Columbus Valley Media Kit

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Columbus Valley Edition

MEDIA KIT

Who We Are In the Game High School Sports Magazine is a growing family of monthly high school athletic magazines. We published our first issue in Columbus Valley in August of 2008. Published bi-monthly, following the school calendar months of August through June, our magazine focuses on local high school athletes and athletic programs within the Columbus Valley Area.

Every issue of In the Game is a high quality, glossy, full color publication featuring positive human interest stories with a sports slant. There are four regular monthly features in ng each issue: Player Spotlight, Academic Athlete, Coach’s Corner, and Way Has Come a Lo Shaw Raider Rising Star. In addition, each magazine allows area schools up to two full pages for their journalism departments to publish their sports articles and photography.

J We include other sports information pertinent to the Columbus Valley area as well. photography by

since the come a long way oseph Purter has Edgewood football for the High days he played a senior at Shaw Red Devils. Purter, as the years old, and School, was seven was his mama’s baby. children, he youngest of five to get hurt that afraid I was going because “My mom was so when I was playing car the in sit she would laughs Purter. end she couldn’t watch,” d starting defensive 240-poun 6’3”, with Now the is a force to be reckonedtackup 55 for the Shaw Raiders football. Purter racked when it comes to forced fumble ck sacks, and one les, four quarterba football, Purter When it comes to in the 2011 season. is all about defense. better than offense because “I just like defense you are actuaway from the hits, instead of running the hits,” says Purter. the side of ally the one giving always been on Purter has basically at Blackmon when he played the defense. Back in multiple poPurter saw time Road Middle School, like that of defencaptured his spirit have sitions, but none the places coaches all of day, this sive end. To defensive end is 17-year-old says placed him, the

Chris Mulch and

George McDuffie

w Joseph:

by Beth Welch

Academic Athlete

GettinG to kno

one brother three sisters and Joe and Michelle; Chick-fil-A Family: parents, eat in Columbus: en Favorite place to Favorite food: Chick hip-hop, rap ipod: his on Music Atlanta Falcons team: nFL ite Favor team: Alabama Favorite college spend a day with: wishes he could cter one person he definition of chara [Jr.] - he was the t Church Martin Luther King Missionary Baptis : s: Fourth street ed on an island Church he attend would want if strand family three things he and a photo of his Food, a football, tradition rich the l: shaw high schoo to work ready Best thing about Get en: ing freshm Advice to incom

The positive response to In the Game has been overwhelming, and many schools report that parental and community interest has risen as a result of their participation with our publications. High school sports are an integral part of many people’s lives on a year-round basis. Nationwide, more than 7 million students participated in organized high school sports last year, and that number is increasing.

dominant on his calling. are usually the most in the “Defensive ends hitting people probably go deeper some of the hardest players, and we will means the field. They are quarterback a lot. lot of pride turning Coach Adkins tells us a new coach they get after the 4 years, I saw a have been on the field, and says. during the 2000-200 I thought to playoffs. so far those changes defense,” Purter to be and happening here. new changes, and They anchor the at Shaw has been and winning tradition I wanted to be a part of that says. to provide One of Purter’s missionsto improve his speed and that for the better,” Purter myself back then looking to the seniors that and In order The new coach is quick on his feet. the spring prache finds one day,” says Purter. often be found in season. In Purter, also a natural learner. this is and p Purter track leadershi agility, Purter can Raiders’ A natural athlete, and is currently members of the more. classes at Shaw ticing alongside that I have ever at Shaw, playing the school. much He has taken AP finest young men a two-sport athlete calculus class at “He is one of the field team. He is the spring to get I know he will have undertaking a year-long average, and his favorite of coaching, and winter, but he uses point coached is had the pleasure basketball in the has a 3.7 grade Joe’s ability to be the Shaw Engwork He because he says a great senior season. ready for football. is receiving a ing, I will go out and subject is English from the rest. He classes have alhumble “When they are condition on my speed. It helps so good and the what sets him apart but he is remaining lish teachers are I can work attention right now, time beg. out with them so after his lot of because it is a long ways been interestin process,” says Adkins. d his academic instincts house- throughout this whole me to keep in shape Chuck Stamey helps my timing,” develope Coach running Purter the Football the Purter and him Assistant Head ground rules. In tween seasons, qualities that make parents set the athletic talent, that Purter has many , Purter first regardless of says says Purter. come freshman program. a as grades realized hold, at Shaw of the Raiders’ s, Purter said he Since he started ents in his an important part and in the classroom with those guideline not only improvem both on the field be- and excels leader He’s “Joe says he has noticed natural game. a is make good two things. t GPA. Joe also his mental football, I had to maturing players to with a high three-poin physical game but “I wanted to play and more agile while working with younger we ask Then I began to my mom’s rule. on the team, always come faster, stronger, playing field. In the past, he grades. That was He will play anywhere will do and I saw that the a collegiate athlete, opportunities help them get better. in his behavior on him, he think about being is your grades. what is asked of mistakes or missed over about matter to no you to obsess and talk him, would face. We have has learned the first thing they Purter says he you can’t handle and a smile on his player and stay there if down, but init with a ‘Yes sir’ on the field. Today, he will be a major You can’t get there Purter. a time, not shutting our defense, and of the game,” says take it one play at to happen. big and changed the academic side says Stamey. for what is about attention from schools our new defense,” stead being ready being a Shaw says his mothPurter has received to improve in grown up, Purter a direct result of on his senior year The intelNow that he is all That progress is and no longer small. He is banking a collegiate athlete next fall. according to Purter. about him so much options as to er doesn’t worry High School athlete, become the loudest one to had and “She’s thlete chances higher his games. student-a to his GPA even hear her sits in the car during ligent and talented purposely chose is focusing on taking laughing. “You can football coach, high school and Shaw, He the stands,” he says, Shaw’s new head in where to attend ITG for attended me.” hard sisters for working His older else yelling he knew it above everyone become a Raider.

