November 2013 South Georgia Edition by ITG Next Magazine

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

November 2013

South Georgia Edition

15 Academic Athlete Courtney Waldrop Tift County High School

18 Special Feature Merine Brothers Valwood School

Schools

On The Cover South Georgia’s Blue Chip Quarterbacks

Colquitt County High School

Thomasville High School

Cook County High School

Irwin County High School

Fitzgerald High School

Adam Choice

Tift County’s Ivey Vickers Follows In Her Parents’ Footsteps

Thomas County Central High School

Dean Fabrizio

Malkom Parrish

In The Stands

Also Inside

Player Spotlight

Valdosta High School

Player Spotlight

Coach’s Corner Lee County High School

Facts On The Sidelines

Georgia High School Football Rivalries And Legends

Who’s Who Of High School Football 1930’s & 1940’s South Georgia

Fall Activities Of FCA

Brooks County High School

! e v i L

with host Mark Dykes Thursdays 6 - 7 p.m.

Rising Star Destiny Roe Katelin Stecz Pine Grove Middle School

Read. Subscribe. Share. www.inthegamemagazine.com 4

• Atkinson Co. Rebels • Bainbridge Bearcats • Berrien Rebels • Brooks Co. Trojans • • Brookwood Warriors • Cairo Syrupmakers • Coffee Trojans • Colquitt Co. Packers • Cook Hornets • • Citizens Christian Patriots • Clinch Co. Panthers • Echols Co. Wildcats • Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane • • Georgia Christian Generals • Irwin Co. Indians • Lanier Co. Bulldogs • Lowndes Vikings • • Thomas Co. Central Yellow Jackets • Thomasville Bulldogs • Tift Co. Blue Devils • Tiftarea Panthers • • Valdosta Wildcats • Valwood Valiants • Worth Co. Rams •

in the

game

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

Publisher

Mark Dykes

Editor

Mark Dykes Kaitlynn Passmore

Graphics

Jennifer Alexander

Cover Photography Micki Krzynski Micki K Photography

Feature Photography Micki Krzynski Micki K Photography

Connie Southwell Southwell Sports Photography

Contributing Photography Sandy McClurd

Feature Writer

Robert Preston, Jr. Jon Nelson

Copy Editors

Crystal Hubbard Ashley Dailey

Advertising/Marketing

Mark Dykes mark@inthegamemagazine.com

Website Manager Kaitlynn Passmore

From the Publisher In this month’s edition of In the Game High School Sports Magazine, you might notice a couple of very familiar names. If it seems like we’ve been talking about quarterbacks Adam Choice (Thomas County Central) and Malkom Parrish (Brooks County), it’s because, well, we have. These two young men are among the best quarterbacks in the state, and they’ve been near the top of the list for the last couple of years. This season, they happen to lead a pair of teams expected to make a strong run for a state championship. Both Choice and Parrish will play Division I football next year, though neither will be playing quarterback. Take a look at our Player Spotlight on these two talented young men to find out exactly what their futures holds. Once again we are expanding our boundaries westward, this time to Leesburg for a Coach’s Corner feature with Lee County High Head Coach Dean Fabrizio. A native of central Florida, Coach Fabrizio spent much of his career in the Orlando area before moving north to Georgia. After one year as an assistant at Peach County, Fabrizio took over the Lee County program. In just a few short years, he has taken a struggling program and turned it into a playoff-caliber team. We have two more dual-player features included in the November edition. One of those features is our Rising Star story on Pine Grove Middle School’s Katelin Stecz and Destiny Roe, two best friends who are inseparable whether they are cheering, running cross country/track, or doing just about anything else. They finish races side-by-side and refuse to leave one another behind. The girls are also excellent students who have bright futures ahead of them. Brothers Char and Marik Merine, both of whom play football at Valwood, are also featured this month. The Merine brothers play multiple positions and are key players on a Valiants team that is, at press time, undefeated. Our Academic Athlete feature is Courtney Waldrop, a Tift County softball player who is near the top of her graduating class. She has been on the Blue Devils’ varsity squad since she was a freshman, and she overcame a season-threatening injury this summer to return to the field for her beloved Blue Devils. The November edition signals a transition for us here at In the Game. As always, we have had a great time covering football in South Georgia. We still have the playoffs left to cover, but for most teams in the area, football season will be over or nearly over shortly after this edition hits the streets. We will be moving on to basketball, swimming, and wrestling, with our eye on the not-too-far-away spring sports. It seems odd to talk about spring in November, but it won’t be long before we’re covering golf, tennis, soccer, track, and baseball. We sincerely hope you enjoy this edition of our magazine, and we look forward to transitioning into the next phase of the high school sports seasons.

For distribution or subscription information contact: info@inthegamemagazine.com For advertising information call: 888-715-4263 Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. P.O. Box 812 Valdosta, GA 31603 6

In the Game High School Sports Magazine is published monthly excluding July. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2013 Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

Tift County’s Ivey Vickers Follows in Her Parents’ Footsteps by Robert Preston, Jr.

am a coach. When I set out to chart the course of my life many years ago, those were four words I never thought I would say. Here I am, two decades later, and I am coaching. To make matters more interesting, I’m coaching at the college level. It sounds more glamorous than it actually is. There are several lessons here, the most obvious of which is that you don’t always have to be very good at a given sport to actually coach said sport. Nobody in my family is a coach. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in my family who would be considered anything other than an average athlete. I had an uncle who was an AllState football player at Claxton High School. My dad received a small scholarship to play golf at Mercer. That’s about it. Yet I am the one who ended up coaching. Life can be very funny sometimes. At In the Game, I have the opportunity to speak with several coaches each month. These coaches are among the best in the business. They were often excellent athletes who knew that as soon as their playing careers ended, they would coach for the rest of their lives. They love their chosen sports and have often spent most of their time on Earth around their sport(s) in some way. Often, they were first exposed to sports because their parents were coaches. The children of coaches often turn out to be very good players. They see a side of sports that the children of non-coaches never witness. The strategy, the one-on-one sessions talking about the nuances of the game – those are things most kids never have the opportunity to experience. Later, when the children of coaches decide to become coaches themselves, they bring with them what amounts to a lifetime of on-the-job training. Such is the case with Ivey Vickers, assistant softball and head swimming and tennis coach at Tift County High. Coach Vickers grew up with coaches. Her mother, Ellen, coached tennis, softball, and cheerleading at ABAC. Her father, James, helped start the football program at Tiftarea. There wasn’t a moment in her house when she wasn’t surrounded by sport. “I knew exactly what I would do. I always wanted to be a coach,” she says. Coach Vickers enjoyed an excellent playing career at all levels. She graduated from Tift County High in 1990, where, as a member of the softball team, she won three state titles. She also played basketball at Tift County and

parlayed that into a scholarship at Valdosta State. When her playing career was over and she had obtained her undergrad degree, she went to Georgia Southwestern for her master’s degree, then came back to Valdosta State for her six-year degree. Before coming to Tift County, Coach Vickers was on staff at several other schools. She was an assistant basketball coach at Georgia Southwestern then went to Irwin County, where she was an assistant softball coach and head women’s basketball coach. Twice the Irwin County softball team won state championships (1997 and 2000). When Vickers came to Tift in 2002, she was head softball coach, a position she held until 2009. She stepped down and became an assistant when she was asked to take over the women’s tennis program. “I didn’t want to be a head coach in both softball and tennis. Taylor was ready to be head coach, so it was time to step down,” she says. The Tift County softball team has done very well since Coach Vickers has been there. When she arrived, Tift was coming off a season in which the team had won just three games. The Blue Devils won region in 2004 and 2012. In 2007, the girls advanced to the Final Four. They also have four second-place finishes in the region. “We had to build the program from the ground up. It’s been a long process. Taylor has done an excellent job since taking over as well,” she says. Tennis has also experienced a great deal of success – the girls have four region titles and four Final Four appearances. In just two years as swim team coach, the women’s swim team has a region title to its credit while the men have finished second once. “I like swimming because the kids compete against the clock and everybody gets a chance to compete. Nobody sits the bench,” she says. Every day she goes to work, she takes something with her from her parents. They have given her enough advice over the course of her career to fill a library. Vickers admits that some of it she takes, some of it she doesn’t. The philosophy that has shaped her career, however, comes from something her parents told her a long time ago. “The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the kids being successful. The best piece of advice my parents gave me is to have fun with coaching and be there for the kids. Let them enjoy playing and let them be successful,” she says. ITG

Facts On THE SIDELINES The GHSA Announces The 2013 Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Winning High Schools Source: www.ghsa.net

“Sportsmanship is an essential element in the mission of education-based athletics,” says Dr. Ralph Swearngin, GHSA Executive Director. “Good sporting behavior involves many important values that influence the behavior of productive citizens. The GHSA appreciates the efforts of Georgia EMC to recognize schools that have excelled at good sportsmanship.” Congratulations to these schools in the South Georgia coverage area 1 AAAAA 3 AAAAA 1 AAAA 1 AA

Bainbridge High School Ware County High School Crisp County High School Berrien High School

Congratulations to Valdosta Wildcat Head Coach Rance Gillespie for reaching his 100th career win after Valdosta’s 41-14 win over Newton.

