THE OFFSEASON; terns more precise. allows coaches and BEING AWAY FROM Cardio exercises won’t players extra time to THE GAME HE OR SHE work on both offense improve the spiral on your passes. At the LOVES CAN BE A PAIN, and defense, which can end of the day, there AND SOMETIMES SIM- seamlessly translate to is no adequate substisuccess.

PLY WORKING OUT TO on-field tution for total immerPerhaps the most imSTAY FIT DOESN’T FILL portant edge is that of sion in drills and contests that can directly THE VOID THAT REGULAR exposure. More prachone the necessary COMPETITION FILLS FOR tice leads to better skills to succeed.

A PORTION OF THE YEAR. performance come During the spring, game time, and at the many football players take part in 7-on- high school level, eyes are constantly 7 football leagues, designed to give skill on those that perform at their absolute players the opportunity to both work on best. Repetition breeds familiarity, and their talents and remain in top shape familiarity lends itself to an aura of conduring the offseason. The teams typical- fidence and success that can draw recly consist of 10 to 14 players, and games ognition from college recruiters. In the are 30 minutes long with a running grand scheme of things, extra practice clock. Play is strictly non-contact, and as during these leagues can potentially the name implies, each team fields sev- lead to young student-athletes gaining en players at a time. the opportunity to perform at the colleThe benefits are obvious. It goes giate level. without saying that high school stu7-on-7 leagues and tournaments may dent-athletes are passionate about not guarantee success during the grind their respective sports. One of the of the regular season of football. Howmost mentally trying times of year for ever, you can rest assured knowing comany athlete is the offseason; being away petitors are sure to be better off in the from the game he or she loves can be fall than those that do not take part.

Thomasville

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SOUTH GEORGIA 2015-2016 ATHLETIC AWARDS BANQUET

photography by: Marque Milla Reese and Micki K Photography South Georgia is home to countless premier individuals, teams, and athletic programs, so you can imagine just how difficult it was to narrow down and select the best male and female athlete in every sport. There were many, many deserving nominees within each sport, as well as the overall best male and female athlete of the year, but with the help of local coaches, players, and fans, our ITG Team was able to assemble what we consider to be

18

inthegamesportsnetwork.com

the twenty-three most worthy individuals.

On May 12th, 2016, we gathered the top athletes in South Georgia at our corporate offices in Downtown Valdosta for a night of recognizing their incredible talents, efforts, and support systems. Surrounded by their peers, families, coaches, and fans, each of these outstanding student-athletes were awarded for their accomplishments.

We want to extend a special thanks

to our sponsors for making the banquet possible: Vereen Rehabilitation Center, Georgia Military College, Mediacom, and Jessie’s Restaurant and Catering.

If you missed the banquet, be sure to head to our website or Facebook page to see video footage and more great photography!

Again, congratulations to our ITG Athletes of the Year, and best of luck next season.

Baseball Athlete of the Year

Softball Athlete of the Year

Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year

Girls Basketball Athlete of the Year

Lee County High School

Echols County High School

Worth County High School

Tift County High School

Boys Soccer Athlete of the Year

Girls Soccer Athlete of the Year

Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year

Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year

Lowndes High School

Tift County High School

Lee County High School

Lowndes High School

Boys Golf Athlete of the Year

Girls Golf Athlete of the Year

Volleyball Athlete of the Year

Gymnastics Athlete of the Year

Valdosta High School

Tift County High School

Valwood School

Tift County High School

Garet Morrell

Zach Temples

Luukus Alakulppi

Logan Hill

Sarah Alberson

Kaysie Harrelson

Anfernee McLemore

Emmanuel Eafford

Erin Moss

Audrey McElhaney

Savyon Toombs

Khloe Parker

Football Athlete of the Year

Cheerleading Athlete of the Year

Boys Cross CountryAthlete of the Year

Girls Cross CountryAthlete of the Year

Colquitt County High School

Lee County High School

Lowndes High School

Lowndes High School

Boys Swim & Dive Athlete of the Year

Girls Swim & Dive Athlete of the Year

Boys Tennis Athlete of the Year

Girls Tennis Athlete of the Year-

Colquitt County High School

Colquitt County High School

Lowndes High School

Lee County High School

Kiel Pollard

Parker Hardigree

Kady Riddle

Kelliann Howell

Kaleb Wolfenden

Davis Stewart

Makenzee Page

Kaitlyn Haas

Wrestling Athlete of the Year

Overall Male Athlete of the Year

Overall Female Athlete of the Year

Lee County High School

Valdosta High School

Colquitt County High School

Aaron Maxfield

Seth Shuman

Elizabeth Funderburk

Congratulations

Seth Shuman

Georgia Military College Overall Male Athlete of the Year

Presented by In The Game Sports Network May 12, 2016

Congratulations

Elizabeth Funderburk Vereen Rehabilitation Center Overall Female Athlete of the Year

Presented by In The Game Sports Network May 12, 2016

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

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

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

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

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

ANSWERS

A, B, A, A

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

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

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

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

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

22 | itgsportsnetwork.com

Record Breaker written by: Beth Welch | photography by: Beth Welch

Track Athlete Beats Own Record Twice During Season Danaiza Burns says she has always been petite and a fast runner. The Hardaway High School athlete has demonstrated that her size and speed are the right combination to make big things happen when she hits the track.

This season Burns broke the Hawks’ school record in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter events (one mile and two miles, respectively.) and went one run better by breaking her own record in the 3200 a few days later. Not satisfied with her personal best in the 3200, Burns broke her own record for the second time during her last track meet in April.

What adds even more to the “wow factor” is that Burns is a 15-year-old freshman at Hardaway.

On March 9, Burns broke the school record in the 3200 with a time of 13:42.06 while at a track meet at Kinnett Stadium in Columbus.

The previous school record had been set

by Marena Prieto on April 22, 2010, with a time of 13:42.71. Six days later, Burns bested her own record for the 3200 with a time of 13:36.58 at another track meet at Kinnett.

In between those two record-breaking dates, Burns ran the 1600 at a local track meet, finishing with a time of 5:58.04. That was good enough to break another school record of 6:04.22, which was also set by Prieto on April 22, 2010.

Perhaps no one was more surprised by her record-breaking performance than Burns.

“I knew I had run a good race when I ran the 2-mile, but I didn’t realize I had broken the school record,” Burns said. “I wasn’t trying to do that. I just wanted to finish with a good time for me personally and for my team. When Coach told me later about the record, I was kind of shocked.”

Not finished with her record-breaking runs, Burns topped her time of 13:36.58 in the 3200 during her last track meet in April. She recorded a time of 13:06.68, setting another school record.

The 5-foot-4 athlete doesn’t keep up with her weight, but she thinks she weighs around 120 pounds. She says she got started running by chasing her younger sister around outside. When she got to Fort Middle School, Burns decided to give track and field a try because of her active nature.

“I felt like I needed to do something useful to burn off all this energy I have,” Burns said with a laugh.

She had a successful middle school experience running for the Patriots’ team and competing in the mile, 800-meter, and 4x400-meter relay events. When it came time to look for a high school, Burns discovered a YouTube video about the Hardaway Hawks’ track program.

She had friends who were planning on attending HHS, so she chose to enroll in the fall of 2015.

Burns felt like she would have a chance somewhere down the line to be a part of the track teams at the high school but didn’t count on moving up so quickly. Her coach, Anthony Gibson, in his first year as head track coach at Hardaway, recognized Burns had potential.

“I knew she was going to be one of our top two distance runners, but I didn’t know she was going to break the school’s records in her events,” Gibson said.

The mile and two-mile runs are not the only events Burns participates in for Hardaway.

She is also part of the 4x400-meter relay team. She usually runs fourth leg on the relay team but can run the third position if needed.

She laughs at the notion of being the starting runner for the relay because she knows exactly where she is best suited to run.

“I am a distance runner,” Burns said. “I really do well with that, and starting out the first leg is just not me. I like the pressure of knowing I have to bring it all in at the end. It just works out better for my team (for me) to run three or four.”

Going forward, Burns isn’t necessarily trying to set a goal of breaking more, but she is wise enough to know her accomplishments thus far are an indication of what is possible. As a freshman, she is still working to understand her role with her team and the high school competition that is vastly more intense than anything she had previously experienced.

Gibson believes Burns will have some great days ahead simply because the young athlete already has an established competitive spirit, which is second only to her desire to succeed.

“She does not like to lose at all,” Gibson said.

“Even in practice, she will not let someone jog or run in front of her because she wants to be the best. To sum it all up, her best strength is the will to win.”

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STORY OF THE YEAR

BRIAN BELL: THE DAMAGE OF RUMOR June 2015 Written by: Robert Preston Jr. Photography by: Micki K Photography Brian Bell Lowndes High School

Of all the stories I’ve written with In the Game, the feature on Brian Bell, a 2015 graduate of Lowndes High, was one of the most unique. And disturbing.

Everyone knows the story of Kendrick Johnson’s tragic death. Johnson’s lifeless body was found in a rolled up gym mat on Jan. 11, 2013. Brian and his brother, Branden, found themselves in the middle of the investigation into Johnson’s death. Neither of the Bell brothers were seen with Johnson around the time of his death. In fact, Branden was in Macon at a wrestling meet and Brian was in the weight room on the other side of campus when Johnson’s body was found.