Kyle Adkins. have lots of reinside look long before later. a good year. We which gave him an “It’s going to be on his decision years would have an impact Shaw. My sisters went here to “I grew up coming

driven person “Joseph is a very pretty high. He and sets his goals and a very high m is a coach’s drea Jamie Fox, former on.” character pers coach.

Raider’s head

In the Game is the perfect fit for a company desiring to increase product visibility within our markets, as adult and student consumers of all ages enjoy our magazine.

PurtScher JosephShaw ool High 10

Academic

Athlete

11

opportunity for Porter as a junior to be lineup. in the startin g Three games When Porter began playing into the 2011 received a a natural fit. basketball, season major setbac he was k. While playing , Porter even throug Always the tallest kid Eufaula High in his class, h middle school School, he against athlete fractured his going up for , the 6’2” has played wrist. “I was a lay-up and 165-pound almost every a guy ran up under shooting guard. position but my legs,” recalls from the other team prefers True to form, Porter.

Moates’s team Porter tried has four senior his wrist. He season. He to play after s for assured his is expecting coach he was he injured is now a big things from the 2012 next play proved point guard. okay but the Porter, who to be telling.

Moates says attribute is “He went the senior ’s his defensive back in and best skills, and he Someone tried to catch Porter to lead threw him is counting the Warrior’s a pass. a pass and on anything but defense.

“This season he couldn’t stick I expect him do point Russell County one hand out,” says to take over guard, Sam Moate the role of High Schoo s, the player team leader and follow coach. l head boys the example s who came basketball of before him, “Artavious “ says Moate is an incred ible athlete s. hardworking . He is intellig , humble and ent, unselfish. He has great More impo

SportS Co

With Co

G

rtant to Port er than wha does in the t he does on class the court is and takes hono room. He currently hold what he s a 3.7 grad rs classes inclu e point aver this semeste ding honors age r. The work English and ethic he show with his acad honors phys s as an athle ics emics. te is also evid ent

The diagno sis It was a season was broken bones in his left wrist.

-ending injury. chance to be agility, Having waited a starter and for the Becau speed, strength and then see it third game overall explos se of these end during of his ive ability. attributes and the a very Porter to accept second season was pretty his willpow good defens . hard for er, he is ive player.”

“It had me More import sad. ant to Porter my eyes,” Porter To be honest, it brough court is what than what he does on the he t tears to admits.

3.7 grade point does in the classroom.

Encouragem He holds a ent and suppo n average and areas of Collins Russell County Suehonors takes Mary Williamso rt came from Michael his life , includi classe but one person made a differe coolhduring s at keeping his daughter,in particu all physics this semes ng honors Englis watching and honors nce in the way ter. The work lar an athlete disappointme n, softball Porter ethic he shows is also eviden a Pacelli nt. #4 Reece Williamso handled his as been a basket His sister, field t with is disciplined at Pacelli. game.his academics.

Williams, had right Ashley to ballplay ll athlete He Dowde later at Russell and after practic managing his time to Alan played at the County and study before e to take care college level. beside neede waiting for playing of schoolwork She told d to basica court time. while There is one duringbetter lly stop the pity party Porter he behind Porter fieldgetting the on driving force and focus ’s academic because he y basket pursui “My mama,” a Calvar ball the following season had another shot at he says laughin ts. when it comes . g. “She does William Christisanintrodu to grades. ced Porter about bringin She does not not play basketball.

Game. to the sport g home bad play at all He started of grades.” off his athletic The Warrio playing footba rs began endeavors ll as a young November their 2012 ster. When began attend and Porter season in his ing Williams’s is workin shooting but basketball games family became entran has been relieve g on improving his is stronger , Porter ced with the d to know his than activity on wasn’t long the court. It until he was looking forwar before he injured it last left hand hooked. year. He is d “I just liked hopefully launch to this second chance Wright the action cheering and Patsy, which will him to the Jeff and how everyo really into next level of “Artavious has the game. ne was Wright at Calvary play.

Brandon I liked watchi on #12 the ability to Mostly, the Moates says. play at the ng them play. dunkin’,” he “If next level,” School. says. position quickly he is able toChristian pick up the point guard , Reece game of basket the sky is the limit for him in the ball.” ITG son

Artaviou s Porter

Russel

l County

High Sch ool

William in right field at Pacelli.

n, a graduate Greg Dawso Carver in ‘64.

Family:

Athletes are accustomed team sports , starters often to paying their dues.

In rising throug earn their spots Porter made h the ranks only after the team but photography hours of hard and putting the Warriors as fate would

by Jim Dillard in work. Artavio were talenthave it, that sort of us Porter knowscountless Porter to rich that season Some player thing. Now spend a lot all about , which left s might have of time watchi a senior, the High Schoo the bench. given to resented the Russe ng the action l basketball One of the attention from amoun an athlete of Coope most talkedplayer transfe ll County the area school as a r’s caliber about athlete was Russe sophomore t of playing rred to the ll County’s and with hopefu time s in develo playing on “I was right l expectations the varsity ped a friends he received. Not Porter. the behind Rodne Rodney Cooper. squad. of laugh. hip with Coope He watchi y,” says Porter “Didn’t see r, all the time 10 much time with a Coopeng and learning from got tired, then except the upperc r graduated when Rodne they put me lassman. and attend y Alabam in.” s the Univer a, where he sity of is a member basketball of the Crimso team. Coope n Tide r’s departure opened an

Suprise Doc! Dr. Gibson watching the .

