Georgia December/January 20221-22 by ITG Next Magazine

The Knights Two-way Starter: Bryce Reily Frederica Academy

Lee County’s Biggest Fan Shows Up for His Team Trip Block

Dual Sport Threat Making Moves Jack Carter | Crisp County

Gage Harrelson: The Spark That Makes HoCo Go

DEC/JAN 2021-22

Gage Harrison Houston County

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Contributors Publisher Mark Dykes Copy Editors Phil Jones Graphics Mandy Douthit Player Profile Photography Eric Vinson Dreaming Wild Photography Brandon Pham Featured Photography Micki Krzynski Micki K. Photography Feature Writers Phil Jones Allen Allnoch Matt Melton Tyrah Walker Janay Brown Kennedie Weems Advertising/Marketing Andrew Pipkin andrew@itgnext.com Mark Dykes mark@itgnext.com Digital Manager Mandy Douthit ITG Next is published bi-monthly. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. Dykes Media Group LLC makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2021 Dykes Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

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More: 13

The Knights Two-way Starter: Bryce Reily

Gage Harrelson: The Spark That Makes HoCo Go

Shuman Returns to the Dugout at Brooks County

Riding Success to the Top

Lee County’s Biggest Fan Shows Up for His Team

Lady Packers Finish in the Elite Eight

Bridger Jones: A Leader both On and Off the Field

A Winning Wildcat Season

How an Injury Shaped a Special 2021 Season for Northside Kicker Ashton Paredes

Freshman Phenom Sets the Pace for Camden Girls Cross County

Syrupmaids: The Year of Rebuilding

Calvary Christian’s Joe Sandoval Set for Big Senior Season

Small Town, Big Dreams: Chip Cooper

Dual Sport Threat Making Moves

In the Classroom and on the Field, Nate Brooks is ‘the Whole Package’

St. Anne-Pacelli Girls Flag Football Looking to Finish Phenomenal 2021 Season

Valwood Repeat: Valiants Volleyball Wins 2nd Straight State Title

2021 Georgia High School Fantasy Football Team

Frederica Academy

Gage Harrison | Houston County

Courtney Grace Stalvey | Lowndes

Trip Block

Colquitt County

Columbus Valdosta

Marin Bograd | Camden County

Cairo

Worth County

Jack Carter | Crisp County Nate Brooks | Veterans

+ Newsletter Highlights

Player Profiles Bryce Parrish | Houston County 8 Tell us what you thought about the Oct/Nov 2021 issue of ITG Next Info@itgnext.com

Kevin Speed | Cairo 15 Larry McKinnie | Early County 19 Zach Carter | Tift County 24 Drew Burress | Houston County 36

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Bryce Reilly has fond memories of his freshman football season at St. Simons Island’s Frederica Academy. The Knights posted a 10-3 record in 2018, capped by a 48-0 shutout over John Milledge Academy to win the GISA Class AAA State Championship. Bryce says the experience set the tone for the next three seasons, which included a state runner-up finish his junior year. “The seniors were a great example for how the program should be run and meeting the standards that Coach Derrick had set,” recalls Bryce, who earned valuable playing time that first season and was a three-year starter the rest of the way. “They showed us what Frederica football is about. That season shaped how I wanted the rest of my high school career to go.”

Frederica Head Coach Brandon Derrick calls Bryce “one of our best athletes,” a statement that’s backed up by Reilly’s feats on the field. During his senior season, he was a two-way starter at wide receiver and safety, a special teams player (punter, holder, kickoff coverage), and an emergency fill-in quarterback to boot. Bryce recorded 310 yards receiving in 2021, plus 56 tackles, 2 interceptions and 3 fumbles caused as a defensive back. He stepped in at quarterback after starter Thomas Veal went down with a broken wrist late

in the season opener against Valwood. Over the next four games, he completed 65 percent of his passes for 289 yards and 2 touchdowns, and added 245 yards rushing.

The Knights Two-way Starter:

BRYCE REILY

Written by: Allen Allnoch Photos Courtesy of Brandon Derrick

“Being a receiver, he pretty much knew the offense, and he jumped right in there,” Derrick says. “He did a really good job of leading us through all of that.” Bryce met the challenge head-on by applying some of those lessons learned from his older teammates three years earlier.

2021 STATS

310 Yards Receiving 56 Tackles 2 Interceptions 3 Fumbles ITG Next | 13

“I think the biggest part of that was confidence,” he says. “If people saw me in the backfield looking scared and timid, they would be the same way. I knew if I had confidence, they would too.” It helped that Reilly and Veal are good friends; the more seasoned QB provided constant support from the sideline. “I couldn’t have done it without him,” Bryce says. The Knights fielded only 19 players in 2021, which required many of them to play both ways. Again, Bryce led the way, reasoning that, “As a senior, I knew I needed to set an example for the guys around me by my body language, not showing I’m tired, not showing [defeat].” Despite being undermanned, Frederica posted a 5-5 record and secured an opening-round playoff spot against Tiftarea Academy. Unfortunately, Bryce and some of his teammates were diagnosed with Covid the week of the game, forcing the Knights to forfeit. “I hated it for them,” Derrick says. “You think you’ve got another game, then you go in on Tuesday and have to tell them their season’s over.” Now Derrick will have to replace Bryce and several other key seniors. But if the underclassmen follow Bryce’s example, as he did the leaders who paved the way for him, Frederica should remain competitive in the coming years. “He’s just a great kid,” Derrick says. “At practice he’s out there challenging guys, making sure everybody’s playing hard. He’s a verbal leader, and he also leads by example. He’s been a fixture here for four years. I can’t say enough good things about him.” 14 | itgnext.com

His football season may be over, but as a starting wing in basketball and a center back in soccer, Bryce still has plenty left to accomplish. He’s played those sports his entire high school career as well, although he broke his foot in the 2021 basketball playoffs, causing him to miss most of the soccer season that followed. (He was able to return in time for the playoffs.) He’s excited about both sports, with basketball next on the agenda and the outlook positive for Frederica. The Knights return four starters and have a front line that includes two big men at 6-8 and 6-9. “We’ve got a lot of talent,” Bryce says. “We’ve set some goals – to not lose at home, to win the region and to make a run at state – and I think we’re capable of doing it. Nothing, however, will replace the excitement of those Friday night lights for him. “I think football might be my favorite sport,” he says. “I love basketball, I love soccer, but there’s just something about football. I’m going to miss going out there on Fridays and playing in front of everybody.”

“I think the biggest part of that was confidence. If people saw me in the backfield looking scared and timid, they would be the same way. I knew if I had confidence, they would too.” — Bryce Reilly

Kevin Speed Cairo FS/QB

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Gage Harrelson: The Spark That Makes HoCo Go Written by: Allen Allnoch Photography submitted by: Chris and Larae Harralson