Their whereabouts were well documented and they weren’t anywhere near Johnson at the time of his death.

While both brothers were under scrutiny, the spotlight fixated on Brian. He and Johnson had a well-documented fight on the bus while traveling to a playoff game in 2011. After the fight, they reconciled and never had any problems going forward. They had been friends before the altercation and they remained friends afterwards. In fact, on the day Johnson died, both he and Brian presented a project that morning during a class they had together.

Once Brian had been mentioned in connection to Johnson’s death, everything changed. He had problems with his fellow students, his teammates, and from members of the community. A Division I football talent, he had committed to play with Florida State. However, because of the Johnson investigation, FSU wouldn’t allow him to join the team; Bell ended up at Akron, where he played in 12 games as a true freshman.

The repercussions have been far-reaching. In addition to Brian losing his scholarship at FSU, his father, Rick, an FBI agent, left Valdosta and re-located to Jacksonville, Florida. The investigation turned their world upside down.

“People don’t know how bad it’s been,” Brian said. “It certainly brought me closer to God. It was also mentally draining.

I’ve lost friends. I lost the desire to play football. I’ve been depressed, my family had to move. I used to love it here in Valdosta. Not anymore.”

In spite of everything, he says he harbors no resentment for the Johnson family. “I’ve forgiven them,” he said. “They lost a son. That’s a horrible thing for any family to experience.”

In The Game | 25

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Banquet written by: Beth Welch | photography by: George McDuffie

Auburn Head Coach Praises FCA Impact On Coaches And Athletes

Former Central High School and Auburn University football athlete Jonathon Wallace is in the process of making a transition from player to coach. Wallace is a graduate assistant coach for the Auburn Tigers and now moves from playing under the direction of Auburn’s Gus Malzahn to becoming part of the head football coach’s staff. There are big changes that come with the move, but Wallace says Malzahn has a singular piece of advice that fits no matter what role you have in life.

“One thing coach Malzahn has taught me is to use my influence in a positive way,” Wallace said.

Wallace made the statement in his introduction of Gus Malzahn at the West Central Georgia Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes Spring Banquet in April. Malzahn was the guest speaker for the event, which was held in Columbus.

In his comments before introducing Malzahn, Wallace stated how important the FCA is to young athletes looking for a place to belong. He said it is difficult to

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be without the influence of parents when entering college for the first time and that FCA meets many needs.

Following Wallace’s introduction of Malzahn to the crowd of FCA supporters, many of which were Auburn fans, Malzahn in turn called Wallace an up and coming “rock star” in coaching. Then the head football coach for Auburn University gave a run-down of how he came to be the leader of one of the top-rated football programs in the country while also outlining his growth in his faith.

His first coaching gig was in Hughes, Arkansas, at a local high school which led to other stints as a coach at a few other high schools. Malzahn told his audience he “got saved at 13,” but in 1994 the Lord began dealing with him about his coaching style and influence on those around him. He rededicated his life to the Lord at that point and looks back on that time as a place in his life where he and his family grew more mature spiritually.

Later, with two college coaching posi-

WINNING STREAKS

High School Football

Under then head coach Bob Ladouceur, the De La Salle Spartans won a string of 151 games from 1992 to 2004.

Their streak came to an end on Sept. 4, 2004, in a loss to Bellevue High School (Bellevue, Washington). The legacy of the team’s winning streak was recounted in the 2014 sports drama When the Game Stands Tall.

High School Boys Basketball

The current longest win streak stands at 207 games; the Black Kats of Fredericton High School in Fredericton, New Brunswick, set their record under the coaching of Gary Young from 2006 to 2012.

In what is regarded as the longest winning streak by a boys team in American high school basketball history, head coach Ernest Blood led the Passaic High School Indians (Passaic, New Jersey) to an undefeated streak of 159 games; the span would take place over more than five seasons. Between 1915 and 1924, coach Blood led the Indians to a staggering 200-1 record.

High School Girls Basketball tions listed on his resume, Malzahn moved to Auburn in 2009 to become Offensive Coordinator. He got a quick response from the crowd when he dropped the name Cam Newton as being one of the players he coached during that time. In 2012, Malzahn left Auburn to become head football coach at Arkansas State. Within months of that move, his dream job opened up at Auburn, and he returned in 2013 to take over the helm of the Tigers’ football program.

Malzahn shared with the audience some of his off-the-field accomplishments since he became Auburn’s head football coach. He attributes FCA and a great coaching staff for much of the success.

“This staff prays together,” Malzahn said.

“The FCA meets regularly with players. It is a very healthy program, and it just feels like everything is lining up.”

Closing his remarks, Malzahn offered a list of challenges for those in attendance. First, use your influence in a positive way. Second, ask if I am using this for His Kingdom. And third, start each day off with prayer.

He also made a personal plea for the work being done by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“Support FCA,” Malzahn said. “It is one of the few things left we can still do. It has made a huge impact.”

Other highlights of the night included the naming of the local FCA Athletes of the Year.

Jack Hester of St. Luke was the Christian Middle School Athlete, and Graham Durham of Harris County High School was the Christian High School Athlete. Columbus State University baseball player Caleb Kutsche was named the Christian College Athlete of the Year.

Lindsay Johnson, Northside High School head volleyball coach, was named Female FCA Coach of the Year, and Brian Osborne, Calvary Christian School’s athletic director and head football coach, was named FCA Male Coach of the Year. The award for Huddle of the Year went to the FCA of Columbus State University.

For more information about the West Central Georgia Fellowship of Christian Athletes, contact Lamar Weaver, Area Director, at lweaver@fca.org or call 706-366-5252.

The Baskin High School girls basketball team won 218 consecutive games from 1948 to 1953. Once the streak was broken, the Lady Rams managed to put together another 71-game streak.

Over the span of 10 years, the team, led by Hall of Fame coach Edna "Tiny" Tarbutton, would go 315-2 and win nine state titles, posting a win margin over that span of more than 30 points.

Baseball

After tying the former record of 70 consecutive wins (set by La Cueva High School in New Mexico), the Trojans of Homer High School in Homer, Michigan, would go on to add five more victories to the charts before a 7-6 loss to Saginaw Nouvel in the 2005 Divisional Finals, ending their streak at 75 games.

Softball

From 1980 to 1983, the Lady Terriers of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, Louisiana, put together a still-standing record of 112 consecutive wins. The team’s 14 state titles still stand as the most of any school in the state.

This information is courtesy of maxpreps.com, usatoday.com, and nfhs.org

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PHOTO OF THE YEAR

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KALEB COWART March 2016 Written by: Robert Preston Jr. Photography by: Marque Milla Reese Kaleb Cowart Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Cook High School, c/o 2010

It’s been a long time since we interviewed Kaleb Cowart. The former Cook Hornet was Mr. All Everything back in 2010. Among the almost innumerable awards he won during high school was the 2010 Gatorade High School Player of the Year. That year, the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles drafted Cowart in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft (18th overall). The first rounder should have been fast-tracked to the big leagues. But somehow, almost unexplainably, his career stalled.

After three years in the minors, Cowart ran into big trouble. Like career-ending trouble. He stopped hitting and, instead of moving up the organization, he was moving down. By 2015, he was in single-A ball – not the place for a first round pick five years into his career. Then, that season, something clicked. He and his hitting coach, Brent del Chiaro, went to work. Del Chiaro helped Cowart find his way back and Cowart finished the 2015 season with the big league team. In August of last year, the Angels called Cowart up and he played the remainder of the season in Anaheim. He finished with a home run, four RBI, and a .174 batting average.

Cowart started the 2016 season in the minors again but he’s at AAA and is in line to get back to the majors. It hasn’t been an easy road for Cowart but it’s been a rewarding one. And the beauty of his story is that it isn’t finished yet. Not by a long shot.

In The Game | 29

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STORY OF THE YEAR

THE WILDCAT TRADITION:

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BLACK AND GOLD March 2016 Written by: James A. Washington and Cole Parker Photography by: Micki K Photography

In January 2016, Valdosta High School head football coach Rance Gillespie decided to part ways with the Wildcats, accepting a position as co-offensive coordinator with the Eagles of Georgia Southern University. He will be sharing coordinator responsibilities with David Dean, who vacated his head coaching position with the Valdosta State University Blazers.

As the hunt for Gillespie’s predecessor began and the applicants were narrowed, tensions were high amidst the Valdosta community and Wildcat faithful. However, the discussion about who should be the next football coach, whether held in public or whispered amongst friends, was about something that some found to be unexpected or irrelevant: race. Should the next coach be a black man or a white man?

Was race a factor in who was being considered to sit at the helm of the nation’s most storied high school program? Should it be? What qualities must a coach possess in order to be considered a qualified candidate? Is ethnicity one of those qualities?

Back in March, we sought to address this elephant in the room. Much like the movie Remember the Titans, racial reconciliation is not found by ignoring or dismissing the issue; it is found in open dialogue, loving actions, and a level of comfort in being uncomfortable while handling such complex issues. The goal of the community should be unity, not division, and with the selection of Alan Rodemaker as head coach, it is our hope that the Wildcats will remain as strong as ever, on and off of the field.