Shaw game on the nt cheering Raiders.

Shaw stude

Favorite teams:ld like to spend a day with LA Lakers Church you and Duke Unive: Kobe Bryant attend: St. Paul Person you most Greater Love rsity admire: God Something most and Pastor Freddie Evan to learn aboutpeople would be surp s you: I play the drum rised One thing you would like to learn s at church Great thing abou t Russell County to do: Play the guitar Good teach High School: ers who want to help you Kinette Stadium at

if you really sunset. try hard.

Name:

Age:

cal g their techni Carver showin football. the game of prowess for

Torey Sotomayor being Mr. S at the Shaw game.

in the DJ Jenkins taking Harris playoff games between was He County and Tucker. there supporting #11 Alexis Mickle.

11

Damon McGilberry cheers as #6 Talik Quarterman recovers a fumble and scores a touchdown for Carver.

Thomas Grocki yells to the camera along with his friends David Mitchell, John Miller and Joseph Aldridge. on They were cheering Harris County during the Sweet 16 playoff games against Tucker.

lf ing herse was enjoy the Charlina Love while cheering on s She in the stand Volleyball team. ty rCoach Harris Coun etball Chee is the Bask at Harris County.

Morri Favors cheers on the Carver Tigers.

Mascot roars at the Carver game.

a Carver football game.

Education:

th Artavious

Mom, Delph ine Williams; sisters, her Dad, loves Louis y Willia Adalee Forsythe Porter; Favorite Ashle 24, and at Pacelli. starsMiran : Spaghettims,football da Porter, Best placefood 19 to eat: Ryan ’s Favorite cloth ing to wea to Before gam ready Nike Favors gets r: or Polo e Morri tradi tion: Put the game aheacheer on Carver.on my head phones and d Who you wou imagine

by Beth Welch

The sun setting on

of

Fanning

lenwood Schoo photos courte l has a traditio sy of Glenw excellence. n of baseb ood High Schoo Numerous all TF: Austin l state as well as Thomas, Cody talented athlete championships Knowl Hodge, es, Chad to play the s who continu Silvani, Dylan Stewart Kite, Tanner sport followi e Thoma earned the ng graduation son.

Denny and school a reputa have Tanner baseball progra tion for having m. Head a strong been a part Coach Tim ITG: What of Glenwood’s Fanning has makes your years. In the athletic athletic depart other progra high school Game talks m different ment for 14 about this year’s from with the Colum TF: It’s all about programs? bus native team and a the progra Connections. few other topics m, than yourse serving somet lf. Not only in Sports hing bigger on the field well. but off the field as In The Game : When did career? you begin ITG: Do you your coachi have specifi ng season Tim Fannin c goals for ? g: 1999 this baseb all TF: With the tradition of ITG: How long 19 baseball, the have you been boys will definitestate championships School? What in champ coachi ly ionship is the tell ng at Glenw sports? ood is for goal and rightfu you that a state TF: 14 years.

Tim Fanning each and every lly so, but my Baseball for one of them coach; footba goal 14 years, highest level to compete nine as head ll, possible and at the director, eight. 10; girls basketball, five; put the team care of the and athletic little things, first. If you take you usually thing to worry 39 don’t have about. a big ITG: You recent ly with your team. returned from a trip to ITG: When another countr What was that coaching athlete y to play TF: We wanted all about? s who at have the Columbus, to teach the collegiate level, the potential that knew game of baseb them? what advice Georgia little or nothin all to kids do you give g about the provide them TF: To never sport and with equipm get outworked also no talent ent and uniform growing the by someone sport after to give effort.

Master’s (Tro s to continu we left. We e playing When you mesh else. It takes of Bongo in y); went to undergradua at the next the northern those togeth level becom region of Panam the village Contro built vegeta er, te (Marshal es a realisti l the “contro ble garden a. We also c possibility. s for two familie llables.” They l/ CSU), play physically able college coach cannot contro s that were ed baseball to do so. thinks about l what a not they them on any at can control Mars given hall; Associa giving everyt day but ITG: You play, being have a succes te (Middle a great teamm hing they have on every Georgia), play During your sful baseb with passio ate and playing time at Glenw all program. n. ed baseball; the game or recognitions ood, what high school titles, award have your s, ITG: The received? athletes or (Jor dan), played 2012 World your progra baseball and Series was m team TF: State Champ did you pull recently played ions (’05, ’07, football . What have signed TF: San Franci for? baseball schola’09, ’10, ‘11); 46 player sco Giants s lives there coached six . I have a Louisville Sluggerships in nine years; and they were good ABCA/Turfac also the underd friend that underdog.

Married e National High r All-Americans; 2011 ogs. I like the School Field to Renee (née for 15 years of the year.

ITG: Who ITG: What is Groover) of are the best thing Atla baseball seasonsome of your athlete about Schoo nta; coachi l? s two to watch this ng at Glenw ? daughters, ood TF: Traditi Brianna (11) on, family atmosphere support. and Macie and studen (9). t body Mother,

Hometown:

Hanging out wi

Senior lo oking fo r second chance se ason

nneCtion

ach Tim

by Beth Welch

Jessie Peterson showing County Volleyball game.

off her signs she made

Family:

Mary Fountain , still resides in Columbus.

Two sisters, Cha rlene Rodriqu (Edinburgh, ez Texas) and Jennifer Fou ntain (Atla nta).

Hobbies: Watchin g college football and traveling.

A hair raising game at Harris County against Tucker in the Sweet 16 playoff games against Tucker.

