The Oconee Leader

This Week:

Sports Issue 7

Volume 11

From the Oconee to the Apalachee

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Racing

Townley wins Page 4

Business

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Extra Special People participants Saturday entertained a sold-out Classic Center crowd with portrayals of favorite fairytales.

Tours of

Italy

Page 2

Online

Photo Gallery

NOHS

theoconeeleader.com

Schools

PACS students

Honor Band Page 3

Athens was feeling the love over Valentine’s weekend, but it wasn’t for the reasons you’d expect. No, Valentine’s Day wasn’t the only thing that had hearts aflutter, but rather it was ESP’s Big Hearts, Be Loved.

Non-profit Extra Special People held its annual Big Hearts event this weekend. Playing off of the Valentine’s weekend timing, the theme was Be Loved. It was a fairytale evening of villains and heroes battling it out for the audience’s hearts on the Classic Center stage.

The stage was transformed into a fairytale forest straight out of a book. Rumplestiltskin, the Big Bad Wolf, and the Evil Queen fought Snow White, the Three Little Pigs, and Goldilocks in choreographed song and dance numbers. Each skit and carefully selected song choice highlighted ESP’s talented participants and their infectiously lovable personalities. In the end, love conquered all and the heroes and villains were united.

Between each performance, the contestant groups entertained the crowd with their glamorous getups and equally sparkling personalities.

Contestants chatted with the MC’s about their hobbies, showed off their talents, like singing or

playing the mandolin, and took a moment to shine. Each contestant was joined onstage by the evening’s escorts: football players Aaron Murray, ChuksAmaechi, and Grayson Lambert, pageant queens Adeline Kenerly and Madison Giddens, and other special guests.

At the end of the Pageant, judges Miss University of Georgia Annie Jorgensen and UGA Strength & Conditioning Football Coach Scott Sinclair selected this year’s title holders: Special Little Miss and Mr. Molly Kate Cloer and Joseph Page, Special Young Miss and Mr. Magen Ferland and Kaleb Nunley, Special Junior Miss and Mr. Kailey Lynn Watson and Michael Webb and Special Miss and Mr. Amber Young and Bryan Beard. With the support of her family, friends, and the generous audience, Amelia Hanks was awarded the People’s Choice. All of the contestants and performers gathered on stage to receive crowns and celebrate a magical evening that celebrated individuals of all abilities.

ESP sold out the Classic Center theater for its 9th Big Hearts; the fourth show of the week to claim that distinction, in line with Widespread Panic and Jerry Seinfeld. The Athens commu-

nity proved that there were no children more deserving of its attention, than those performing on that stage Saturday night. This support, one might call it a fandom, is what has lead to the creation of the ESP Fan Club.

Announced during the Pageant and Banquet at Big Heats, the ESP Fan Club will provide a way for ESP’s fans, the ones who have celebrated and supported the individuals of ESP and the programming that is so special to them, to continue to sustain the organization.

It is a movement that has its roots in the Plant the Flag initiative that made ESP’s new 14,000 sq. ft. facility a possibility. In a video talking about the power of fans, UGA Head Coach Kirby Smart, Sports Presenter Chuck Dowdle, and Head Coach Kirby Smart, among others, encourage you to build the biggest fan base ESP has ever seen.

“The cost of raising a typical child is $250,000. The cost to raise a child with special needs is $2.5 mllion,” explained Laura Whitaker, ESP Executive director during the ‘Big Hearts’ Page 3

Please see

‘A Taste of Oconee’ raising money for music

BY ROB PEECHER

The Oconee Leader

The Oconee County Middle School band and chorus programs will provide entertainment at the upcoming A Taste of Oconee, an annual fundraiser intended to raise money to support the OCMS music programs.

The 10th Annual A Taste of Oconee is planned for Sunday, Feb. 21 at the Oconee County Civic Center. It will run from 5 to 8 p.m.

Nearly 20 local restaurants will be participating vendors at the event, offering samples of their cuisine throughout the evening.

Christie Hughes, one of the event organizers and the parent of a sixthgrade band member, said advance tickets are $20 and can be bought from the OCMS office. Tickets at the door are $25.

