In this Issue
48
+ 09
Publisher’s Letter
11
New at In the Game
13
Softball is NOT Girl’s Baseball
27
Breaking It Down
29 Lil Cat’s Camp 47
2015 ITG Media Day
66
Bulldawg to Packer: Hutson Mason
18
On the Cover: Chauncey Manac
40
In the Life of a Football Wife Claudette Giles-Gillespie
24
A Young, but Prestigious Packer Elizabeth Funderburk
43
Reigning Softball Region Player of the Year Hayley Fowler
30
The Heart of a Champion Nick Brinson
48
When a Rome, Do as Your Family Does... Justin Rome
Clinch County High School
Colquitt County High School
Thomas County Central High School
Valdosta High School
Lowndes High School
Valdosta Middle School
54
A Career College Coach Gets First Head Coaching Opportunity in 2015 Ashley Anders
59
GHSA Q & A Gary Phillips
62
Continuing the Legacy Tyler Rowe
Tift County High School
Georgia High School Association
Deerfield-Windsor School
In the Game | 7
September 2015
From the Publisher If you are into endurance sports, but sure to be on the look out for our next issue! We will feature a cross-country cyclist and a young triathlete!
Read Nick Brinson’s full story on page 30
Here at In the Game, our primary objective is to tell, through the stories of the athletes, coaches, and schools we feature, how athletics build communities, character, and provide opportunities, both in and outside of the world of sports, for those who participate in interscholastic sport. As such, it isn’t very often that someone who doesn’t play sports will be featured on the pages of this magazine. Every once in a while, however, we run into a young adult whose story demands to be told, athlete or not. Such is the case with Nick Brinson, a senior at Thomas County Central High School in Thomasville. When Nick was in the seventh grade, he was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer. At the time,
Nick had tried out for his school’s basketball team, but unfortunately did not make the squad. He was determined to earn a spot on the team the following year. Unfortunately, he never got the chance. Once diagnosed, Nick’s focus shifted from playing basketball to simply surviving. Now, over four years later, Nick is back training and working out. This time, however, it’s for something much more significant. Nick would like to walk across the stage at his high school graduation and it’s going to take a monumental effort to do so. The same work ethic, the same drive, the same never-quit attitude, the same determination that makes South Georgia athletes among the best in the country is going to get Nick across the graduation stage under his own power. Nick is a remarkable young man, and this month, he is one of our featured subjects. We are also now in the thick of football season. Because school and the season start so early, the weather hasn’t had much of a chance to cool off. Yet here we are, several weeks into the season, and the contenders are starting to pave their way to the postseason. We spent a few minutes with Chauncey Manac, Clinch County’s tight end/defensive end who is the area’s top-ranked player on just about
every recruiting service’s list. Manac has committed to Georgia and is a tremendous talent. We also highlight Ashley Anders, who was a career college coach until coming to Tift County in 2013 as defensive coordinator. Now Tift’s head coach, Anders is looking forward to building on the success the Blue Devils have enjoyed over the last couple of years. Other features include a glimpse into the life of a being a coach’s wife from Claudette Giles-Gillespie, wife of Valdosta head coach Rance Gillespie; Haley Fowler, Lowndes High’s pitcher and future VSU Blazer; Elizabeth Funderburk, a highlyranked Colquitt County cross country runner and golfer; and Justin Rome, the younger brother of University of Georgia tight end Jay Rome. We enjoyed summer, but those months can be a grind for us. Schools are quiet, and we spend the summer working on the preseason football edition. That’s behind us, school is in session, and the fall sports are in full swing. It’s good to be back, and we’re looking forward to another great year.
Tell us your thoughts! Email us at info@inthegamemagazine.com to let us know what you thought of the August edition of itg!
Contributors Publisher Mark Dykes Editors Mark Dykes Sarah Turner Graphics Sarah Turner Cover Photography Micki Krzynski Micki K Photography Feature Photography Micki Krzynski Micki K Photography Lindsi Jones Feature Writers Robert Preston Jr. James Washington Copy Editor James Washington Advertising/Marketing Mark Dykes mark@inthegamemagazine.com Rachel Thrasher rachel@inthegamemagazine.com Carrie Terry carrie@inthegamemagazine.com Website Manager Cole Parker
For advertising information call: 888-715-4263
Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. P.O. Box 812 Valdosta, GA 31603 In the Game High School Sports Magazine is published monthly (excluding July). The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2015 Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.
In the Game | 9
September 2015
NEW at ITG Keep an eye out for us at games this season. We will be giving out free stuff and interviewing fans!
Here at In the Gam e, we strive to do everything po zine.com, and ou ssible to keep yo r all-new weekly u updated on high newsletter! school sports in your area. With m Our newsletter wi agazines publl be sent out lished monthly an at the beginning d shows airing of each week an d weekly, we knew will provide subs we needed to cribers with easy meet the deman to grab informat ds of our more ion including: ou r web-savvy fans; “F riday Night Scor hence, our reeboard”, which vamped website wi ll give you details , inthegamemag on all matchups awithin the South Georgia area; a
Story of the Wee k; Fan of the Wee k; Video of the Wee k; our Top Five Players of the W eek; and our Top Five Teams of th e Week. Football is in the air, and if you haven’t already sig ned up for the newletter, do it no w! Visit our website, inthegamem agazine.com, to get started! ITG
In the Game | 11
September 2015
South GA Softball written by Robert Preston Jr.
Softball is NOT girls’ baseball All of you have seen a baseball game. Probably all of you have seen a fast-pitch softball game. At first glance, your first impression of softball might have been, “Hey, that’s neat. Girls’ baseball.” That was the first thing I thought when I watched my first fast-pitch game many years ago. I could not, however, have been more wrong. Softball season is in full swing right now (no pun intended). While the eyes of the South Georgia sporting world are on the various football stadiums around our communities, we have hundreds of girls suiting up and taking to softball fields all over the place. They play in cold weather, hot weather, and wet weather. They play or practice seven days a week, pitching, hitting, running, even lifting weights. And some of them are among the best softball players in the state.
