Archive for April, 2011

Two-time state champion in the all-around, Kelsey Kopec (Special)

Alpharetta’s Kelsey Kopec added to her legacy as one of the state’s all-time best in high school gymnastics.

The junior was crowned the all-around champion for the second year in a year at Friday’s state meet, winning three out of four individual events.

“Kelsey is creating quite a legacy for herself in Georgia gymnastics,” Alpharetta assistant Michelle Drehoff said. “It’s tough to go in there and defend your title. There’s all the pressure and all the eyes on you. She kept her focus and did what she needed to do.”

Tift County won the team championship with a score of 109.95, narrowly edging out Alpharetta (109.75). Walton finished third, followed by Westminster, Milton and Kell.

“We are so excited about taking home a state championship,” Tift County coach Jodi Roberts said. “The key was that our girls were so confident. We had a lot of fun and did what we needed to do to win it.

“We only focused on our …

Continue reading Alpharetta’s Kelsey Kopec wins state championship in all-around for second year in a row »

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The Georgia High School Association has called a special meeting for Executive Committee on May 10.

The primary purpose is to vote on the “4/8 plan” for reclassification of the GHSA’s 422 members schools for athletic competition.

If the proposal is passed by the 50-member committee, the new format will take effect in the fall of 2012.

Under the proposal, the state’s existing five classifications would be reduced to four, and there would be two state championships per class for an overall total of eight.

The idea behind the “4/8 plan” is to allow member schools to play teams closer in proximity during the regular season and closer in student enrollment during the playoffs. For example, Class AAAA may have 100 schools in it, with 50 largest and smallest split up for the playoffs to compete for Div. I and II state championships in each sport.

The “4/8 plan” beat out a few other …

Continue reading GHSA schedules vote for Reclassification for May 10 »

The GHSA had issued an alert on its website regarding Wednesday’s soccer playoffs:

Due to the forecast of severe weather conditions entering Georgia late today, we are concerned about the safety of the student/athletes and those attending the soccer playoffs.  As such, we will be updating the GHSA web site hourly as we receive current weather status.  At this time, proceed with the regularly scheduled game times. Should inclement weather create a need to reschedule games, contact Tournament Director, Bill Holleman immediately (bill_holleman@gwinnett.k12.ga.us).

To check on the status of your soccer playoff game, please go to www.ghsa.net and/or post below

Continue reading Weather conditions threaten GHSA soccer playoffs »

Thomas County Central High School’s Ray Drew threw 201-2 in the discus at the region meet on Tuesday.

Drew, the 5-star football recruit who signed with Georgia, is three feet away from the state record.

Ironically, the record is held by another defensive lineman who signed a football scholarship with Georgia — Winder-Barrow High School’s Hiawatha Berry threw 204-2 in 1985.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Drew plans to play two sports in college, football and track.

For more on Drew’s soaring track career, click here

Continue reading UGA-bound Ray Drew throws 201-2 in discus »

Two more players off Milton High School’s celebrated team will sign basketball scholarships.

Eric Riley and Alyjah Hennings will sign with Marietta’s Life University of Tuesday, according to Milton coach David Boyd.

With the additional two, Milton had eight players on its roster this past season that have either signed or committed to colleges to play basketball. The others:

Shannon Scott, point guard, signed with Ohio State

Julian Royal, forward, signed with Georgia Tech

Dai-jon Parker, guard, signed with Vanderbilt

Jordan Loyd, guard, signed with Furman

Shaquille Johnson, small forward, committed to Auburn

Evan Nolte, small forward, committed to Virginia

Milton has made three straight appearances in the Class AAAAA championship game, winning in 2010.

Continue reading Eight players off Milton’s basketball team will play in college »

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Here’s my proposal to the GHSA’s Executive Committee — Allow high school football teams to scrimmage one opponent during the spring.

Let’s start from the beginning: Football is the biggest moneymaker for Georgia high schools and it’s not even close.