Person you mos

t admire: Tony Dungy. He has led men to greatness desp tragedy, whil ite personal e doing it with Servant Lead ership and being a professe d Christian .

for the Harris

49

18

Georgia Studios 63 © Chris Hood, West s.com • 762-822-11 Photography by @westgastudio .com • chrishood www.westgastudios

ort s to supp e in the stand Sarah Grac Mickle, County #11 Alexis the Harris a player for team.

Volleyball

Sun shines through the door on a Harris County Volleyball fan in the Sweet 16 playoff games against Tucker.

19

Market Area The Columbus Valley Edition covers schools in Chattahoochee, Harris, Lee (AL), Muscogee, Russell (AL), and Troup counties.

ane Lauren Cr Age: 16 and Jane CraneSchool High Parents: Larry ol: Columbus High Scho Class: 2015 Graduating Height: 5’6” lbs.

Weight: 125 Position: Fly Waters Coach: Karen

ver

On The Co

ol!

o Hit the P

photog to hit the g anyone not be enticin Hurricanes swim bus outside might he weather members of the Colum The swim club is part , pool but for ing is a year-round sport. r-profit organization not-fo pment. teams, swimm ic Club, a stages of develo bus Aquat coach of of the Colum teams for all ages and a veteran rt, ing Stewa el swimm months ago. which offers coach is Michalocal club about 18 of his anes’ head with the chose eight The Hurric l program and came on board High Schoo 33-years, who d about the local swim of In The Game high school excite this issue their in ed for Stewart is ers to be featur the athletes also swim to work with of top swimm “fortunate ine. Some job and feels For more information Sports Magaz says he enjoys his rt this area.” visit www. people in 6-9634 or teams. Stewa rt at 706-32 best young the Stewa of t some contac Hurricanes, about the nes.com. ITG swimhurrica

Hadaway Age: 16 and Tracie l Parents: Glen ol: Homeschoo High Scho class: 2015 Graduating Height: 5’4” lbs.

Weight: 97 e strok Back Position: el Stewart Coach: Micha

by Beth Welch

T

Roy Abigail Le

LeRoy Age: 18 y and J. Kevin School High Parents: Sand ol: Columbus High Scho Class: 2013 Graduating Height: 5’7” lbs.

Weight: 130 rfly Butte ion: Posit Waters Coach: Karen

ay Walton Br is Bray Age: 17 hn and Phyll ol High Scho Parents: Vaug ol: Columbus High Scho class: 2013 Graduating Height: 5’10” lbs.

Weight: 140 e Backstrok Position: 100 Waters Coach: Karen rsity of Georgia College: Unive

raham Mitchell G Age: 17 Chesser ol High Scho Parents: Laura ol: Hardaway High Scho Class: 2014 Graduating Height: 6’2” lbs.

Weight: 158 tstroke Breas ion: Posit h Lopez Coach: Coac

Player Spotlight Jo

Robert Louis Stevenso Weigh nt: 130

tstroke; IM ion: Breas

Posit el Stewart Person to meet: LeBron Coach: Micha James Place to travel: Jamaica

way Josie Hada

Hadaway Age: 14 and Tracie l Parents: Glen ol: Homeschoo High Scho class: 2016 Graduating Height: 5’2” lbs.

Weight: 98 tstroke, IM Breas Position: el Stewart Coach: Micha

as a swimmer: rable event Most memo ed for state When I qualifi Pizza Favorite food: t Rises ssional): : Dark Knigh Best movie s team (college or profe Favorite sport Georgia : of swimming University the sport of n you enjoy One reaso etitive It’s very comp most like to meet: would Person you Obama President

8

Smiths Station High 24

School

Kendrick High

Beulah High

LaGrange High

Brookstone School

Lee-Scott Academy

Callaway High

Loachapoka High

Calvary Christian

Marion County High

G.W. Carver High

Northside High

Central High

Opelika High

Chattahoochee Co. High

Russell County High

Columbus High

St. Anne Pacelli Catholic High

Glenwood School

W.H. Shaw High

Grace Christian

Smiths Station High

Hardaway High

W.H. Spencer High

Harris County High

Troup County High

Player Spotligh t

Pre sented by:

Stephanie Kolwicz

as a swimmer: rable event Most memo Fly in State o Winning 100 Chicken Alfred Favorite food: read: MLK Speeches al): you profession Last book (college or team s sport Favorite : of Georgia swimming University the sport of n you enjoy One reaso It’s challenging most like to meet: would Person you dent the Presi

Smith’s Favorites: Age: 15 Orderique ol High Scho Parents: Luz ol: Columbus Subject in schoo High Scho l: Englis Class: 2015 h Graduating Least favorite: Math Height: 5’6” lbs.

Weight: 150 Fly 100 Major at Alabam Position: Waters al a: Physic Coach: Karen therapy Sport you wish you could ghes play but can’t: Footba topher Hu Chrisll Food: Spaghetti eth Hughes Age: 14 l and Elizab led Parents: Danie Last book: The Strang ol: Home schoo High Scho e Case 2016 : ating class of Dr. Jekyll and Gradu Mr. t: 5’9” Hyde Heigh lbs. by

as a swimmer: rable event Most memo in 100 Free Shrimp Breaking 1:00 Alfredo with Fettuccini Favorite food: read: The Stranger you Last book it ssional): : The Hobb Best movie s team (college or profe Favorite sport Georgia ming: of swim of rsity Unive the sport n you enjoy in One reaso what you put to meet: You get out like would most Person you Obama President