“There will be something for everyone,” Hughes said. “Di’lishi Frozen Yogurt will have samples.

Zaxby’s, Dominick’s, Piccolo’s will all be there. A complete list of the vendors is on the website (atasteofoconee.com).”

Hughes noted there will also be a raffle featuring items from local businesses and vacation get-aways.

The OCMS chorus last year entertained attendees at A Taste of Oconee.

“A ticket gives people the opportunity to sample the different restaurants around Oconee County and also a raffle ticket,” Hughes said. “People can also buy additional raffle tickets to increase their chances of winning.”

Money raised during the event will go to buy new instruments, repair instruments and buy new

music for the program, Hughes said. It will also be used to support clinics and other opportunities for the students to learn music.

“My daughter, Maya, is in sixth grade and she’s in the band, and she loves the program,” Hughes said.

“She plays the clarinet.”

Hughes said one of the best things about the evening is the op-

FILE PHOTO/Oconee Leader

portunity for people attending A Taste of Oconee is to hear the band and chorus.

“The band and chorus will both be performing, so that gives you an idea of what you’re supporting, which is the kids in the school district,” Hughes said.

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year.”

Italy tours: ‘We try to make it everybody’s dream vacation’ Page 2

Thursday, February 18, 2016

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BY MIKE SPRAYBERRY The Oconee Leader

Though Thea Ellenberg first traveled to Italy at six years old and “caught the Italy bug” with a second trip at 19, her involvement in starting an interior design program at Athens Technical College may have played an equally important role in her latest venture: Italy Alive Tours.

A former instructor at the University of Georgia, Ellenberg taught in the UGA study abroad program in Verona for five summers and informally organized tours of Italy for students before approaching Athens Tech about offering an interior design program.

“I was just hoping to be an adjunct professor,” she recalled. “(Athens Tech) offered me a 12month position as the full-time chair of the interior design program. After two years, I approached them with this crazy idea about study abroad. I pitched it to them and they said ‘Go for it.’ For three years, I ended up leading these tours of Italy. They were completely organized by me. I planned, booked and organized them and I was a guide. Another instructor at the college with an art history background came with us as a guide too.

“What we’re doing now is a tour that is open to the whole community. The Athens Tech tours were meant for students, but we did have some people from outside that wanted to come, so Athens Tech allowed them to take some continuing education classes so they could go. Now, we’re literally opening it up to the whole community and whoever wants to come can come.”

Anyone is welcome on Italy Alive Tours, said Ellenberg, but space is limited as she provides a very personal and intimate experience for her customers.

“These tours are special, usually for 10 to 12 people with a maxi-

Thea Ellenberg on a boat to Portofino, Italy.

mum of 15. The idea being that you would travel with me. I’d be there from airport to airport. The whole trip, I’m on call 24-7. I’m leading walking tours through cities. I’m there for meals, translating menus and can offer shopping advice.”

More than just a tour guide or translator, the New York native of Italian descent lived and studied in Florence for two years between undergraduate and graduate school. Ellenberg later obtained Italian citizenship while considering a permanent relocation there.

Those experiences allow her to offer the rare perspective of a dual citizen, fluent in both languages.

“It is kind of like having a private tour rather than joining a bigger tour company that sets you up with a different tour guide in each city. Yes, you would be in Italy and you would get a native Italian who knows the culture well, but not American culture like an American would. They can be

hard to understand and have thick accents. If they don’t understand American culture, they may say some things without knowing how it sounds.

“On this tour, you not only have an American, but also an Italian.

I am fluent in both languages and know both cultures very well.”

Ellenberg’s cultural expertise is demonstrated as she guides travelers for 10 nights not only through Rome, Florence and Milan but also Levanto, the small town on the Italian Riviera where her father grew up.

“I still have cousins there,” she said. “It is absolutely spectacular and right on the beach. We definitely are going to go to the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica while we’re in Rome. There could be little day trips to the Catacombs in Rome or other little trips that don’t cost much money.

“Of course, in Florence we will visit the museum that houses (Michelangelo’s) David. All of

the cities have famous museums, so we will see who wants to do those kinds of things and set those people up with tickets.”