Visit us at inthegamesportsnetwork.com to read one of the most widely debated articles of the year during this transition period at Valdosta High.

“I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE BLACK, GREEN, BLUE, WHITE, OR ORANGE…”

– COACH BOONE, REMEMBER THE TITANS 30 | itgsportsnetwork.com

Public WifI: Protecting Your Information provided by

Think safety when you use a “Hotspot” WiFi Hotspots are great for browsing the web or reading your favorite blog. However, they’re not the place for online banking, making online purchases, checking email, logging into your social network, or anything else that sends confidential information over the internet.

Public WiFi Hotspots that you can connect to without a password are sending everything in clear, readable text that can be intercepted and read by criminals. Any passwords, credit card information or other sensitive, private information can be easily stolen.

There are ways to protect yourself though. Just follow a few simple guidelines.

Use only secure networks When you look at the list of Wireless Networks available, most computers and mobile devices will display a “lock icon” for secure networks. Do not choose a network without this icon.

A secured network uses data encryption to transmit information from your computer or device, which makes the information unreadable. One of the quickest ways to tell if a network is secure, is to try

joining the network. If it asks for a password, it is safe.

Turn off File and Print Sharing Your computer and device settings include the option of sharing files and printing.

This allows users to move files between computers over the network.

On a public WiFi network with sharing turned on, criminals have easy access to all the information stored on your device. Turn off File Sharing and Print Sharing to minimize your chances of having information stolen.

Use your own hotspot If you have a phone that will act as a personal hotspot, or a mobile broadband modem, use it.

Such devices are far more secure than public hotspots. Make sure you use recommended security settings, and a secure password for your mobile hotspot connection.

Without security settings, criminals can use your hotspot as a doorway into your computer, or device. Not securing your personal hotspot with a password could also let strangers freeload off your connection, which can max out your data plan, or increase your bill.

In The Game | 31

History Unfolds written by: Beth Welch | photography by: George McDuffie/Courtesy of Columbus Museum

Museum Exhibition Highlights Rich Sports Heritage in Chattahoochee Valley

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Quick, can you name the location of the first modern YMCA building for African Americans? How about the name of a future general and president who helped coach Ft. Benning’s Doughboys football team to an all-Army championship? Or where 15-year-old Jack Nicklaus finished 13th at the International Jaycee junior tournament in 1955?

If you answered (in order) Columbus, Georgia; Dwight D. Eisenhower; and the Columbus Country Club, then you would be correct. These interesting stories and many more are part of a new exhibit at the Columbus Museum continuing now through March 17, 2017. Field of Play, Sports in the Chattahoochee Valley, highlights sports history of the region using photos, sports equipment, memorabilia, and other artifacts from the past and present.

The exhibit is the culmination of an idea developed by the museum’s Curator of History, Rebecca Bush.

“It was something I wanted to do when I came here four years ago,” Bush said. “I’m a fan of sports, and I thought it would have a popular appeal. The board members encouraged me to pursue the idea. We’ve been planning in earnest for this show for two years.”

In order to produce the caliber of exhibit Bush envisioned, she and the staff of the museum realized they needed to reach out to the community. Columbus Museum had many artifacts in storage that have been used for Field of Play. The rest of the items in the show are on loan, donated, or borrowed for the duration of the exhibit.

The museum’s call for assistance resulted in locating artifacts from the earliest of days up until the most recent sporting events. Columbus State University, Muscogee County School District, the Chattahoochee Valley Hall of Fame, The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame participated in the project. Individuals also provided personal memorabilia for the show, including rarely seen before photos and unique sports apparel.

All combined, the show highlights sporting events from horse racing to hockey. Every high school in Muscogee County is represented in some form as well as Alabama schools Central High and Glenwood. Notable local sports legends who have a spot in the show include golfer Larry Mize; baseball player Frank Thomas; and Phenix City, Alabama, native and Olympic athlete Harvey Glance.

Some of the stories portrayed in the exhibit might have been well-known at one time but have since faded in recognition. For instance, Fort Benning’s Gowdy Field is named after Hank Gowdy, who was the first MLB player to enlist in World War I. During World War II, Gowdy served as athletic director at Fort Benning.

In 1948, NASCAR held five events at the Columbus Speedway, which was located in the area off Blackmon Road in north Columbus. And Columbus native George M. Odom was a Hall of Fame jockey who got

his start at Exposition Park. Also known as the Driving Park, it was originally located on the site that is now Memorial Stadium, which was named to honor soldiers killed in World War I. Bush says when she first presented the idea of the show, she had no idea of the extent of Chattahoochee Valley’s sports history. A native of Kansas, she has learned a lot about the area from her research and better understands the community pride in sports and the athletes who have connections to the region. She has also become partial to a few of the artifacts that are part of Field of Play.

“This is one of my favorites,” Bush said as she pointed to a sepia-tone photo featuring a line of women posing for the camera. “Columbus was a mill town. This is a photo of the Schwob Manufacturing Company softball team. It just goes to show that sports are an important way of life in many different ways. Sports also provide cultural relationships.”

Another one of Bush’s favorites is a photo of the 1911 YMCA Jr. Champs, the Columbus Reds basketball team and their coach. Indicating the tall young man on the left side of the line-up, she revealed the player’s identity.

“That’s Nunnally Johnson,” Bush said.

Johnson was born in Columbus and graduated from Georgia Tech.

It is rumored he wanted to be a professional baseball player, but he is probably best known for writing the screenplay for the adaption of John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath” for film. Nunnally was nominated for two Academy Awards for his screenplays. He had a long career in Hollywood before his death in 1977.

- Bush Speaking of professional baseball, Field of Play gives space to Golden Park, which was built in 1926 and has been home to various minor league teams over the years. Many outstanding athletes have passed through the area by way of playing on the field at Golden Park. The Kansas City Monarchs, an affiliate of the Negro American League, used the facility as a neutral site from 1957 to 1961, and it was also the 1996 Olympic Softball venue.

In addition to such impressive stories from the past, the local show features memorabilia from the current ice hockey team, The Columbus Cottonmouths, and arena football team, The Columbus Lions.

The opening of the show was held with a tailgate reception on April 3. Lunch and Learn sessions and other promotional activities have been scheduled throughout the year-long exhibit. For more information about Field of Play, Sports in the Chattahoochee Valley, contact the Columbus Museum or visit the museum’s website, www.columbusmuseum.com

“I’m a fan of sports,

and I thought it would have a popular appeal. The board members encouraged me to pursue the idea.

We’ve been planning in earnest for this show for two years. ”

In The Game | 33

SOUTH

GEORGIA

TEAM

CHAMPS

RECAP

photography by: Marque Milla Resse, Sheena Hill, The Clinch County News and Cady Studios, and Ben Baker/The Wiregrass Farmer

Written by Robert Preston Jr. It’s hard to beat a good team twice in the same year. The Clinch County Panthers demonstrated that on December 11 at the Georgia Dome when they defeated region rival (and 2015 Region 2-A Champion) Irwin County Indians 24-7 for the Class A Public State Championship. The two schools are only 56 miles apart and emerged as the two best programs in their classification.

They had played earlier in the year; Irwin handed Clinch its only loss of the year on September 18.

In the state title game, Clinch utilized a simple, yet effective, game plan. The Panthers kept the ball on the ground, controlled the clock, and their defense pounded Irwin’s offense all day long. The Indians, who were playing for a state title for the second consecutive year, fought hard but just couldn’t keep the Panthers at bay. The title was Clinch’s sixth in school history. Head coach Jim Dickerson has been a part of every state title the Panthers have won, as either an assistant or head coach.

Twice as Nice: The Packers Complete Backto-Back Perfection Written by Robert Preston Jr.

What can you say about the Colquitt County Packers that hasn’t already been said? Thirty consec-

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CH AM PS BA CK 2 BA CK

HAMPS HAMPS

The Panthers Bring Home a Title…and Sweet Revenge

utive wins. A second consecutive state championship in Georgia’s highest classification. A national championship. Colquitt didn’t just win a state and national title. They re-wrote much of the record books in the process. The 2015 Packers set record after record after record, both as a team and as individuals, throughout the season. One of the most interesting milestones is the following: Colquitt County was the first team since 1971 to win a state title in Georgia with more passing yards than rushing yards.

The Packers defeated the Roswell Hornets, another unbeaten team, 30-13 on December 12 to claim the championship. Colquitt trailed for a brief period after Roswell scored quickly on its first possession of the game. The Packers answered, tying the score on their next possession. After forcing a Roswell punt, Colquitt scored again to take a 14-7 lead. They wouldn’t trail for the remainder of the game.

In the second half, Colquitt depended on senior kicker Luis Martinez’s three field goals to increase their advantage. His final field goal was the 34th of his career, a Georgia high school record. Quarterback Chase Parrish, who had spent the first part of the week battling an illness in the hospital, was 28-39 for 306 yards and a touchdown. Kiel Pollard scored twice on direct snaps.