Sports Imports named the official volleyball net system of the Georgia high school State Championships through 2016.

Cook County Hornets Softball

team ranked #1 in 1-AA entering in to the State Softball Tournament Finals

owndes High Vikings Win 2013 Winnersville Classic and set a new record for one of the biggest rivalry games in the nation. The 3-0 loss marks the lowest scoring Winnersville Classic in the history of the game.

Sports Imports was the first to bring a safe, in-ground net system to the United States, simplifying net set up and vastly improving the safety of the sport. Since then, Sports Imports has supplied net systems for both Men’s and Women’s NCAA Championships, the AVCA Collegiate Sand Championships and the Olympic Games.

Georgia High School Football

Rivalries & Legends by Jon Nelson, GPB Sports Correspondent

Someone once asked me who my favorite high school football team was when I was at work… I know this will be hard to believe, but I want every school to do well. It creates civic pride for the town or county that supports the academics and athletics of its closest high school. It means that young adults are learning a lot of great core values that they can carry with them through their adult lives and share with others. And it makes for great conversation and great stories 365 days out of the year. So, when schools like North Springs, Jordan, and Atkinson County break long losing streaks, I think it’s the coolest thing I can show on GPB’s “Football Fridays in Georgia.” Because, simply, it means a lot to a lot of people. There are also those rivalry games where towns are split in half. Northside and Warner Robins and the “Winnersville Classic” immediately come to mind. There are hands full of them around the state: Washington-Wilkes and Lincoln County, Brookwood-Parkview, most of Region 6-5A, the Columbus and LaGrange schools, and I’m sure you have one that you circle on the calendar every season. I have done stories on both the Warner Robins city matchup and the Winnersville game. The mayor of Warner Robins, Chuck Shaheen, is a Warner Robins grad. You can imagine how that plays out. Police cars have front license plates with the corresponding school’s logo that ties with the officer’s alma mater. A blue “N” for Northside and a red “R” for Warner Robins. Bryan Way, Warner Robins head coach, and his counterpart at Northside,

Kevin Kinsler, admit that it’s their most hectic week of the year. And if you ask, both adults and students alike, they will tell you that they don’t like each other. The athletes don’t hang out with each other, and this has gone on for generations. When it comes to “Winnersville,” Valdosta Head Coach Rance Gillespie tells me it’s a different animal from anything that he’s been through in the college and high school ranks. Lowndes High Head Coach Randy McPherson came from Florida and got a crash course in the game a little over a decade ago. He told me there’s nothing like it. There are old wives’ tales, unconfirmed stories, and hearsay about these rivalry games that is the stuff of legend and memory. Here’s one of my favorites: there is a game (I won’t say where) that involves neighboring counties. The police officers have in the past (allegedly) camped out at the county line and pulled over visiting fans heading to the game to slow down their progress and make sure that the officer’s home team was better represented at the rival game. And supposedly it happened both ways, year after year, for decades. I’m told it has happened recently in the rivalry. If there’s one rivalry game that I need to come see, let me know which one and why, because I also know that games aren’t just Friday night. It takes a lot of work during the week to make them happen so that both sides can enjoy the game—short of the final score, of course, where only one side gets to brag for the next year. Play it safe, everyone, and I’ll see you next time.

Jon Nelson, GPB Sports Correspondent

Dear reader,

What’s your favorite rivalry and why? Let us know here either by responding on Facebook, reaching out on Twitter, or commenting via e-mail. It’s always fun for me to get feedback from all of you on how things break down across the state

Academic Athlete

Tift County Senior Splits Time Between High School, College, and the Softball Field by Robert Preston, Jr. photography by Connie Southwell, Southwell Sports Photography

Courtney Waldrop Tift County High School

ost high school seniors would like to get out of school as quickly as they possibly can. Tift County High’s Courtney Waldrop, however, is taking her desire to finish her education to an extreme. For the last two years, she has been taking classes at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton while she has been finishing up her high school education. To date, she has taken a total of five college classes, all the while maintaining her regular class load at Tift County High and playing softball. Always a good student, Waldrop enrolled at ABAC during her junior year. She took three classes last year and has two more – college algebra and American literature 2 – this fall. She says she may take a science and math in the spring. “I figured if I can get some college classes out of the way while I’m still in high school, why not? It will mean that I spend less time in school,” she says. Waldrop, ranks #15 in her class of over 470 students, has an intrinsic desire to succeed, both in the classroom and on the field. Since she started school, she wanted to do the best she possibly could in school. While most students look to their parents for motivation to study, Waldrop’s academic goals surpass that of even her parents. “My mom always told me to do my best and not worry about my grades. But I’ve never wanted to make anything lower than a 95. My parents would be OK with a 94. But I want a 95. I’m harder on myself than they are,” she says. Fortunately for Waldrop, school has always come fairly easy to her. She is naturally gifted in the classroom and hasn’t had to spend hour upon hour studying. Still, there are times when she has to make herself do homework, especially during softball season. “I usually get caught up on my school work on Sundays. It’s not always easy to get started. My schedule is pretty tough,” she says. 15

On more than one occasion, she had to sequester herself from her teammates on road trips to complete assignments. Trying to finish essays and other projects on a dimly lit laptop while teammates are listening to music and dancing around on the bus after softball games or tournaments isn’t easy, but it’s often what Waldrop has to do in order to keep up her grades. Waldrop has been a member of Tift County’s varsity team all four years of high school. Primarily a first baseman, the right-handed Waldrop has been a valuable member of a team that has made the playoffs every year she has been a Blue Devil. Her freshman year, Tift finished second in the region. Two years later, the Blue Devils won region by defeating Lowndes in Lowndes County. To secure the region championship, Tift only needed to win one game of the scheduled double-header. The Blue Devils wasted no time, winning game one, 2-1. Waldrop had

two hits and an RBI in that game. “I just remember thinking that this is what we had worked so hard for since we were 12 years old. All that work finally paid off. I went to my dad after the game and gave him a big hug,” she recalls. With Waldrop’s impressive academics, she could attend just about any college or university. She loves softball but isn’t sure she would like to pursue playing at the next level. Because of a broken finger she suffered taking a ground ball early in the summer, she didn’t get to attend very many showcases or play through the summer months. As such, she doesn’t have a lot of interest from college coaches just yet. Waldrop also isn’t sure she even wants to play in college. “Ever since I’ve been in school, I’ve always been a studentathlete. I haven’t made up my mind if softball is something I’d like to pursue in the future. Part of me wants to drop the ‘athlete’ and just be a student for a while,” she says. ITG

For Courtney Waldrop, her senior softball season is special for two important reasons: First of all, she is fortunate to even be playing, so just getting out there on the field is a tremendous blessing. And secondly, the region championship has made all the practices, tournaments, and sacrifices worth every minute. The finger she broke a few months ago could have cost her the season. She had to have surgery to repair the damage and wasn’t even sure she would start the season on time. Fortunately, her recovery went well and she began the season as Tift’s starting first baseman. Two months later, she and her teammates have a region title to celebrate.