In the interests of both cost and customization, many of the specifics of an Italy Alive tour are left to the discretion of individual travelers, Ellenberg said.

“We try to keep it reasonably priced. It is not filled with a bunch of extras, but we can add things on ‘a la carte.’ We don’t require people to go to anything or build those things into a tour because we don’t want to increase the price. Some people might rather shop in a market than go to a museum. Others might be sitting in a cafe, reading a book and taking some time to relax.

“We try to make it everybody’s dream vacation. It’s not very packed and there is a lot of free time. If anyone is nervous, they can spend the entire day with me or two or more people can go off on their own. Everybody gets an inexpensive flip phone with their own Italian phone numbers.

They’re not meant for calling the

United States, but for calling each other if anyone gets lost or wants to meet up later.”

According to Ellenberg, the Italy Alive Tours experience starts long before and lasts long after the trip, next scheduled for June 2 through 13.

“We always have a couple of pre-departure meetings a month or two before we go,” she said.

“Everyone comes to my house, we meet and I might make some traditional Italian food. We have a few dinner party meetings because we’re going to be together a lot. We become one big family.

“That’s another really nice thing about this versus joining a commercial tour. You’ll definitely be traveling with other Athens people. So, even when we come back, we can have a post-arrival party, eat at an Italian restaurant and share pictures and things.”

For more information on Italy Alive Tours, visit www.italyalivetours.com or call 706-202-2702.

Mike Sprayberry is a reporter for The Oconee Leader.

Christian dating program to be held February 20

Christian life coach Wendy Fletcher-Clements will host a program for Christian singles who want to learn Biblical principles to guide them in the dating process.

The program, titled “Date Smart: Follow Your Heart Without Losing Your Mind,” is for both singles and those who are “single again.” It will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20.

The program will teach the major areas that predict what a person will be like in a marriage, a model to help participants understand how to get to know the person they are dating, the bonding forces that must be kept in balance as a relationship grows and generally how to date smarter.

The cost of the program is $85 and includes a workbook and a 30 minute individual coaching follow-up phone call.

For more information, call 706-540-7259.

- Staff Reports

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Sweet tea and laundry

We don’t keep a lot of Coca-Cola at our house.

It’s not that Jean or I are opposed to sugary, caffeinated drinks. This is purely a decision driven by finances. With three sons, if we kept soft drinks in the house, we would have to spend the equivalent of the GDP of a small island nation (probably something close to the size of the United Kingdom) to keep the refrigerator stocked.

Oh, we’ve tried over the years. We would buy 24packs of Coke in the cans and put those in the refrigerator, but those would be empty in a day. We would by six packs and tell the boys, “When it’s gone, it’s gone.” But six won’t last an hour. We would by cases and only put a couple of cans in the refrigerator at a time and hide the rest of the cans in the shed behind the house, but the boys would sniff out the cans, discover them in the shed and drink them hot.

I can’t even count all the times we found our kids bouncing off the walls of the shed on sugary caffeine highs with empty cans of Coke littering the floor.

We tried buying 2-liters instead of cans, hoping the boys would ration the bottles rather than each of them having individual servings. But the 2-liters were never rationed, and they always led to disputes over who drank more than whom.

Eventually, we gave up. We couldn’t win the Soda Wars at the house. The boys could not be reasonable when they indulged and we couldn’t afford to feed the habit.

We figured it wasn’t all bad. Too much soda isn’t good for the kids’ teeth and our waist lines, so it’s been years since Jean bought soda at the grocery store.

We still occasionally stop at a convenience store and the kids get Cokes, but not often.

But it’s not like we’re running a monastery. We’re not a bunch of monks who have sworn off stuff that tastes good, only to quench our thirst with clear,

healthy water. Yuck.

So in our house we drink sweet tea.

When I was growing up, Joey Johnson’s mother made the best sweet tea I’ve ever had. She went heavy on the sweet. There was enough sugar in Miss Doris’s sweet tea that the stirring spoon, of its own accord, stood up straight in the pitcher. Acres and acres of cane on tropical islands had to be harvested just to get enough sugar for one pitcher of Miss Doris’s sweet tea.