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It’s entirely appropriate that Gage Harrelson wears number 1 for the Houston County High baseball team. The Bears’ senior centerfielder bats first in the lineup, is the reigning Player of the Year in Georgia, and is unequivocally the heart and catalyst of the Class 6A defending state champions. Much like a gnat on a Middle Georgia summer afternoon, Gage is a nuisance – in his case, a constant irritant to opposing pitchers and defenders. As a junior in 2021, he batted .496 with 35 stolen bases, 55 runs scored, 31 RBIs and 64 hits, including 14 doubles, 5 triples and 5 home runs. The hits, runs and stolen bases all were new single-season records for the Bears. His .582 onbase percentage positioned him to be a frequent source of disruption and havoc when his team was at bat. “He’s a sparkplug,” says Houston County Head Coach Matt Hopkins. “I think there were five different times where he stole third and they threw the ball into left field and he scored.” On more than one occasion, Hopkins recalls, he heard the opposing coach admonish his catcher for even attempting a throw. “When I’m at the plate, all I’m thinking is be myself, don’t try to do anything I’m not capable of, just relax and have fun,” says Gage. “On the bases, I try to be as much of a problem as I can” – when he says this, it’s with the slightest hint of a sly laugh – “to make the pitcher worry about me more than worrying about the hitter. It usually ends up with him making mistakes and our team doing something pretty good.” Baseball is woven into the fabric of the Harrelson family. Gage’s father, Chris, is a former head coach at the high school level; he now teaches at Houston County and serves as an assistant coach to Hopkins. Gage has a younger sister, Jacy, a Houston County sophomore who was named Region 1 6A’s 2021 Player of the Year in softball. “He’s been around baseball his whole life,” Hopkins says. “He’s kind of been a field rat, where all he’s ever done is be around baseball, and he loves it. It’s not like he’s doing it to impress his dad or anything like that.” Gage says baseball has brought his family closer together over the years: “It’s let us travel together, and

it’s taken me on some great adventures and helped me experience some things I never would have gotten to experience if I had never played baseball. I’m very appreciative of everything the game has given me.” As a freshman, Gage got some playing time on a team that went 24-12, won the region and advanced to the state quarterfinals. In the Covid-shortened season of 2020, he became a full-time starter. Up to that point, he also had played football for the Bears, taking advantage of his 6-foot-3 frame to suit up as a wide receiver. Heading into his junior year, he faced a decision: Continue to play both sports or focus on baseball with an eye toward his future beyond high school.

“I knew if I wanted to go to the next level in baseball, then I had to stop playing football,” Gage remembers. “I made that move and that’s when I set all my records.” Indeed, Gage had a breakout season in 2021 and Houston County won its third state title in the past eight years. The Bears went 33-7, won the region and completed a two-game sweep of Lassiter in a state final played on the grandest baseball stage in Georgia – the Atlanta Braves’ home field, Truist Park. True to form, Gage was a catalyst in the finale, going 2-for-3 with a walk, 2 stolen bases and a run scored. “That was definitely one of most fun series I’ve played in,” he says. “It was high energy, high emotion, a lot of big plays being made. And getting to dogpile on Atlanta’s field was such a great feeling, knowing you’ve worked for that all year and you finally reached it. We celebrated real hard and it was a lot of fun.” Georgia Dugout Preview recognized Gage’s efforts by naming him Class 6A Co-Player of the

Year, alongside teammate Coleman Willis, a 6-foot-7 right-handed pitcher and first basemen.

“I was extremely blessed to win that award,” Gage says. “That was one of my goals going into that season. You want your goals to be as high as possible, and for me to be able to accomplish that, I was really happy. But the bigger picture is we ended up victorious, winning the last game of the season, and that was the most special thing to me and the best feeling.” As that last statement illustrates, team success is Gage’s priority. Still, Hopkins says he deserves any individual accolades he receives. “He has really good instincts for the game,” Hopkins says. “It’s not just that he’s talented; he really understands baseball. He’s just a great kid, leads from the front, demands that everybody does what they’re supposed to do. He’s exactly what you want – he’s a really good player who leads with good character and is a good representation for our younger kids of what we want as a program.”

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Gage has committed to play collegiately at Texas Tech, a Big-12 powerhouse with four College World Series since 2014. “I think it says a lot that they were willing to come all the way to Georgia to recruit him,” Hopkins says. West Texas is a long way from central Georgia, but Gage says the locals in Lubbock made him feel right at home during his officlal visit. “The people, the school, everything was just amazing. Their fans are some of the best in college baseball. When I went out there, it just felt right.” Of course, a player of Gage’s caliber attracts attention from Major League Baseball scouts as well. Between his high school team, summer travel ball and showcase events, he plays nearly year-round and gives those scouts plenty to think about. From the Baseball Factory National Florida Showcase last May, for example,his scouting report reads as follows: Gage is a dynamic 2022 OF prospect with the exciting combination of top-of-the-scale speed and left-handed power. He ran a 6.39 in the 60 for us, and he plays fast in game. It allows

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him to cover a lot of ground in the outfield and he has natural actions out there and a lot of arm strength. Those tools profile well in CF. At the plate Gage gets excellent barrel whip leading to the 102 mph exit velocity he registered. The ball jumps off his bat, and there is some looseness to his stroke that he triggers by pulling his hands in close to his body. Gage can impact the game in a lot of positive ways and merits close following. That report echoes Hopkins’ assessment of Gage, including his skills as an outfielder with great range.

“He’s a plus-plus in centerfield,” Hopkins says. “I always feel real good when the ball is hit out there. His range is incredible. He’s been clocked at a 6.3 60, and at 6-3, 175 pounds, he can cover a lot of ground really quickly.” With the commitment to Texas Tech in his back pocket, Gage isn’t ruling out a jump straight into professional baseball if he’s drafted and the circumstances are right.

“If I got drafted, that would be pretty cool,” he says. “But wherever the Lord wants to take me, I just want to follow that path and that’s where I’ll go. So either way, I’m truly blessed.” In any case, Gage has more pressing concerns at the moment. The 2022 season starts February 14, he’s again set some lofty goals, and he and his teammates are focused on defending their state championship. “There’s still a lot more work to be done,” he says. “Hopefully I’m only touching the surface of what I’m capable of, and I’m looking to go out this year and put up even better numbers. I want to break all the records I set before and repeat [as state champion], and keep this team close as a family like we were last year. That was the most family-like team I’ve ever been a part of. We were really, really close, and it was just a lot of fun to be on that team and play with the guys I love next to me.”

Larry McKinnie

Early County SF

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When Bart Shuman, the long time coach of the Valdosta Wildcats baseball team stepped off the field in Douglas County in June of 2017, after his Wildcat baseball team had just been eliminated by Alexander High in the GHSA Class 6A Sweet 16. He had no idea that would be the last game that he would be a part of over the next four years. His career at Valdosta had come to an unexpected end, and the coach was now a “free agent” to borrow from a list of sports-related terms. Anyone that knows Coach Shuman knows that he’s never going to be too far away from a baseball field and involved with youth athletics. He stayed busy working with his 5-Star Valdosta organization, helping out the Lake Laurie 4-13 year old youth recreation baseball and softball programs in their fall and spring leagues, as well as their fall football program. Then, in July of 2021, Shuman finally made his return to coaching varsity baseball, when Brooks County High School came calling. “I had been having some conversations with a few folks involved in the administration side of Brooks County High School,” said Shuman. “That included the principal of the school, Chris Chastain,” said the coach. “He and and I had been talking, and we had discussed the possibility of me taking the job, and they wanted to know if I was interested, and of course, I was,” said Shuman. He said One of the things that Shuman liked was the commitment that Brooks County had made with regard to the overall athletic facilities, including baseball. A SPLOST vote had recently passed, allowing Brooks County to add long overdue improvements to its athletic programs. Those improvements would include a brand new football field house, which houses new coaches offices, a new weight room, and locker rooms for home and visiting teams. There is also new football practice fields and a new track that are a part of the new facilities. Then there are the new facilities for softball and baseball, including a brand new field with stadium seating. Also part of the overhaul of the Brooks County athletic facilities was a new 7,000 square foot indoor baseball/softball facility, complete with an arena cage, netting covering the entire indoor of the structure, and 4 batting cages, pitching mounds, and an indoor bullpen. A new tennis complex will be built this next year. The new sports digs are known as The Brooks County Sports Complex. While Shuman was ready to return to coaching varsity baseball, and Brooks County would have been one of his top choices with or without the new facilities, that fact that he and his players and coaches would have access to some of the finest facilities in south Georgia sure did help. “There were certainly a lot of variables involved that worked in my favor,” said Shuman. The fact that I lived about 25 minutes away from work was nice,” Shuman. He also added that Brooks County was adding a Drivers Education course as part of its curriculum, the same area he taught while at Valdosta High School. “The fact that I could teach Drivers Ed, something I was very familiar with, also went into me decision,” said Shuman. But, the new athletic facilities was, as Shuman admitted, “a huge selling point.” In addition to Chastain, Shuman was quick to point to the other folks at Brooks County High and within the Brooks County Board of Education as having a major influence in his being hired as Brooks County’s new baseball coach. “I want to thank Athletic Director Bucky Perry, as well as Superintendent Vicky Reed and The Brooks County Board of Education,” said Shuman. The new Brooks County baseball coach also wanted to thank “any and all those who supported this beautiful facility,” he said. Shuman was named new head baseball coach this summer, succeeding Josh Price, who was promoted to an administrative position as an assistant principal within the Brooks County school system. Since being named head baseball coach, Shuman has been hard at work learning the players and working within the allowable ratios of coaches to players as permitted by the GHSA during the offseason. And, how will his new Trojan baseball team look in its first season? “I think we’ll be ok. We need to get our numbers up a little, and build more depth, but it’ll work out” said Shuman. “I’m just excited to be coaching here at Brooks County.” You can bet Trojan fans are excited to have you, Coach.