Courtney’s Favorites: Last book: The Awakening by Kate Chopin Best movie in the last year: Now You See It Dogs or cats? Dogs Superpower: Super speed Last song downloaded: Miley Cyrus’s new album Person to meet: Tim Tebow Place to travel: Italy 17

Special Feature

Char

he Merine brothers are very competitive on and off the field. Their friendly but intense rivalry pushes them to their best, no matter where they are or what they are doing. As a result, they both do we well in n the c classroom assroom and are among the top p players ayers in n the reg region on and state state. Char s an A -State and A -Reg on defens ve back and rece ver wh e Mar k has been named A Reg on at both of h s pos t ons as we Last year they both had a Span sh c ass together and the r compet t ve nature pushed them to work extreme y hard n c ass â&#x20AC;&#x153;We re compet t ve everywhere t doesn t matter - on the track n footba n basketba Even n Span sh c ass â&#x20AC;? says Char 18

Move From Hamilton County, Florida to Valdosta Worked Out Well for Merine Brothers by Robert Preston, Jr.

year ago, the Merine brothers - Char and Marik - moved from Hamilton County, Florida, about 40 miles up I-75 to Valdosta. They made the move to attend Valwood School. Academics are very important to the Merine family, and they knew that the academic environment at Valwood was exactly what the brothers needed. Char and Marik were also student-athletes who grew up playing sports. They planned on joining the football and basketball teams at Valwood. But with the football program welcoming a new head coach, they didn’t really know what to expect. They just wanted to play. You might say that things worked out well for the brothers.

photography by Miki K Photography welcomed us and made us feel at home. It has been a good move for us,” says Marik. Neither the Merine brothers nor the rest of the team have grown complacent after last year’s state title run. They are just as committed as they ever have been to win another championship. As of In the Game’s press time, Valwood was 6-0 and only played one close game, a 13-12 win over Memorial Day in September. While the goal is to win another title, Char and Marik understand the importance of not looking too far ahead or taking games for granted. “We definitely want to win state again. Our team isn’t as big as last year’s team was, but we have more depth. We talk about winning a championship, but we’re still just taking it one game and one week at a

c h a r

and Marik Merine

Valwood School

Char, now a senior, and Marik, a junior, were among the Valiants’ biggest contributors on an undefeated Valwood team that won a state championship. They picked up where they left off this year and have continued to put up big numbers on what thus far (through six games) has also been an undefeated team. A year ago, Char, a defensive back/wide receiver, was the Valiants’ second-leading receiver with 30 catches for 540 yards and eight touchdowns. Defensively, he tallied 58 total tackles. Through three games in 2013, he had nine receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns. He had 20.5 tackles, one tackle for a loss and one pick six. Marik has also put up some impressive numbers over his career at Valwood. In 2012, he rushed for 626 yards on 68 carries and scored six touchdowns. He caught 13 passes for 177 yards and another touchdown. On defense, he totaled 42.5 tackles, one sack and an interception. Through the same three games this year, he had 33 carries for 196 yards and five touchdowns. Marik continues to be a productive receiver out of the backfield with 17 catches for 187 yards and one touchdown. As a defensive back, Marik had 16.5 tackles, one tackle for a loss and one interception. Given the brothers’ performance on the field, one might think that the move to Valwood was easy for them. While they did adjust fairly quickly, the move presented its challenges. “It was difficult at first. But the people at Valwood

time,” says Char. They have never forgotten the primary reason they came to Valwood in the first place: academics. Char and Marik are very good students who are committed to their grades. They try to get as much homework done as they can during study hall at school, but inevitably, they have work that must be done at home. On those occasions, they fulfill their football obligations (or, during the winter and spring, basketball and track obligations) and then hit the books after practice. The schedule can get monotonous, but Char and Merine know that it will be grades, not sports, that pave their future. “It can get to be a real grind sometimes,” says Char. Both Char and Marik plan to pursue careers in the medical field. Char has some interest from a few smaller college football programs. He has an offer on the table from Colgate and when ITG spoke with him, he was planning a visit to Furman. Marik still has some time to make his decision, though he says he plans to pursue a career as a physical therapist. In looking back on nearly a year and a half at Valwood, Char and Marik were very appreciative of how they have been received at their new school. “The coaching staff and parents have pushed us both in the right direction and encouraged us to do the right things. Coach [Ashley] Henderson is more than just a coach. He’s a father figure, brother and mentor who pushes us on and off the field,” says Marik. ITG

m a r i k

Coach’s Corner

Florida Transplant Finds Success In Leesburg by Robert Preston, Jr. photography by Connie Southwell, Southwell Sports Photography

“T

Dean Fabrizio Lee County High School

he opportunities for coaches are better in Georgia than they are in Florida. When the position came available in Lee County, I knew it would be a good situation. The school system here is very good, and I wanted my kids to attend this system. I knew the football team hadn’t enjoyed much success, but I felt the potential was there to build a sustainable winning program,” says Dean Fabrizio, head football coach of the Lee County Trojans, of his decision to apply for the Lee County job. Fabrizio, a native of the Orlando area who had spent much of his career in Florida, came to Georgia after accepting the defensive coordinator position at Peach County under Head Coach Chad Campbell. He wasn’t at Peach very long when the Lee County job opened up. He applied for the position and landed the job. He was tasked with turning around an 0-10 program. In just a few short years, Fabrizio and his staff have turned the Lee County program 180 degrees. Now, Trojan fans are witnessing something they hadn’t seen in a long, long time: Lee County is finally winning more games than it is losing. Fabrizio graduated from Lake Howell High School in the Orlando area. He played football at Lake Howell and landed a spot as a tight end at Central Methodist University in Missouri. Fabrizio knew teaching and coaching would be the career path he would pursue. After graduating from college, he spent a few years as a graduate assistant in Missouri before returning to the Orlando area. From there, he went to Peach County, then Lee County. The team he inherited in Leesburg had historically been very weak. The Trojans only had a handful of winning seasons in their history and were winless the year before Fabrizio arrived. Now in his fifth year, Fabrizio’s Trojans have won more than they’ve lost and are enjoying their second 6-0 start in a row. The key to Lee County’s success has been the development of a complete program - from the recreation level up to the varsity level. The Lee County system now has two middle schools (when Fabrizio arrived, there was only one), each with its own team. The students in the football program have more opportunities to play, and they are all running a very similar system. Fabrizio prefers a spread attack on offense and a multiple 3-3 on defense.

T Over the last few years, he has tweaked his offense to reflect a more balanced approach. The Trojans still operate out of the spread, but gone are the days of throwing the ball 50 times a game. “We are going to do what gives us the best chance to be successful. In the past, we scored a lot of points, but we put our defense in stressful situations. Now, we don’t take as many chances, and we try to protect our defense more,” he says. The teams in the lower levels of the program run the same kind of schemes, and the coaching staff is already very familiar with the players before they reach the high school. “By the

time they get to us, we know who they are, and we know which positions they need to play. Very seldom does a kid surprise us when he gets to high school,” says Fabrizio. The result is a program that is becoming one of the stronger 5A programs in the southern portion of the state. The Trojans still have a long way to go, but finally, after years of hard work and attention to detail, the program is moving in the right direction. “We believe this program is in great shape, and we are enjoying a level of success that can be sustained for years to come,” says Fabrizio. ITG

he desire to enter the field of public service is a path several members of Dean Fabrizio’s family have chosen. His father is a retired New York City police officer, his brother is a police chief, and his sister is also an educator. “I guess becoming a public servant is something that runs in our family,” he says.

It’s a “Pink Out” at Irwin County in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This little Packer cheerleader enjoys watching the Packers play the Tift County Devils on the Tom White Field.

Lowndes High School students put on their “war paint” in support of the Vikings

These young Wildcat fans proudly display their team’s colors and the Prince Auotmotive Group Fan Segment sign for ITG “The Show”

LHS Cheerleaders pray before the game.

Photos provided by Sandy McClurd, Kaitlynn Passmore, and Connie Southwell, Southwell Sports Photography.