Beauregard High

as a swimmer: rable event Most memo the 200 back 1st place in doughnuts Favorite food: read: Slopes of War you Last book r ssional): : Harry Potte movie ge or profe Best s team (colle Favorite sport rsity ming: Auburn Unive enjoy the sport of swim work n you ent and hard One reaso of accomplishm The feeling like to meet: would most you n Perso Taylor Swift

QuincyrgeSm ith rique Orde

as a swimmer: rable event hip last year Most memo champions Winning city cookies Favorite food: read: The Namesake you Last book Music ssional): : Sound of Best movie s team (college or profe Favorite sport : swimming ia Georg the sport of n you enjoy One reaso etition Healthy comp most like to meet: would Person you way Anne Hatha

Jordan Vocational High

as a swimmer: Team rable event Medley Relay Most memo with my 200 Making state cupcakes Favorite food: read: Matched you Last book : Potter Harry : swimming Best Movie the sport of g how I n you enjoy day and seein One reaso every s friend Seeing my each meet improve at like to meet: would most Person you lin Frank Missy

way Leigh Hada

nson

Christe raphy by Jerry

Auburn High

Norths

ide High

First meet as a swimmer: e 100 IM rable event wrong strok ) Most memo les fell off; rs (vegetarian cap and gogg garden burge s Favorite food: read: Do Hard Thing you Last book e Series ssional): : The Bourn profe or movie ge Best s team (colle Britain) in Favorite sport : (soccer team swimming Chelsea fc the sport of ine n you enjoy of self-discipl One reaso me amount Takes extre like to meet: would most you n Perso te Ryan Loch

as a swimmer: 100 rable event nal cuts in Most memo and sectio Making state tstroke and 200 Breas Spaghetti Favorite food: read: Tom Sawyer you Last book ssional): : Elf Best movie s team (college or profe Favorite sport rsity ming: Auburn Unive enjoy the sport of swim n you One reaso ete It’s fun to comp most like to meet: would Person you Rebecca Soni

School

400-meter Specialist Headed to the University of Alabama

by Robert Preston Jr. photography by Jerry Christenson he 400 meters event isn’t a very long At Wankooshee, Smith realized he was a pretone. For elite athletes, it takes less ty good runner. He raced against high school than a minute. But there’s an awful lot students when he was in eighth grade, and he of work that goes into those 50 or so fared well against the older runners seconds of running. Quincy Smith, in the 400 who gradu- and 800 meters. At that point, he made an imated from Smiths Station High School in Phenix portant decision: he would spend City this year, knows all too well the rest of his the demands career as a student-athlete running that one lap around the track places track and on a stu- nothing else. The temptation dent’s body and schedule. He also to deviate from knows that that plan would be great. He has for those who can race to the front the speed that of the pack all but guarantees Friday night stardom and stay there, the rewards are worth in the every ex- South, but he was committed cruciating quarter-mile. to his running career. Smith spent the fall running Smith, a cross country runner and cross country track ath- and took to track after the fall distance season lete at Smiths Station, started running track ended. in seventh grade. He competed for East Co“I was worried about getting injured lumbus as a seventh-grader, then from the he went to other sports,” Smith says. “So I just decided to Wacoochee Junior High School in eighth grade. stick with track and see where it took me.”

T

9

Quincy Smith doesn’t like to talk much about his cross country career. He dismisses his 5 kilometer times as too slow and says he doesn’t like running distance very much.

He’s not a bad distance guy and could have had a future at a smaller school if he had wanted to run cross country in college. His sub-19:00 5K times might not win any meets, but the potential is there to make significant improvements and be a decent runner in college. Smith remains unconvinced. “I just don’t like running long distances ,” he laughs.

“I don’t count cross country.”

24 So where has track led Quincy Smith?

How about a 10th place finish in the state in 2010, an undefeated 2011 season in the 400 meters that culminated in a state title, and a singular loss during his 2012 campaign that includes a region championship and the fastest 400-meter time in Alabama with the state meet looming. Smith’s best 400-meter time is 47.4 seconds. He also has a 21.7-second 200 meter (top 10 in Alabama) and 1.56 min-

Getting to know Step Family: Pare

hanie

nts, Noreen and Robin; sisters, Alicia ,

Tara, Mega n and Jenn Pets: Black ifer Lab, Budd y Favorite food: Ever ything Restauran t she like s locally: El Vaquero Last boo k she rea d: Heart of Favorite Darkness mov One person ie: Bridesmaids she would spend the like to day with : Favorite TV show: Mia Hamm Duck (Si is her favor

ite chara

Dynasty

cter) Church: St. Anne Cath olic Church Favorite color: Purp le Someone you adm ire: Brian of the Concorde

Fire

Moore

Favorite clothing: Nike (I have abou t 100 thing s that are Nike) Best thin g about Northside High

School: The atmosphe re and the way the admi and faculty nistration interact with the students. us to be bette They push r individual s.

utes in the 800 meters. Smith is also a part of the 4x400- and 4x800-meter relays.

His relay teams are numbers one and two heading into the state meet. The Smiths State 4x400 team has posted a 3.18 minutes this year.

Last year, the 4x800 team turned in 7.59 minutes and 8.00 minutes in 2012.

“At state, I want to do something really good for the team, and I’d like for us to win these events,” Smith says.

25

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Have Georgia High Schools Adequately Addressed The Issue of Performance Enhancing Drugs?

by Robert Preston, Jr.

Jessica Farrow Smart

a fourth-place finish (their highest). They have also finished ninth and, last year, sixth.

The Patriots have done so well because of the girls’ passion and love for their sport. Their enthusiasm is rivaled only by that of their coaches, Smart and her assistant, Tamara Garner. Most of the girls are very experienced cheerleaders by the time they reach high school. United Cheerleading in Columbus churns out very talented girls each year, and those girls end up on their local high school competition teams. And Northside has certainly had its share of United Cheerleading talent.