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Shuman Returns to the dugout at Brooks County

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Riding Success to the Top Written By: Phil Jones Photography by: Micki K. Photography

Kids ask for all types of crazy things for their early age birthdays. Right at the top of the list is a pony. After all, nothing is cooler than having a pony to show off for all of your friends at your party. For Courtney Grace Stalvey, now a senior at Lowndes High School, that’s exactly what she got for her 6th birthday present. She and her friends enjoyed the party and the ponies were a big hit. That was actually a big moment for Courtney Grace, as she had not always felt comfortable around horses, or any other animals. “I was a little nervous about it at first, because I had always ben terrified of animals as a young kid,” she admitted. However, once the party was over, Courtney Grace had overcome her fears, and was ready for more. She immediately asked for horse riding lessons for her 7th birthday. She was hooked on horses, you can say. “We went to the same lady that had brought the ponies to my party, and I ended up taking lessons for a year,” says Courtney. That lady was Kim McGhee of KB Horse-

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camp in Hahira. The lessons started off with just the basics, said Courtney. “The lessons started off with me learning how to simply ride the horses and take care of them, then that turned into learning the ins and outs of each rodeo event,” she said. She had done so well over that year of taking lessons that McGhee decided that Courtney Grace was ready for the next level. “Kim called my Dad on Friday to tell him that she had signed me up for the rodeo the very next day,” said Courtney. And just like that, her rodeo career was off and running. That first rodeo for Courtney Grace was at the age of 7, at Justamare Farms in Hahira. Courtney recalls how excited she was for the event. “I rode a horse named ‘Rain’, and we did barrel racing and goat tying. I fell in love with the adrenaline and the process of being a part of a rodeo. I was extremely excited,” she said. That was eleven years ago, and she’s been at it ever since. Although she lives in Georgia and is a student at Lowndes High School,

she is part of and competes with the Florida High School Rodeo Rodeo Association’s Florida High School Rodeo Team as well as The Florida Little Britches Rodeo Association. Courtney participates in three separate events-Goat Tying, Barrel Racing, and Breakaway Roping. The rodeo season runs from September to May, and Courtney competes against fellow competitors at the high school level, 9th -12th grade. They compete for points in each individual event, and those points accumulate over the season. The top four competitors in each event advance to the Nationals High School Rodeo Finals. If you take one look at her achievements and accomplishments, its obvious that Courtney Grace has mastered the art of rodeo. As part of the Florida High School Rodeo Association’s High School Rodeo Team, Courtney Grace’s accomplishments include the 2019 Goat Tying National Qualifier, 2020 Goat Tying Champion, as well as the 2021 Goat Tying Champion. Her accomplishments with the

Florida Little Britches Rodeo Association include the 2020 Goat Tying Reserve Champion, the 2021 Barrel Racing Reserve Champion, the 2021 Goat Tying Champion, and the 2021 Girls All-Around Champion. Courtney Grace’s parents are Tommy Stalvey Jr and Candi Day. Tommy talks about his daughters

rodeo career with both pride and amazement: “When Courtney Grace first mentioned that she wanted to rodeo, I thought it would just be little weekend local rodeos. I never would have imagined that we would end up travelling all over the country rodeoing,” he said. “It has been a wonderful experience.”

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Lee County’s Biggest Fan Shows Up for His Team Written by: Phil Jones Photography by: Brandon Pham and Eric Vinson

If you’ve attended any Lee County High School football game over the last few years, chances are you’ve seen a young man located near the west end of the stadium, seated in a wheelchair up close to the fence, watching his Trojans football team intently from his perch. That’s Trip Block, considered by many to be “Lee County’s #1 Sports fan”. His love for his beloved Trojans is obvious to anyone that meets Trip. If you encounter him at any Lee Co sporting event, you’ll see him wearing Tro26 | itgnext.com

jans gear, from pullovers and his trusty Trojans baseball cap. But, Trip’s most treasured piece of Lee County gear isn’t an article of clothing. It’s the huge state championship ring from the 2018 state title that normally goes to the players, coaches, and those that are a part of the Lee County football program. But, Trip is as much a part of the Lee County program as anyone, so his parents made sure that Trip would receive a state championship ring. He often wears it proudly at the football games.

Trip is a Lee County native, has lived there his entire live, and still resides there to this day. Trip was born at Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany to Chip and Traci Block of Leesburg. At birth, Trip was diagnosed with Spina Bifida, a condition which causes nerve damage to the spinal cord during the early stages of pregnancy. While his case was considered a milder form of Spina Bifida, doctors still determined that it was serious enough that Trip had to immediately be transferred to Atlanta’s Scottish Rite Hospital, where

he underwent surgery at one day old. He would undergo another surgery a few days later, and then spend 3 weeks in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit at Scottish Rite. Then, when Trip was 7 months old, doctors informed Chip and Traci Block that Trip had a separate condition known as Arnold Chiari Malformation, where the brain stem was not maturing correctly. That would necessitate yet another surgery. Next, there were concerns that Trip would not be able to get the nutrition that he or any other infant

so desperately needs in the early stages of life. That would bring about yet another surgery to insert what’s known as a “g-tube”, a device that would allow Trip to receive sustainable nutrition. (He still must use the g-tube today to receive proper nutrition). Even with this, doctors told Trip’s family that his life expectancy would likely be around the age of 16 years. But, Trip fought, and with a strong support group of family and friends, he defied the odds. He has done pretty much anything that any other child would

do growing up. He was able to play little league baseball at the age of 7 with help from his parents and rec league coaches Alan Moree and Earl Walker. “I am forever grateful to those men for giving me that opportunity,” said Trip. “They would go on too help me stay involved with sports all the way through my high school years,” he added. That included time spent as part of the Lee County high school track team. At the beginning of his senior season of high school, Trip would once again have to battle the odds when he became very sick and had to undergo lung surgery. A problem with his esophagus forced doctors to insert a trachea tube, which kept Trip in the hospital for much of the summer leading up to his senior year of high school. Trip reflected on his faith in GOD for helping him to recover, as well as inspiration from his late grandfather, “papa”, as he calls him. “We became very close, me and papa,” said Trip. “He told me that I was his inspiration and his hero, and to never give up.” With his faith and words of inspiration from his late papa, Trip got better, and was able to leave the hospital just in time to begin his senior year of high school. Following his graduation from Lee County High School in 2012, Trip began

working with the Lee County Sheriffs Department later that same year in a part time role, and he is still currently employed with the law enforcement department. Trip says people ask him how he is able to go on each day with so many obstacles in his life, but as he reminds those same people, he wasn’t even supposed to be here. “I wasn’t supposed to make it past 16,”as his doctors had once predicted. He is also strong in his faith. “God still has plans for me, and He still desires to use me for his glory and honor,” Trip proclaims. Lee County’s head football coach talked about the inspiration that Trip provides for he and his team: “Trip has been a great fan and a big motivator for our team for many years,” said the coach. “When our players see Trip and how he always has a positive attitude and outlook on things, it motivates them to work harder,” said Fabrizio.