This father-son duo cheer on the Vikings during the 2013 Winnersville Classic

The annual Titletown rivalry game between the Valdosta Wildcats and Lowndes High Vikings was Friday, October 11th

The Viking waves the Vikings’ Flag for the crowd

Viking Fans up on their fee

The Georgia Bridgemen entertain during half-time

This loyal fan has a hard time “keeping calm” as her t-shirt proclaims

The Valdosta High Marching Band performs

Valdosta Wildcats

Bazemore-Hyder Stadium • Capacity: 13,000 • Valdosta, GA • www.valdostafootball.com

Returning Star Rashad Lewis Looks To Make Impact With His Senior Season Division I schools. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Lewis learned the ways of the game, and at an early age, he realized he had a real talent and love for the sport. At the age of eleven, he moved from Brooklyn to Cook County, where he shifted schools between Valdosta, Cook, and even back to Public School 35 in New York. However, he eventually wound up finding a home at Valdosta High School, where he started playing for former coach Rufus McDuffie. This is where he learned and grew a foundation for the values of teamwork. After coming back and advancing with the team, Lewis received the nickname “Brooklyn,” which has stuck with him. Lewis has dreamed of attending a Division I school since he was a child. He currently has several offers from schools, but he is still waiting to see what scholarships will be presented to him as the season progresses. His ambition is to follow role model and basketball coach Antonio Haynes to Western Kentucky to play for the Hill Toppers. When questioned about his future in the game, Lewis says, “I’ve always just been trying to make it to the next level.” Lewis credits all his success in high school on and off the court to his mentor Coach Haynes. He has taught Lewis how to not only be a better player, but also a better teammate and student. When asked about his relationship with Lewis, Haynes replies, “Our relationship is like a father-son relationship; sometimes you have to discipline and correct the child in order to make him a better person.” The bond between the two has affected both individuals, resulting in improvement in Haynes’ coaching abilities and Lewis’ improvement as a player. In addition, Lewis’s teammates have also taught him to be patient and understanding. “We have a lot of young Cats this year, and they have to refill the shoes of their alumni,” explains Lewis. Anthony Smith, also a returning player and senior, will be Lewis’s right-hand man for the upcoming season because of his motivation and drive for the team. Coach Haynes wants

Valdosta HigH scHool

As the only returning four-year veteran, Rashad Lewis looks to lead the mighty Cats into the playoffs and to hopefully a state title. The starting point guard has many goals set for this year, including one of breaking the Valdosta High School record of most points scored in a game, previously held by former standout Jay Rome. As he sets his sights on the upcoming season, he vigorously prepares to achieve his full potential by maintaining a healthy diet, practicing various basketball drills, lifting weights, and staying on a strict daily schedule. Over the summer he played on a travel team, showcasing his skills to coaches all over the nation. He performed in front of legendary coaches, such as Coach Calipari for Kentucky and the great Mike Krzyzewski for Duke. With this much national exposure, the rising senior was a standout gaining attention from numerous

by Kameron Watson and Tyler Dallas

his team to be a “family” so that the chemistry between them will be unbreakable. As a senior, Lewis will ultimately have to step up and become the leader in order to set a positive example for his teammates this year. As the upcoming season approaches, Lewis displays eagerness to go full force into region play. He began preparing himself for these games immediately after Valdosta’s loss to Hillgrove in the playoffs in March. “Looking back, I was just a basketball player, rather than a student of the game. I’ve learned to be mentally tough, even when things aren’t going well in the game. This season, I will take my improved knowledge of the game to perform at a higher level.” The loss at the end of last year acted as a stimulus, triggering a fury of hard work and dedication for this year’s season. As Lewis says, “Ball is life, and everything else is just details.” He looks forward to the season as a new challenge, and he can’t wait to see how the season unfolds.

Valdosta Wildcats

Bazemore-Hyder Stadium • Capacity: 13,000 • Valdosta, GA • www.valdostafootball.com

Homecoming Week 2013

been working on for weeks. The floats were judged on appropriateness to the theme, appearance, and spirit, and the winner was to be announced at that night’s football game. Once judging was over, the parade could begin. The Marching Cats, cheerleaders, football players, Doopsters, and floats from all Valdosta City schools walked the parade path, spreading Wildcat spirit and candy. Later that night, the Valdosta High Wildcats took the field at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium to battle against the Newton Rams. Pressure was high as the Wildcats went into the game without any losses in addition to it being the homecoming game. The Wildcats did not disappoint, coming out and immediately dominating against Newton in a display of football that had the whole crowd pumped and in great spirits. During halftime, with the Wildcats up significantly, the homecoming court representatives were escorted down the field and presented with flowers. Principal Janice Richardson then crowned this year’s homecoming queen Tinesha Davis. Both homecoming queen and king proceeded to take pictures and relish their moment in front of the cheering crowd at the stadium. The senior class of 2014 was announced as the winners of the float competition from earlier. This marked the third year of winning the competition for those students. The Wildcats went on to defeat Newton by a dominant score of 41-14. The win was extra special, as it was Coach Gilllespie’s one-hundredth victory and ended a perfect homecoming week. This year’s Valdosta High School homecoming celebration was a success. Fun dress-up days, a spirited pep rally and parade, and a football victory made this one memorable week for Valdosta High students. Photo By Mike ChaPMan

dren’s TV show Scooby-Doo. Students in all grades dressed as babies and toddlers in respect of the TV show Rugrats. The popular yellow, square sponge who “lives in a pineapple under the sea” covered the shirts, jackets, and even pajamas of more than a few Valdosta students. Friday, of course, was Spirit Day, and in most students’ opinions the best day of the week. The student population proudly displayed their Wildcat spirit with almost everyone covered in black and gold. The most exciting point of the school day was the pep rally. Hordes of students from every grade packed the stands in the gym, riled-up and excited for the upcoming parade and game. Game day music blasted from the instruments of the VHS Marching Cats as cheerleaders danced and led chants for students in the stands. A local news channel covered the pep rally, getting priceless footage of students and teachers alike coming together to cheer, yell, and dance in support of their team and school. The VHS Doopsters led the crowd in traditional fashion, boosting everyone in the gym’s energy, along with the rest of the senior class who dominated the spirit competition. The Doopsters’ loyal show of passion and Wildcat spirit was chosen to be shown on the local five o’clock news. During the pep rally, homecoming court representatives who were chosen by the student population were recognized and honored by grade. After a week of anticipation, the crowd was eager to discover who would be crowned homecoming king. As the crowd cheered and stomped their feet, senior football player Anthony Smith was announced and crowned as homecoming king. Students were released early to prepare for the annual Valdosta City Schools homecoming parade that began that afternoon at 3:30 and ran from BazemoreHyder Stadium to Valdosta Middle School. Before the parade began, the four grades were judged on their floats that students in each respective grade had Photo By Lori Buckham

Valdosta High School celebrated its annual homecoming week this year from September 16 -21. “Super” was the overall theme for the week, as decided upon by the majority of the VHS student population, and students incorporated this idea in their dress-up days, celebration, parade, and other festivities. The week’s festivities kicked off with Superhero Day on Monday at the high school. Countless Supermans, Spidermans, and Batmans roamed the hallways, decked out in shiny capes and tights galore. Some students chose a more creative approach to the dress-up theme, such as juniors Amy Nelson and Kameron Watson who chose to pay tribute to legendary rock heroes as matching “Guitar-Heroes,” in a spinoff of the popular videogame. Watson says she came up with the unique idea for the costumes because she “didn’t want to be limited to the ‘typical’ superheroes and wanted to stand out from the rest of her peers.” Tuesday, super villains prowled the campus as students had their second chance to display their creativity. Catwoman was a popular villain choice among female Valdosta students, as the costume combined both the super villain dress-up theme and Valdosta’s wildcat mascot. Several students, including sophomore varsity football cheerleaders Alaina Lapham and Carleigh Thomas, chose to highlight the notorious crosstown rivalry between Valdosta and Lowndes High School and dressed as typical Viking fans, complete with replicas of the milk jugs that Lowndes seniors wave at football games. Others stuck with more traditional approaches, dressing as the Joker and the Penguin from the Batman series. Students paid homage to local heroes and servicemen on Wednesday during Hometown Heroes Day. This day was chosen to honor everyday heroes in students’ families, the community, and the nation such as policemen, firemen, military personnel, and doctors. Senior Claire Kirkpatrick dressed as James Lord Pierpont, the musician and composer behind the Christmas classic “Jingle Bells,” who at one point in his life called Valdosta home. A multitude of students and teachers alike chose to wear their James Eunice “The Clock is Ticking” shirt to honor the memory of their former peer and student. One of the most popular dress-up days during the entire week, Cartoon Network v. Nickelodeon Day, had students excited to mimic the attire and appearance of favorite cartoon characters from their childhoods. Characters from popular TV shows made appearances all over campus. A group of seniors, who also take part in the senior Doopsters spirit organization, dressed as the entire “gang” from the widely-loved chil-

by Aneesha Chowdhary

Seniors in front of their winning float

Valdosta High School Homecoming King and Queen, Anthony Smith and Tinesha Davis

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Colquitt County Packers Mack Tharpe Stadium • Capacity: 10,000 • Moultrie, GA • www.colquitt.high.schooldesk.net/Football Foundation for the Future a young boy, he started basketball when he was six years old in Colquitt for the Doerun Recreational Basketball Team under Coach Donny Henry. Now a husband and father to a growing family, he is wellseasoned in the sport. “Coach Keith Hall got me into coaching. I was working at the YMCA in Moultrie, and he came to me one day and asked if I was interested. I started coaching by working with the basketball team at Willie J. Williams Middle School while I was still in college,” states Coach Harden. With a new coach comes rebuilding. Many of the players know this, but they are optimistic about the new opportunity. “I am excited to see how he likes to run things. I know he is good at what he does, and I am ready to get on the court and learn. Go Pack!” says senior Xavier Terry. Many believe a region or state title should be the goal for every season; however, Coach Harden has bigger plans for a bright future. “My goal is to lay the foundation for Colquitt County Basketball. You can’t build a house without a strong foundation. It is easier to mold players while they are young than it is to carve an older player set in their ways.”