With the economic downtown, why not take advantage of football’s popularity to generate another revenue stream? Every little bit helps. There are some “broke” high school athletic programs in this state.

Here’s my proposal: Allow high school football teams to play one scrimmage in the spring.

With the right stipulations (and I need your suggestions below), I think it could create as much excitement as a game during the regular season.  Not the playoffs, but equal or greater than some games during the regular season.

What about Marist vs. St. Pius this spring? Do you think that would excite the communities of …

Continue reading VOTING DAY: Should football teams be able to scrimmage opponents in spring?? »

Duluth High School recently had 13 athletes sign college scholarships:

Samantha Metzler, softball, Southern Union

Elanna Worthy, softball, Claflin

Casey Brown, cross country, West Georgia

Aliya Thomas, basketball, Brewton-Parker

Edwin Romero, soccer, Shorter

Eros Kilgore, soccer, Andrew College

Erin Falk, soccer, Columbia

Brooke Clement, soccer, Berry

Phoebe Chiem, tennis, CUNY — Queens College

Amryn Soldier, tennis, UNC Asheville

Jacob Timmie, baseball, Maryville

Justin Cho, golf, Purdue

Maya Thomas, track, Georgia Tech

– Courtesy of Bill Navas

Continue reading Duluth High School sends 13 to college athletic ranks »

The 6th Annual George B. Maloof 7-on-7 Passing Tournament for high school football will be held  June 17 at St. Pius.

This tournament was started by Maloof’s youngest son, Norcross High School coach Keith Maloof and St. Pius coach Paul Standard, to bring some of the metro’s programs together for a 7-on-7 tournament and honor the memory of the late Maloof, the first football coach at St. Pius.  He stayed 26 years and was inducted into the Georgia High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2009.

Schools that will be competing:

St. Pius X
Norcross
Walton
Sprayberry
Blessed Trinity
Roswell
Brookwood
Mill Creek
Parkview
Hillgrove
Dunwoody
Sequoyah
Cartersville
Flowery Branch
Northview
Chattahoochee

Continue reading St. Pius announces football teams in George B. Maloof 7-on-7 Passing Tournament »

Wheeler High School guard Chris Longoria signed a basketball scholarship with New York’s Binghamton University.

The 6-foot-4 shooting guard averaged 12.9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists as a senior.

Continue reading Wheeler High School guard Chris Longoria signs with New York college »

Collins Bradshaw, a three-time South Carolina 3A Player of the Year for A.C. Flora High School signed with Georgia.

Bradshaw, who was originally slated to graduate in 2012, will complete her high school diploma requirements early and will enroll at UGA this fall.

“We’re thrilled to get Collins,” UGA coach Kelley Hester said. “We’re even more thrilled to be getting her a year earlier than we thought. She was able to accelerate her graduation date and join us this fall. Collins has been one of the top junior golfers in the Southeast and is now a diehard Bulldog. We expect her to come in and make an immediate contribution.”

Bradshaw secured seven individual titles and seven runner-up finishes during 2009 and 2010. In both 2009 and 2010, she was named to the All-Carolinas Junior Team featuring the top three players from North and South Carolina. Bradshaw also participated in the 2010 and 2011 Can Am Team matches between top golfers from South Carolina and Ontario.

“Collins comes …

Continue reading New trend? High school golfer to skip senior year for UGA »

The 2nd Annual DeKalb Co. All-Star Senior Basketball Games will be hosted
by Columbia High School on Tuesday, April 26.

The girls’ game opens the double-header at 6 p.m. with the boys’ game
following at 8 p.m.

Many of the top signed and unsigned seniors from DeKalb County Schools
will be suiting up for the final time in their school uniforms to put on a
show for fans and college scouts.

Miller Grove girls’ basketball coach Renee Breedlove leads a squad of 13
players including 1,000 point club members Jasmine Camp of Chamblee, a
Stanford signee, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Keyonna Benton.