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Lady Packers Finish in the Elite Eight Written by: Kennedie Weems | Photography by: Micki K Photography

Six year head coach and 2021 class 1-7A Coach of the Year Chance Pitts and the Colquitt County Lady Packers finished up a successful softball season in Columbus on October 29, 2021. This was the second time that Coach Pitts has led the team to the Elite Eight, the first being in 2019. The Lady Packers did fall short in Columbus as they lost to eventual state champion North Gwinnett 12-0 and Mill Creek 8-5. Though the Lady Packers did not bring home the coveted state title trophy, they still had a successful season as they won the class 1-7A region title and ended the season with a record of 25-5. “The trip was short and sweet but we were excited and proud and blessed to go (to Columbus),” said Pitts. Junior Emily Allegood was the staple for this team both defensively and offensively, as she was the class 1-7A Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year. Allegood finished the season with a 16-3 record, while striking out 90 batters in 93 innings. But, this team was filled with talent all over the field as they had nine other All-Region players. It was very nice for Coach Pitts to know he could always roll Emily out in the circle, but it was also nice knowing there were athletes behind her who were going to make the plays when needed. Coach Pitts noted that while this particular team was very talented and confident in their own individual abilities, they loved and supported each other until the very end. Since the majori-

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ty of these athletes have grown up playing recreational softball, all star softball and travel softball together, it was very easy for them to support and pull for one another. The athletes would even tell each other they loved one another after practice and team meetings. “They were just excellent teammates all year and I really believe that was one key to our success,” said Pitts. Looking forward to next season, Colquitt County will move into a new region containing Richmond Hill, Valdosta, Camden County and Lowndes County. The biggest change that is going to affect the Lady Packers is the distance they are going to have to travel for region opponents as both Camden County and Richmond Hill are more than three hours away from Colquitt County. “We played a double-header at everybody’s place this year, but it might be different with the travel next year,” said Pitts. The Lady Packers still expect to be very successful as they will return nine athletes, six of those being upcoming seniors, who played a vital role in this past season’s success. Coach Pitts and the Lady Packers softball team hope the 2022 season is the year the state championship trophy comes to Colquitt County.

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BRIDGER JONES: A Leader both On and Off the Field Written by: Matt Melton

If you were to look at the current state of high school football in the state of Georgia, it’ll be hard to find a student-athlete that has a bigger impact for his team and community both on and off the field than Columbus High School’s Bridger Jones. A standout kicker for the Blue Devils in each of the last four seasons, Jones has turned in a phenomenal high school career at Co32 | itgnext.com

lumbus providing different impacts in many different areas. Looking back at the last three season’s alone, Jones has seen time with the Blue Devils dating back to his freshman season where he made 13of-14 extra points, as well as serving as the Blue Devils punter. After another strong season as a sophomore, Jones began to emerge as one of the top overall kickers in

the state of Georgia. Jones would arguably take the next-step as a kicker during the 2020 season as a junior where he served as the Blue Devils primary kicker and punter appearing in a total of 10 games. As a junior, Jones would make 34-of-36 extra point attempts, as well as making 3-of-6 field goals with the longest kick coming from 43 yards, the farthest made-kick of

Jones’ high school career up to that point. After an impressive junior season, Jones would go-on to attend a Kohl’s Showcase Camp in May of 2021, his first rankings camp for one of the top recruiting websites for kickers across the country. Jones would excel at this camp grading out at a 4.5 star level by hitting multiple 70+ yard kickoffs, as well as grading out as a

Top 65 kicker cementing the Columbus standout as one of the fastest-rising kickers in the country. Now a senior, Jones entered what was an exciting 2021 season for one of the state’s top kickers, and sure did deliver on the hype with his on-field play. Appearing in all 10 of the Blue Devils games during the 2021 season, Jones would go-on to make

37-of-37 extra points and 6-of-7 field goals, even eclipsing his previous career-high with a 47-yard field goal. Seeing time on kickoffs and punts as he had in years past, Jones also saw time as a receiver for the Blue Devils this season catching a total of 10 passes for 331 yards and four touchdowns. Putting the finishing touches on what was a special high school career on the field, Jones finished his time at Columbus by making 94-of-100 career extra points, as well as 11-of-19 field goals. Jones would also post 105 total kickoffs with 75 resulting in touchbacks, as well as making 76 punts with 21 being

downed inside the 20-yard line. As mentioned at the start however, Jones is not-only a leader on the field, but off the field as well. An AP scholar, Jones displays a phenomenal 4.7 GPA in the classroom, and is also a member of various different honor societies and clubs such as a volunteer wildlife leader and the organizer and leader of a Bible study at Columbus. With a dream to eventually kick in college, Jones has set himself up to achieve those dreams within the next year due to a phenomenal work ethic both on and off the field, combined with a phenomenal

high school career at Columbus. Wherever Jones ends up in college, there is no-denying that Jones has surely turned in an impactful high school career with the Blue Devils.

Photography by: Eli Hardegree & DC Sports

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The 2021-2022 GHSA wrestling season is officially underway and the Valdosta Wildcats are preparing to finish at the top of the podium in January. Coach John Robbins and the Wildcat wrestling team have 15 returning seniors, including state champion Kaleb Davis and Joshua McCutchen. Tyler Lamon, Cam Bradley, Darrell Rochester, John Nelson and D’Avion Davis are also returning, leaving this Wildcat team with little to no holes in their lineup. “Without a doubt, we are very experienced and senior heavy this year,” said Robbins. Valdosta won the 6A state championship when the current seniors were freshman, so these athletes have had three years of very competitive matches with high stakes. This only helps them moving into their senior season knowing they have every ability to compete with the top teams. The past few years, the athletes have had issues with grades, behavior and discipline. These issues hurt the Wildcats and have really hindered them from winning another state championship. The seniors are looking to reverse all of those issues and finally finish where they started as freshman, back at the top. “There are four or five (seniors) who were actually starters on that team so we have missed some opportunities over the last few years,” said Robbins. McCutchen is currently the only athlete

who has committed to wrestle in college, as he committed to Gardner-Webb. But, there are a number of other athletes on the team who have a very good chance of landing a spot at the next level. “I’ve got eight kids that I think by the end of the year will sign a national letter of intent with somebody whether it’s, you know, from division one to division two or NAIA,” said Robbins. While the Wildcats are loaded with talent this season, winning the coveted state title is no small task with the level of wrestling that is in 6A. Lee County, Cambridge, Pope, Richmond Hill, Brunswick and Buford will all have very strong teams this year and have just as strong of a chance of winning 6A as anybody does. “6A is probably the most exciting classification in Georgia, and it has been that way since I have been at Valdosta,” said Robbins. Robbins noted that Valdosta City Schools really believe in what athletics can do for young men and women. Robbins and his team are able to work 11 months out of the year, which really helps everyone keep their focus and motivation strong. The Wildcats currently sit at 4-0 on the season, beating Lowndes County, Hampton, Dodge County and Jasper County. Their next match is set for Tuesday, November 23, where they will host the tough region opponent, Lee County.