“Every once in a while, though, we get some girls who don’t have a lot of experience from a competition standpoint. No matter what their talent level is, our girls are extremely hard working. As coaches, we can only do so much. It’s up to them to be successful.

Tamara and I are passionate about what we do, and it’s our job to hold them accountable,” says Smart.

The Patriots are a very young team this year.

Youth on any team always presents its share of challenges, but it can be particularly troubling with

cheerleading. Many freshmen don’t understand how demanding competition cheerleading is and how serious the sport is in Georgia. It’s more than wearing a cute uniform and being seen in front of a crowd. It’s a difficult, challenging sport where one can get injured quickly and severely if the team isn’t properly conditioned and doesn’t communicate well.

“We lost eight seniors off last year’s team. So we have a brand new group this season. We have to get them to realize how difficult cheerleading is, and they have to learn the ropes pretty quickly,” says Smart.

Smart’s goal isn’t necessarily to go out each year and win region or place well at the state meet.

Instead, it’s to teach the girls how to be responsible young adults, to work hard, never settle for second best, to set goals, and to follow through on those goals. She feels if she and Garner can do that, then the success at the region and state level will take care of itself. “We want to build good people out of our program. We want them to do their best. If they aren’t we need to show them how to straighten things out.” ITG

I

f there is one thing the last calendar year has taught us, it’s that the issue of performance enhancing drug use in sports is far from dead. Media types refer to “the Steroid Area” in baseball as if it’s in the past.

Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez have shown it is far from over. As I write this, the NFL is still reeling from the Vonn Miller drug testing scandal. And of course we had the ongoing Lance Armstrong saga and a host of other drug-related headlines this year.

These stories all deal with professional athletes. We know many of them choose to use drugs. With millions of dollars on the line, the temptation is just too great for many to resist.

But what about among the amateurs? Are those who don’t get paid to play using performance enhancing drugs?

In a word, absolutely. Over the last couple of years, more and more amateur athletes are failing drug tests. Many of these athletes are older age-group competitors in endurance sports, though there are a few weightlifters who have been caught cheating as well. Probably the most famous, or infamous, is also the most recent – the case of 80-year-old weightlifter Don Ramos. Ramos, who has held several world records throughout his career, was nailed in September for testing positive for steroids. The culprit? Therapeutic testosterone he has been taking for over 20 years. Despite his claims that what he was doing was legal and under a doctor’s supervision (he has a prescription), the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency suspended Ramos for two years. There is also the curious case of Atlanta age-group triathlete Kevin Moats, one of the best over-50 triathletes in the country, who flunked an out-of-competition test and also received a suspension. These are but two examples of dozens of amateurs who are failing drug tests for various reasons.

But, you might be saying to yourself, these are older men competing later in life who are in many cases taking drugs to help ward off the aging process. That may be true, but it doesn’t explain away the amateur athlete’s desire to succeed, to win, to climb to the top. The stakes have never been higher in high school sports, the media attention never greater. That leads to a dangerous combination of factors that could

lead high school athletes down a dangerous road.

In Florida, officials are already addressing potential drug use among high school athletes.

While the media focused its attention on the professional athletes named in the Biogenesis scandal, there were also several high school athletes whose names showed up on the client list. The Florida High School Athletic Association has guidelines against using performanceenhancing drugs and FHSAA officials have spoken publicly about the dangers – and consequences – of PED use.

Likewise, the Georgia High School Association has a similar policy. In the Special Policies section of the GHSA’s Constitution, the organization devotes Section 4.63 to this very issue: “The Georgia High School Association strongly opposes the abuse of anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing substances by high school student-athletes. The GHSA believes that such usage violates legal, ethical and competitive-equity standards and imposes unreasonable long-term health risks on the user. The GHSA encourages member schools to educate students and coaches about the perils of steroid usage, and the GHSA will distribute educational materials about this issue to member schools.”

A noble policy but one that excludes a major deterrent to PED usage: testing. Admittedly, drug tests are expensive to administer and protocols are detailed and complicated. But does that mean that no testing guidelines should be in place? Not by a long shot.

Not all high school athletes are using performance-enhancers. Most, in fact, are not. But many are. In addition to the negative health effects of PED use, there are the dangers posed to other athletes. PEDs produce bigger, faster, and stronger players, and juiced players are a threat to their clean counterparts. In an era where concussions and other sports-related injuries are being constantly discussed, is there room for one more factor that could contribute to player injuries?

We may not be ready for PED testing just yet, but it needs to be in the discussion. And Georgia needs to lead the nation in making sure its high school athletes play cleanly and safely. ITG

The following web sites contributed to this story: www.nytimes.com, www.miamiherald.com, www.ironman.com, and www.ghsa.net.

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Player Spotlight Presented by:

English Guthrie Harris County High School

Getting to know English Family: Mother, Julie; father, the late Tommy Guthrie; sister, Natalie Pets: Dog, Cyrus (named during “Hanna Montana” phase); cat, Mr. Kitty Favorite food: Spaghetti Favorite place to eat: Buffalo Wild Wings Music: Country Favorite team: Georgia Bulldogs Best movie: Tie between the Twilight series and Remember the Titans Last book she read: Safe Haven Person you most admire: My mom. We have been through so much and she has pretty much had to be both mother and father. She is amazing.

Person she would most like to spend a day with: Taylor Swift Hidden talent: I can do impressions of people Current GPA: 4.1 Favorite subject: English, of course Best thing about Harris County High School: The school spirit. Everyone gets along. I love being in the county.