A
s I watch softball, what impresses me is the speed of the game. Baseball’s biggest knock is that it’s slow. And while measures have been taken at every level to speed up the game, it’s still a slow, methodical activity. Softball, however, is played with a shot of adrenaline. The field is smaller, basepaths shorter, distance from mound to plate significantly less, pitching motion and trajectory of a pitched ball quite different. And all of that must be taken into account when formulating a game strategy. The first and most obvious differ-
ence to me was smaller size of the field – outfield fences in the 200-foot range, 60 feet between bases, and 40 feet from mound to plate for high school. The pitching motion is also very different – overhanded from an elevated mound in baseball, underhanded from a flat mound in softball. The underhanded pitching motion in softball is a much easier on a pitchers’ arm than the baseball motion. Softball pitchers can pitch two games of a double-header, nearly every day. Whereas a baseball team needs a staff of five starters and a healthy bullpen, a softball team
can get away with one dominant pitcher and a couple of others who can throw a little to give the starter a break. Coaches in particular have to allow for the shorter, more compact field. Base running strategy differs between the two sports; softball players move between bases in about three seconds. When base runners steal (which they must do without taking a lead from a base), it takes less than three seconds for speedy players. All of that must be taken into account. And if a coach takes a traditional baseball approach to softball, they often receive a few harsh lessons in the fallacy
In the Game | 15
of such a game plan. From an offensive standpoint, the two sports have a different approach to hitting, primarily because of the trajectory of the ball. In baseball, the ball is coming from an elevated platform down to the batter. With softball, the pitcher throws from the same level as the batter. As such, the natural trajectory of the ball is to go from low to high. Good pitchers are able to alter the trajectory and throw a variety of pitches, including those that rise significantly, drop off the table, and move right and left. What is the result? A fast, high-energy game that takes tremendous skill and athletic ability to play. Softball players need quick hands, sharp eyes, and fast feet. When the ball is in play, things happen in a hurry – more so than in baseball. Softball, along with soccer and basketball, is a major sport for young ladies in our area. It’s a big-money sport – players, parents, and teams readily open their wallets for equipment, uniforms, tournament entry fees, travel, and the various other expenses that accompany a year-round sport. It is out of that commitment that the game has grown tremendously in our area. These girls are as dedicated as any football or baseball player you will find anywhere. It’s a fun game to watch and an even more fun game for the girls to play. If you haven’t seen a softball game recently, head out to the ballpark and take one in. I promise you won’t be disappointed. ITG
Softball players need quick hands, sharp eyes, and fast feet. When the ball is in play, things happen in a hurry – more so than in baseball.
September 2015
Chauncey Manac We’ve been talking about
for a while...
written by Robert Preston Jr.| photography by Micki K Photography
T
Clinch Co. High School
Chauncey Manac, who also plays baseball for the Panthers (right field, bats sixth in the order), seldom leaves the field. When he isn’t terrorizing quarterbacks as a defensive end, he’s protecting his own quarterback from the tight end position. Throughout most of his career as a tight end, he’s been used primarily as a blocker. He does get a ball thrown his way once in a while and scored one touchdown on the year. It came in the Panthers’ 37-26 win over Wilcox County. When I asked him why he doesn’t catch more passes, he just laughed and said, “That’s what I’m saying!”
he 6’3”, 225-pound defensive end/tight end is and has been at the top of every list of Georgia’s best players almost since he earned a spot on Clinch County’s varsity football team as a freshman. He’s a four-star recruit with all the physical tools an athlete needs to succeed at the next level and beyond. Since he has been at Clinch, the Panthers have had a difficult stretch. After not making the playoffs his freshman year, Clinch rebounded with a region championship in 2013. Last year saw the Panthers hit their stride during the regular season but stumble in the playoffs. This season, Clinch has 10 seniors, a ton of experience, and a desire to return to the top of the single-A heap. Can Manac lead the Panthers to a sixth state championship? Everyone down in Homerville certainly hopes so. Manac is a quiet, soft-spoken, humble young man. He has no reason to be – you would be hard pressed to lay any blame on him if he was loud, boisterous, and just a little entitled. After all, Manac has enjoyed more time in the spotlight than many Hollywood A-listers. He’s been covered by every major recruiting service in the country. His list of interested colleges reads like a Who’s Who of Division I football. He’s also been All-Region, All-State, and an All-American. A University of Georgia commit, Saturday Down South has him listed as one of five future Bulldogs every Georgia fan should get to know. And he still has one more year of high school football to play.
In the Game | 19
What is it about Manac that makes him so special? He has that rare combination of physical ability, mental toughness, coachability, and a tremendous work ethic. Manac has never been content to sit back and get by on his talent alone – and at the single-A level, he could do that year-in and year-out and still be a beast. Instead, he’s listened to his coaches, worked hard to sharpen the ability he has, and he’s let his success go to his head. The end result is one of the best high school football players in the state. Manac has always been among the Panthers’ leaders in every defensive statistical category. Last year, he was near the top in total tackles with 68. In 2013, according to Scout.com, Manac also
posted 68 tackles, along with 18 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks. His strength is rushing the passer, where he can use his size, speed, and quickness to pressure the quarterback. “That’s what I think I do well, get to the quarterback,” says Manac when asked where his strengths lie. Manac has been on the radar of just about every major college program in the Southeast for several years. In the end, his short list of potential schools was, well, pretty short. He wanted to stay in-state, which limited the schools he was willing to consider. And with the University of Georgia placing an offer on the table, he didn’t have much of a reason to look anywhere else. “I mean it’s the University of Georgia. There’s nothing like it,” he says. Manac hit it off quickly
with the ‘Dawgs’ coaching staff. He immediately felt at home with the coaches and around the program. For him, the decision was easy. Getting his choice of college out the way allows Manac to give the 2015 Panthers his undivided attention. After several years of rebuilding, Clinch has found itself in a great position this year. They have a large senior class, most of the 2014 team returning, and one of the best players in the country on the field on both sides of the ball. “We haven’t won a state title since I’ve been on the team. All that happened before I got here,” he says. Maybe, just maybe, that will change this season. And Chauncey Manac will have a big say in making that happen. ITG
In the Game | 21
>>