“We’re the best team in Georgia; we’ve definitely got the best program in the state,” said head coach Rush Propst following the game.

“We’re one of the best teams in the United States of America. A week later, High School Football America agreed with Propst, and named the Packers its national champion.

Completing the Sweep: The Lady Rebels Capture a “Perfect” Title Written by James A. Washington

The Lady Rebels of Turner County High School set out in December with one goal in mind. The plan was to take the season one game at a time and give it their all in pursuit of a state championship.

In the span of about three months, the team did just that. In fact, it was done to the tune of perfection. The Lady Rebels completed a perfect season, finishing an astounding 31-0 (including postseason play), capped off with a crowning 55-38 demolition of the Terrell County Greenwave (Dawson, Georgia) in the Class A Public State Championship Game at the Macon Coliseum.

Led by Turner County’s Player of the Year Mylashia Yancey, who contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, and teammate Xariah Office, who was named Player of the Game in the win with 22 points, the Lady Rebels were able to finish their undefeated season and bring home the first girls basketball state title in school history. The game also served as a form of redemption; the 2014-15 Lady Rebels completed a 28-3 season but fell in the state title game to Taylor County (Butler, Georgia).

The team’s title is the latest major accomplishment in a string of success for Turner County girls basketball. The varsity team has compiled

quite the record, having earned 103 wins against a mere 14 losses since 2012.

Stronger Together: Valwood Takes Title Over Rematch Rivals Written by Cole Parker

When a team wins the final three games of the playoffs against three consecutive number one seeds, on the road, and by a collective margin of only eleven points, the title of champion is undeniably deserved.

After a playoff run that will not be soon forgotten, Valwood’s 2015 football team brought home the trophy with a rematch victory over region rival Deerfield-Windsor.

Throughout the playoffs, the senior-laden squad battled through clutch scenario after clutch scenario: fourth down touchdown conversions in the final minutes, game sealing pick-sixes, and the moment that ended it all: a game-winning offensive drive followed by a missed field goal attempt by Deerfield-Windsor as the clock hit zero in the state championship game.

This senior class, comprising of 16 student-athletes, has set the bar high for future Valiant teams.

Amassing two state titles, another championship game appearance, and an overall record of 48-5 (including a 26-game win streak), it goes without saying that they have left a legacy of greatness.

But as head coach Ashley Henderson told his players after their

semifinals victory, “Every player, from freshman to senior, is vital to the success of this program, and I love each and every last one of you. Only team, no individuals. We are stronger together than we are apart, and we’ve got something special here.”

Head over to www.inthegamesportsnetwork.com to read the full story, see video highlights, and see pictures captured throughout the Valiant’s 2015 season and how they have built a culture of not only winning, but enjoying it while they do.

Deerfield-Windsor Knights or Valwood Valiants Written by Cole Parker

Unfortunately, we were a week short of being able to officially know the winner of the GISA AAA Baseball State Championship. By now, the title will have been fought for and decided between the rematch rivals of Deerfield-Windsor and Valwood, but either way, the championship will come home to South Georgia.

The matchup is a familiar one as the two teams are region opponents and also played against each other in last year’s championship series (of which Deerfield-Windsor came out victorious). With that familiarity, Deerfield-Windsor comes in as heavy favorites, but the senior-heavy Valwood squad will be looking to dethrone the Knights and leave high school as champs.

2015-2016

CHAMPS

The staff of In the Game Sports Network would like to congratulate each and every competitor that competed in his or her respective sports during the 201516 school year. Below is a list of the teams and individuals from the South Georgia area that were able to bring championship hardware back their athletic programs: Girls Tennis Irwin County Indians (GHSA Class A-Public) Boys Diving Parker Hardigree, Colquitt County Packers (GHSA Class AAAAAA) Boys 1-Meter Girls Diving Kelliann Howell, Colquitt County Packers (GHSA Class AAAAAA) Girls 1-Meter Wrestling Aaron Maxfield, Lee County Trojans (GHSA Class AAAAAA) 106-Pound Division Zack Willis, Tift area Academy Panthers (GISA Class AAA) 145-Pound Division Jones Strom, Deerfield-Windsor Knights (GISA Class AAA) 160-Pound Division Austin Woods, Deerfield-Windsor Knights (GISA Class AAA) 182-Pound Division Gahnon Byington, Valwood Valiants (GISA Class AAA) 220-Pound Division Girls Track and Field Deerfield-Windsor Knights (GISA Class AAA)

than Family

A Bond Stronger

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written by: James Washington

At 11 years old, Cole Phillips and Aldair Cortes first crossed paths as members of the Birmingham United SA 99B East Soccer Club (formerly known as the SSA Chelsea 99B Elite). They would connect, as most teammates often do; but something about their connection was special. And this special bond would eventually lead to what is sure to be a lifelong friendship.

“Aldair eventually moved from Pelham to Cairo to live with us,” Brett Phillips, Cole’s father, said. “He was missing out athletically and socially because he would only be able to come our games. Because of the travel, we rarely saw him in between. No practices or anything like that; just games.”

Once the two were united in the same household, their friendship would take off. They were able to get to know one another on a personal level, and their bond would manifest itself on the pitch.

Now at the end of their junior year at Cairo High School, their teamwork has given the school quite the list of achievements and memories. The Syrupmakers have been undefeated in region play on the pitch during the entire tenure of these two (27-0), securing region titles in each of those three seasons.

But while their success was evident on the soccer field, this would be far from the ceiling of their potential; their similarities would carry over onto another green pasture; during their freshman year of high school, both young men would begin to

practice their kicking on the gridiron in anticipation of joining the Syrupmakers’ football team. They were trained in the art, but neither would see time during ninth grade. During their sophomore year, however, both of them would finally take the field. Cortes would take over as the starter (according to Mr. Phillips, his leg was the stronger of the two), while Phillips would faithfully step in when needed. As it turned out, his number would be called in quite remarkable circumstances.

“I remember the Worth County game of their sophomore year,” Mr. Phillips said.

“Aldair was out sick, and the team needed Cole to step in and handle business. The funny thing about it; they grabbed Cole the morning of the game to give him the news. So he gets himself ready, and when game time rolls around, he was so impressive. Two fourth-quarter field goals, nine total points. We won the region title, 2720, that night on the power of Cole’s leg.”

While the bond shared between the two young men is undeniably unbreakable, it will be tested by distance in the near future. Cortes will be relocating to Kennesaw for his senior year; he will begin playing for the Atlanta United U18 Development Academy. The reasoning for this is that, given his incredible talent, he will hopefully be able to convert his amateur year of competition into a professional deal with the United after graduating. However; even if that plan doesn’t

Career Awards COLE PHILLIPS

Region 1-AAAA Goalkeeper of the Year (2015, 2016) First Team All-Region Goalkeeper (2015, 2016) Second Team All-Region Goalkeeper (2014) GHSA All-State All-Star Selection (2015, 2016) GHSA Class AAAA Player of the Year (2016)

ALDAIR CORTES

GHSA All-State All-Star Selection (2014, 2015, 2016) First Team All-Region Member (2014, 2015, 2016) Region 1-AAAA Offensive Player of the Year (2014, 2015, 2016) First Team All-Region Kicker (2014, 2015) (Football)

Club Soccer Honors and Awards

Birmingham United Soccer Association 99 East (Formerly SSA Chelsea 99B Elite) (Coach Ben Parks)

2016 Alabama State Cup 3rd place 2015-2016 Region III Premier League Jefferson Cup Boys Showcase in March 2016 Disney Boys Soccer Showcase 2015 CASL Boys Showcase in November 2015 San Diego Surf Cup in July 2015 2015 Georgia State Cup Semi-Finalists 2014-2015 Southern Regional Premier league (SRPL) 2014-2015 Region III Premier League East (PLE) Third place finish in Top Division at Disney Boys Soccer Showcase 2014 Las Vegas Mayor's Cup in 2014 2014 Georgia State Cup Champions 2014 Region III Southeastern Regional Championships in Baton Rouge, LA 2013-2014 Region III Premier League East (PLE) 2013 Georgia State Cup Finalists

work out, he has also already committed to The Ohio State University on a full soccer scholarship.

Phillips, on the other hand, is also developing quite the following on the gridiron. As a kicker, his success has already garnered interest from major Division

I colleges, including Alabama, Auburn South Carolina, Jacksonville State, Georgia Southern, and Western Kentucky. And with a year remaining of prep competition on both the gridiron and the pitch, more interest is sure to come.

Regardless of where the future may take

these two, one thing is for sure: family is everything. And given the love, respect, and admiration that Cole Phillips and Aldair Cortes share for one another, “family” is a more than adequate label for these two outstanding young men.

Age-related NBA Records Most points in a game by a rookie

58 – Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors (twice)

Highest scoring average by a rookie (Season player led in parentheses) 37.6 – Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors (1959-60)

Youngest player to play in an NBA game

Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers – 18 years, 6 days (2005)

Youngest player to start in an NBA game

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers – 18 years, 158 days (1997)

Youngest player to play in an NBA All-Star team

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers – 19 years, 170 days (1998)

Winning Teams &

Exceptional Athletes

of Chattahoochee Valley written by: Beth Welch

It was another banner year for athletics in schools all across the Chattahoochee Valley. Fall and winter sports brought about some exciting seasons for some schools, and many of the area’s athletes were recognized for their exceptional talents.

