South Georgia June/July 2020

COVID-19 EDITION Thomasville Sports Bonds the City The Lost Boys of Summer Jaden Woods | Houston Co.

Irwin Co. Football

How COVID-19 Is Affecting Sports

A Diving Breakthrough Hunter Kebler Colquitt Co.

JUN/JUL 2020

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edition Governor Brian Kemp closed all schools until the end of the year, effectively canceling all spring sports. We want to thank all of our spring athletes for the courage and passion they put into every game and practice. We hope everyone stays safe during these difficult times. In this issue, we dive into how COVID-19 is changing the sports world.

31

GHSA Hopes to Return to Play in July

32

The Lost Boys of Summer

33

Thomasville Sports Bonds the City

34

The Impact of COVID-19 on Football

35

The Football Pandemic: Is Safety or Politics Driving the Return to Sports?

66

“New� Normal

8 | itgnext.com

+ 3 Ways COVID-19 May Affect Sports Attendance

Jaden Woods | Houston County

+ ITG Next Book Club: Top 5 Sports Books

4 Underclassmen Make Varsity Baseball Roster

37

Lowndes

More: 18

South Georgia 2019-20 State Champions

21

Which Sport Produces the Best Athletes?

22

Discipline, Passion Keep Reese in the Game Jelissa Reese | Americus-Sumter

30

A Sibling (Sports) Rivalry Valwood

27

Fighter Mentality Leads to Trojan Success Nitavion Burrus | Brooks County

40

Top Dog: Ranking the Top 5 NCAA Live Dog Mascots + Georgia's Most Popular High School Mascots

42

Twice Is Always Nice

50

GIVING 100%

51

Communication the Key to Cairo’s Continued Success

Porter Hill | Deerfield-Windsor FCA

Cairo Girls Soccer

52

Team Wins 2020 State Championship With Skill, Tough Schedule Brookwood Girls Basketball

46

56

Georgia's Top High School Athletes of All Time

59

A Diving Breakthrough

62

The Ultimate Fan Guide to German Soccer

64

4 Drills to Improve your Combine Numbers

Hunter Kebler | Colquitt County

Player Profiles

A Team Of Destiny Irwin County | Football

17

Jalon Baker | Lowndes

24

Artavious Williams | Berrien

45

RJ Bryan | Brantley County

54

Quayde Hawkins | Bainbridge

60

Rico Johnson | Thomasville ITG Next | 9

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Our Team Contributors Publisher Mark Dykes Editor Kyle Grondin Graphics Mandy Douthit Cover Photography Allen Allnoch Player Profile Photography Eric Vinson

Mark Dykes

Mandy Douthit

aNNA Limoges

Chief Executive Officer

Creative Director

director of operations

Founder Mark Dykes is the entrepreneur and mastermind behind the In the Game vision. Back in 2007, Mark set out to create a company that captured the passion, intensity, and unrivaled commitment toward high school athletics in the South Georgia area. Today, that vision has become a reality, and he continues to be the leading influence in what lies ahead for In the Game, despite his annual prediction that UGA will win the National Championship.

As a Pine Mountain, Georgia, native, Mandy’s move to Valdosta has brought enhanced artistry and intricacy to the ITG design team. The University of West Georgia alum graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in art with a concentration in graphic design. Her artistic nature has allowed her to use graphic design to win national and international design competitions, all of which are meant to serve as diversions and coping mechanisms for Alabama’s loss in the National Championship.

Anna became a member of the ITG Next team in 2016, serving as an intern for three semesters. After graduating from Valdosta State University in 2017, she remained with the team as an editor, devoting her editorial eye to the company for two years before becoming the Director of Operations. In her free time, Anna enjoys reading and writing. More importantly, although she claims to be a fan of the New Orleans Saints, there is fortunately no other sign of such irrational fandom.

Andrew Pipkin Account Executive

Kyle Grondin

Eric Vinson

Sports Editor

Photographer

Born and raised in South Georgia, Andrew attended Valdosta State University where he obtained a degree in marketing and business. He is passionate about sports, especially high school football (Go Cats!). Andrew’s focus is to develop and cultivate relationships with businesses all around South Georgia. Like so many other Georgia Bulldogs fans, his hopes of a national championship increase every year, but in the end they are just long lost dreams.

Kyle is a senior at Valdosta State University working toward a Bachelor of Arts in English with a track in journalism. He transferred to Valdosta with his wife from UCF and hopes to become a world class sports journalist. Most days, Kyle is taking his dog Stella for walks or playing sports at the local gym. Kyle is a bigtime UCF Knight fan, so you know he’s willing to claim himself the national champion of everything with little evidence supporting his cause.

Eric Vinson is a native of Lowndes County and a graduate of Valdosta High School. He recently got his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Valdosta State University in mass media. Eric loves taking photos, watching sports, and producing music.