a rburk like e d n u ms th F lizabe almost see ars old, E g n i ye ete Call t-athl . At 15 ass and t n n e e d u st tem r cl dersta r one in he evel in n u n a umbe the state l n s i e at sh celled t sports. x e s a n h iffere d e e r th
Elizabeth Funderburk
G
A young, but prestigious Packer written by Sarah Turner | photography by Micki K Photography
olf: It’s a sport that requires confidence, consistency, focus, balance, and a competitive eye. To excel at the sport, even at the high school level, you’ll need to be out on the course daily. The 18th hole will leave the most decorated golfers mentally exhausted, even if they have yet to break a sweat. Cross Country: It’s a sport that requires discipline, heart, a touch of crazy, and the ability to endure extreme discomfort. Even at the high school level, you’ll need to be logging quality miles on a daily basis. Done at maximum effort, 3.1 miles will leave even the most seasoned runners too physically exhausted to carry on a clear thought. While both sports require incredible work ethic, they are on opposite ends of the sports spectrum. To do well at both sports simultaneously would take a rare breed of athlete. Meet Elizabeth Funderburk. As a freshman, she qualified for the 2015 GHSA State Cross Country meet in Carrolton, Ga. South Georgia isn’t exactly known for their excellent high school long distance runners, but Funderburk broke through the norm to place 11th in the event, although the terrain in Carrol-
ton was far more demanding than what she was used to. “It’s pretty much flat in South Georgia but at the state course, there are four big hills that we had to run twice,” Funderburk says. It was kind of a shock being that it was my first year because I had never seen it before and I [physically] didn’t know what to expect.” Also as a freshman, she took third place at the 2015 AAAAAA State Championship Golf Tournament with a score of 73, leading the Packers to a secondplace finish. With a resume even the most athletic seniors in the state can only dream of, Funderburk is focusing on what she still wants to do at the high school level: win state championships. At the time of this writing, her cross country team is taking on late-summer workouts, practicing together three nights per week. She also has a personal running coach who she trains with on days she isn’t with the team; however, two-a-day running workouts are not rare for her. Less rare, is a basic two-a-day. In fact, that happens nearly every day. Golfing since the budding age of 8, she still hits
In the Game | 25
the course daily with the same exceptional mindset. “Whenever I go out there, I work really hard and focus on my weaknesses,” she says. As a reader, you may be getting a little lethargic just reading about Funderburk, but this young lady isn’t quite through cataloging her honors thus far as a high school athlete. She runs track too. In the 2015 GHSA Track & Field Finals, she placed 14th in the 1600-meter run and 13th in the 3200-meter run. Not bad for her first year on the track. At the brink of her sophomore year, the sky is the limit for Funderburk, and she is doing more than creating her own impressive resume. She is helping to put South Georgia on the map in sports typically dominated by Atlanta area schools. What may be most intriguing about this young lady, however, is her refusal to brag. With a father who is an assistant principal and a mother who is the mat coordinator in the Moultrie community, exceptional discipline and good manners are the only option for Funderburk. “Regardless of wins or losses in athletics, she has been a blessing to me and her mother,” says her father, Darrell Funderburk, CCHS assistant principal. ITG
5,000-meter run 18:54.84 3,200-meter run 11:53.10 1,600-meter run 5:30.25
September 2015
The 40-Yard Dash
NFL-Record 40-Yard Dash times (in seconds) Chris Johnson (RB) – 4.24 (2008) Dri Archer (RB) – 4.26 (2014) Marquise Goodwin (WR) – 4.27 (2013) Marcus Van Dyke (CB) – 4.28 (2011) Jacoby Ford (WR) – 4.28 (2010) Tye Hill (CB) – 4.30 (2006) Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR) – 4.30 (2009) Yamon Figurs (WR) – 4.30 (2007) Justin King (CB) – 4.31 (2008) Johnathan Joseph (CB) – 4.31 (2006) Tyvon Branch (CB) – 4.31 (2008)
Breaking it down
The dash was originally used as a telling sign of ability in what is commonly referred to as the “skill” positions (which include running back, wide receiver, and defensive back); these positions are usually expected to be the fastest, and, in the use of special teams, they can come in handy when it comes to field position after a punt. On the receiving end, having a faster player catching the punt can improve the chances that the ball will be advanced after the catch. On the other side, if faster players are trying to stop the individual catching the ball, there is a better chance of preventing any advancement. On average, the hang time, or the amount of time that a football spends in the air from kick to catch, is about four and a half seconds. Therefore, if a coach sees that a player can clear 40 yards in four and a half seconds (or less), that typically increases the player’s chance of becoming a high selection in the draft. ITG
nwod ti gnikaerB
Though there may be slight variants in distance, the average punt in the National Football League measures around 40 yards from the point that it is kicked to the point at which it is caught.
In the Game | 27
September 2015
Lil’ Cats Camp written by James Washington | photography courtest of Mike Chapman
Be sure to grab a copy of our October edition to read about Lee County seniors, Garet Morrell and Chris Barnes!
Valdosta High Hosts Sixth Annual Lil ‘Cats Camp
outh Georgia is known for its football heritage, and deep in the heart of the history is the legacy of Valdosta High School. On July 25 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Valdosta High School hosted their sixth annual Lil ‘Cats Camp at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. Approximately 50 young athletes attended the event (ages 6 to 12), accompanied by their parents and loved ones. “It’s important for us to reach out,” said Coach Reggie Mitchell, who headed the camp. “It’s an opportunity for the children to get a head start on learning the game.” After a registration period from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., the children were split into groups and rotated around stations that focused on different aspects of the game. They were taught the basics of passing,
S
catching, blocking, and other important fundamental skills of football. “We want to stress the fundamentals of the game,”
Coach Mitchell said. “It’s the foundation of football, of any sport, actually. The more they learn fundamentals at a young age, the better chance
they have to succeed as they get older.” Perhaps the biggest part of the afternoon involved the station referred to as “Cat Talk,” in which current and former coaches and players spoke with the young campers about the history of the Wildcats and the accomplishments to which the institution lays claim. “I’m from Valdosta, and I played for the Wildcats under Coach (Nick) Hyder,” Coach Mitchell said. “I’m proud of what this school represents. It’s very important for the kids to understand what this program means, not just to the school, but to our community.” According to Coach Mitchell, the camp also serves as an outlet to stay in touch with young athletes as they grow and learn the game. “It helps us to track the kids,” he said. “Whether they become Wildcats or not, we’re able to follow the kids, athletically and academically. We want to build relationships with the children and their parents, and we want to ensure that they have the opportunity to remain in touch with us if they so desire.”