Youngest All-Star Game MVP

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers – 21 years, 51 days (2006)

Youngest player to score 50 or more points in a game Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks – 20 years, 52 days (Nov. 14, 2009) *55 points against the Golden State Warriors in only his seventh NBA game

Youngest player to lead the league in scoring (Season player led in parentheses) Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder – 21 years, 197 days (2009-10)

Youngest player to lead the league in rebounding

(Season player led in parentheses) Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic – 22 years, 130 days (2007-08)

Youngest player to record a triple-double

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers – 20 years, 20 days (Jan. 19, 2005) *27 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists vs. Portland Trailblazers

With so many high schools in the Chattahoochee Valley, trying to get a complete list of accomplishments is quite a task. In order to highlight the 2015-16 school year in sports, In The Game Sports asked athletic directors to submit information on their respective schools’ programs with regard to successful seasons or athletes who had significant accomplishments in fall and winter sports. Here is a breakdown by sport of what was received:

Football

No area football team ended the season with a state title, but several had winning seasons. Among those teams was the Central High School Red Devils in Phenix City, Alabama. Under the direction of coach Jamey Dubose, the Red Devils were Region Champs for 7A-R2. The team posted a 9-4 season, 5-1 in region play.

Carver High School in Columbus also claimed a Region title in football. The Tigers, 8-1 and 6-0 in the region, had been under the direction of head football coach Joe Kegler for the past three seasons. Kegler stepped down after the Tigers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. He had a 28-7 record. A bit of drama in the naming of a successor ensued when Reggie Barlow was originally touted to take over the position but was never hired. Dre’Mail King, who worked with the wide

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38 | itgsportsnetwork.com

receivers at Carver, was tapped to be the head of the Carver football program.

Just a few years into a football program, Calvary Christian School reached a milestone in the 2015 football season as the Knights began playing home games on the school’s newly constructed football field. Coach Brian Osbourne’s team posted a 9-2 record, 5-1 in regional play. Anthony Santiago broke two school records, rushing for 4,409 yards in his career and scoring 61 career touchdowns. Kasen Andrews, Bryce Andrews, and Jacquez Green all broke season records.

Scott Pethtel’s first season at Brookstone School in Columbus saw a 6-5 record. Prather Hudson, one of the Cougars’ standout athletes, was named All Region 2 Way Player of the Year and AFLAC Student Athlete of the Year.

Chattahoochee County High School had four

CHECK THIS OUT! football players named as 1st Team All-Region players: Cory Dixon, CJ Afoa, Isaiah Carter, and Trey Mafnas. Carter was named the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer’s All Bi-City Defensive Player of the Year, and Dixon and Afoa were named 1st Team All Bi-City for football.

The Patriots of Northside High School had a 6-4 season and 5-1 in the region, which earned head football coach Morgan Ingram Ledger-Enquirer’s All Bi-City Co-Coach of the Year honors. David Apiag, Kalan Watts, Christian Johnson, Mitevious Lusk, and Nathan Robertson were named L-E 1st Team All-Bi City football honors. Robertson also was named 2nd Team All-State Kicker.

Girls Cross Country

Columbus High School’s girls cross country team was the Region 5A-1 Champ for the 2015 season.

That accomplishment led to Danielle McCoy being named the L-E All Bi-City Coach of the Year and to Alina Salgado being named All Bi-City Runner of the Year.

Boys Cross Country

Jordan High School claimed the Region 3A-2 cross country title for the boys team. Red Jackets cross country runner Jontavious Geddis was the Region 3A-2 Champ (Individual).

Northside High School’s boys cross country team

won the Region Champs title for the 5A-1. The Patriots’ Austin Kidd was named L-E All Bi-City Cross Country Runner of the Year.

William Jenkins of Brookstone School was part of the Elite 15 for All State Cross Country.

Softball

In Georgia, softball is a fall sport; Alabama schools play softball in the spring. Only one school in the area had a region title in the sport. Northside High School’s Lady Patriots were the 5A-1 Region Champs for the 2015 season. Hannah George was named to the 1st Team All State and also was the All West Georgia Player of the Year. Her teammates Allison Sievers, Mary Horne, Jada Chadwick, and Gabi Apiag were named to the 1st Team All West Georgia as well.

Brookstone School had a good year with softball, too. The Lady Cougars head softball coach Nate McConnell was named the Region 4-A and All-West Georgia Coach of the Year. One of McConnell’s seniors, Helen Snavely, was named the Region 4-A and All-West Georgia Pitcher of the Year.

Competition Cheerleading

Northside scored another region title for an athletic program in 2015 when the Patriots Competition Cheerleading team won the Region 5A-1 under the direction of coach Jessica Smart.

Two days out of 365 days of the year feature no professional sports games (MLB, NBA, NHL, or NFL). The day before and the day after the MLB All-Star Break.

Pittsburgh is the only city where all the major sports teams (MLB,NHL,NFL) have the same colors: Black and gold.

Major League Baseball umpires are required to wear black underwear while on the job in case they split their pants.

The silhouette on the NBA Logo is Hall of Fame Laker Jerry West.

Because they both lost so many players to WWII military service, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles combined to become the Steagles during the 1943 season.

The Olympic rings cover every flag in the world. Yellow, green, red, black, and blue were selected because at least one of those five colors appears in every flag in the world.

This information is courtesy of boston.cbslocal.com

Volleyball

Volleyball teams across the Columbus Valley area had a banner year. Two local high schools, Columbus High School and Calvary Christian School, had State Championships in the sport.

Columbus High, coached by Donna Fleming, won the state title for Class AAAAA. It was the Lady Blue Devils’ second volleyball championship in three years. Fleming was named the All Bi-City Coach of the Year, and CHS volleyball athlete Shardonee Hayes was named All BiCity Player of the Year.

Calvary Christian’s Lady Knights won the GICAA Division I Volleyball State Championship under the direction of coach Cassia Roper. The Calvary team defeated Community Christian School for the title win.

Harris County High School’s volleyball team was the Area Runner-Up in Region 5A-1 and had a record of 46-15, the most wins in the program’s history. Faith Pearson, a member of the Lady Tigers team, was named All Area, All Bi-City, and Max Preps/American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Week for the state, Oct. 12-18, 2015.

Wrestling

Alabama’s Central High School took the top prize in the sport of wrestling when sophomore Tony Morales won the Class 7A State Wrestling Championship.

Morales had an unbelievable season, 634, while also coming in first at Auburn’s Swede Umbach, the Hardaway Invitational, the Cleburne, CO Invitational, the Bi-City Championship, and at the AHSAA Sectional Tournament. Central’s wrestling team, under the coaching of Robert Morales, placed fifth in the state tournament.

It is the second time coach Morales’ program has produced a state champ; back in 2012, Luke Wilson won the title.

In Georgia, at least three local schools had notable accomplishments in wrestling. Chattahoochee County’s CJ Afoa placed fourth at the state tournament. He was also named the Region’s Sportsman of the Year. Carver High School’s Alfred Brooks was a state runner-up. Brooks and two teammates, Javon Walker and Tuquoy Carter, were all Nationals Qualifiers with Walker making the season as a sixth-place state finisher. The wrestling team at Jordan High School was the area runner-up at state duals.

Girls Basketball

Region winners and runners-up along

with several athletes who shined in the spotlight were the stories for girls basketball this year.

Columbus High School was a Region winner in the sport for 5A-1. The Lady Blue Devils’ coach, Joe Cherrone, was named the Region1-AAAAA Coach of the Year. Tatianna Wyatt, one of his star players on the team, was named the L-E All BiCity Player of the Year.

Carver High School’s Lady Tigers were the regular season Region Champions.

Their coach, Anson Hundley, was named the L-E All Bi-City Coach of the Year, and Alexis Burns made the All Bi-City team.

Central’s girls basketball team went to the Sweet Sixteen and was the 7A Area 4 Runner-Up in the Alabama high school association. Tiyah Johnson was named to the All-Tournament Team and the L-E 1st Team All Bi-City. Kayla Vance was named to the All-Tournament team for the 7A Area 4 Tournament.

Other notable accomplishments about girls basketball athletes include Shaw High School’s Kayla Bonilla being named the Region 1- AAAAA Girls Player of the Year as well as the L-E 1st Team All BiCity and 2nd Team All-State. Brookstone School athlete Naeisha McClain broke the school record for highest points scored during high school with 1,105 point. The record of 1,104 points was previously held by Margaret McCormick, who is Brookstone alum and McClain’s assistant coach at the school. And, Harris County High School’s Lady Tigers clinched a State Spot for the first time in 15 years with Jessika Carter named to the 1st Team All-Region, L-E 1st Team All Bi-City, and Jones County State Bank Holiday Classic All-Tournament team. Her teammate, Taziaha Fanning, made the 2nd Team All-Region, 1st Team All Bi-City, and was the Jones County State Bank Holiday MVP, while Taylor Keith was named to the Jones County State Bank Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team and Honorable Mention All-Region.