Still, I can’t say I’ve had better than those glasses of tea I used to enjoy on Joey’s back porch, but Jean’s tea is pretty darn good.

Jean makes her tea by the gallon in a big black pitcher. We can go through a gallon of sweet tea in under 24 hours, and so Jean usually makes tea every day. She doesn’t go through quite the same acreage of sugar cane that Joey Johnson’s mother went through, but I know there are sugar plantation owners who are grateful to my sons.

Jean sometimes gets aggravated about the rate at which we drink sweet tea. She also gets very, very aggravated when someone leaves just the tiniest bit of tea in the bottom of the pitcher and puts it back in the refrigerator. And woe unto whichever of our sons puts an empty pitcher back in the refrigerator (which happens two or three times a week).

“I feel like all I do is make tea,” Jean sometimes says.

I don’t know how she can say this, because I’ve also heard her say: “I feel like all I do is laundry.” Which is strange, because she also claims, “I feel like all I do is cook for you people.”

The other day one of our sons put an empty pitcher back in the refrigerator. I hate when they do this, because I always seem to be nearby when Jean discovers the empty pitcher, and so she directs her anger at me.

She got a glass out of the cabinet. She set the glass down on the counter and reached into the refrigerator.

She lifted the pitcher.

“Is this?” she asked – not finishing her statement.

She turned the pitcher to pour the tea into her glass, but only the smallest of trickles trickled out.

‘Big Hearts’ CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Prince Avenue Christian School band members who made district are (back row, left to right): Caleb Wilson, Emily Weaver, Tanner Iley, Nate Aldin; (middle row, left to right): Caleb Land, Shannon Lee, Maddy Wilson; (front row, left to right): Mackenzie Case, Abigail Merhar, and Garrison Hammond.

PACS students make district honor band

Ten students from Prince Avenue Christian School were selected to perform with the Georgia Music Educators Association District Honor Band.

Those students are Emily Weaver, clarinet; Nate Aldin, clarinet; Shannon Lee, saxophone; Maddy Wilson, saxophone; Abbigail Merhar, saxophone; Caleb Wilson, saxophone; Mackenzie Case, trumpet; Garrison Hammond, horn; Caleb Land, trombone; and Tanner Iley, euphonium.

Having 10 students in District Honor Band marks a record for Prince Avenue Christian School.

“Two years ago we had one student make District. Last year, we had eight. This year we had 10,” Band Director Miles Adams said. “I’m very proud of these students for their hard work. Our district encompasses most of northeast Georgia and includes

some very fine band programs. Our Prince band students are showing they have what it takes to compete and be successful at the district level. Three of those ten students scored high enough at the district audition to qualify for the state level audition for the Georgia All-State Band. The competition at the state level is very intense. I’m extremely proud of Caleb Land for making 2nd chair in the 2016 Georgia Middle School All-State Band.”

The Middle School District Honor Band will rehearse and perform Feb. 12 – 13 at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa. The High School District Honor Band will rehearse and perform Feb. 18 – 20 at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville. The All-State Band will rehearse and perform at the Classic Center in Athens March 3 – 5.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Page 3

“Is this empty?” she asked. “It is empty. Who put the empty pitcher back in the refrigerator?”

I looked around to see if the guilty party would turn up to confess, but it was still just me and Jean standing there.

“I feel like all I do is make tea,” she said, opening a cabinet to get a pot and getting some tea bags from the canister where she keeps them.

“I thought you felt like all you do is laundry,” I said.

Thankfully, she didn’t hear me.

I could see that Jean was fairly angry, so I went to see if I could find a child to drag before her to be sacrificed to her wrath.

Instead, in the living room on the table by the couch I saw two pint glasses. Each was about half full of unfinished tea.

There on the mantel, above the fireplace, was another glass of unfinished tea.

As I started looking around, I began to understand how we go through so much tea so quickly: We don’t drink it, we just pour it.

None of the glasses belonged to me (and though she didn’t confess, I’m fairly sure one of them was Jean’s), but when I finished walked through the house and checking in the boys’ rooms, their bathroom and the bonus room where they play Game Box and watch Youtube videos, I had found nearly a dozen glasses with at least some amount of sweet tea still in them.