In the Game | 29
the heart of a Champion Nick Brinson//Thomas County Central High School
written by Robert Preston Jr.| photography by Micki K Photography
Athletes know how to run, jump, lift, swing, swim, shoot, and throw. Their task is to do the aforementioned better and faster than their competition. Nick Brinson, a senior at Thomas County Central High School, is also an athlete. His goal, however, isn’t to run faster, hit harder, lift more, or shoot better. No, Nick Brinson would simply like to walk again in front of his friends and family, across the stage during his high school graduation later this school year. In April of 2011, doctors diagnosed Brinson with medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer. At the time, Brinson had been playing football in a local league and playing tennis for his school team. The day after his final tennis match, he was riding a skateboard when he fell and hit his head. He experienced concussionlike symptoms over the next 24 hours, which landed him in the emergency room. Doctors discovered that his symptoms were not caused by a concussion, but instead by tumors near his brain stem. In that one moment, the direction of the entire Brinson family changed dramatically and irreversibly. “I was real angry at first. I wanted to get better so I could play sports again. But that didn’t happen,” says Brinson. What did happen was surgery followed by the requisite treat-
ments. The treatments were successful at getting rid of the cancer, but the surgery caused posterior fossa syndrome, a rare condition that often shows up following surgery near the brain stem. Posterior fossa syndrome describes a variety of ailments that affect speech, mobility, swallowing, and balance, among others. Brinson, the once active young man who dreamed of playing sports for Thomas County Central High School, was left with limited mobility and speech. Since his disabilities surfaced, Brinson has worked tirelessly to overcome his obstacles. Now, over four years later, he has a singular goal in mind: Walk across the stage at graduation and receive his diploma, just like everyone else. While Brinson uses a wheelchair at school, he is able to walk and can even climb the stairs in his home. “The first time I saw him do that, it really scared me,” says his mom, Jennifer. Brinson’s problem is his balance – he has the strength and determination to walk across the stage but he has trouble maintaining his balance. For Brinson, getting ready for graduation is akin to preparing for a sporting event. He has to practice every day, work out, and get after it, even when he doesn’t feel like it. And there are plenty of days In the Game | 31
when Brinson doesn’t want to go through another training session. He spends time in the gym working out, focusing on those exercises that build the muscles he will need to achieve his goal. He also takes part in hippotherapy, which involves riding horses as a way of building balance and stamina. Brinson can’t participate in the sports he used to before he was diagnosed. Instead, getting ready to walk across the stage is his sport. He approaches the task as though he was getting ready for a football game or a tennis match. Therapy and gym sessions are his practices, graduation is his game. And he has vowed to be in peak physical condition when it’s time to get his diploma. “The whole school and the entire senior class knows Nick and his story. They are very supportive and encouraging,” says Jennifer. The spring will be a big time of the year for Brinson. Right now, he’s cancer-free. In April, if the cancer stays away, he will be declared in remission. Having successfully battled that foe, he will have to overcome the posterior fossa syndrome. If he continues to work, he has a really good chance of regaining his pre-cancer mobility and speech. “He can make an almost complete recovery if he continues to work and put in the time in therapy. He can be almost where he was before. Nick wants to be independent and have the life he deserves. He’s adapted well to his disabilities but he wants his independence back,” says Jennifer. And Nick Brinson will take those first steps toward independence onstage, at graduation, in front of all of his family and friends. ITG
In the Game | 33
Claudette Giles-Gillespie Claudette Giles-Gillespie
Life
in The of a football Wife: written by Robert Preston Jr. | photography by Micki K Photography
“When Rance and I married, I had no idea what we were getting into. All I knew is that coaches worked with teams and coached kids. We got married when we were 23. We were young, and I had no idea,” says Claudette Giles-Gillespie, wife of Valdosta High School head football coach Rance Gillespie. So what does she think now, after 23 years as the wife of a football coach? “It’s definitely been a journey with a lot of different turns. It’s been fun taking the journey together. But you have to be an independent person. You can’t be high
maintenance, or it won’t work. You have to embrace it and just go with it or have a lot of really good hobbies, because your husband just won’t be around.” Rance and Claudette grew up in Clayton, in the northeast corner of the state in Rabun County. They lived in the same neighborhood within walking distance of each other’s homes. “His grandmother lived between us. I literally married the boy next door,” she laughs. Though they were neighbors, they didn’t meet until they were in the seventh grade. Giles-Gillespie couldn’t date until she turned 16; once she celebrated her 16th birthday, she and Rance began dating. They dated through high school and college. Initially, Rance wanted to be a doctor. He was a pre-med major until his senior year, when he decided to become a coach. Together, they stepped into a world that involved moving, brutal work schedules, politics, and life in the public’s eye. And neither one would trade it for anything in the world. Rance Gillespie’s career has taken him all over the state and beyond. First a graduate assistant at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina, Gillespie has coached at Elbert County, Thomasville, Coffee County, Banks County, Peach County, Georgia Southern University, and, since 2010, at Valdosta High. Some of those stops have been more high profile than others. But none have placed him in the public’s eye like the Valdosta job. “You know, it’s a fun place. There’s nothing like it. You just have to jump in and go with it. I enjoy it. You look at what you have control over and what you can’t control. Then you focus on those things you can control. We have
In the Game | 39
each other and the people who support us. We just put on black and gold and get ready each Friday night,” says GilesGillespie. Being the coach’s wife in a place like Valdosta isn’t easy. There are supporters of the program, but there are also lots of people – some very vocal – who have unfavorable opinions. To the best of her ability, she tries to block out the negative and remain at her husband’s side, no matter what. “My job is to be Rance’s number-one partner. If no one is standing there with him, that’s my job. Win, lose, or tie – I’m going to be by his side. I will be there for him and make sure our daughter’s relationship with him is based on the time she spends with him, not what someone else says,” states Giles-Gillespie. The Gillespies have one child, Kennedy, who is now 14. They were married for a decade before Kennedy was born. Once a child entered the picture, an already hectic life took an even greater detour. “The journey took another turn when we had a child. Then I saw how coaching can affect a family. The time schedule isn’t always favorable for a family. Rance can’t
always be there for a lot of events. That’s when Mom becomes Mom and Dad. Kennedy doesn’t know it any differently. We just try to make sure our time together is quality time. I didn’t anticipate all of that. We have to focus on what we have, not what we miss,” she says. Despite the challenges, the journey has been quite rewarding. Coach Gillespie has experienced a great deal of success during his career. In many ways, he rescued what, at the time, was an embattled Valdosta High program. His Wildcats won a region title in his second year at as head coach, their first since 2003. His teams have also made the playoffs every year he’s been in Valdosta. To Giles-Gillespie, however, the most rewarding moments don’t necessarily involve wins and losses. She sees firsthand the hours her husband puts into the Valdosta High program. That includes player evaluation, public appearances, and game plan development. But it also includes time spent one-on-one with kids who may not have anything else positive in their lives. The opportunity that football gives them is often the one factor that determines whether they do something productive with their lives or