A Winning Wildcat Season Writer: Kennedie Weems | Photography: Micki K Photography

ITG Next | 35

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How an Injury Shaped a Special 2021 Season for Northside Kicker Ashton Paredes Writer: Matthew Melton

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As you likely know, injuries are a part of all sports, and will likely always be a part of sports. However, what defines a specific player or team is not the injury itself, but how the player or team rebounds, or bounces-back, from the injury. There is no greater example of this in Georgia high school football this season than Northside-Warner Robins kicker Ashton Paredes. As the Eagles continue their run through the Georgia Class 6A playoffs, there is no-denying just how impactful the junior kicker has been to the Eagles success this season. After suffering a season-ending leg injury last November, Paredes has returned to the field for Northside-Warner Robins in big way as one of the most-impactful members of an Eagles

team with their sights firmly set on a state championship. After seeing time at both kicker and along the Eagles defensive line a year ago as a sophomore, Paredes as mentioned previously suffered an injury last November that cost the star kicker the remainder of his sophomore season. A brutal-injury that requires months of rehab before even getting back on a football field, Paredes however attacked this task set in front of him head-on. Ahead of schedule in his rehab from the injury throughout the process, Paredes would return to kicking a ball around the month of May, dayby-day regaining his strength in hopes of his eventual return to the football field. Fast forward to now, and the de-

termination of Paredes is not only benefitting both the junior kicker and Northside-Warner Robins a year later, but is also one of the top overall stories from the 2021 Georgia high school football season. Paredes has excelled throughout the 2021 season as the Eagles primary kicker and punter, making an impact for Northside-Warner Robins in many different areas on the field in the Eagles run to the 6A playoffs. Across his first 11 games of the season, the junior is a perfect 33for-33 on extra points, as well as 3-for-7 on field goals with a few of those makes very-impactful for the Eagles headlined by Paredes’ game-winner to help Northside-Warner Robins defeat Valdosta 13-10 back in mid-No-

vember. In addition to this, Paredes has also averaged 40.9 yards per kick across 25 kickoffs so far this season, as well as averaging 32.5 yards per punt across 27 punts so far this season, seven of which have landed inside the 20-yard line. No matter how the 2021 season ends for Northside-Warner Robins, it will always be considered a special one for the Eagles. No, not because of championships, performances, or team accolades, but because of the phenomenal comeback story and determination of Paredes, one that is greater than any on-field victory.

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Jason Konrad, cross country coach at Camden County High School, had a pretty good idea who would be the No. 1 runner on his girls’ team even before the 2021 season began. As an 8th-grader, Marin Bograd had competed on Camden’s junior varsity squad and consistently posted 5K times in the mid-21 minute range. She would have been the fastest varsity runner had she been eligible for that level of competition. As a freshman in fall of 2021, Marin definitely made an impact for the Wildcats. She won three races, including the Tift County Invitational, where she broke the previous Camden girls record with a 20:15 finish. She also recorded the school’s highest-ever individual finish at the GHSA State Meet, placing 39th out of 210 runners in Class 7A.

“She’s got a strong work ethic,” Konrad says. “She came into the season in really good shape already, and that helps, because you can only get so far if come in out of shape. If you [start the season] in shape, you can be so much better.”

Marin has a twin brother, Asher, who was the top JV boys runner as an 8th-grader and ran in the No. 4 spot with Konrad’s varsity team this year. The siblings began running at an early age, and Marin discovered a competitive streak right away. “My first memory of running was when I was about 3, racing in a fun-run turkey trot with my family,” she says. “I took it very seriously, because in my mind I had to beat my brother. We both enjoy running, and I like watching him succeed. However, because we are twins and both have an extremely competitive nature, we don’t usually run together [anymore].” Marin says she began running regularly after her family moved to Guam in 2015. “We frequently participated in local 5ks that the military base hosted,” she recalls. She continued the pursuit when her family relocated to Camden County, where her father is a physician. Konrad certainly is grateful the Bograds landed at the Kingsland school. He attributes Marin’s success to a combination of natural ability, hard work and a consistent training regimen.

“I always say, ‘If you’re 6-foot-4, you have a better chance of being the starting quarterback than you would if you were 5-7,’” Konrad says. “So there are certain intangibles that help. But she runs year-round, and that’s something I’m always trying to get my runners to do. And it’s not just running – they have to train and run hard [in the process]. She’s a really talented runner, but she’s also willing to put in the effort.” Tift County hosted Class 7A’s Region 1 championship meet in 2021. For Marin it was a return to the scene of her record-setting time earlier in the season. She again dominated, winning the meet by some 45 seconds with a time of 20:26. Konrad thinks she could have been faster, but he had instructed her to strategically pace herself and ensure she didn’t burn out and lose the race. In addition to her wins, Marin also recorded a runner-up finish and two thirds among her nine races. With her and No. 2 Alexia Vinuela leading the way, the Wildcat girls, Konrad says, “were much improved over last year – in fact, probably over the last 10 years, as far as our overall standing in the state meet.” As a team, Camden finished second in the region meet to Lowndes County, but turned around and edged the Vikings by one spot at the state championships, where they were 24th out of 31. Vinuela, a senior, finished 89th at the state meet, giving Camden two top-100 finishers for the first time since 2008.

“You kind of see where you’re going to be in track and cross country,” Konrad says. “If you’ve been running 20 minutes in a 5K, you’re not going to go run 17 minutes. Twenty-fifth was the best I thought we could finish, and we finished 24th and beat Lowndes, so I was pretty excited.”

For all the success Konrad’s freshman phenom enjoyed, she calls the 2021 season more of a learning experience than anything. “Coming in as a freshman, I really had no expectations,” says Marin, who also plans to compete in track and triathlon. “I had a lot to learn about the sport and I give credit to my teammates and coach for helping me get comfortable. Helping contribute to the team’s success is just an added bonus to getting better in the sport of cross country.”

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Freshman Phenom Sets the Pace for Camden Girls Cross County Written by: Allen Allnoch Photography courtesy of Marin Bograd

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What’s the Biggest Blowout You’ve Seen?

Syrupmaids: The Year of Rebuilding

Writer: Kennedie Weems | Photography by: Kennedie Weems

With the new basketball season quickly approaching, seven-year head coach Melissa McClendon and her Cairo Syrupmaids are getting ready to defend their class 1-4A region title and deep state title run. This year, though, the team will look very different. Last season, the senior-heavy Syrupmaids played for the GHSA 4A state championship for the first time in four decades. The Syrupmaids did fall short losing to Carver Columbus by a score of 70-54, but still finished off a successful season with a record of 18-2. Everyone from the community to the administration to the parents and kids were so excited for the Syrupmaids run in the playoffs. McClendon remembers the experience to be incredibly uplifting and knows that the community is going to support the team through the rebuild, as well. “I mean there was one time there were so many people offering us meals, we could not even eat it all,” said McClendon. Cairo graduated nine seniors last year, all of which were top tier athletes that were vital to the Syrupmaids success, as five of the nine seniors were All-Region. Twin sisters Ambria and Chambria Vicks both scored over 1,000 points during their career at Cairo. Ambria was also the 2021 class 1-4A Offensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year.