All told, I think I found about half a gallon.

With the way my sons pick up after themselves, I suppose it’s possible those glasses half full of tea had been sitting around for several days (though I’d like to think I would have noticed the glass on the mantel after a day or two).

I collected up all of the glasses and took them to the kitchen where Jean was boiling water for the next pitcher of tea.

“I think I’ve discovered why you have to make tea so often,” I told her. “The question you should ask now, I think, is whether or not they fully wear their clothes before tossing them in the dirty laundry.”

Rob Peecher is author of the book Four Things My Wife Hates About Mornings, available at amazon.com.

Continued from the Front

Fan Club launch. “Initiatives like fan club and events like Big Hearts provide the base funding that make ESP’s programs possible, keeping cost low to the families so they can focus on therapies, equipment and expenses most families never have to think about.”

Some 150 fans joined the club Saturday. That puts ESP a quarter of the way to its 500 fan goal. The Fan Club will make it possible for ESP to keep the costs of its programs low for families while allowing them to continue growing their programs and serving more children.

The Pageant, Banquet, and Silent Auction Saturday weren’t just a moment for the participants of ESP to shine, but also a chance to share some of the most generous hearts in Athens.

“It is incredible to see the generosity and civic-mindedness of our local businesses,” said Sponsorship Chair Tracey Hickey. “It is their sponsorship that makes this event possible, businesses like our presenting sponsor Athens Ford.”

Silent Auction Chair Tracie Morrissey agrees, “The Silent Auction was a big success this year thanks to our generous community. No one can say no to ESP! Being a part of Big Hearts has been a true blessing.”

Banquet Chair Katie Waters was equally vocal about the volunteers, “They are selfless, giving, so competent, and I hope that the night rewarded them in the way only Big Hearts can, with a heart 10 times bigger than when you walked in the door.”

For hundreds of photos and constant updates about Oconee events and people, go to theoconeeleader.com

This Week:

Titans

Trophy Day for Oconee County WARRIORS TITANS SPARTANS WOLVERINES LIONS

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Basketball

Region champions Page 6

Upcoming Michael Dowis North Oconee athletics

Dowis named 4A athletic director of the year

More signing stories will be featured in upcoming editions of The Oconee Leader.

BY MATTHEW CALDWELL The Oconee Leader

Online Lions

Basketball

Westminster teams in Final Four

theoconeeleader.com

Rexx Hallyburton

Chris Couch

Hallyburton, Couch bring home state championships in GHSA state matches Oconee County wrestling

History was made for Oconee County High School in last weekend’s GHSA state tournament.

Rexx Hallyburton became the first two-time state championship in the history of the wrestling program at Oconee.

Hallyburton was the top seed going into the event. He won his opening match and second match by fall. He won his third match 9-3 to qualify for the finals, where he beat Banks

County’s Dylan Gouine 3-1 in overtime to win the state championship.

He also won the 2015 state championship in the 2015 weight class.

Couch was also the top seed going into his weight class, 160 pounds. He won his first match by fall, then earned a 7-1 win in this second match.

After winning by fall to earn a spot in the finals, he picked up a 7-4 win against Morgan County’s Antonio Robinson to win his first career state

championship. Last year he finished fourth in the 160-pound weight class.

This is the fourth straight year a Warrior has won a state championship and the first time they have had two state champions in the same year. Jake Hodges won a state championship three years ago and Cory Collins won a state championship two years ago.

As a team, the Warriors finished sixth. Jordan Slivey finished in fifth place in the 113-pound weight class.

Townley returns to Victory Lane at Daytona

Photo galleries

North Oconee, WCA basketball

theoconeeleader.com

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Contributed photo

John Wes Townley’s victory in Saturday's ARCA Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire at Daytona International Speedway was historic for many reasons. The 26-year-old Townley became the first winner of a stock car race at the newly-minted World Center of Racing, the first motorsports facility to feature stadium-styled seating. He also became the first driver to take General Tire, the new official supplier of tires to ARCA teams, to victory lane. Townley, the 2013 winner of the Lucas Oil 200, remains the lone Georgia driver to win an ARCA race at Daytona during a rich history that stretches 53 years. Townley is from Watkinsville and graduated high school from North Oconee. ‘There’s so much to be thankful for,’ said Townley, after being made aware of the significance of his win. ‘The guys at Athenian Motorsports, and I mean every one of them that travel with us and all of them that work so hard in the shop, gave me a fabulous Zaxby’s Chevrolet.’ For the full release, see theoconeeleader.com.