whether they end up as a tragic statistic. “Wins are great but they only last for a moment. Then Monday comes around again. Keeping up with kids who we have come into contact with in the past is what is rewarding. Making a difference, giving a kid an opportunity – those moments are special. I love hearing from kids whose lives may not have turned out the way they did if Rance hadn’t given them an opportunity. That’s a pretty good feeling.” It’s not an easy life, but it’s one that Claudette Giles-Gillespie has found to be both enjoyable and satisfying. She has had to buy houses all by herself (“I just told Rance to show up at the closing; he couldn’t believe I made the offer and bought it myself”), convince co-workers she was indeed married (“I had a job once where my co-workers thought Rance was a make-believe person”), and find time for Kennedy to grab a few hours with her father. “‘For better or for worse’ has a different meaning now, 23 years later. We do the best we can to do life together. As a coaching family, it’s a lot different than having an 8-5 career. But we don’t know anything different. It’s certainly been fun,” she says. ITG
In the Game | 41
September 2015
2014 Region Player of the Year
Haley Fowler Lowndes High School
written by Robert Preston Jr. | photography by Lindsi Jones
H
aley Fowler, a pitcher with the Lowndes High Vikettes softball team, wants to win. When she steps between the white lines, that’s all she wants to do. Her competitive nature belies her sweet, polite demeanor. Make no mistake about it – when she is on that field, she will do whatever she can within the rules of the game to completely shut down her opponents. And during her three-year career at Lowndes, she’s been pretty effective at doing just that. Fowler and her family moved to Lowndes from North Georgia when she was a freshman. Fowler was already an accomplished softball player when she arrived in Valdosta. She
began playing softball when she was 4 years old. Though that first playing experience was just tee ball, she immediately fell in love with the game and hasn’t quit playing since. Throughout her career, Fowler has played just about every infield position. She started pitching when she was about 12 years old, but pitching didn’t really click with her until she was a sophomore. That’s when her career took off. That season, the Vikettes won the region title and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the state playoffs. Fowler earned Region Pitcher of the Year honors for the role she played in the run to the region title. Last season, Lowndes repeated with another re-
“I’m so blessed to be able to play softball.” In the Game | 43
“I’ve always wanted to play in college. But I also want to win. I’d rather play for a smaller school that wins than for a Division I program that doesn’t.” gion championship. This time, Fowler was named Region Player of the Year. A tremendous hitter, Fowler hits in the #3 spot and led the team in home runs the last two seasons. What makes Fowler such a great player? First of all, she loves the game. When she stepped on the field that first time almost a decade and a half ago, she knew softball was her game. In many ways, Fowler feels as though she was born to play softball and she’s dedicated nearly every waking hour that she hasn’t been in school to perfecting her craft. Aside from the physical work she’s done, Fowler is also meticulous when it comes to the mental side of the game. She pores over other pitchers’ statistics, trying to figure out what they do in certain situations. She also studies game film and score sheets from previous region games to gain insight into the tendencies of opposing hitters. “Last year against Colquitt in the region championship series, I took every score sheet from our games with them and studied their line-up. I wanted to know how to pitch to them and where to place the ball,” she says. That kind of attention to detail, along with a velocity that hits 63 mph and her command of six different pitches, made her hot commodity to college programs. In the end, Fowler decided to stay home and attend Valdosta State University. The primary reason? VSU is a winning program with a national championship resume. “I’ve always wanted to play in college. But I also want to win. I’d rather play for a smaller school that wins than for a Division I program that doesn’t. I also love Coach [Thomas] Macera’s coaching style and rest of the staff at VSU,” she says. Fowler has devoted her life to playing softball. Now she’s seeing all that work and all those hours pay off – two straight region titles, Pitcher and Player of the Year honors, a college scholarship, and more than enough memories to last a lifetime. Through it all, she’s just happy to be able to play the game. “I’m so blessed to be able to play softball. It’s been a huge part of my life. It’s my go-to. It’s fun to look back where I came from and where I am right now,” she says. ITG
In the Game | 45
September 2015
In the Game Media Day 2015 Saturday, July 25, 2015 @ the Valdosta Mall Valdosta, Ga.
A special thanks: To all those who came out to all of the coaches, fans, players, and sponsors who came out to support the 2015 In the Game Media Day presented by Valdosta Othopedic Assosiation.
* Even our preseason cover model, Maysoe Wiley was in attendence. Read about him in the October edition of In the Game!
A huge thanks to the Valdosta Orthopedic Associates for presenting their Preseason Pride $500 check, and congratulations to Valwood’s Ashley Henderson, who collected the prize for his football program!
Schools in Attendence: Valdosta, Colquitt, Lowndes, Clinch, Thomas County Central, Lanier, Valwood, Georgia Christian, Thomasville Door prizes provided by: In the Game, Country Cobbler, The Mix, Outback Steakhouse, Georgia Theatre Company
Subscribe to our Youtube page to watch your favorite coach’s presentation! In the Game | 47
Valdosta
WHENA written by James Washington | photography by Micki K Photography
Many adolescent children in South Georgia turn to athletics for numerous reasons. Sports are a great to stay in shape and meet new people. Many children take part in multiple sports until they find the one that is their true calling. A good number of them find one sport that fits. Others may decide that sports aren’t for them. But every once in a while, you find a rare breed that excels in more than one sport. Not only do they excel; they continue to play all of them. To say that Justin Rome is an active child is quite the understate-
ment. An eighth-grader at Valdosta Middle School (Valdosta, Ga.), he carries the load of a typical student, while also bearing the load of being a three-sport athlete. During the fall, he takes the field as a quarterback and wide receiver for the Wildcats’ football team. Soon after, he switches his cleats for sneakers, as he plays point guard and shooting guard for the basketball team. And, come springtime, he can be found on the baseball diamond, where, according to Justin, he has spent time at every position. “Yeah, I play pretty much everywhere,” Justin says. “I enjoy playing catcher the most.” Justin’s father, Stan, was quite the athlete in his own right. As an All-State receiver for Valdosta High School under legendary coach Wright Bazemore. Stan was a member of what many argue to be one of the greatest high school teams in history. The 1971 Wildcats claimed a region, state, and national championship, and over the course of the season, Stan would account for 1,573 receiving yards. His total stood as a state record for 29 years, and still holds as a Valdosta High record to this day. He also holds the school record for most receiving yards in a career with 4,477. He would eventually go on to play for Clemson University and the Kansas City Chiefs. Stan’s talent has clearly manifested itself in his children. Justin is already a force to be reckoned with, his older sister. Kiersten (who currently attends Valdosta State University), was a standout competitive cheerleader while she attended Valdosta High School,
Middle
Do as Your Family Does....