While laying this foundation, many expect change to be seen as Packers take the court. “Moultrie can expect a hard-working, disciplined, and highcharacter team. This team is going to do things the right way on and off the court,” states Harden. With basketball season drawing nearer with every day, Coach Harden can only anticipate a great season. As the new coach, Andy Harden plans to teach players what it takes to be the best at basketball. In addition to this, he plans to change the young basketball boys into strong men in the community. “My goal as a coach is to develop basketball players along with future citizens, future husbands, and future fathers.” Anticipations are high, and players are eager as the new 2013-14 season gets underway with a new leader at the reigns.

Giving Honor To Whom Honor Is Due

by Garrett May She was hired by The Moultrie Observer’s very own Wayne Grandy as a free-lance photographer in March of 2010. “Wayne called me one day after Will came to Moultrie to teach and coach and asked me if I would shoot some at Will’s first coaching career,” Southwell says. Picking up sports photography is not as easy as buying a camera and going to the game. It takes precision and know-how in order to align the perfect shot. It takes a teacher. “John Mercer and Mike Maxwell are my mentors. They don’t hesitate to help me with problems whenever I have questions or problems,” she says. She also is a self-proclaimed “Mercer Wannabe.” Southwell plays an integral role in Moultrie’s community, working at the YMCA and even catching recreational games like softball, baseball, and football. She also helps with local school newspaper writers for The Black & Gold and the chief editor of the newspaper, Anna Cannon, by providing photos for Colquitt’s articles in In the Game Magazine. As Colquitt sports go on to bigger and better events, and young grandson, John Tyler Southwell, grows older, there is no doubt that Connie Southwell will be roaming the sidelines and stands of games. “Even though she’s a mom and now a grandmother,

she never has lost her step on the field. “At one point, she’s getting a shot of the football team. Then next, she’s taking shots of the band. Next she’s in the end zone getting the touchdown. You gotta wonder how she does it,” states The Black & Gold staff writer Kristina Scott after taking photos with her during a Packer football game. Photos By Will southWell

What good is an article without the visual representation of a picture? Many athletic programs utilize photography to draw more attention to their programs. Players are spotlighted, and coaches are praised with jaw-dropping sideline shots and captivating close-ups. In Colquitt County no other photographer comes to mind to credit with these shots in sports than Connie Southwell. Born in Enterprise, Alabama, Southwell moved to Moultrie in 1966 at the young age of eight. She worked various jobs until her employment at Riverside Uniform Rentals when she was 18 years old. She worked there for 36 years after finishing high school at Moultrie Tech. During that time, she got married to Edgar Southwell and raised one child, Will Southwell, who grew up playing sports at Colquitt and Georgia Southern. He now assists in Packer baseball and football and teaches at Charlie A. Gray Junior High. Photography was not Southwell’s first passion, but with her son Will in baseball, the mother in her grabbed the camera and took every picture it would hold. “She always took pictures at any sport I was playing, and it grew into a passion of hers. She started out doing it for my scrapbooks as a hobby and also shot photos at weddings. Now she rarely does weddings and focuses mainly on sports photography,” says Will Southwell.

Colquitt County HigH SCHool

From the greats like Michael Jordan and Larry Byrd, to the infamous players such as Lebron James and Kevin Durant, basketball is the sport of many champions. Nationally, Miami Heat overcame the Spurs in their run for their second consecutive title, and Louisville triumphed over the stout Wolverine team of Michigan to win the school’s first national championship since 1986 (the third in school history). To the young team at Colquitt, feats on this scale seem unimaginable, but with the new coach, many believe a state title is on the horizon. New Head Coach Andy Harden took the reigns as former coach Lavon Grant stepped down. Coach Andy Harden (who also assists in coaching the defensive line for the Colquitt County Packers) was named the new boys’ basketball coach during the offseason of 2013. Coach Lavon Grant led the Packers to a 4-19 regular season, finishing with a 1-11 region play record during the 2012-13 season. Though now he is only seen roaming the sideline during a football game at Mack Tharpe Stadium, Coach Harden has had much experience on the field of basketball and devotes his time therein. As

by Garrett May

Connie Southwell started taking pictures as a hobby. Now, it is a passion of hers.

Fans are sure to find Connie at various Colquitt County sporting events.

On The Cover

Adam Choice

Malkom Parrish

Thomas County Central High School

Brooks County High School

Pair of blue chip quarterbacks lead South Georgia’s talented football class by Robert Preston, Jr.

t’s just over 25 miles from Quitman, Georgia, to Thomasville, Georgia. Scouts from some of the top football programs in the country have traveled those same 25 miles hoping to convince two of Georgia’s best players, Thomas County Central’s Adam Choice and Brooks County’s Malkom Parrish, to play football at their schools. Choice and Parrish, both quarterbacks and fourstar recruits at ESPN.com, had been among the

most sought-after players in the country. Both have made decisions regarding their football future and are off the market. They lead state champion-caliber teams, are seasoned veterans despite their youth, have a combined 56 wins as starting quarterbacks over their careers, and are proven playmakers under center. Neither, however, will play quarterback at the Division I schools to which they’ve committed. ITG 33

Player Spotlight Presented by:

The football gene pool in Adam Choice’s family runs deep. A cousin, Joe Burns, a retired running back with the Buffalo Bills. Another cousin, Tashard Choice, is also a running back with the Bills. Tashard played high school football at Lovejoy then, like Burns, went to Georgia Tech. He was a fourthround selection out of Tech and has put together a pretty good NFL career. “I talk with him some. He motivates and encourages me. The best advice he’s given me has been about recruiting. He tells me to make sure whatever decision I make is my decision and not to let others influence me,” says Choice.

AdA Ad Am ChoiC Choi Ce

Thomas County Central High School

All-Everything Thomas County Central Quarterback Set for a Record-Setting Senior Year by Robert Preston, Jr.

dam Choice. If you are a high school football fan in South Georgia – and if you’re reading this story, no doubt you are – then that name is one with you should be very familiar. He has graced he pages of this magazine multiple times during his high school career. And with good reason – he’s one of the best football players anywhere in the state. He also happens to run the offense for the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets’, one of the most recognizable football programs in Georgia. Choice has an NFL pedigree (a pair of cousins were drafted by the Buffalo Bills; one is still with the Bills) and an almost unlimited ceiling. He’s the real thing, and he is deserving of every accolade he has received as a Yellow Jacket. Choice, a 5’9”, 200-pound All-State and All-Region selection, is a Thomas County native who has been the Yellow Jackets’ starting quarterback for the last three years. From the time he stepped foot on the Thomas County Central campus, everyone knew he would turn into an excellent football player. Choice has not disappointed in the least. As the leader of the Yellow Jackets veer offense, Choice is a run-first quarterback who would much rather use his legs than his arm. “I run as many times as the defense will let me,” he says, which is usually around 15-20 times per game. He has tremendous speed, is very elusive, and is a player who creates space when there is none. Through seven games this year, he has rushed 149 times for 1,141 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s the leading rusher in the region and has 4,715 career rushing yards at TCC. He is less than 300 yards away from breaking the

photography by Micki K Photography

career rushing record at TCC, which is held by Joe Burns, his cousin and former Buffalo Bills running back. Choice is also 24-of-44 passing for 440 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. That kind of playmaking ability has had college coaches salivating for years. The attention runs the risk of becoming a distraction for Choice and his teammates. All parties involved with the TCC program have determined not to let the attention shift their focus from the tasks at hand, which are a region championship and a deep run through the playoffs. “This is my last high school football season. I want to make this one a season to remember and get the most out of it. I try to be humble about the attention. I want to keep working hard and do my best at every opportunity I’m given,” he says. Choice had nine offers from Division I programs. None wanted him as a quarterback. That hasn’t been a problem for Choice at all; he has known all along that he would be a running back in college. “I’m very comfortable running the ball. That doesn’t bother me at all. I knew my position at the next level would be in the backfield.” He eventually settled on Clemson, a school he loved the minute he stepped on campus for the first time. And when he realized how much he enjoyed the campus, he didn’t see the need to hold out on his decision. Choice committed to Clemson in May, which means he had the rest of the summer and the entire football season to worry about little else except his senior year with his Yellow Jackets teammates. “I didn’t want to wait. I knew I wanted to go there. It’s a good football program and a great school with a great vibe,” he says. ITG