Last month, North Oconee athletic director Michael Dowis was named the Region 8-AAAA Athletic Director of the Year.

Last week, Dowis received another honor. He was named Class AAAAAthletic Director of the Year.

“That is very humbling to me. I am very shocked that I received that but it is a credit to North Oconee and all of our kids and what they have done. It’s a great place to work and great people to work with. Great kids to be around. It is a credit to the situation. I am fortunate enough to be in the position,” Dowis said. “I felt like, well maybe it is just my turn to be (region AD of the year). I was kind of shocked at that. This was really a shock. This was an incredible shock to get this. I am very happy but shocked.”

Dowis, currently in his third year as North Oconee AD, is the second AD from North Oconee to receive both the region and class AD of the year. Luis Varela won both awards in his final year at North Oconee.

He is now working in the school district office.

“I have been very fortunate to two exceptional athletic directors. They have both been a pleasure to work with and I am blessed for having both of those guys as colleagues,” said principal Philip Brown.

“We are really happy for Michael Dowis and what he means to our school. His competitive nature is something that you love about him. He and I are two of the most competitive people in Georgia. We like to win at everything and we try to balance that by doing right by the kids and doing right by our families. That is a lot of fun. We do a lot of winning at North Oconee. That’s the beauty of it. It’s top to bottom. We feel like we put a good product on the court or on the field. That’s exciting for the school.”

Page 5

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Thursday, February 18, 2016

North Oconee’s Conner Krieger (Air Force), Preston Wilkie (Campbell), Eric Bell (Emory and Henry College), Kyriece Wrice (Cumberland)

Four Titans sign to continue football careers at collegiate level

BY MATTHEW CALDWELL The Oconee Leader

North Oconee has had four members of its football team sign this month to continue playing football.

On National Signing Day earlier this month, Conner Krieger signed with the Air Force Academy and Preston Wilkie signed with Campbell University.

Last week, Eric Bell signed with Emory and Henry College and Kyriece Wrice signed with the University of Cumberland.

Head coach Terry Tuley expects there to be at least four more to sign.

“It’s not over yet,” Tuley said. “It is special when you think about what we went into. With a 5-5 record, making the playoffs, losing to Woodward, it’s a testament to the kids and coaching staff that people respect us enough to come back and get our kids. That is what I am really proud of.”

Krieger signs with Air Force

For Krieger, playing at one of the service academies was something he always saw himself doing.

“I am an undersized lineman. I was hoping those kinds of offenses and that kind of program would take a look at me,” Krieger said.

“I was receiving some mail from Army but they never sealed the deal with me. Air Force came in and in two days they offered me. I took that offer and I am proud to be a Falcon.

“I’m excited, a little nervous and stressed out that I

Preston Wilkie, Eric Bell, Kyriece Wrice, Conner Krieger

am going to have to report in the summer, but obviously I am very relieved I can sign with such a great school.”

Krieger said he had to go through the appointment to get into the Air Force Academy.

“Luckily when you get offered to play football or any other collegiate sport, you get pre-approved. That means you will get appointed,” Krieger said.

“The formality of getting appointed and sending your stuff in is a little easier.

That is what I am fortunate about. It’s a lifetime process getting into the service academy. I applied to UGA because I didn’t know I was going to get this offer. Shorter offered me as well. But the process of appointment came very quickly when I got the offer.

“It was a two-day process. Coach Hendrix came to my house and we had a chat about the Air Force Academy and said he

was interested. He said he would call me within the week. He gave me a call the next day after a basketball game and he wanted to offer me. I committed right then. I still gave Shorter a chance. I went out for an official visit there. I have friends who play on that team. It’s a great atmosphere. Even though it’s a smaller school, it still made the choice difficult.”