Rebuilding years are tough for any team. But, it will be especially tough for the Syrupmaids as their underclassmen did not have a junior varsity season last year due to COVID-19. While they have a good number of sophomores and juniors on the team by grade, they are really still freshmen on the court. “We have some juniors this year, but they did not get to play last year since we had nine seniors and they did not have a JV season,” said McClendon. There will be three returning athletes from last year’s team in Kelia Miller, Christy James and Kendra Speed. There will also be four seniors on this team, so the Syrupmaids will be able to lean on them for guidance and leadership when needed. “The seniors that we do have, and juniors are really trying to step up and be leaders,” said McClendon. Cairo is scheduled to host the Cook County Hornets on November 23 for their first scrimmage game of the year. Cook County also lost a significant number of seniors, so this is going to be a very equal scrimmage game, said McClendon. Though Cairo will be young and in-experienced, McClendon is confident that the athletes will learn to play to their full potential. “Go hard, play hard” is the tradition at Cairo High School and McClendon expects nothing less from her Syrupmaids this season.

Written by: Dhruv Mohan

Large mismatches in talent and coaching in high school basketball can result in lopsided scores, much like in Pace Academy’s season opener against Therrell. The Knights won by 43, which is not new for them dating back to last season, when they won 8 games by at least 40 points. However, several other programs have pulled off blowout wins as well. What is the biggest rout you’ve seen between two high school basketball teams?

Written by: Dhruv Mohan

Wheeler and Kell were headlined often in boys basketball last season, but this region rivalry translates to the girls game as well. Last season, both teams battled well, with the largest margin of victory being only 6 points. This year, each team will be at the other’s throat for a region title. Which of these two girls basketball squads will win head-to-head en route to a region title? ITG Next | 47

Calvary Christian’s Joe Sandoval Set for Big Senior Season Written by: Matthew Melton Photography courtesy of Wayne Folds

As the Calvary Christian Knights get set to defend their GAPPS state and region championship in 2022, a key piece from last season’s title-winning team returns in senior outfielder Joe Sandoval, a player who will be key to the Knights success once again in 2022. For a Calvary Christian team that won the state title with a 30-5 record a year ago, the-then junior was a massive part of the Knights everyday lineup as Calvary Christian’s center fielder. In fact, Sandoval ranked among the tops in almost every offensive and defensive category for the Knights a year ago. Appearing in 33 of 35 games, Sandoval made a total of 101 plate appearances during the 2021 season in which the-then junior collected a total of 30 hits, four of which went for extra bases, while drawing 16 walks compared to only 15 strikeouts. Slashing a phenomenal .417/.532/.472 for the season with a 1.004 OPS, Sandoval also drove in a total of 22 runs while scoring 33 total, a season that included some impressive performances throughout the year that included seven multi-hit games, as well as collecting a hit in eight of his last nine games to finish the year. Not only did Sandoval showcase the ability to get on base at an elite-level, but he also was a force on the basepaths for the Knights as well, as the junior stole a total of 33 bases throughout the season. In addition to this, Sandoval also played an impressive center field defensively posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 35 total put outs and two outfield assists. A multi-sport athlete at Calvary Christian, Sandoval makes a key impact for the Knights on both the baseball and football field as he also sees time at wide receiver and safety during the fall. When it comes to the spring however, there is no-denying how big of an impact that the speedy center fielder has on the diamond. For what will-be a talented Calvary Christian team once again, the senior is set for what should-be yet another phenomenal season as the Knights chase both a state and region championship once again.

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Appearing in 33 of 35 games, Sandoval made a total of 101 plate appearances during the 2021 season in which the-then junior collected a total of 30 hits, four of which went for extra bases, while drawing 16 walks compared to only 15 strikeouts.

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Small Town, Big Dreams: Chip Cooper

Writer: Tyrah Walker Photos: Micki K Photography

When it comes to football, South Georgia has definitely made a name for itself. While some of the bigger towns seem to get more statewide recognition, you simply can’t forget about the athletes and the hidden talents that reside in cities such as Sylvester, GA. One being junior Chip Cooper, quarterback of the Worth County High School football team. Being the quarterback of the team is a full circle moment for Cooper. Since the age of seven, Cooper has had a connection with the team. It all began with him being the team’s ball boy. Going to all the games, surrounded by all the coaches and learning from players paved the way for him to become a leader to his teammates, on and off the field. Cooper says that all those years being a servant to the team played a huge role in where he always wanted to be in life. “It didn’t matter if I was a water boy or the ball boy, I just wanted to help the Rams,” said Cooper. Besides being heavily involved with the Rams, Cooper’s passion for football grew bigger in middle school. The quarterback position came from him having experience as a baseball player, which he still plays. Interesting fact about Cooper: He did not start as quarterback until the seventh game of his sophomore season. Talk about being prepared at the right time. During that game the team was already down 28-0 in the second quarter. With not much to lose, his coach put him in the game where he was able to show everyone what he was made of. “We didn’t win but the fans stayed. It was just excitement because we were scoring,” he said. Not only does Cooper have a long history with the school, but his father does also. David Cooper has been the statistician for the football team since he was a student there in 1985. A statistician keeps up with both the offensive and individual yardage, opponent stats and any other statistics that need to be recorded. He explains what being a part of the same team as his son means to him. 50 | itgnext.com

“We’re not the biggest or strongest team but we’re going to give it our all every game.” — Chip Cooper

“It makes me proud,” said David Cooper. “Me being a part of the Rams for this many years... and now that he’s there just makes it more special. Sometimes I get caught up when he’s on offense in wanting to watch him more than the plays.” With David being athletic himself as a tennis player, it’s easy to see where Cooper got his athleticism from. Cooper’s goal before he graduates is for the team to make it to the playoffs, something they haven’t been able to do. This year they were close but fell short in the last game. What will it take for the team to reach that goal? Cooper says it’ll take the team to be disciplined and focused. “We’re not the biggest or strongest team but we’re going to give it our all every game,” said Cooper. Many may think Cooper is an underrated player. If you didn’t know, he passed 1921 yards (21 touchdowns) and rushed for 1002 yards (seven touchdowns). According to MaxPreps, Cooper ranks No.2 in his position for total rushing yards for the class of 2023 and No.21 with passing yards, both for the state of Georgia. Cooper was also named First Team All Region Quarterback in 2020. Just because football season has come to an end this year, doesn’t mean Cooper is resting. He continues to be on his grind as he prepares for baseball season. He doesn’t have any college offers as of now, but he is open and would be thankful for the opportunity to play either sport on the collegiate level. Cooper offers his advice to other athletes out there: “You just have to stick with it,” he said. “It’s not just something that you can just quit and then come back to.” He also suggests to keep hitting the weight room as much as possible. David Cooper gives advice to other parents: “Don’t pressure your child,” he said. “Don’t push them to live your dream. With senior year coming soon, we will have to wait and see what this dual quarterback will do. Looks like he will do some incredible things in the future.

is proud to honor ITG Next’s Most Improved Player

2021

ALBANY, GA BRUNSWICK, GA SAVANNAH, GA VALDOSTA, GA WAYCROSS, GA

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Dual Sport Threat Making Moves Written by: Janay Brown | Photography submitted by: Jessica Carter

Crisp County senior Jack Carter is a stand-out dual sport athlete. He plays Quarterback for the Cougars football team and Catcher/RP for the baseball team. Growing up, Carter fell in love with both sports. He started playing both sports at a very young age. Carter grew up playing t-ball and flag football, and since then he hasn’t been able to put a baseball or football down. Carter played quarterback for as long as he could remember, but when it comes to catcher it’s a different story. “I didn’t always play catcher, I started playing catcher when I was about 12. I used to always play 3rd base, but I started playing catcher when I played travel ball and they needed somebody to catch and I told them that I’ll try. I tried it and I fell in love with it. I got better as I got older and one of the coaches that I’ve had for a long time Scott Williams, helped me along the way to become the catcher that I am now.”