Tyrah Walker

Max Steel

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Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Tyrah Walker is excited to join the ITG Next family as one of the on-air hosts. A graduate of the preeminent University of South Florida, she received her bachelor's degree in mass communications with an emphasis in broadcast news (Go, Bulls!).

Tyrah is also an author. She is looking forward to sharing sports stories with the community. When she's not hosting or blogging, Tyrah enjoys reading, photography, and spending time with family.

Originally from Decatur, Georgia, Max attended Valdosta State University and graduated with a degree in mass media.

A former college cross country runner, Max now works at ITG Next as a videographer and currently resides in Thomasville, Georgia. When not at ITG Next, Max enjoys working out and creating short films.

Allen Allnoch has spent his career as a storyteller, first as a newspaper and magazine journalist, and later as a resort and real estate marketing specialist.

Now he tells stories through the camera lens, having moved to Jacksonville in 2018 to launch a small business, AHA! Photography, Inc. A native of Waycross, Georgia, Allen is a University of Georgia journalism graduate and a lifelong Bulldogs fan – and he’s confident this is the season the Dawgs finally return the national championship to Athens.

Feature Photography Eric Vinson Dreaming Wild Photography Feature Writers Kyle Grondin Phil Jones Alex Dunn Advertising/Marketing Andrew Pipkin andrew@itgnext.com Mark Dykes mark@itgnext.com Digital Manager Mandy Douthit

ITG Next is published bi-monthly. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher.

Dykes Media Group LLC makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2020 Dykes Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

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Phil Jones

Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Alex is a VSU graduate and contributing writer for In the Game. After interning for a year, she decided to continue writing for ITG after graduation. Now, she works for the Marietta Daily Journal, where she proofreads and designs page layouts for their publications. She uses her experience as a copy editing intern for ITG to help with the sports pages the most, while also using her freelance to keep her writing skills fresh. However, she only knows how well the Braves are doing when she is placing the game finals on the pages.

Phil Jones began lending his voice to In the Game in 2017. He serves as a radio station manager and host of two daily radio shows: “The Phil Jones Show” on WJHC Talk 107.4 and “The Afternoon Sports Drive” on WJEM AM-FM and on WJHC FM. Jones is a 20year veteran of the newspaper business, serving as manager of marketing and distribution for newspapers in Tifton, Albany, and Atlanta. He was recognized by the Georgia Press Association as “Georgia’s Top Newspaper Circulator” in 2003.

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Jalon Baker

Lowndes

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER 6'0 187 LBS Who is your biggest inspiration?

Ray Lewis because he wants to be the best every single play.

Is there a specific routine or ritual you do to get ready for games?

I listen to music, go in the dark, and clear my mind.

OUTSTANDING PLAYER

ITG Next | 17

South Georgia Fall 2019 State Champions 3A Competitive Cheer Pierce County 2A Competitive Cheer Vidalia 6A Girls Cross Country 5K Run Kayla Gholar Richmond Hill 2A Girls Cross Country Team Bleckley County

GISA 3A Boys Cross Country 5K Run Porter Hill Deerfield Windsor 2A Football Dublin 1A Football Irwin County GISA 3A Softball Westfield

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Which Sport Produces the Best Athletes?

Written by: Kyle Grondin

The question always comes up: Who is the most athletic?

Since the time of the Ancient Greeks (and probably even before that), we’ve tried to put the best of the best against one another in competitions such as fighting, racing, and even throwing things like the javelin and discus. Not only was it for entertainment, but it was also a point of pride to be considered the best athlete. This was the birth of sports, and it evolved into what we consume today. Not much has changed, other than the millions of dollars exchanging hands.

There’s always been the debate about which sport produces the best athletes. It’s a difficult debate because many sports require a different range of athletic skill sets that aren’t used in other sports.

The best athletes of all time, Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson, are regarded as the best

because of their ability to succeed in multiple sports at the highest levels.

So, which sports produce the best athletes? To tackle that question, we need to find the definition of

Dictionary. com says an athlete is “a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.” I would

an

athlete.

add that sports require an immense amount of flexibility, critical thinking, and hand-eye coordination.

Being able to think and react instantly is essential to an athlete’s success.

With those parameters, I feel like I can break down the best athletes coming from three different sports: football, hockey, and combat sports.

Football requires an immense amount of strength and stamina. Watching the game

through a television doesn’t do it justice, as the players are required to break down a play and what the opposition is doing while reacting in an instant.

It may not require as much hand-eye coordination as baseball, but the amount of strength and stamina required to take a hit on nearly every play makes it one of the most athletic sports.

Hockey being mentioned may be a surprise to many, but it requires the most balance, flexibility, and hand-eye coordination.

Balancing and moving on ice skates is incredibly difficult; it requires years of practice and training of muscles to accomplish. It takes an insane amount of core strength to stand tall and constantly take checks to keep the puck.

Some might say that basketball players are bigger, faster, and stronger, which is fair.