Life post-college was something Krieger felt would be beneficial by attending Air Force.

“I feel confident in the fact the Air Force Academy will set me up for life. That is exciting. The less exciting part but willing to take the challenge is the hard ships that come through going to that academy,” Krieger said. “You get your downtime but the rigor there is extraordinary, but they are trying to make leaders of the country. My acceptance papers said, ‘Forming leaders one snap at a time.’ You know you

have to live that. That is what I look forward to.”

He isn’t too worried about attending college in Colorado.

“My mom is going to be kind of crazy about it and I have a great relationship with my dad, who is also my coach. That will be hard to get over but they understand that going to a university will make you independent of your family, and it’s getting thrown into the water with the Air Force Academy and going through that training that comes with the Air Force Academy,” Krieger said. “It should do me wonders and I love Colorado. I have family out there. That shouldn’t be a problem getting acclimated to that weather. It’s a low deprivation of oxygen there. It will be difficult to get acclimated that way but it should be fun.”

One thing that will be different for Krieger is the color scheme. Air Force Academy’s main color is

royal blue.

“I told my dad when the Air Force gear came in the mail, I said I never thought I would wear it,” Krieger said. “But the last two football games I ever played, the FCA all-star game I was the white team where we had blue accents and now it looks like the Air Force will make me blue and white. I will still bleed red and gold for North Oconee, always.”

Wilkie signs with Campbell

When Preston Wilkie was a junior, he changed positions from defensive end to tight end. That moved paid off and he got to sign with Campbell University, located in Buies Creek, N.C., to be the Camels’ tight end.

“It was a good move.

Tight end is my best position,” Wilkie said.

Wilkie committed to Campbell just days before National Signing Day, when he put his signature on the letter of intent. He chose

Campbell over West Carolina, Samford and Butler.

“This ended up being the one,” he said. “It was a lot of relief. It is a stressful time but it pays off in the end. It is a great honor to be a part of Campbell.

“I just want to thank God. Without Him, none of this would be possible. My relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life and He gets all of the glory.”

He has played football as long as he can remember and it was always a goal of his to play on Saturdays.

“I have worked my whole life for this moment,” Wilkie said. “It is a blessing and I am glad it’s finally here.”

Bell signs with Emory & Henry

Eric Bell knew what he wanted his college major to be since he was a sophomore in high school. He had his college choices narrowed down to four schools, which then became two schools because they didn’t have mechanical engineering.

With his choices narrowed down between Methodist University and Emory and Henry College, he chose Emory and Henry College located in Emory, Va. “This is special. It has been a long process and I am ready to get it over with.

Everybody is here, all of my best buds. It’s the start Please see

‘NOHS football’ Page 6

# ! "

Thursday, February 18, 2016

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Weynand’s 3s help Lady Titans beat Buford North Oconee basketball

BY MATTHEW CALDWELL The Oconee Leader

Following North Oconee’s 51-41 win against Monroe Area last Wednesday that qualified the Lady Titans for the state tournament, head coach Erick Willis told his team their goal was to finish second in the region standings in the regular season and to qualify for the region tournament championship game.

The Lady Titans went into last week’s region tournament as the two seed to reach the first goal.

In the semifinal game of the region tournament, the Lady Titans defeated Madison County 43-33 to reach their other goal of playing against Buford in the region championship.

Down 44-37 to Buford midway in the fourth quarter and 47-41 with 41 seconds left, the Lady Titans began to come back and thanks to Emma Weynand’s 3-pointer late in the fourth, the game went into overtime.

Weynand hit another 3pointer with two seconds left in overtime to lift the Lady Titans to a 54-51 win and the Region 8-AAAA championship.

Weynand had six 3-pointers and finished with 25 points in the win against Buford. Camryn Williams added eight points.

It is the second region championship in program

Contributed photo

The Lady Titans following their win against Buford last Saturday. For the full story, see theoconeeleader.com.

history. They won the Region 8-AAA title in 2013. “Dr. Brown came into the locker room (after the Monroe Area win) and asked if they ever played for a region championship, and they never have except for the girl from Union County and the coach from Tift County,� Willis said.