Carters favorite thing about being a dual sport athlete is his friends. Carter says winning with his friends and teammates is one of the best feelings ever. Although playing both sports has its perks, it does come with some challenges. “It takes a lot of my summer. This summer I didn’t have any free time. It’s not a bad thing, I like what I’m doing but it takes up a lot of time.” Because sports consume most of his life, it’s important to have some since of relaxation. A great way he likes to relax is playing golf. “I play golf a lot, I live on a golf course. If I’m not doing something, or I’m bored I play golf. It just gets everything off my mind. I also love watching college football. I don’t like watching baseball as much.” One of Carters biggest role models are his parents. Carter says his mom pushes him every day to be great and keeps him on track. Coach Mark Ledford chimed in and said, “during baseball season you’ll see his mom in the dugout and during football season she’ll be on the side lines taking pictures. His dad is supporting from outside the fence and mom does it from inside.” Carter says the best advice he would give to a kid that wants to play sports is it’s going to take a lot of time and you’re going to have to work hard for what you want. He says you can’t just go out there and expect yourself to be good at it. You have to practice to get where you want to be.

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“I didn’t always play catcher, I started playing catcher when I was about 12. I used to always play 3rd base, but I started playing catcher when I played travel ball and they needed somebody to catch and I told them that I’ll try. I tried it and I fell in love with it.” — Jack Carter

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In the Classroom and on the Field, Nate Brooks is ‘the Whole Package’ Written by: Allen Allnoch | Photography courtesy of Jack Orell

“I have to keep my priorities in order, so I focus first on getting my grades right. That and football, I always put those two things above everything else, and it’s worked out pretty well.” — Nate Brooks

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Born into an Air Force family, Nate Brooks has moved around a few times – from Maryland to Texas to Georgia, where his family settled in 2011 – but one thing has been a constant in his life: Football. Nate, a senior at Houston County’s Veterans High School, has been playing the game since he was 4. Back then it was flag football; he’s long since graduated to the tackle version, and he’s good at it: In his final season for the Warhawks, he was a standout on defense, recording 61 tackles, 21 assists and 3 interceptions as a safety; and offense, with 407 yards and 5 touchdowns as a running back. Nate also plays guard in basketball, but he’s emphatic that football is his favorite sport. “I really enjoy being part of a team that’s just like family, and having the support of the community,” Nate says. “And of course the love of the game – being out there playing it is just a great feeling.” Nate doesn’t let his academic studies suffer at the expense of sports; in fact, he’s an outstanding student in the classroom as well. “I have to keep my priorities in order, so I focus first on getting my grades right,” he says. “That and football, I always put those two things above everything else, and it’s worked out pretty well.” Veterans Head Football Coach Milan Turner calls Nate “one of the best student-athletes I have ever coached” – and with more than two decades in the business, Turner has coached a lot of them. “He is a wonderful young man,” Turner says. “He’s the whole pack-

age, from academics to athletics to just as a human being, they don’t get any better.” Nate was seemingly always on the field throughout his career at Veterans. Wherever he was asked to play, he responded. He’s a coach’s dream: Not only athletic, but also selfless, intelligent and coachable.

“It was a huge advantage to have him to plug in wherever he was needed these last four years,” Turner says. “He’s very strong, he’s got really good speed, he’s physically tough and he’s got a great football IQ. He’s played everywhere from running back to slot receiver to safety to outside linebacker to special teams. It didn’t matter where we put him or what we needed him to do – we just coached him up and he was ready to go. He could play it like he’d been there forever.”

With his senior season behind him, Nate now is looking ahead to a college career. He’s attracted the attention of recruiters around the state and the region, including coaches from Mercer, West Georgia and Valdosta State. The recruitment process can be hectic, but he’s taking it all in stride and embracing it as part of a memorable senior year. “I’m still waiting to make a decision,” Nate says. “It can be [challenging] at times, because you don’t know what your future may bring you, but that’s all part of the excitement.”

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St. Anne-Pacelli Girls Flag Football Looking to Finish Phenomenal 2021 Season Written by: Matt Melton Photography courtesy of Ben Dodds, BLD Graphics

When looking at the current state of girls high school flag football in the state of Georgia, you won’t find many teams more-impressive at first glance than the St. Anne-Pacelli Vikings. In what is only the second season for flag football in St. Anne-Pacelli program history, the Vikings have already seen success on the football field, both in 2020 and 2021. Finishing the 2020 season a year ago with a 6-3-1 overall record, the Vikings not only won a region championship in year one, but also made a second round playoff appearance as well. Already having seen success in year one, the Vikings entered the 2021 season with excitement surrounding the team, and that excitement has carried-over onto the field this fall as St. Anne-Pacelli has enjoyed an impressive 2021 season. Beginning the season in tournament play, the Vikings opened the 2021 campaign with an impressive 20-0 win over Eagle’s Landing before dropping their next game 18-7 to Calvary Day. That 11-point loss only seemed to make the Vikings stronger however as St. Anne-Pacelli has since won 10 consecutive games dating back to October 18 that has the Vikings current record at 11-1 overall entering the state playoffs, as well as a perfect 6-0 in region play. Not only are the Vikings outscoring opponents a combined 297-38 on the season, but St. Anne-Pacelli has also posted a total of eight shutouts, and has only allowed over 7+ points to an opponent once this season, which happened to be the previously-mentioned loss to Calvary Day. Owning multiple impressive wins over the likes of Spencer, Hardaway, Carver, and more, the Vikings display an impressive offense led by star freshman Tamiyah Carter who has accounted for over 600+ yards and 15 touchdowns so far this season. In addition to Carter, St. Anne-Pacelli’s offense also features many other key contributors including Ann-Marie Robinson, Emily Obermeyer, Adalee Christenson, Kira Roper, and more. While many of those same players such as Robinson play important roles on defense as well, senior Bradley Dalelio also plays a prominent role having collected over 35+ tackles and three sacks so far this season, as well as others also being key contributors. The St. Anne-Pacelli Vikings have been one of the top teams in the state of Georgia throughout the 2021 season, and haven’t showed any signs of slowing-down as we enter the playoffs. Will St. Anne-Pacelli bring home a state championship to cap-off a phenomenal 2021 season? 58 | itgnext.com

FCA 2022 Banquets

We are so excited to announce the dates and speakers for some of our upcoming banquets. We have some wonderful speakers coming in 2022. We start the year with our Brooks County Banquet being held on January 24th with guest speaker Marvin Mitchell. He is the former AD, football coach and girls basketball coach for Brooks County. On February 15th, we have the current quarterback from UGA, Stetson Bennett, coming to speak at our Annual Spring Fundraising Banquet being held at Lowndes High School in the Cafetorium. In Fitzgerald we will be holding a banquet on April 14th. Our guest speaker at this banquet will be Tommy Bowden, former head coach at Clemson University. Our Cook County Banquet is scheduled for April 23rd and we are looking forward to hearing from our guest speaker Mark Richt. Coach Richt is the former Head Football Coach for University of Georgia and Miami. Banquets will also be scheduled in Berrien County and Tift County. We are still working on dates and speakers for these two. We would love for you to sponsor a table and join us at any of our banquets. For more information, please call Bobby Willis at 229-460-2223 or you can call the Fellowship of Christian Athletes office at 229-245-1717. We always appreciate the support and prayers from the community. While we are looking forward to our banquets, we are most excited to see what God is allowing us to do in area schools through FCA. We are holding weekly huddles in over 20 schools within the 11 counties that Southeast and Southwest Georgia FCA covers. We also have FCA representatives on campus at Valdosta State University and ABAC. Some of these students would never hear about Jesus if FCA huddles were not held in their school. Bibles are available through FCA for any student who would like to have one. We are also able to help send students to camps during the summer. This is a big part of these kid’s summer where they not only learn more about sports but also have daily devotions and learn more about Jesus and how much he loves them. This is only possible because of the generous donations and support we receive through our donors.