Boys Basketball

Central High School got so close to the 7A Area 4 State Championship title but came away the State Runner-Up. It was an exciting season for coach Bobby Wright and his talented Red Devils team. Among the many accolades and honors accumulated by the team for the run, which included Area Champ title and Regional Champ title, was Wright being named the L-E Coach of the Year. Tre Todd was named Player of the Year by the Au-

burn-Opelika News and the Ledger-Enquirer. Tionne Williams made the 1st Team A-O News and All Bi-City 1st Team.

Fellow teammate Demarcus Lampley was the MVP Regional Tournament.

Athletes who received honors from other local high schools include Chattahoochee County’s Cory Dixon, 1st Team All Region; Shaw High School’s Cameron Paulding, All Region and 1st Team All BiCity, and Dakeen Diaz, All Region and 1st Team L-E All Bi-City; and Harris County’s Jaylyn Richardson and DJ Johnson, both named to the 2nd Team All-Region1-5A.

Girls Swimming

Swimming is growing in popularity as a high school sport in the Columbus area.

The program with the longest history of success is Columbus High School’s. The Blue Devils were the Region (Area) winners for Swimming in 2015-16. Coach Karen Waters was named L-E All Bi-City Coach of the Year.

Brookstone School recently added swimming to its list of athletic programs and already has gained respect in producing serious swimming athletes. Cougars swim athlete Hannah Mattson was named Female Swimmer of the Year by the Ledger-Enquirer.

Northside High School’s swim program had some notable accomplishments this season, too. Hope Wiley was named to the L-E 1st Team All Bi-City Girls Swim Team and was the first female swimmer from Northside to make state meet.

Harris County’s swim program saw Hollie Porter place as a region runner-up in 100 fly and 100 back. She qualified for state meet in four events and was named to the L-E 1st Team All Bi-City.

Calvary Christian has one of the newest local swim programs in the Columbus Valley area, too. Mary Howard placed in two events at GICAA State Swim.

Boys Swimming

Columbus High won the Region (Area), and Chase Parker was named L-E All Bi-City Male Swimmer of the Year at the same time his coach was named Coach of the Year.

Region champ in the 50 free was Harris County’s Jaxon Kite, who was also the region runner-up for 100 fly. Teammate Jared Johnson was the Region champ in the 200 IM and region runner-up in the 500 free.

Both were named to the L-E 1st Team All Bi-City.

Northside had five male swimmers to make the All B-City 1st Team: Taylor Nielsen, Shae Grover, Jacob Abeyta, Gage

Columbus High School, aaaaA Golf State Champions

Brookstone School, A-Private Golf State Champions

Glenwood High School, aaA Baseball State Champions

Brookstone School, A-Private Girls Tennis State Chamions

Columbus High School, AAAAA Girls Tennis State Champions

Glenwood High School, AAA Softball State Champions

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Brown, and Christian Fontanez.

Two Calvary swimmers placed in the GICAA State Swim. Matthew Prescott placed in three events, and Andrew Dailey placed in one event.

Rifle

Northside has made its mark in the state with its rifle program. The team once again was region (area) champs.

Another well-known program, Columbus High, saw one of its premier marksmen Veronica Leggett named GHSA All-State Rifle Team.

Archery

New to the sports scene are archery programs.

Calvary Christian School’s program is new but very successful. The school’s team won the GICAA State Champions in the sport. Ashley Snipes, Annika Ryan, and Emily Ballesteros placed first, second, and third, respectively. Game Jones, Steven Fowler, and Kipp Morris placed first, second, and sixth in the state, respectively.

Region1-AAAAA Athletic Director of the Year

Chad Mathis of Columbus High School received

the honor for the 2015-16 school year.

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STORY OF THE YEAR

SCOTT CREGGER:

CLIMBING THAT MOUNTAIN May 2016 Written by: Shane Thomas Photography by: Micki K Photography Scott Cregger Valwood School

In the May 2016 issue, we featured Scott Cregger, a junior at Valwood School.

Cregger, a wide receiver for the Valiants, was instrumental in helping the Valiants win their first state championship since 2012. However, Cregger noticed mysterious lumps developing on his neck throughout the season. On January 7, after consulting doctors and undergoing numerous tests, Cregger was diagnosed with Stage Four Grey Zone lymphoma. Facing the grim nature of his illness, Cregger refused to wallow in self-pity and fear. The Valiants' receiver stared his fate in the eye and vowed to coaches and teammates that he would climb this mountain.

Drawing support from the Valwood student body, as well as Lowndes and Valdosta students, T-shirts and funds were raised for Cregger and his family. The hashtag #47Strong was introduced on Twitter and featured on T-shirts as a tribute to Cregger.

Cregger credits Valiants head coach Ashley Henderson for his help during his fight against cancer.

On April 13, Cregger underwent a PET scan and doctors delivered life-changing news. Scott Cregger is cancer-free. During his grueling 96-hour chemotherapy sessions, Cregger insisted he would once again wear the navy blue and orange as a senior. On May 8, Cregger will take on his final treatment—four months and one day after his diagnosis.

“Anybody would be scared of it. I looked at it in such a way that I told myself I can't be scared of it. Being afraid is not going to help change it, it's not going to help cure it or get it away. I thought, 'Alright, I have cancer and now I need to get rid of it, how do I do that?' It was about figuring out that first step to fix it.”

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PHOTO OF THE YEAR

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SENIOR BLUE DEVIL DEFENDS THE DIAMOND April 2016 Written by: Robert Preston Jr. Photography by: Marque Milla Reese Connor Thomas Tift County High School

It’s always fun when a team or athlete can come out of nowhere and surprise everyone. Tift County’s Connor Thomas knows exactly how that feels. Last year, both Thomas and his Blue Devils ripped through the Region 1-AAAAAA field and won the region championship. They weren’t on anybody’s radar. Nobody thought they had a chance. In the process, Thomas emerged as the region’s best pitcher. He tossed 72 1/3 innings and finished with an 8-1 record. He struck out 95, walked just eight, and posted a microscopic 0.667 earned run average. Opponents hit just .191 against him. He also parlayed his success in 2015 into a scholarship from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

This season, Thomas again led his team to the playoffs. Though the Blue Devils couldn’t repeat as region champions – that title went to Lee County – Thomas still had a great season and is ready to begin the next chapter of his career. What makes him so good?

His love of the game, his attention to detail, and his meticulous preparation. “Connor constantly works on his craft and his mechanics,” says Kyle Kirk, Tift County’s head baseball coach. “He’s also very smart about his between-game preparation and offseason. Connor does a tremendous job of listening to his body and his arm. He prepares accordingly and is always at his best.”

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PHOTO OF THE YEAR

BLAKELY, WALKER ANCHOR STINGY COLQUITT DEFENSE November 2015 Written by: Robert Preston Jr. Photography by: Micki K Photography Ja’Quain Blakely Colquitt County High School

Ja’Quain Blakely, a 6’3”, 220-pound outside linebacker, was one of the Colquitt County Packers’ so-called Twin Towers. Along with his cousin, Dee Walker, Blakely patrolled the Colquitt County secondary, punishing opposing offenses en route to a second consecutive undefeated season and state title, a national title, and a scholarship from the University of Tennessee. Blakely is one of those players who can do anything he needs to -- he’s good against the run, is a great pass rusher, and loves to hit. Blakely is also excellent on special teams and makes significant contributions in that facet of the game.

According to maxpreps.com, Blakely finished his career at Colquitt with 115 total tackles and 4.5 sacks. Despite all of the attention, Blakely always stayed focused on the task at hand; never looking ahead, never taking anything for granted. That singular focus is but one reason why he was one of the best linebackers in the state.

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“This season is what I thought it would be. We knew we would get everybody’s best, and I think we’ve performed well. We just want to work hard. We’re humble kids and we don’t let the hype get to us. We just want to play the game and enjoy what we do.”

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Glenwood wins fourth straight

state soccer title

written by: Beth Welch | photography courtesy of Glenwood School Winning a state championship in athletics is exciting and more often than not a random feat. Unless you are part of the girls soccer program at Glenwood School in Smith Station, Alabama. In April, the Lady Gators soccer team added their fourth state championship trophy to the school’s trophy case. All by itself, four championships would be quite an accomplishment, but for Glenwood, the newest title marks the school’s fourth straight championship.

Adding to the excitement surrounding the championship win is the fact that the school has only had a girls soccer program for the past four years.

“We’ve been very fortunate,” John Robertson, Glenwood coach, said.

He may be humble when discussing the winning tradition, but Robertson has been an important part of the school’s journey with the soccer program. Back in 2004, Glenwood established a co-ed soccer program to enlist interest in the sport. Four years ago the program was split into two teams, and Robertson took the helm of the girls team.

“My daughter was playing back then, and I wanted to be a part of her high school experience,” Robertson said about his decision to coach the girls team.

The first year fielding a girls soccer team, the school won the state Alabama Independent School Association girls soccer championship.

From that point on, then-freshmen athletes on the team have been a part of a state championship team every year.

So just what is the secret of the program’s recipe for success? According to Robertson, it comes down to just a few key ingredients.