AdA Ad A m’s F FA Avorites A vorites Sport to watch on TV: College football Team besides Clemson: Texas Longhorns “I grew up a Longhorns fan. They gave me an offer but it’s too far away.” Player: Tashard Choice Last movie: Transporter 3 Superpower: Invisibility Person to meet: Michael Jordan Place to travel: Europe 36

Player Spotlight Presented by:

Malkom Parrish Brooks County High School

Talented Brooks County Quarterback Would Like to Finish His Career With a State Title by Robert Preston, Jr.

he Brooks County Trojans began the 2013 season as one of the top-ranked teams in 2A. They had depth, talent, and an excellent head coach and group of assistants. And they had Malkom Parrish, an All-Region quarterback/safety who has been one of the best players in South Georgia since his freshman year. Since he arrived in Quitman from Miami four years ago, the Trojans have been one of the best teams in its classification in the state. They have made the quarterfinals twice and the second round once. They’ve been in the state title conversation each year but have come up just a little short. In 2013, Parrish and his teammates would like to end their careers with a championship. They feel it’s their time, and they are ready for the challenge. Parrish moved to Quitman from Miami several years ago so his mother could take care of her grandmother. Parrish brought with him years of football talent developed in the South Florida youth leagues. He earned the starting job under center as a freshman, and he has never looked back. “When I was in the ninth grade, I wasn’t intimidated at all. I believed in my talent and myself. Over the years, that hasn’t changed. I’m more confident, and I’ve learned even more about the game,” he says.

photography by Micki K Photography

When Parrish first took over as quarter quarterback, the Trojans were a run-oriented team. Now, they have moved away from the veer option to a spread option. Parrish still gets to run the ball, but he’s throwing more than ever. “I don’t mind doing either one. I can run or throw,” he says confidently. He has put up monster numbers throughout his career at Brooks County. In the two games (versus Fitzgerald and Thomasville, both wins) prior to speaking with In the Game,, Parrish had more than 500 yards passing and 200 yards rushing. He also scored eight offensive touchdowns. When the offense leaves the field, though, Parr Parrish’s work isn’t done. He’s also a safety, and he plays every down on defense. Over that same two-game stretch, he also had a pick six, 20 tackles, and two forced fumbles. Programs from coast to coast have visited Parrish. Oregon was interested. So were Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Georgia Tech and several others. In June, Parrish decided to play football for the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs didn’t want him as a quarterback - they were recruiting Parrish as a defensive back. He had an offer from Georgia Tech to play quarterback. Parrish would rather play defense. “You are more free on defense. You just go out and make plays,

A young man with the athletic ability of Malkom Parrish ought to be in demand to play other sports on campus, particularly at a small school like Brooks County. Football, however, is the only sport he plays. His goal is to be the best football player and student he can be, and he has devoted all his time and energy to those two endeavors. Parrish would like to major in business and finance at Georgia. “One of the reasons I committed to Georgia is because of academics. The coaches talked to me a lot about grades. I like that a lot. Getting a degree is important to me,” he says.

plus you get to hit a little instead of getting hit. I enjoy defense more,” he says. Parrish has found himself under the same microscope as this month’s other Player Spotlight, Adam Choice. He has been near the center of the South Georgia football universe for quite awhile, and it’s something he’s had to deal with his entire career. In the process,

Parrish has led the Trojans to two appearances in the quarterfinals during his years at Brooks County. “At first, I played football just to kill some time. Then I realized I might have a future in the game. I try not to think about the attention now. I’m the same person I was five years ago. If I stay the same, I won’t have any worries at all. I just try to stay focused,” he says. ITG

Malkom's Favorites: Sport you wish you could play: Swimming Athlete: De’Anthony Thomas NFL team: Atlanta Falcons Last movie: Baggage Claim Superpower: Slow down time Person to meet: De’Anthony Thomas What would you do with $1 million? “Give it to my mom.” 40

Who’s Who of High School Football 1930’s & 1940’s South Georgia Source: www.ghsfha.org

Joe Davis

(Valdosta 193?-40) Running back. Scored 17 touchdowns for 1940 undefeated state championship team.

Billy Grant

(Valdosta 1945-47) Quarterback. Led team to Class B title in 194. Played for University of Georgia.

Sonny Stephenson

(Valdosta 1945-47) Leading scorer for Class B champions in 1947. Teamed with Billy Grant to make formidable pass/catch combination.

Weyman Sellers

(Albany 1942-43) End. Caught game-winning pass in the 1943 Class B state championship game against Griffin, Coached at Athens and Jonesboro

Harold McNabb

(Albany High) Coach 1932-42. Won 94 games in 11 seasons at Albany. Team won Class B state championship in 1939. Member of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame

Wright Bazemore

(Fitzgerald 1931-33) Quarterback. Mercer. Long-time Coach at Valdosta

Lauren Hargrove

(Fitzgerald 1945-48) Running back. All-State, All-Southern, and Prep All-American for state championship team as a senior. Three-year letterman at University of Georgia 1950-52

Bobby Hooks

(GMC & Valdosta) Coach. Native of Americus, GA. Led GMC to GIAA championship in 1930 and Valdosta to the state Class B titile in 1940. University of Georgia letterman 1926-28

Thomasville Bulldogs Veterans Memorial Stadium • Thomasville, GA • www.tvillebulldogs.com

THS Cheer Trifecta

by Ambernique Campbell Academy perfectly,” says Knop. She admits that her only challenge is balancing and focusing her attention on every individual person. Although she knows some injuries are prone to happen, she would like to minimize damages as much as possible. Victoria Dorsey, the head coach of the basketball squad, states that although this will be her first year coaching, she wants to show the girls the importance of self-worth. She hopes not only to lead the squad as cheerleaders, but to also lead them to see the joys of reaching a goal. Dorsey says, “Our squad’s mission is to ‘think big, act big, believe big, and big things will happen.’ Hopefully this start to my leadership of the girls on this squad will help all of us as a whole to accomplish big thinking.” Coach Dorsey aspires to create a fun atomsphere, persuading fans to participate in more cheers. She also hopes to add more basketball pep rallies to the school’s schedule. “This may not all happen this season, but hopefully we can get something off the ground, even if it’s something small,” adds Dorsey.

Thomasville Basketball Cheerleaders

Thomasville Football Cheerleaders

Thomasville high school

The 2013-14 school year has been an exciting year of changes for Thomasville High School so far. Not only has the school gained Leroy Ryals, Jr. as the athletic director/head football coach, the school has also appointed new coaches for all cheer squads: competition, football, and basketball. Cheerleaders, who are the basis of school spirit, unity, and support, are very influential in creating a fun atmosphere. Brook Everett, the head coach of the football cheerleading squad, was also assistant coach last year. She has adjusted to the position as head coach quite quickly, almost as if it was instinct. She continues to promote the importance of being positive representations of Thomasville High, in and out of uniform. Joy Knop, the head coach of the competition squad, is grateful for her position. A strong believer that hard work pays off, she influences every girl (alternate or not) to come to practice. She believes that as a team, they should lift each other up, not only literally, but morally also. Not only does she want her squad to excel, she hopes as individuals the girls on the team cherish their experiences. “We would love to win region and qualify for state, but if that doesn’t happen we have a great squad that will represent THS and the Scholars

Thomasville Competition Cheerleaders

Thomasville Bulldogs Veterans Memorial Stadium • Thomasville, GA • www.tvillebulldogs.com