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While South Georgia continues to play catch up with the rest of the state when it comes to fielding championship volleyball programs, the Valwood Valiants program is definitley doing their part. For the second consecutive year, Valwood has won the GISA Class AAA State Volleyball Championship. You have to go back to the 2002- 2003 seasons to find the last time a Valwood team won back to back state titles. That was when the tennis team took consecutive state titles. The Valiants are coached by the husband-wife duo of Greg and Val Callahan, along with assistant coach and intern Trey Ekker. It was the Callahans who also led Valwood to their 2020 state championship. When asked how she felt about the odds of this year’s team’s winning another state title, Callahan said it was all about finding the right mix of returners and new players, and building those synergies. “Even though many of the athletes were members of both teams, those athletes played different roles. We had seven seniors on this 2021 squad, so it took a little while to find the right combination of leadership, accountability, and encouragement,” said Callahan. So, after winning it all last season, and knowing what it took last season, was there a time that the coach felt that she may just have another championship team? “I think we knew in the preseason that another state championship was a possibility,” she said. Callahan points to the same time last year, before the start of the regular season, during a preseason tournament, that she realized what her team needed to do differently to become a championship contender. She said it was against a traditional state powerhouse, Dominion Christian, that taught her and her team the little things they needed to go to the next level. “They beat us in that tournament, and when we played them again in the state final, it gave us a pretty good idea of how to prepare.” This preseason would be much different. Valwood didn’t have an opportunity to play in the same tournament, forcing her team to rely on their self confidence, much of which carried over from last season. To reach the final match of this year, the Valiants would be forced to defeat Frederica Academy and Creekside Academy in the first two rounds. That would set up a rematch with Dominion Christian, the same team Valwood defeated in last year’s state title match. This time, Valwood would seal the deal with a strong serve game, winning in 5 sets. Callahan says the team’s serve strength was one of the keys to winning a 2nd straight state championship. “All season we focused on using our serve as an offensive threat and playing pursuit defense. I felt those two things were the keys to our success,” said the coach. Leading the way in the championship match was AllState senior Adair Rodemaker, who had 32 kills while another All-State Senior, Ellie Griner, led the defensive effort with 19 digs. The remaining members that played in the state championship match are Marleigh Carson, Anna Alverado, Bailie Musgrove, Caylee Collins, Annabelle Kerrigan, and Olivia Shen. Completing the 2021 championship season roster is Chloe Lynn Collins, Chelsey Whetherington, Charis Eager, Mary Schroer, Olivia Brooks, Emma Cope, Samantha McQuitty, and Gracie Smith. This year’s Valwood team finished with a 20-5 overall record, identical to their 2020 record of 20-5. Congratulations to the 2021 State Champion Valwood Volleyball Team! 62 | itgnext.com

Valwood Repeat: Valiants Volleyball Wins 2nd Straight State Title Written by: Phil Jones Photography by: Eric Vinson

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2021 Georgia High School Fantasy Football Team Written by: Dhruv Mohan

Much of the NFL’s popularity is thanks to fantasy football, which allows regular viewers to interact with the game of football by building a team of players from different NFL squads and tracking their performance in real time. Sadly, fantasy football is rarely found in college football and is completely obsolete at the high school level. But what if Georgia high school football had a fantasy league? Which lineup would be the most ideal? For this hypothetical, I chose players based on their primary position (such as Travis Hunter at cornerback instead of receiver). Here’s the lineup I came up with for my 2021 Georgia high school football fantasy team.

QB: Gunner Stockton – Rabun County

This decision was easy, as Stockton has proven himself to be more than capable every week. The Georgia commit once again put up outstanding stats throughout the 2021 regular season.

RB1: Keyjuan Brown – South Atlanta

Brown didn’t lead the state in rushing, but he was outright the most consistent each game, which is key each week in fantasy football. He topped 200 yards rushing in seven of his ten regular season games.

RB2: Rob Brown – Trion

Rob led the state in regular season rushing yards, but he struggled against the one good defense he played. This would raise concerns in the fantasy world if Trion were to play a strong rush defense in real life.

WR1: Jaden Gibson – Rabun County

Gibson was a touchdown machine in 2021 and caught for over 100 yards in almost every single game. This pick is a bonus with Stockton in the lineup, as Gibson is his go-to man.

WR2: Kaleb Webb – McEachern

Webb’s breakout season began at the Corky Kell Classic, where he hauled in six passes for three scores. He provides solid fantasy value even when he plays tough pass defenses as Bryce Archie’s favorite target, guaranteeing him a fantasy point per reception regardless of yards gained.

TE: Oscar Delp – West Forsyth

This one was close between Delp and Camden Overton from Marietta. I ultimately settled on Delp because of his touchdown consistency. Delp scored in six of ten regular season games and recorded several catches in the games he didn’t score. There are so many great tight ends in Georgia that you cannot go wrong here.

FLEX: De’Nylon Morrissette – North Cobb

Despite being a part of a talented North Cobb wide receiver room, Morrissette has consistently proven to be one of the state’s best receiving threats. He welcomes a high volume of targets each game and is more than likely to score in every game, making him an outstanding flex choice.

D/ST: Collins Hill

With the nation’s best player, Travis Hunter, at full health, the Eagles’ defense is formidable. They shut out 5 opponents during the regular season and average around two turnovers per game, perfect for any fantasy team.

K: Alex Bacchetta – Westminster

Why not go with the best kicker in the Class of 2022? Bacchetta’s accuracy and leg strength combines to form an ideal and reliable high school and fantasy football kicker.

John Milledge’s Dominance Written by: Dhruv Mohan

One of the state’s biggest powerhouses isn’t even in the GHSA: it’s John Milledge Academy of the GISA. They have won 36 straight games and 48 of their last 49. Sure, they haven’t played much true competition, but they crushed a 2020 A-Private quarterfinalist in Savannah Christian, 52-13. This team definitely seems to be a private power, but how would they fare in A-Private instead of being in the GISA? Would they challenge Trinity Christian and Prince Avenue Christian for a state title?

Will Anyone Break Duranta Dunson’s Playoff Rushing Record? Written by: Dhruv Mohan

In a 2013 matchup against Jefferson, Heard County’s Duranta Dunson broke the state playoff rushing record with 463 yards in a single game. Rob Brown came extremely close to matching the record, notching 448 yards in a huge effort against Social Circle this season. Tay Sheppard of Bowdon rushed for 415 yards back in 2015, but no one else has come close to the record. Will anyone ever break Dunson’s seemingly-safe single game rushing record?

How Will Keyjuan Do in 2022? Written by: Dhruv Mohan

Keyjuan Brown was one of the state’s biggest breakout stars in 2021. He burst on the scene for South Atlanta and rushed for over 2,000 yards in the regular season. Brown, a junior, will be back for his senior year, ready to prove all his doubters wrong once again. How well will he perform in 2022? Will he stunningly top his rushing totals from this year?

Will Buford Win in 7A? Written by: Dhruv Mohan

As many expected, Buford once again clinched another state championship, this time after a 14-point comeback that ended on a missed Hughes field goal. The Wolves have become a dynasty, having won three straight and 13 total since 2001. However, Buford will now face the toughest task ever: competing in 7A. The Wolves graduate several talented and starred seniors and now must compete with the likes of Milton, North Cobb, Lowndes, and Collins Hill. Will Buford get their 4th straight and their first in 7A? ITG Next | 65

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