“We lose some girls, and we pick up some girls, but every year the new players find out

quickly from the other girls there is a standard we expect,” Robertson said. “The girls established that the first year.”

Robertson also credits year-round soccer play as another reason the team fares well. Most of his athletes play club soccer, which is active in the fall. Many also play basketball at Glenwood, which means the soccer players move straight from fall soccer into girls basketball and then right into spring soccer at Glenwood.

“They have continuous conditioning,” Robertson said. “We have athletes who are ready and able to play when they come to me for the spring.”

The Lady Gators defeated Tuscaloosa Academy 2-1 to win the state title. Robertson says his team started off the game fast, scoring within the first 15 minutes. There was a slowdown prior to the half, and the Lady Gators went into the half 1-0. The coach said his leaders on the team were instrumental in getting the girls fired back up for the remainder of the game.

“We have some good leadership,” Robertson said. “Teri Hodge and Whitley Anderson were named team captains because they are leaders. Others like McKenzie Morefield, Jen Wilson, and Jordyn Wheeler have also been vital parts of the team.”

Although he wants to produce winning seasons, Robertson says he never really expected to win four straight titles. It was a surreal moment for him when, during the last ten minutes of the game, Robertson said it became apparent the program was about to add another state championship.

“I just remember standing there thinking how hard the team had worked and what had gone into making it happen,” Robertson said. “It worked out beautifully.”

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In The Game | 47

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STORY OF THE YEAR

NICK BRINSON:

THE HEART OF A CHAMPION September 2015 Written by: Robert Preston Jr. Photography by: Micki K Photography Nick Brinson Thomas County Central High School

In April of 2011, Nick Brinson, now a senior at Thomas County Central High School, was finishing up his eighth grade year and getting ready to start his high school career. A tennis player for his school team, he fell off a skateboard the day after his final tennis match. He suffered from concussion-like symptoms and went to the emergency room to get checked out. At the ER, doctors found tumors on his brain. Brinson was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, and everything for both he and his family changed instantly.

His cancer treatments were successful. However, the surgeries required to remove the tumors caused posterior fossa syndrome, a rare condition that often shows up following surgery near the brain stem. Posterior fossa syndrome describes a variety of ailments that affect speech, mobility, swallowing, and balance, among others. The condition left Brinson with limited mobility and speech.

Brinson has trouble with maintaining his balance. However, he is determined to walk across the stage at graduation. Brinson can’t participate in the sports he used to before he was diagnosed. Instead, getting ready to walk across the stage is his sport. He approaches the task as though he was getting ready for a football game or a tennis match. Therapy and gym sessions are his practices, graduation is his game, and he has vowed to be in peak physical condition when it’s time to get his diploma. He hopes to beat both cancer and posterior fossa syndrome. And he’s going to do it in front of everyone when he walks across that stage.

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PHOTO OF THE YEAR

2015 SOUTH GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AWARDS BANQUET January 2016 Written by: Cole Parker Photography by: Marque Milla Reese Chase Parish Colquitt County High School On December 15th, 2015, In the Game Sports Network gathered the greatest football talent across South Georgia into one room in order to recognize and honor the players and teams responsible for an unforgettable 2015 season. Schools from across the region united to remind us what this great sport is all about: the development of young student-athletes into better men and members of society.

Despite the presence of an abundance of talent and trophies, humble gratitude filled the room. Thomasville Ford’s Dave Rose introduced keynote speaker Brian Jordan, former star of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves, who led the charge and set the tone for the evening. He preached to over three hundred players, family members, and coaches about goal setting, relentless pursuit of their dreams, and how his faith powered it all.

Following that, each of the twenty schools awarded their Offensive and Defensive Most Valuable Players of the Year, noting incredible leadership and performance on their respective teams.

Then, taking it one step further, In the Game Sports Network and our sponsorship partners crowned the top players and coaches across all of the schools in seven different categories.

As a night filled with inspiration, laughter, and fellowship, it was a suiting end to remarkable 2015 season. We wish the best of luck to each and every one of these young men as they move forward in their careers and their lives.

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STORY OF THE YEAR

JAKE PARKER:

A MOUNTAIN

TO CLIMB March 2016 Written by: Cole Parker Photography by: Marque Milla Reese Jake Parker Valwood School

The tragic reality of death is built in to the human experience, but that doesn’t make handling loss any easier, especially during such formative years as high school.

For Jake Parker, the now graduate of Valwood School and former quarterback for their 2015 state championship winning football team, it was the loss of his older brother, Austin, that awakened him to this reality. Despite fulfilling his dream to live in Montana, Austin made a fatal error while hiking up Electric Peak in Yellowstone National Park. Since that day almost three years ago, nothing has been the same for Jake and the rest of the Parker family.

But due to the remarkable character and resiliency of this young man, Jake’s story is one of not just pain, grief, and sorrow, but one of determination, perseverance, and triumph. No challenge, whether athletic or otherwise, was ever too large for him to overcome with the support of his faith, family, and the game of football.

Visit us online at www.inthegamesportsnetwork.com to read the full story of how Valwood football brought closure to Jake Parker’s unresolved internal conflict.

“IT CHANGED ME INTO A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD TO GROW UP QUICKLY. I HAD TO FACE THE REALITY AND SEE THAT NOTHING I CAN DO WILL EVER CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED.” 50 | itgsportsnetwork.com

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PHOTO OF THE YEAR

SIGNING DAY LOVE GAME April 2016 Written by: James A. Washington Photography by: Micki K Photography Davis Stewart Lowndes High School

Lowndes tennis standout Davis Stewart was the cover athlete for the April edition of In the Game. Ranked in the top 10 players in the state, his talents have not gone unnoticed. Specifically, his hard work has been rewarded with the opportunity to continue his athletic career as a member of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.

His Signing Day was a special one for him; in addition to the coaches, fans, and friends that were able to watch him sign, the presence of two individuals in particular made his moment memorable. After enduring the divorce of his parents at the age of 16, Davis was blessed to have both of his parents in attendance for his unforgettable occasion.

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PHOTO OF THE YEAR

HORNE LEADS YET ANOTHER TALENTED BLUE DEVILS SQUAD December 2015 Written by Robert Preston Jr. Photography by: Marque Milla Reese PJ Horne Tift County High School

Tift County forward PJ Horne has been in the spotlight for a few years now. The 6’6”, 220-pound three-year starter has been among the best players on one of the state’s best teams since he stepped on the court for the Blue Devils. The rising senior is one of the most versatile players on Tift’s roster and can play anywhere on the court.

He’s also a hard worker, very coachable, and gives his best every time he’s on the floor. Horne has a tremendous desire to win and would love to bring another state title home to Tifton; his Blue Devils came up short this year but he has one more year to accomplish his goal. On an average day, PJ Horne is an absolute beast. A motivated Horne with one year left – well, Tift’s competition ought to be put on notice.

Horne averages about 17 points and eight rebounds per game, and is the state’s #7 ranked player, according to MaxPreps. Colleges all over are hoping he will join their programs. When we spoke to Horner earlier in the year, he wasn’t quite ready to make that decision. His first priority was helping the Blue Devils make a run through the state playoffs. He said last offseason was a long one. This one will be, too. But rest assured – you haven’t heard the last of PJ Horne. And neither have his opponents.

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PHOTO OF THE YEAR

LIFE OF A COACH’S WIFE January 2016 Written by Robert Preston Jr. Photography by: Marque Milla Reese Melissa Holland Tift County High School

When Melissa Holland began dating her future husband, Eric, the head basketball coach at Tift County High, she had no idea what she was getting into. She knew that things got hectic for coaches during their respective seasons, but she didn’t know exactly how demanding it is being a coach’s wife. After Melissa and Eric married, Eric’s career took off. He became the most recognizable basketball coach in South Georgia and one of the most well known in the state. A state title at Tift County only placed more demands on his time.

Melissa, however, has adapted and learned how to handle the stresses and obstacles of being the wife of one the premier basketball coaches in Georgia. “I see my role as being his top fan and supporter,” she says. “I support him all the way all the time.

I’m a very positive person, and I seldom look at negatives. The biggest challenge is tuning out the negativity. But that’s more of a motivation than a challenge.”

In The Game | 53

LADY KNIGHT TAKES HER PLACE IN SCHOOL HISTORY written by: James Washington | photography by: Lindsi Jones Photography

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“They’re the measuring stick; if we want a state title next year, it’s going to go through them. And I think that our team is going to be ready to face them again.”

On Tuesday, April 19, 2016, the Deerfield-Windsor Lady Knights soccer team went into battle with the Lady Generals for the Region 3-AAA crown.

Both teams entered the contest undefeated in region play, so an intense matchup was expected. In the end, however, the Lady Knights were simply too much for their opponent, and a 6-0 blowout resulted in Deerfield-Windsor taking home this year’s region title.

The Lady Knights were excited for their title, and deservedly so; however, there was even more reason to celebrate due to the special accomplishment of one particular team member. Going into the evening’s game, junior striker Parker Belle Morgan was a mere four goals shy of setting a new career scoring record at Deerfield-Windsor. By the end of the night, she scored five.

“I didn’t even know about it until the week before,” Morgan said. “The news came and interviewed me, and that’s when it really sunk in.”