A year after failing to qualify for the state tournament, the Lady Titans will be the No. 1 seed from the region. “We have worked really hard throughout this whole season and it is awesome to make it to state this year. It is a great feeling,� said senior Makayla Nichols. “I am very excited to go to the state tournament because last year we didn’t get to

make it. I am excited to go with this team. We have come together this year and it has been a great feeling as a team.�

Titans heading back to state

It hasn’t happened since 2008, but thanks to last Wednesday’s 60-46 win against White County, the Titans qualified for the state tournament. It’s just the second time in program history the Titans have qualified for state. “It was unbelievable. I am so proud of the kids and the way they played. We played hard from the beginning. We played under control. We did what we had to do,� said head coach Dave

Gascho. “We took care of the basketball. We didn’t turn it over. We rebounded better than we have all season long. We took smart shots. We played hard from start to finish. “I went down with about 20 seconds to go when we were up by 14 and high10ed the kids. They were super excited. It’s the first time in 10 years and only second time in school history the boys make it to state. It’s all them. They did it. They deserve it. “When we play the type of basketball that we want them to play, they are a good basketball team. To be 6-19 before tonight and make it to state is pretty darn good. I am happy for them.�

‘NOHS football’

Page 6

Continued from Page 5

of the rest of my life officially. It’s pretty special for me,� Bell said. “I really liked the coaches. I enjoyed my visits but I am glad it’s over. I can’t really explain it. When I was up there, it felt like the place to be. It’s where I wanted to go.�

Bell said one of the reasons he was drawn to mechanical engineering was because math is his best subject and he likes to figure out problems. “I figure that was a good place for me,� Bell said.

Bell said he will either play the linebacker position or h-back position, whichever he fits in better at Emory and Henry.

He has played football every year since fourth grade and has always wanted to play in college ever since he saw his first game on television with the hopes of being in a video game. “I always wanted to be on NCAA Football and they quit making it,� Bell said, “so it doesn’t look like I will be on there now.�

Wrice signs with University of the Cumberlands

The journey to the University of the Cumberlands for Kyriece Wrice started in Boston. He began playing football in the ninth grade and was told by a coach at his previous school prior to his senior year that he didn’t want Wrice to play football. “I had a choice to declare myself homeless because my sister moved. I didn’t have anywhere else to go,�

Wrice said. “My trainer offered his door open to me.

I was staying with him out here in Oconee County as a homeless student. I was able to play in five games at North Oconee. It was a blessing that everyone let me play and took me in as family. Cumberlands contacted me and we have been back and forth ever since then.

It’s a blessing. Today is a blessing for me.

He said the signing ceremony at North Oconee last week was a special moment for him because of the road he went through. “This is the best day of my life,� Wrice said. “I had the opportunity to go back on the field and have a great coaching staff and great people to support me. “It puts chills in my body. It’s a great coaching staff.

Coach Tuley is the best head coach I have dealt with.

Everyone is great and everyone supported me. It gave me an opportunity to realize how much I was a factor to life because it was a point where I was down and I never thought I would be here signing. He made it work for me letting me play. I thank everyone that helped me in this process. It’s a great day for me.�

When Wrice began looking at schools, he asked himself about himself – “What am I good at?�

Wrice said he loves math and economics, and his planned major is business and management, as well as accounting. “I can see myself working on Wall Street. I can see myself dealing with banks. That is where I made my decision,� Wrice said. “It’s a great place. It’s a great atmosphere. The coaches showed me a lot of respect.

They have everything I wanted in terms of the college courses. It was absolutely great.�

Wrice said he will play either linebacker or running back at Cumberlands. “My position when I came here was running back.

They put me at linebacker and I did well. I did anything to help the team out because I have been treated like family. You take care of your family. That’s how I felt. That was my obligation,� Wrice said. “I want to thank the whole North Oconee coaching staff and the administration, Coach Dowis has been helpful in this recruiting process. They have been working with me and getting me extra tutoring when I need it and helping me out because of my situation. I want to thank God for this opportunity.�

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aThens banner-herald Page• A7 7

PR OFESSIONAL

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Thursday, February 18, 2016

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