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English’s unusual first name derives from her mother naming her after a television actress. “I get lots of looks when I introduce myself and say ‘Hey, I’m English.’ People don’t quite know how to respond.”- English Guthrie 30

Perseverance Pays Off for Cheerleader

by Beth Welch

E

nglish Guthrie is supportive by nature. The outgoing and energetic 17-year-old Harris County High School student possesses a decidedly positive attitude which she often uses to buoy the spirits of others. These traits, combined with her athletic ability, help make the senior at HCHS one great cheerleader.

Guthrie first began cheering in middle school, but she was exposed to cheering at a much younger age.

Her older sister, Natalie, cheered in high school and attempted to get her interested.

“She would teach me stuff, and I was told I had natural ability, but I was like, no, I want to play soccer and tennis and other sports,” Guthrie says.

She spent time playing soccer and tennis. She also got involved in gymnastics, which lasted a little longer.

Eventually, middle school friends talked Guthrie into giving cheerleading a chance. When Guthrie made the team, she was hooked.

At the time, Guthrie had not reached her current height of 5’10” but was still taller than most of the cheerleaders on the middle school competition team, which would have probably made her a good prospect for the position of back spot or base. She was utilized mainly as a flyer back then because of her weight.

Her first year as a competition cheerleader brought adjustments. Guthrie says she was initially surprised by the amount of practice the sport required. Often she would have two practices a day but feels the experience was well worth the time and effort.

Because Guthrie enjoyed competition cheerleading, she set her sights on the next level. Her plans were thwarted when she suffered an injury at a middle school competition. She was out of commission for eight months. She couldn’t walk for two weeks and was on crutches for about six weeks.

“It was right before we were to compete, and I was stretching during the warm ups, the muscle snapped from my hip bone. The ligaments snapped from my hip bone and it was terrible,” says Guthrie.

After months of rehabilitation therapy, Guthrie received the okay from her doctor and tried out two months late for Harris County High School’s junior varsity team. Her determination caught the attention of varsity head coach Annesley Kendall. Before her freshman year ended, Guthrie was competing for both the JV and varsity in the position of back spot. It was a frenzied pace but Guthrie persevered.

“Sometimes I would have up to four practices a day.

It was kind of crazy at times,” she says.

Her coach was impressed with the talent and abilities of the freshman cheerleader as well as Guthrie’s dedication to learning two competition routines while balancing her schoolwork.

“She never batted an eye,” Kendall says of Guthrie’s intense schedule. “She was amazing about those practices.”

Along about this same time Guthrie experienced a growth spurt. She grew to her present height in such a short period of time, she suffered actual growing pains, mostly affecting her ankle. Guthrie compensated by wearing a brace and once again persevered with a smile.

Today the new senior is co-captain of the Tigers competition team. She has grown into a leadership role on the team, which Kendall finds to be comforting.

“She’s a really good back spot. She’s the one that if I have any new stunt groups or a new flyer , I am going to put English in the back of it because I know she is going to do whatever she needs to do in order to make that stunt successful. If it does come down, then she is going to be right there, and I don’t ever have any doubt

photography by Jerry Christenson that she is going to give 100 percent,” says Kendall.

Guthrie relishes being dependable for her team. As a back spot, she provides a sense of security for other members of the Tigers competition team during their fast-paced, two-and-a-half minute routines.

“It is a lot of responsibility because if a flyer falls, it is all on you. But I do enjoy the position,” she says.

As much as Guthrie likes the back spot position she loves even more the team experience. Guthrie finds the camaraderie of her teammates to be the best thing about cheering. She enjoys bonding as team members and smiles when she speaks of the opportunities she has to encourage the young ladies on her team in their efforts to produce a winning season for HCHS. Another component of cheering rates high with Guthrie, too. She is a member of the school’s football cheer squad, cheering for the Tigers at games during football season.

“I love football season. I just love it. I like football but there is nothing like cheering at a football game,” says Guthrie.

Now in her fourth season as head varsity cheer coach, Kendall is looking forward to competition cheer season. She believes her squad has the potential to have its best year during her tenure as coach. Loaded with talent and returning athletes, the Tigers should produce a memorable season with Guthrie as a mainstay.

“She’s one of the top three in talent on the team and that is really saying something,” says Kendall.

During the years Guthrie has cheered, she has heard the remarks that cheerleading is not a sport, and cheerleaders are not athletes. To Guthrie, those who say such have no idea what it takes to compete in what has become an almost year-round sport.

“That is so not true,” she says shaking her head. “We condition. We practice. We have exceptional athletic ability. And much of what we do can be dangerous.”

Guthrie only has one cheer season left. She plans on spending it working with her team and encouraging them to be the best they can. She also can’t wait for each competition ahead.

“When you step out on that mat, there is nothing else like that feeling. It is the biggest rush of adrenaline. It’s what I love about cheering,” she says. ITG

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Success on the Side In spite of all the titles her teams have amassed and the ‘Coach of the Year’ trophies she’s received, the biggest thrill of all for Wright is watching her girls grow into responsible young women. For her, coaching is about more than just sports. When she is coaching basketball, she is also teaching life lessons the girls can take with them when they leave Central High School. “Sports isn’t something you just do. It should prepare you for life. My job is to prepare my girls to play but also to prepare them for life - be on time, work hard, be accountable. You see how well they learned those lessons when you get to look at the finished product. That’s what it’s all about for me - the finished product,” she says.

Carolyn Wright Central High School 34

Coach Wright Utilizes Basketball, Volleyball To Prepare Her Players For Life

by Robert Preston, Jr.