Bulldogs Practice Proper Preparation For Pebble Hill

for the boys. The girls’ team up stretches, the team divided up and raced through placed second as well with 20 different locations around the park, stopping at Rachel Smith (second place), each and doing a silly pose indicated on a card. Over Rebekah Smith (ninth place), four miles were covered in total. Jacara Hayes, Mareike “I really wanted a fun way to take their minds off of Haaren, and Rebecca Jane the running,” says Coach Smith. White scoring for the girls. Top “I thought it was really unique and creative,” says scorers for the middle school varsity runner Jacob Bruhn. division were John West and Addie Rinehart. The THS cross country team is already reaping “I am ecstatic about the leadership and the the benefits of their intensified conditioning program. At the Bainbridge Bear Cat Invitational on September future of this young team. I am very proud of our 14, varsity boys team placed third and varsity girls performance,” says Smith. placed fourth. Top ten individual winners for the boys were Will White in fifth place and TJ Witherspoon in seventh with Rachel Smith in second place for the girls. At the Lee County Invitational on September 21, varsity boys placed fifth, only four points behind the third place team, and the varsity girls earned a third place trophy. Thomasville High School cross country teams captured two team wins out of nearly 20 teams as they hosted their home meet (the THS Quail Trail) at Pebble Hill Plantation. The boys’ team placed Thomasville High School cross country boys’ and girls’ teams second with Will White (sixth overall), TJ placed second out of nearly 20 teams Witherspoon (eighth overall), Neil White, as they hosted their home meet, THS Quail Trail, Ian Ward, and Keldren Reddick scoring at Pebble Hill Plantation.

Girls’ Softball Swinging Into Action

Thomasville high school

Thomasville High School girls’ softball team members may have been humble in their expectations for the upcoming year, but they have made a big name for themselves so far in the Class 1-AA region. Following up a great summer, Coach Ron O’Quinn and the Lady Dogs kept their same intensity up in their first region game, defeating Pelham

THS Lady Dogs junior Halie Morgan is up to bat as freshman Aubrey Baker swings on deck.

Thomasville high school

The Thomasville High School and MacIntyre Park Middle School cross country teams plan to repeat their history of region-winning successes under the direction of Coach Vanisa Brown, but change has come for the team. With that change has come enthusiasm, drive, and unity. The cross country program is breaking in a new community coach, and she has some effective ideas as to how to train better runners. Coach Jennifer Smith is introducing new conditioning exercises to the team’s routine. Practices, previously consisting of mainly long-distance runs, now include challenging plyometric exercises, speed work, and hill training. “The 5K is all about speed, strength, and endurance,” says Smith. “A lot of the time, speed and strength are overlooked. I started incorporating these moves into my routine and noticed significant improvement. We’re going to add more of each exercise to build up and peak at our region meet.” Asa Harbin As tough as these exercises are, most runners on the team admit that they will become much better because of them. Varsity runner Rebekah Smith has confidence in the team’s existing abilities, “but this [conditioning] is going to make us the best team possible.” Not all of the practices have been completely devoted to work. In celebration of homecoming week at Thomasville High, Coach Smith set up a park-wide scavenger hunt at Cherokee Lake. After some warm-

by Asa Harbin

by Andrew Parker 17-0. Seniors Jayla Grady, Amy Latner, Mattison Higginbotham, and junior pitcher Halie Morgan have played key roles throughout this season. Higginbotham says, “We started out with many difficulties in different areas; however, throughout this season, we have gotten better, stronger and have grown as a team.” Throughout this season, the Lady Dogs have only lost four region games. Although the upperclassmen are doing their job, the newcomers have exceeded everyone’s expectations. Coming into the season, the team had several freshmen who had no experience as varsity players; however, they have made a huge impact on the team. Coach Eric McDougal says, “I think the freshman are doing a great job and have been very important to our victories.” Senior Jayla Grady says, “They started out a little lost, but as the summer season progressed, they worked very hard, and it has shown this season.” Although the Lady Dogs are having a good season, they know they enter into some very challenging competitions.

“Cook County, Fitzgerald, Berrien County, and Early County were our biggest rivalries, but we beat them once and they beat us once,” says McDougal. One of their key successes was beating their biggest rival, Cook County, who has prevailed against the Lady Dogs for several years. Not only were the Lady Dogs focused for that game, but they were also very pumped up as well. “It wasn’t an easy game, but we played very well and were rewarded with the victory,” says Latner. After that win, the Lady Dogs stayed hungry and fought hard the rest of the season. In early October, the Lady Dogs advanced to region playoffs, which will be played during fall break. Results of the playoffs were not available at press time. “Our goal is to make it to the second round of playoffs.” says McDougal. In order to advance, they will have to defeat Early County in order to meet their goal.

Cook Hornets Adel, GA • chs.cook.k12.ga.us Cook High School Cheer 2013-14 ing Senior Night, where each senior cheerleader is recognized before the home crowd for their commitment to the team, and the Annual CHS Cheerleading Banquet, sponsored by the Cook County Spirit Club. Senior cheerleader Emily Wall says, “My final year as a CHS Cheerleader is bittersweet. I’ve grown up with my teammates and cheered with most of them since middle school. I will never forget the lessons I’ve been taught through this whole experience, but most importantly, the friendships and memories it has left me with.”

First year cheer coach Cammie Lund shares, “The 2013 CHS Cheerleading season has been fantastic so far! I feel the girls have really bonded and worked hard this year. Camp this summer gave me the opportunity to get to know the girls personally and gave them the skills to really push themselves this season. The girls worked hard at practice to prepare themselves, and their effort showed at the homecoming pep rally. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds! Go Hornets!” Photos By Jenny Pitts, Chs FaCulty

With devoted Hornet fans, getting the crowd up and yelling is not a problem for the Cook High Cheerleading squad. From an anticipated homecoming pep rally to the Friday night lights, the girls do not miss a beat. With enthusiastic cheers and chants, the crowd goes wild for their favorite team. To start the season off right, the hardworking cheerleaders dedicated their time to perfecting their performance for the homecoming pep rally and hosting a “Lil’ Hornet” cheer camp for Cook County’s tiniest aspiring cheerleaders. “Both squads have contributed much hard work and perseverance throughout this season,” says Katelyn Sellars, JV captain. “Even with the pressure of homecoming and performing in front of all of our classmates. Our hard work has paid off so far, and I know the rest of the season will be great!” Varsity Captain Libby Norton says, “As a captain, I strive to lead by example and to build the team up on a foundation of reliability and integrity.” Between FCA Camp, sleepovers, and much collaboration, the varsity and junior varsity squads have grown to be a great big family. “I couldn’t have asked for a more hardworking team. This being my first year, I have been blessed to form new friendships with my teammates,” says Natalie Roberts, JV cheerleader. The CHS Cheerleaders have much to look forward to for the remainder of the season, includ-

by Brandon Holt and Natalie Roberts

2013 Cook County Junior Varsity Cheerleaders

2013 Cook County Varsity Cheerleaders

Katelyn Sellars, Junior Varsity Captain

Libby Norton, Varsity Captain

Indian Field • Capacity: 3,000 • Ocilla, GA • www.irwincountyindians.com Irwin Football come through the other side when it appears to be impossible. The defense has been on their A game, also; stopping their opponents when needed, and causing numerous turnovers. Kicker Eric Contreras is consistently giving Irwin the PAT’s, as well as great kickoffs. Punter Austin Phillips has been reliable with his punts, adding extra yardage for Irwin challengers. Irwin’s junior varsity football team has been on a two-year winning streak. They are half way through their season with victories over Wilcox, Turner, and Lanier. The Indians say, “We are tak-

ing one game at a time,” while fans are already thinking “Three-peat”! The Indians are thrilling the fans, and the fans are supporting the Indians. Go Indians! IrwIn County HIgH SCHool

All of Irwin County is excited about Indian Football. Irwin enters their region games this weekend, beginning with the Telfair County Trojans. The current Indian record is four wins, no losses, and one tie. The players are a team, and each man does his job. The running backs have been doing an outstanding job because the offensive line has been making the openings needed for yardage or touchdowns. To date the Indians have scored 142 points to their opponents’ 67. Credit must be given to the running backs; they just will not give up! They fight for extra yardage and

Irwin offence working together.