Breedlove’s opponent will be Columbia girls’ basketball coach Chantay
Frost squad of 14 headlined by 1,000 point club members Destinee Smith of
Columbia, Katrice Harris of McNair and Kierra Paige of Redan.

Frost led her 2010 squad to an exciting 60-58 victory over Southwest
DeKalb girls’ coach Kathy Walton’s team.

Columbia’s Akila McDonald scored 15 points for …

Continue reading DeKalb All-Star senior basketball games on April 26 »

O'Neal Wanliss signed a track scholarship with North Carolina (AJC photo)

When O’Neal Wanliss of Holy Innocents’ was required to do a senior project at his school, he came up with an idea connected with his love for track.

Wanliss is the two-time defending Class A state champion in the 400 meters. Last week, he turned in the 10th fastest time in the nation at 47.7 seconds in a South Carolina meet.

The cleats that Wanliss wore on his feet for the race will eventually be donated to his “Spikes 4 Tykes” project. Wanliss collects track shoes from teammates and opposing schools to give to underprivileged kids in Jamaica, where his dad is from.

The project is part of the Program for Global Citizenship at Holy Innocents’, which encourages students to focus on leadership and community services from a worldly perspective.

“I’ve played soccer all my life, and whenever I had old cleats, I would send them to my family and cousins in Jamaica,” Wanliss said.

“With my class …

Continue reading High school track star collects used shoes for underprivileged kids »

Herb Harrison (Special photo)

Herb Harrison of Marietta’s Covenant Christian Ministries Academy will sign a basketball scholarship with Alabama-Birmingham on Friday.

The 6-foot-8 forward also had interest from Mercer, Western Kentucky, Marshall and Stetson, among others. Harrison, who played previously at Druid Hills High School, averaged 23 points and 8 rebounds this past season.

“He’s tall, a good shooter and slasher, and athletic around the basket,” Covenant Christian coach Frederick Anderson said.

Harrison’s teammate, point guard Michael Murray, has signed with St. Augustine. The 6-2 Murray averaged 22 points and 4.5 assists this past season. “He’s a good scorer, they got him to score point,” Anderson said.

Continue reading Covenant Christian’s Herb Harrison signs basketball scholarship with UAB »

Sophomore outside hitter Emily Morrison of St. Pius was recently named to the Prepvolleyball.com Soph 79 list.  The rankings recognize the top high school sophomores in the nation.

Morrison received the honor, which is based solely on the student-athlete’s high school season, in late-March.  Morrison led the Golden Lions in kills in helping St. Pius take the area championship, record 32 wins on the season and finish ranked fifth in the state poll.

In addition to the national recognition, Morrison was one of only two sophomores named to the Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association AAA All-State team.  She was also an All-Area selection.

According to the Prepvolleyball.com Web site, the Soph 79 is an estimation of the top sophomores based on high school achievement in the country.  The recognition is based solely on High School Achievement, not club acclaim, college potential or reputation.

– Courtesy of St. Pius

Continue reading St. Pius sophomore ranked as one of best in nation »

Former UGA star Robert Edwards will host the Star Training Academy Football Mini Camp, April 16 and 17, at Roswell High School.

The camp is for rising ninth through twelfth graders and will stress fundamentals  and player development for every position on the field. The cost of the camp is $250. Participants may sign up at startrainingacademy.com, or register at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning at the camp.

The roster of position coaches reads like a UGA reunion:  Jermaine Phillips, Rod Perrymond, Tony Gilbert, Terrance Edwards, Randal Godfrey, and Champ and Boss Bailey. Also, D.J. Shockley, Hines Ward and Takeo Spikes are expected to make appearances.

“This camp is strictly to teach the proper fundamentals and techniques to help players get ahead,” said Robert Edwards, currently head coach at Arlington Christian School in Fairburn. “There are combines out there to test numbers. Our camp is just about making kids better and I think the coaches we will have at our camp …

Continue reading Ex-UGA RB Robert Edwards to host football camp »