InInthe theGame Game | | 49 7
and his older brother, Jay, is currently a tight end at the University of Georgia. Jay graced the cover of In the Game Magazine on two separate occasions (October 2009 and March 2011). During his time at Valdosta High, Jay was an All-State member of the football and basketball teams. Already paving his own way, Justin has been named tournament MVP on multiple occasions with his travel baseball team, the Valdosta Black Sox. “Jay teaches me a lot about sports,” Justin says. “Probably the biggest thing that he’s taught me is that things won’t be perfect. There will be coaches that you don’t like, and some that you might not get along with. But you just have to do your best and let your talent and hard work speak for you.” Justin currently stands at 5’7”, which is much smaller than his brother was at the same age (Jay was 6’0” at 13 years old; he currently stands at 6’6”). But according to their father, for what Justin lacks in height, he more than makes up for in other areas. “Justin is such a quick study,” Stan says. “Whatever sport is in season, he picks up right away, whether he’s playing or not. He’s also more athletic at his age that Jay was. Because he’s smaller, he’s able to execute and create moves much easier.” Jay was also a multi-sport athlete growing up. He dropped baseball prior to middle school, and played both football and basketball up until his freshman year of college. Eventually, he would let basketball go to focus his talent on the gridiron. Justin is appearing to find his forte in baseball, but his focus and determination are apparently eerily similar to their father’s. “Sometimes, it’s scary,” says Stan, Justin’s father. “I’m around Justin a lot more than I was around Jay and Kiersten. When his siblings were growing up, I had to travel often for work, so LaVerne played a much stronger role in their everyday lives. I spend much more time with Justin, and our similarities are striking. His athleticism is through the roof.” During games, Justin is guaranteed to be locked in. He gives his all in every aspect of his life; when his grades began to slip, his parents made certain that he attended tutoring sessions so that he would remain up to speed academically. Jay also makes sure to take time to talk to Justin about his academics. He tells his younger brother that a strong work ethic in the classroom will translate to
an easier road in college. He ensures that Justin is aware; athletics may get you there, but it is your grades that get you through. “We’ve let him know that grades are not ‘a’ priority, they’re ‘the’ priority,” says his mother, LaVerne. “We tell him that, if it gets to be too much to handle, we’ll pull a sport. No questions asked. But he’s willing to meet expectations. He doesn’t give up on anything.” His demeanor is that of a professional; he cannot be removed from “game mode” until he decides. However, away from athletics, Justin is one of the most sociable people one could ever meet, and his heartwarming smile is sure to brighten any room. He will make an attempt to be your friend, no matter the circumstance. “Justin is such a people-person,” Mrs. Rome says. “He never meets a stranger, and he goes out of his way to make people smile. He is always reaching out to others, especially those less fortunate than him. I had a parent of a special needs child pull me aside one day to tell me that, every time Justin sees her child, he goes out of his way to talk and thrown the football with him.” His caring heart and friendly nature carry over into his family life as well. Justin and Jay share a bond that has to be seen to be truly appreciated. “There’s no doubt about it; they’re best friends,” Mrs. Rome says. “If Justin ever has questions that (my husband and I) can’t answer, or specific questions about sports or school, I’ll ask him, ‘Who do you think you should talk to about that’? And he’ll run off and call Jay. And when Jay is away in Athens, he’s calling and texting every day, asking how Justin is doing and what he’s up to. It’s such a blessing.” When Jay is home from college, the two are always together. They talk about everything, from sports to life in general. Justin has even gone to visit him in Athens for weeks at a time, meeting Jay’s teammates and coaches along the way. “I get to go to all the workouts with him (in Athens),” Justin says. “Sometimes I get to work out with them a little bit too. I get to watch practices sometimes and see what the guys do and learn.” When it comes to middle school sports in Valdosta, young Justin Rome is in a class of his own. And if his athletic path turns out anything like his family before him, he’s got a tremendous future ahead of him. ITG
In the Game | 51
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Coach Anders readily admits he wouldn’t have this opportunity if it wasn’t for his family. His wife, Sheri, played softball and basketball in college. Now a special education teacher at Tift County, she knows exactly what it means to be a coach’s wife. “She knows what goes into the job, all the off-the-clock work. She knows the profession and she’s
very supportive. She’s the best coach’s wife in the world,” he says. Together, they have three children: Mary Alex, a sophomore, who plays basketball, volleyball, and runs track; Cade, an eighth-grader and a football, basketball, and baseball player like his dad; and Camden, a fourthgrader who plays basketball, softball, and swims.
September 2015
2015 Coaching Change
Ashley Anders A career college coach, Anders gets first head coaching opportunity in 2015 written by Robert Preston Jr. | photography by Micki K Photography
“
I always knew I wanted to be a coach. From the first day I registered for college, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I guess you could say it’s in my blood,” says Tift County head coach Ashley Anders. The first-year head coach has been at Tift County for three years; he came to Tifton in 2013 as a defensive coordinator from Murray State University. Coach Anders grew up in Hampton, Arkansas, where his father coached football at Hampton High School. When Anders was in the eighth grade, his father left the coaching profession for administration at the high school. Anders played football, baseball, and basketball at Hampton High. He earned a scholarship to Arkansas-Monticello, at the time an NAIA school, where he played baseball. During his four years at ArkansasMonticello, the school transitioned from NAIA to Division II. Following graduation, Anders took a job with a 3A school in Arkansas, where he was an assistant head coach for the football team and head basketball coach. When Tommy Tuberville took over as the head coach at Auburn University, Anders secured a graduate assistant’s job on his staff. Earlier in his career, Tuberville
had been an assistant in Arkansas under Anders’s father. “While I was coaching at Auburn, I finished my master’s degree,” recalls Anders. From there, he served as defensive coordinator at Holmes Community College in Mississippi, defensive coordinator at Valdosta State University, defensive coordinator at Georgia Southern University, and defensive coordinator at Murray State University. “I had decided that when I turned 40, if I had a job at a Division I school or if I was close to landing one, I would ride out that dream. But if I wasn’t there, I would return to Georgia and try to get a head coach at the high school level,” he says. When his 40th birthday rolled around, he wasn’t a Division I head coach, and it didn’t look like an opportunity was coming any time soon. So he started looking for a job in Georgia. Why did he want to come to Georgia to coach? Anders recruited the South Georgia area during his years as a college coach. He knew how important high school football is to Georgia, and he was also well aware of how talented Georgia’s players are. He also wanted some stability for his family, and he realized that high school offered the best opportunity for a stable coaching career. “I’ve