“C

oming out of high school, I knew that physical education would be the route I wanted to take. I was always very competitive. I also noticed that my PE teachers and coaches seemed to have a lot of fun. That was the kind of career I wanted to pour myself into. My coaches and PE teachers made an enormous impact in my life and I wanted to give back to students who wanted to do their best and go farther,” says Carolyn Wright, head women’s basketball and volleyball coach at Central High School in Phenix City on why she entered the coaching profession.

Wright has led a championship-caliber basketball program for over 20 years at Central even though she never played a minute of basketball in high school or college. When she graduated from Tuskegee Institute High School in Tuskegee, Alabama, the school didn’t have a women’s basketball program.

She played volleyball and cheered, and continued those two sports when she attended Alabama State University in Montgomery. Wright also ran one year of track at ASU. While attending ASU, she obtained two bachelor’s degrees, one in physical education and the other in special education. She also earned a master’s degree in specific learning disabilities. While interning at St. Jude High School in Montgomery, she was tasked with starting a women’s volleyball program. Over the next several years, her career took her to Sparta, Georgia, and then back to Montgomery. Along the way, she coached everything from track, softball and basketball to - of all things - bowling. In 1991, she came to Central High School to coach women’s basketball and track. These days, she coaches volleyball and basketball.

Academic Ath

lete

photography by Jerry Christenson Under Wright’s leadership, the Central High women’s basketball program has flourished. Though they have yet to win a state title, the Lady Red Devils have been either area champions or runners-up for 16 of her 21 years at Central. They have been region champions once, runners-up three times, sub-region champions numerous times, and they have been to two Final Fours. Wright was named Coach of the Year in her first year a number of times during her years at Central, including her first year.

Of all the teams she has coached, last year’s squad ranks among the best. The 2011-2012 Lady Red Devils went 33-2, won the area, sub-region and region, and advanced to the Final Four. They won three tournaments during the year, and did all of this without a single player over 5’10”.

“They were a quick, hard-working team that bought into what we do. They won more games than any other team in Central history - men or women,” says Wright.

Lauren Billet

Harris Count y High Schoo l

Of the two sports that Wright coaches, the basketball team has been far and away the most successful. But volleyball should be catching up soon. The volleyball team had a disappointing 2012 season but now, after many years, there is a feeder program in place in the middle schools. Several of those younger players are also playing club volleyball, which will significantly strengthen the Central program in the coming years. The future is indeed bright for Central High volleyball.

This year, three of those players are back. It’s a solid foundation, but the 2012-2013 Lady Red Devils still have a lot of work to do, particularly on defense.

“We’ll be very competitive and this team has some big shoes to fill. They’ve got to work harder on defense. We’re still working on that and we’ve got a long way to go,” she says.

To Wright, the key to being successful is getting the athletes to accept Central’s system and play the way she teaches. It sounds like a simple philosophy, but not all players - including the good ones - buy into her system. Wright has had several teams made up of very talented players who didn’t buy in very well.

As a result, they often had disappointing seasons relative to the level of talent of each individual player. She has also had teams that might not have as much individual talent but achieved a great deal of success because they played hard, accepted their roles and gave everything they had to the team. “X’s and O’s are important but if you don’t get the kids to buy in to what you’re doing, you’re not going to be successful,” she says.

One of the most difficult aspects of coaching has not been getting the players to buy in but rather to get male coaches to respect her for the job she does.

When Wright became Central’s basketball coach in 1991, there weren’t a lot of women coaching women’s sports. Many of the male coaches didn’t take her seriously. She had to work very hard to get her male colleagues to understand that not only

was she determined to coach basketball but she was also putting together a program that could play with anybody in the state. “I had to show them I was serious about coaching basketball as a female. Also, because I didn’t play basketball in college or high school, I had to show people that I was passionate about the game,” she says.

In spite of all the titles her teams have amassed and the ‘Coach of the Year’ trophies she’s received, the biggest thrill of all for Wright is watching her girls grow into responsible young women. For her, coaching is about more than just sports. When she is coaching basketball, she is also teaching life lessons the girls can take with them when they leave Central High School. “Sports isn’t something you just do. It should prepare you for life. My job is to prepare my girls to play but also to prepare them for life - be on time, work hard, be accountable. You see how well they learned those lessons when you get to look at the finished product. That’s what it’s all about for me - the finished product,” she says.

Wright is married to Bobby Wright, now the athletic director at Central High School. When the two married, he was coaching men’s basketball.

Carolyn Wright has a son, Larry, and Bobby Wright has a son, Brandon. She jokes that she didn’t set out to marry the athletic director. “We’ve been married 20 years. He’s only been my athletic director for about 10 or 12 years,” she laughs. ITG

Senior Bring

by Beth Welch

35

H

s Her “A” Gam

e to Grades

arris County High School senior Lauren photography by Jerry Billet just finished “I have all my classes Christenson her first college in the morning at semester with a get to school for CSU and began 4.0 grade point average. third Her school’s dual Survey of Chemistry and fourth block. I’ve taken over power lifting, but nothing takes enrollment program precedent her performance 1, American Governme Columbus State with Survey of as a student. Billet University has enabled nt, and to admit Chemistry Lab,” is quick college classes she hasn’t always says Billet. while also attending Billet to take An only child, the had that attitude confesses she made energetic and outgoing Harris County High. The courses and the mistake of falling old plans to attend she mastered at behind in North Georgia College 17-year- her first year of high CSU weren’t just for kicks. school, not taking and sees academics in the fall possibility grades or the as a priority in her of attending college life. She plays basketball for the very seriously.

“My freshman year 12 HCHS Lady Tigers I kind of played around. and recently get into any bad scenes I didn’t but I had always been a good