At the conclusion of the decisive region bout with the Lady Generals, Morgan’s total stood at 118 goals for her career. While she and her teammates knew that history was being made that night, she still kept her decorum and refused to let poor sportsmanship take over.

“We all celebrated after the game,” she said. “But while the game was going, none of us got overly excited about it. The game was a blowout, and we didn’t want to seem like poor sports by adding to the celebration in from of the other team. It didn’t seem right.”

By season’s end, Morgan’s scoring total stood at

an astonishing 125 goals, and with another year of competition remaining, that number is only going to increase. Not only was Morgan outstanding in her own right, but her leadership and natural ability helped the Lady Knights end the year on a 10game win streak that took them to the GISA Class AAA State Championship.

Unfortunately, their year came to an end in a 4-1 loss to the state-champion Augusta Preparatory Day School. Coincidentally, each of the Lady Knights’ last three playoff runs have been ended by the Lady Cavaliers, who have now won the last three Class AAA titles.

“We were extremely dedicated this year, but in the end, they wanted it more,” Morgan said.

“They’re the measuring stick; if we want a state title next year, it’s going to go through them. And I think that our team is going to be ready to face them again.”

The mindset is similar in all of her teammates.

Morgan says that her team is like a family; seven of her teammates will be graduating with her next year, and four of her teammates also play with her year-round with their travel team. Also playing an integral role in the team’s success is the coaching staff, led by head coach Alastair “Aly” Joslin.

“Coach Joslin has been so important for us; he’s just as big a part of the team’s growth as we are,” Morgan said. “Next year is going to be pretty tough; there will be quite a few of us graduating after next season. It would be really nice to win a championship for the school before we go.”

Her feats on the pitch are impressive in their own right, but it also must be noted that Morgan is a dynamo in other areas as well.

This year, Deerfield-Windsor took home state championships in both track and cross country; although Morgan did not compete at the state track meet (as she was busy with soccer), she is one of the standouts of both teams.

“I usually compete in longer events, like the 1600 (meters),” Morgan said. “I didn’t get to compete at state for track this year, but we have a few runners that are really good, so the team was still able to reach the desired goal.”

FEATURED SUBMISSION

Baseball Season is over,

now what? written by: Daniel Bayman, MS, CSCS | photography by: Marque Milla Reese Summer is here. For most, this means that baseball season is either at an end or will be soon. As games begin to wind down it is important for both athletes and parents to look ahead. To next season, but more so to repairing damage done during in-season play and developing the athletes potential during the off-season. In order to do that a training plan needs to be put in place and here are five focuses your training plan needs to have: Symmetry, Strength, Core Stabilization, Arm Care, and Rest.

Baseball is a unilateral sport, meaning it involves only one side, usually the athletes’ dominant side. Over the season unilateral sports take a toll on the body, developing asymmetries. These asymmetries may be caused by muscular imbalances in flexibility/strength or increased/decreased range of motion in joints.

The first focus of your off-season should be to correct this and bring your body back to balance. Do this by modifying the volume of work you do for each unilateral movement. Example: [Medicine Ball Chest Pass – 4x3 (Right) 4x6 (Left)] The intensity remains equal for each side, but the non-dominant side gets more volume, which allows it to catch up with the dominant side and allows the dominant side to recover from the long season while still keeping its function. Don’t forget, baseball involves the entire body, so unilateral core and lower body exercises should follow the same example as above, same intensity more volume for the non-dominant side.

Strength goes hand in hand with Symmetry, and while coaches and players are making leaps and bounds in baseball strength and conditioning programs, a lot still needs to be learned. Mainly the importance of strength at a young age, baseball tends to be seen as a “skill” sport, meaning it requires hours and hours of technique work in swinging and throwing. But this develops a unilateral athlete, a unilateral person, if all the dominant side skill work is not counteracted by both dominant and non-dominant side strength training.

Along with strengthening the body as a whole, it is important to focus on developing core stability. For several months baseball players have been focused on producing force from the hips/core, now the focus should become less about producing force and more about

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resisting force from multiple angles. This helps to reduce core based injuries and prepares the athlete for another year of athletic force production at an even higher velocity than before. Their core is prepared and it can only safely and powerfully produce force, if it can safely and powerfully resist force.

The same can be said about an athletes arm care program. The amount of force the athlete can resist correlates to what they can produce. To many times baseball players can be grouped together, because they are all throwers, but they do not all throw the same.

And their off-season programs should reflect this. In order to do so athletes must go through a range of functional movement tests, and be categorized in different groups based on laxity and stiffness. If a lax thrower is prescribed more mobility in his arm care program, it will only develop more laxity, which will reduce the amount of force a thrower can produce and put them at risk of injury. The same can be said of stiff throwers. It is important to consult with an expert when designing your off-season arm care program. A strength and conditioning coach or physical therapist can put you on the track to a better season if you participate in an individualized arm care program with them.

Finally, it is important for baseball players to rest, but rest properly. This means players need to minimize the volume of their throwing during the off-season, reduce their focus on the skill of baseball, and switch to a focus based on returning their bodies to optimal performance.

The saying goes, “To much of a good thing can be a bad thing.” And this is true when it comes to baseball; early specialization and yearlong competition/practice takes its toll on the athletes’ body, mind, and soul. A well rounded strength and conditioning program can be just the outside stimulus an athlete needs to give them a rest from baseball and prepare them for the upcoming season.

Get in touch with us at Edge Performance and see how we can help you recover and rebuild your body during the off-season. Become a better athlete in the weightroom and watch that transfer onto the field. Reach out to us at www.facebook.com/edgevaldosta or edgevaldosta@gmail.com or stop by our facility on the Valwood campus to find your edge this summer!

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PHOTO OF THE YEAR

LEE COUNTY’S TRAY EAFFORD April 2016 Written by: Robert Preston Jr. Photography by: Lindsi Jones Photography Tray Eafford Lee County High School Speed. It can’t be taught. Often, it can’t be defended – especially in high school. And Lee County’s Tray Eafford has it in droves.

He’s a natural on the track, with plenty of God-given talent. But he isn’t content to sit back and depend on his athletic ability alone.

The two-sport star has a tremendous work ethic, and he is always on the move – lifting, running, and doing something every day to make himself a better football player and sprinter.

As a freshman, Eafford was the 100-meter champion in Region 1-5A. Two years later, as a junior, he won the 100- and 200- meters in Region 1-6A. He headed into the latter part of the season hoping to get to the state meet and finish on the podium. He qualified for state last year, but stumbled out of the blocks on the 100-meters and finished a disappointing seventh. In the 200-meters, he came in sixth. He knows he can do better, and he would love to show the state just how fast he can run.

Next year, Eafford, who caught 27 passes for 790 yards and 13 touchdowns as a wide receiver for the Trojans, will play for the Troy Trojans. He ought to have the opportunity to run track as well. Troy runs an offense similar to Lee County’s, and Eafford’s unique skillset makes him a perfect fit for the Trojans. “The coaches made me feel at home. They were great. I wanted to go big but not too big.

Troy felt really good,” he said.

In The Game | 57

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PHOTO OF THE YEAR

WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CHAUNCEY MANAC… September 2015 Written by: Robert Preston Jr. Photography by: Micki K Photography Chauncey Manac Clinch County High School

Chauncey Manac, Clinch County’s 6’3”, 225-pound defensive end/tight end, has been a fixture in In the Game Magazine for several years. We started talking about him when he was a freshman. He was a freak then. Now, he’s a future Georgia Bulldog and one of the most highly touted signees in this year’s recruiting class.

Manac is a quiet, soft-spoken young man who has all the tools necessary to succeed in the Southeastern Conference and, quite possibly, beyond. He has the frame to add the size and strength he will need to start for the ‘Dawgs. He’s fast, quick, and knows how to read offenses. He can defend the pass and the run, and he works extremely hard every single day. Manac is a fourstar recruit and, in the preseason, he was South Georgia’s most highly ranked high school player..

Clinch County has unleashed a number of great football players during its history. And Manac could be the best of the bunch.

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PHOTO OF THE YEAR

AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT FOR THE BLUE DEVILS February 2016 Written by: Robert Preston Jr. Photography by: Micki K Photography Khloe Parker Tift County High School

It didn’t take Khloe Parker long to make an impact on the Tift County Blue Devils gymnastics team. Homeschooled until her freshman year, Parker decided to enroll at Tift County for her high school years. Already an elite-level gymnast when she arrived, she lived up to the hype that followed her. Parker cruised through the regular season, qualified for the state gymnastics meet, and very nearly won a state title.

Parker was racking up some of the highest scores of any gymnast at the state meet. The only way she could finish outside of the top spot was if she fell. Almost unbelievably, she suffered an injury on the beam and dropped to the floor. Parker ended up finishing second in the state – an admirable placing, but not what she wanted.

This year, her sophomore season, saw more of the same. Parker’s primary goal was to win a state championship. At the time of this writing, she had qualified for state and was getting ready to exorcise her demons from a year ago.

How did it go? By the time this reaches your hands, hopefully Tift County will have a state gymnastics champion.

In The Game | 59

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