got three kids. Coaching is very time consuming, and you don’t get a lot of time to see your family. I had moved around a lot, and I wanted to settle down. I could have gone anywhere, I guess. There’s some good football in Texas and a few other states. But I remembered how big football is down here and how hard the kids play. Plus my wife had 10 years teaching experience in Georgia so that’s where we looked,” he says. Through a few connections from former college coaches, Anders learned about a defensive coordinator’s opening in Tift County. He didn’t know then-head coach John Reid, but he did know former offensive coordinator Chris Bowden, with whom Anders had coached at VSU. Anders made a few calls and ended up getting the job. And now, just two years later, he is a head coach in Georgia’s highest classification. Anders missed the really lean years of Tift County football. When he came in, two dreadful losing seasons – including a 2-8 campaign in Reid’s first year – had already passed. The program was on the way up, and things were looking good for Tift County football. The Blue Devils were 5-5 in Anders’s first year and 7-4
In the Game | 55
last year. The 2015 season marked Tift’s first playoff appearance in six years. When Coach Reid left Tifton for Rome, Ga., earlier this year, the Tift County Board of Education didn’t hesitate. They named Anders head coach the same day Rome hired Reid. “It’s been a change, being a head coach. When I was a defensive coordinator, I had tunnel vision. I just looked at my side of the ball. Now I have to look at the whole program, the locker room, the weight room, everything. There is so much more responsibility,” he says. Anders doesn’t plan on changing much as head coach. He says the biggest changes will come with terminology. The schemes on both sides of the ball will remain nearly the same. “You’ve got be able to run the ball down here. But at the same time, you also need to throw well. Defensively, we have an answer for anything an offense brings. We base out of a 4-2-5, but we have multiple packages based on what we see,” says Anders. Coach Anders believes his experience at the college level will help him tremendously at Tift. “It will definitely help with the X’s and O’s. I’ve also coached in some big games and faced some excellent coaches. The biggest thing is it taught me to have set rules as far as defense is concerned. We’re able to teach a true defensive system,” he says. ITG
Asthma Control: The Need for a Team Approach Asthma is a complex disease of the lungs and airways that affects more than 20 million children and adults in the United States. “Asthma is a complex inflammatory lung disease that can cause symptoms severe enough to send children to the emergency room,” says Jennifer M. Madon, MD, Chief of Pediatrics at South Georgia Medical Center. However, with a dedicated treatment team, better understanding of the disease and daily asthma management, most patients can live a fairly normal life.
Inflammation of the airways is a major factor in asthma. The body’s immune system produces an inflammatory response to what it considers a threat: • Bacteria • Viruses • Pollen • Dust or other irritants People with asthma are hypersensitive to these irritants and their bodies overreact, causing additional problems. • The lining of the airways becomes inflamed and swollen, leaving less room for air to move through. • Muscles around the airways tighten and cause what are known as bronchospasms. • Excess mucus is produced, making it even harder for air to move through. The result is coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath, particularly in reaction to certain triggers. Emergencies Can Be Prevented Asthma attacks can be very frightening and, in fact, about 200 American children die of asthma-related issues each year. “But emergencies can be prevented with careful use of medications and understanding of triggers,”
said Dr. Madon. Over the long term, inflammation can be lowered and managed with anti-inflammatory medications taken daily to keep asthma symptoms from occurring in the first place. For quick relief when symptoms occur, rescue medications must be prescribed and handy for use. Finally, a person with asthma has to be aware of certain triggers in the environment — allergens, pollen, dust, molds, cigarette smoke, air pollution, cold air or exercise — and avoid them if at all possible. With many variables in terms of severity of disease, medications, individual triggers and the environment, most doctors recommend having a personal asthma action plan. By age 10, a child is expected to know and be able to follow his or her own action plan. Before that age, the plan must be understood and followed by everyone who cares for the child — sitters, day care staff, teachers, school nurses and camp counselors. Dr. Madon points out that with a dedicated treatment team, understanding of the disease and good daily care, most asthma patients can live a normal life. South Georgia Medical Center has many avenues available to help when asthma strikes and treatment is needed. SGMCaffiliated pediatricians are your first line of defense. Parents should make sure asthmatic
children get regular checkups. For those times when asthma gets problematic and the pediatrician’s office is closed, Youth Care at SGMC provides urgent care for children evenings and weekends from 5:30p.m. to 8:30p.m., and Saturdays & Sundays from 9:30a.m. to 4:30p.m. The address is 2330 N. Ashley Street. Another resource is SGMC Urgent Care, which is open 7 days a week from 10a.m. to 9p.m. to treat patients 24 months and up. Urgent Care is located at 4280 North Valdosta Road. Always remember to go to the SGMC Emergency Department or call 911 if you believe you or your child has a severe and/or life-threatening emergency.
Two important things that kids who have asthma should know about sports participation: 1. Their asthma must be under control in order for them to play sports properly. 2. When their asthma is well-controlled, they can — and should — be active and play sports just like anyone else.
Reference: KidsHealth from Nemours
September 2015
Georgia High School Sports
& QA
with Gary Phillips, ghsa executive director The first football games of the 2015 season have officially begun. Coaches, athletic personnel and state high school officials have at work long before the season began to prepare players to play a safer sport this season. A lot of discussions about athletic safety have involved the topic of concussions. In order to get the latest information about concussion management for high school athletes In The Game High School Sports Magazine asked Executive Director of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Gary Phillips a few questions about the issue as well as about the GHSA and his role as the leader of the organization.
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September 2015
In the Game: How long have you been Executive Director of the Georgia High School Association? Gary Phillips: Since July 1, 2014 ITG: Did you have a sports or coaching background? GP: I played several sports in high school and college. I coached a number of sports in my teaching career: football, track mostly—also coached cross country, wrestling (one year) and golf (six years). Overall, I coached for 17 years before entering school administration. ITG: How many high schools are served by the GHSA?
mental conditions of ex-professional football players. The NFL opened the conversations in this issue and all levels of athletics have joined the discussions. As the topic evolved, more research and more exhaustive data has emerged to present a clearer picture of the causes and effects of concussion in sports. We have learned football is not the only sport with concerns for concussion; the injury is a part of the negatives in almost every form of competition and at almost all levels. Increased education and public awareness contribute greatly to what we know in comparison to years past. Athletes are better informed; parents, coaches and others are better informed—and we know more in the area of recovery and risk management. While the problem will never go away, athletes are better protected.
ITG: What sports are recognized or sanctioned by the GHSA?
ITG: Does the GHSA have any stats relating to the number of concussion injuries suffered by high school athletes in Georgia in recent years?
GP: We recognize 23 sports, 12 women’s and 11 men’s
GP: We do not collect or catalogue injuries through our offices.
ITG: Concussions have gained a lot of attention in recent years when discussing sportsrelated injuries among high school athletes. In your opinion, why has there been a focus on concussion injuries?
ITG: What steps has the GHSA taken to help coaches and athletic personnel identify concussion injuries and assist in concussion management?