The Indians are on the war path

Protecting and making the way for #24 Q’ashawn Tucker

#7 Antuane Merritt

#20 James Curtis gets through for extra yards

Senior Kicker Eric Contreras

Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane Jaycee Stadium • Capacity: 5,000 • Fitzgerald, GA • www.purplehurricane.com Boosting Team Character With “Habitudes”

Fitzgerald HigH ScHool

At the end of the football season last year, Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes’ Head Football Coach Jason Strickland felt like something was

missing. To him, it felt as though they were investing a lot of time and money into making the outside of their team look good. “I felt like we needed to invest more in the inside of our guys.” When he contacted several other high school and college teams to find a solution, he came across Habitudes. Habitudes is a program started by Dr. Tim Elmer which gives players character education lessons. These “classes” were held once a week, and showed the boys examples of how to act and show character on the field. They would begin together with a video lesson, then break off

by Lilly Dent into smaller groups which were lead by adults from the community. Senior Kelsey Jordan says he felt like Habitudes “brought us together as a team.” The boys were taught character lessons that not only applied to football, but to life as well. Kelsey says it helped “[their] reactions to problems in the game.” He also says it helped bring about a strong sense of leadership in the players. Coach Strickland says, “We as coaches would try to model [good character].” Coach Strickland has expressed that they will plan to continue character education in the upcoming years and even begin letting senior players lead some of the lessons. He feels it is “a step in a right direction.”

Lady Canes Softball Season Shows Great Promise For Playoffs and this is what has helped them get through the season so well. Dorough says, “This year has been the most successful season for the Lady Canes since fast pitch began at FHS. The girls even beat Berrien County, a very dominate team in our region.” The coaches and players are currently waiting on their definite position in

region placements, viewing their selves as either second or third place. The Lady Canes are definitely in the first rounds of playoffs and are very hopeful to continue to the championship games. Fitzgerald HigH ScHool

Fitzgerald High School’s Lady Canes’ softball team is proud to claim their success in their regular playing season. Key players Skylar Dorough, Erika James, and Katelyn Wimbley contributed to the team’s 13-11 overall win/loss record and their 8-4 region win/loss record. These girls were also chosen to be last season’s All-Region representatives. Dorough is the starting pitcher for the Lady Canes. She has been the All-Region pitcher as a freshman and sophomore and is hoping to be the junior representative. Erika James is also on the varsity team. She was last season’s All-Region catcher and shortstop. Katelyn Wimbley represented the Lady Canes as AllRegion honorable mention. Coaches Rosier and Dorough have both coached and mentored these three girls and their teammates for three years. Dorough started coaching when his oldest daughter, Skylar Dorough, started her ninth grade year at Fitzgerald High School. According to the Coach Dorough the team has exceeded their win/loss record this season. He states that the team as a whole has matured since last season,

by Aubree Willcox

Katelin Stecz and Destiny Roe are two of the top cross country runners in the area. Their talent for running extends to the track as well. Last year, Roe won region in the 800 meters and finished third in

Rising Star Presented by:

the mile while Stecz finished fourth in both events. They both run the 800 meters, the mile, and the 4x400 relay. This track season, they hope to be even faster.

Katelin Stecz

Destiny Roe

Pine Grove

Middle School

Talented Eighth Graders Stick Together in Sports and In the Classroom by Robert Preston, Jr.

ine Grove Middle School eighth-graders Katelin Stecz and Destiny Roe are inseparable. Seldom will you see one without the other. They cheer together, run cross country together, study together, talk running when they’re studying, and talk schoolwork when they’re running. The girls are ultra competitive but only against opposing teams, never against each other. To them, participation in athletics is an extension of their friendship, another avenue through which they can enjoy each other’s company. And given the number of sports they play, they certainly spend a lot of time together. The sports Stecz and Roe have chosen to play cover almost the entire year. They run cross country and track, and they cheer - both on Pine Grove’s brand new competition team

photography by Micki K Photography

and on the sidelines for the football program. The girls grew up running and have logged thousands of miles over the years. Competition cheerleading is new to both. Pine Grove has never had a competition cheer team prior to this year. To prepare for their first season as competition cheerleaders, Stecz and Roe spent the summer training for the demands their new pursuit would place on their bodies. Competition cheering wasn’t completely new to Stecz. She had a little gymnastics in her background. Roe had never done any kind of gymnastics, tumbling, or anything similar. To her, everything would be brand new. One of the primary concerns with cheerleading in general, but competition cheering in particular, is the risk of injury. Cheerleading has one of the highest incidence rates of injury of any sport,

male or female, and the injuries cheerleaders suffer tend to be more serious than those of other athletes. To reduce the ever present danger of injuries, the girls had to learn the right way to cheer. “We learned a lot this summer. It was very humbling. I didn’t know cheerleading would be this hard,” says Stecz. Roe is a flyer who also spends time at base. Stecz is strictly a base. Neither position is particularly safe. The flyers are the ones who do the acrobatics. If they don’t come down properly or their bases don’t catch them correctly, both flyers and bases can end up with very serious injuries. Though she supported her daughter’s decision to cheer completely, Melissa Roe, Destiny’s mother, had plenty of concerns. “My biggest concern was Destiny 55

getting hurt. The girls have learned a lot and they have really improved. But both are runners. and I don’t want either one to hurt an ankle, knee, or foot cheering,” she says. For the most part, the girls have remained injury free, with the exception of a few kicks to the nose and bruises. Pine Grove has three competitions on its schedule this season. The first was an 11-team competition at Lowndes High School. To say it was overwhelming for the girls would be quite an understatement. Competition cheer teams from all over South Georgia and North Florida were there. Pine Grove finished eighth. Nobody got hurt, and it was a tremendous learning experience for everyone. “I thought it would be different. It was a lot scarier than I imagined,” says Stecz. The team took away a lot of positives from that first competition. “We hit every routine. We didn’t miss anything, and we didn’t drop anyone,” says Roe. The girls have truly excelled in running. Both are accomplished runners in cross country and track. Cross country in particular gives them the opportunity to hang out while they train and compete. When they are running, they make sure to stay together, even during races. Stecz and Roe have an understanding - one will finish

a step or two ahead of the other in one race, and in the next, the other will finish in front. “They are always running together. In their last few meets, they finished seventh and eighth, and fourth and fifth. They encourage each other and never leave each other behind,” says Melissa Roe. Their two-mile personal bests are one second apart: 12:34 and 12:35. “We want to have fun, relax, and set new PRs. We also like to stay in the top five,” says Stecz. Destiny Roe and Stecz are excellent students who are as attentive to their schoolwork as they are their athletics. School comes easy to them, though there are times when they have to buckle down and hit the books. When those times come, they simply do whatever it takes to finish their work. “They study together and talk about school work all the time. They feed off each other and are perfect for each other,” says Melissa Roe. When the girls reach high school, they both say they would like to continue running and cheering. If that is not possible, and they are forced to make a choice, they will cross that bridge when they get to it. For the time being, they are learning their new sport and working on getting faster at their old one. They are working hard, improving each day, and enjoying every minute of it. Just like friends should. ITG

Katelin & Destiny’s Favorites Sport you wish you could play Katelin: Soccer Destiny: Soccer Person to meet Katelin: Gabby Douglas Destiny: Usain Bolt Pepsi or Coke? Katelin: Pepsi Destiny: Coke

Superpower Katelin: Fly Destiny: Invisibility Place to travel Katelin: The world Destiny: Brazil Food Katelin: Steak Destiny: Strawberries

It’s November and there are many things for us to be thankful for. We are so thankful for the opportunities that God is granting us on our campuses, courts, fields, and communities! We are thankful for the donors and volunteers that are enabling this ministry to accomplish really cool stuff! We have had record attendance at our community outreach endeavors this year and we believe it is because we all joined together seeking out God’s best for our communities. We are adding to our staff and we are thankful! We now have three paid staff and three volunteer staff with another paid staff candidate raising support. The fields are white unto harvest and God is adding to our workers! Danny has been able to preach in many of our area churches almost every Sunday for the past four months! His idea to share the FCA Story via “FCA DAY” at area churches has allowed us to partner with those churches, seek out volunteers, and ask for financial support to help us continue sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of you have been a part of those FCA DAY’s and we are thankful and excited to partner with you!

Finally, this month is our opportunity to say thank you to our ministry donors by hosting an Appreciation Lunch in their honor. Park Avenue United Methodist Church is so awesome to host this lunch each year on their campus. It’s a central location which allows us to prepare and serve an incredible seafood buffet with all the fixins’ to the people whose love for Jesus allows us to share Him with everyone we work with. THANK YOU to everyone who makes Fellowship of Christian Athletes an intricate part of our lives here in Titletown! Danny R. Broyles SEGA Area Director (229) 245-1717 Office www.segafca.org

SEGA FCA

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