SPORTS

Spartans Rout Titans, Ready to Take on Hartselle Next PAGE 38 SPORTS

Thursday, November 17, 2022 ❖ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Members of the 2022 All OTM Volleyball team are, front from left: Raegan James, Hoover; Kenzie Richards, Hoover; Sydney Humes,Homewood; and Savannah Gann, Vestavia Hills. Middle: Maggie Harris, Hoover; Kendyl Mitchell, Hoover; Stella Helms, Briarwood Christian; and Lauren Schuessler, Oak Mountain. Back: Coach of the Year, Amanda Wood, Hoover; Hannah Parant, Mountain Brook; Mae Mae Lacey, Mountain Brook; Alice Garzon, Mountain Brook; and Mira McCool, Homewood. Not pictured: Emily Breazeale, Brooklyn Allison, Spain Park; and Audrey Vielguth, Vestavia Hills.

STEPPING UP

Vestavia Hills’ Gann Earns OTM Volleyball Player of the Year Honor

By RuBin E. GRant

Savannah Gann didn’t shy away when things got a little tight during matches for the Vestavia Hills volleyball team this season.

Instead, the Rebels’ senior outside hitter elevated her level of play.

“Savannah is a fierce competitor,” Vestavia Hills coach Ashley Hardee said. “She’s always working to get better. She’s a six-rotation player.”

“She stepped up in critical moments. She put teams away when we had the lead or she brought us back when we were behind.”

With Gann leading the way, Vestavia Hills reached the Class 7A North Regional and finished with a 29-10 record. She recorded 537 kills to surpass 1,000 for her career. She also tallied 265 digs, 43 aces and 18 blocks.

For her performance, Gann is the 2022 OTM Volleyball Player of the Year, selected in balloting by Over the Mountain volleyball coaches.

“I am truly honored,” Gann said. “I don’t want to sound like I’m super shocked, but I didn’t think I would get an award like this because there is a lot of talent Over the Mountain.

“I think I played well. I think I had the best

See OTM TEAM, page 39

STATE CROSS-COUNTRY MEET

Riley Repeats as Spartans Sweep Class 6A Titles

By RuBin E. GRant

Mountain Brook senior Reagan Riley had one thing uppermost on her mind as she ran the Oakville Indian Mounds Park course during the AHSAA 67th State Cross Country Championships on Nov. 5.

“The conditions were not the best,” Riley said. “It was muddy after a torrential downpour, and it is usually dry and dusty. I was really watching my footing to make sure I didn’t slip or fall.”

Riley kept her footing, finishing

Journal photo by Jordan Wald See OTM CROSS COUNTRY, page 38 Mountain Brook swept the girls and boys team titles in 6A, and Homewood finished runner-up in both. Rebels Come Up Short at Thompson to End Evans’ First Season PAGE 38

Homewood Turns Good Season Into a Great One With 10th Victory

By Bill lumpkin iii

Homewood coach Ben Berguson was looking for greatness when the Patriots took the field for their Class 6A playoff game against Pike Road last Friday at Waldrop Stadium.

“I told the kids before the game a nine-win season was good, but a 10-win season was great,” Berguson said.

Homewood earned its 10th victory with a 24-21 win, now the Patriots will play in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2018, their last 10-win season. Homewood (10-2) will visit

See HOMEWOOD, page 39

Ray threw for 171 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 85 yards and another score during the game last week.

Hoover Routs Hewitt to Set Up Another Showdown With Thompson

By Solomon CREnShaw JR.

Wade Waldrop spent eight seasons as head coach at James Clemens in Madison. Often, his Jets’ flightpath through the Class 7A playoffs was blocked by a team from Region 3.

Now, as the first-year coach at Hoover, he leads one of those teams and he understands the difference.

“It’s a playoff game every week, and if you don’t approach it that way, you won’t be in the playoffs.” Waldrop said after his Bucs defeated Hewitt-Trussville 28-11 last Friday at the Hoover Met to advance to the Class 7A semifi-