GP: 455
GP: Concussions moved to the forefront of athletic conversations largely with the publicity coming from debilitating physical and
GP: The GHSA has adopted “concussion protocols and return to play regulations” for injured athletes. All GHSA coaches are required to receive concussion education at
least every two years. Coaches are required to view a web based video produced by the NFHS on “Concussion in Sport.” ITG: Are there any new developments in concussion injury management that will go into effect for the 2015-16 athletic school year? GP: We implemented our requirements three years ago. Our latest injury management policy comes in regulations limiting the amount of time football players can be involved in full contact activities each day; each week. ITG: What are the basic GHSA guidelines or policies regarding concussion injury for high school athletes? GP: Our football contact regulations limit these activities to 30 minutes per day; 90 minutes per week in the regular season. Our “return to play” regulations are detailed in our Constitution and By-Laws. ITG: What is the best thing about being Executive Director of the Georgia High School Association? GP: I find the vast activities of the GHSA to be challenging each and every day. I began my education career in athletics. Later I spent 17 years in school administration, and now I have the opportunity to return to my roots, so to speak, by being involved at this level in all facets of high school athletics.
Pregame Ritual: “I don’t
have a set meal or snack before my games. I’ll usually sit around and listen to music, and occasionally I’ll watch game film. I’ll listen to classic rock, like AC/DC or the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But before every game, one thing that the team always does is pray. For ourselves, the opponent, everyone. Prayer is the one thing we won’t go without.”
Tyler Lowe Continuing the Legacy written by James Washington | photography by Lindsi Jones
W
hen Deerfield-Windsor School opened its doors in 1966, their first headmaster was a man named Graham Lowe. During his tenure, Graham would coach baseball, basketball (both boys and girls), tennis, and track, and in 1970, he would also serve as the institution’s first football coach. His contributions to the school generate a list so long that, in 2014, it was announced that Deerfield’s 8,800 square-foot Family Health and Fitness Center would be named after him. The list continues in regards to the Lowe family at Deerfield. Graham’s wife, Betty, served as the Upper School’s counselor, and she also taught math and science. Their son, Allen, has brought state championships to the school as head coach of both the football and the track and field teams. Over the last 50 years, there have been a total of 15 members of the Lowe family gracing the halls of Deerfield-Windsor Academy. And the latest to grace the stage is Tyler Lowe, the middle child of head football coach, Allen Lowe. Entering his senior season, Tyler is primed and ready to keep the family name strong. “I’m extremely proud to be a Lowe,” Tyler says. “I come from a long line of success and I take serious pride in that. My grandparents (Graham and Betty) were here when the school opened, and we’ve had family here ever since. It’s something that I take to heart, and I give it my all every time I walk through these halls and every time I’m on that field.” Tyler is suiting up for his final year as a Knight, and, at quarterback, he is ready to lead his team to the top of the mountain. This fall is his second season as a starter under center, and he is more than ready for the challenge ahead. “We’re winners because we never give up,” he says. “We always play hard, and we always play for each other. This football team is like a family.” During his time at the school, the football team has compiled a record of 3010 (including playoffs). The team has seen at least the semifinals of the playoffs every year since 2007. They have won a total of six postseason games since 2012-13 school year, but none are more memorable to Tyler than the game on November 30, 2012. On that night, Deerfield would claim the GISA Class AAA State Championship in a 27-19 victory over Heritage School (Newnan, Ga.). “It was such a memorable moment,” he says. “This team works so hard, and to
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September 2015
see that kind of success early in my time a Deerfield has really motivated me because now I know how far this team is capable of going.” Football is a big part of the Lowe heritage; both Tyler’s father (Allen) and his older brother (Tanner, 2012 Deerfield-Windsor graduate) saw their fair share of time on the gridiron. And, when the head coach is your father, one would expect the pressure to mount to succeed. But in the case of the Lowe family, it tends to be the complete opposite. “My dad was a running back, but he did play quarterback as well,” he says. “Most of the time, we keep football separate from home life. But we do have talks sometimes. Talking with him really helps to open my eyes to things that I may not know or may not be seeing on the field. I never feel ‘under pressure’ when it comes to playing for my dad. He pushes me, but he pushes everyone. I don’t get any sort of special treatment. At the end of the day, I’m a competitor, and he brings that out of me, just like the rest of my teammates.” While his time at Deerfield is nearing an end, it is far from the final chapter for Tyler in regards to his education. He has aspirations to attend college, and although he has not made a final decision as of yet, he would like to remain in the southeastern United States. “I love SEC football,” Tyler says with a laugh. “I’m not sure where I’ll end up, but I’ll be applying to Georgia, Auburn…I have to stay around SEC football.” While his career plans are uncertain at this point, Tyler has one viable option in mind. And, given his lineage, the option could very well lead him to success. “I’m not quite sure what I want to do for a living just yet. But one thing that I could see myself doing is coaching. I could see myself on my dad’s coaching staff. Or, possibly, I could see myself coaching against him. Like I said, I’m a competitor,” he says with a smile. ITG
In the Game | 65
Bulldawg Packer written by James Washington| photography courtesy of onlineathens.com
The Colquitt County Packers are on the top of the mountain in the state of Georgia. After an undefeated 2014 season (15-0) and a GHSA Class AAAAAA State Championship, some may believe that there is nowhere left to go. The summer of 2015 showed that even the best can get better. The Packers have added 2009 Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year Hutson Mason to their coaching staff. After an impressive career at Lassiter High School (Marietta, Ga.), and later the University of Georgia, Mason has been tabbed to be the offensive coordinator of the ninthgrade team at Colquitt County High School. He will also work with the varsity quarterbacks on game nights. Mason, a 2010 graduate of Lassiter, set state records for passing yards (4,560) and touchdowns in a season (54) as a senior. He would later go on to the University of Georgia, where he initially served as backup to starting quarterback Aaron Murray. After Murray’s college career was ended prematurely due to an ACL injury, Mason stepped in starter and did a tremendous job filling the void. In only five games played n the 2013 season, he would amass over 2,000 passing yards and a completion percentage of 60.9. His final season (2014) would prove to be more of the same, as he set a school record for completion percentage in a season (67.87), as well as the best completion percentage in a career (64.98). ITG Hutson Mason
Born September 20, 1991 (in Marietta, Georgia) Accomplishments
2009 Georgia Sports Writers’ Association All-Class Player of the Year 2009 AJC Class AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year 2009 Gatorade Football Player of the Year (Georgia) 2009 GHSA Class AAAAA All-State First Team GHSA Records Held
Most passing yards in a season (4,560, set in 2009) Most touchdowns thrown in a season (54, set in 2009)