LeBron James may be the greatest athlete in the world. But hockey moves much faster than

basketball, requiring a lot of agility to move up and down the ice.

Finally, you have combat sports, such as boxing and mixed martial arts. The ability to take hits to your body and head constantly and remain standing requires strength and stamina.

In just three-minute rounds, the amount of movement, focus, and strength needed is higher than almost any other sport. There’s a reason a typical boxer or fighter only fights two or three times a year. The amount of athleticism demanded from these athletes is greater than in any other sport.

What do you think, sports fans? Which sport do you think creates the most athletic players?

Discipline, Passion Keep Reese in the Game Written by: Alex Dunn | Photos courtesy of Jelissa Reese

Jelissa Reese, senior and basketball star at Americus-Sumter Hgih School, learned early on in her athletic career what it takes to stay in the game. Reese suffered a serious injury her freshman year that put her on the sidelines for eight months. Along the way, she discovered that she had a true passion for the game.

The incident occurred during a game while Reese was playing for a different high school, Crisp. Incidentally, she and her team were playing against Americus-Sumter when the injury happened.

She later transferred to Americus-Sumter in her 10th-grade year.

“It was the fifth game of the season,” she said.

“I jumped in the air and came down on my leg wrong, and my knee twisted and popped.

They took me out of the game, but I insisted on going back in. While I was in, I tried to slide on defense, and my knee moved from side to side like something was loose. At that point I knew something was wrong.”

Reese had torn her ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, and spent eight months in rehab. Depending on what stage of recovery she was in, Reese did different exercise three times a day, including during school.

“When I couldn’t walk, I was doing things such as leg raises to try 22 | itgnext.com

and get my muscle back in my thigh,” she said.

“As I began to walk, I was able to do squats, running, and I was on a machine where I had to lift weights with my leg.

It might seem easy, but when your muscles in your leg are like Jell-o, it’s very hard to get them back.

“When I was in school, I would have a session with my trainer. He was communicatingwith my doctor and the rehab place I was going to. Then after school, I went to this rehab facility and worked with some very nice people.

After that, if I wasn’t too sore, I would do some stuff on my own to try and get back to normal as fast as possible.”

Despite staying relatively active during her recovery, Reese was still frustrated that she had to sit on the sidelines during games. However, by watching from a different point of view, she learned a new appreciation for the sport and claims she became a better player because of it.

“My hobby was basketball,” she said. “The fear of failure motivates me to play my best.

Where I come from, not many people make it out, and I don't want to be one of those people.”

“The fear of failure motivates me to play my best. Where I come from, not many people make it out, and I don't want to be one of those people.”

— Jelissa Reese

Eventually, Reese was able to get back on the court. Along with hard work and dedication, she and her team were able to win state this year.

“It was an amazing feeling knowing all that all the miles we ran in the offseason, the sprints, and the long practices paid off,” she said. “We did all this with seven players, so we had to be in shape and disciplined.”

Along with those qualities, Reese’s work ethic keeps her motivated as a player and a student. On top of scoring over 1,000 points in only two years of playing high school basketball, she will be graduating third in her class with a 4.06 GPA. “I know that there's always a way to better my craft, so I can never settle,” she said. “I have to keep working and keep getting better.”

Reese plans to play for Troy University in the

fall and major in engineering. She said when she visited the college for the first time she knew it was the right place for her.

“As soon as I arrived, it felt like home, and all the staff were nice and family oriented,” she said. “It felt like a place I could really call home.”

For those who find themselves sitting on the sidelines because of an injury, Reese had a few words of advice to make that time as beneficial as possible.

“I would tell athletes sitting out to watch and learn the game more,” she said. “There is more to basketball then physically playing. You can always increase your knowledge of the game, basketball IQ, and in turn you will become a better and smarter player.”

“As soon as I arrived, it felt like home, and all the staff were nice and family oriented. It felt like a place I could really call home.”

— Jelissa Reese

ITG Next | 23

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RUNNING BACK/ DEFENSIVE BACK 5'8 175 LBS

Who is your biggest rival?

Cook. You can just feel the energy the whole game.

Who has helped you the most in your sports career?

My ma because she helps me get through a lot of things.

24 | itgnext.com

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4 Underclassmen Make Varsity Baseball Roster Written by: Alex Dunn | Photography courtesy of Ryan Page

Making the varsity roster for a high school sports team is a great feat, but even more so as an underclassman. Four sophomores, Tristin Bohler, William Joyner, Mason Steel, and Daniel Kerrigan Jr., have accomplished the goal of making the Lowndes baseball varsity team.

Head coach Ryan Page, along with other assistant coaches, was the one to make the decision. He said that they knew early on that these four young men could help the team win games.

Daniel Kerrigan Jr.

“Each year is different in deciding which kids will make the varsity roster,” Page said. “The skills that we look for when deciding which players get to move up are simply can they help us win games and are they better than the other player. Each of these young men has a skill set that has the potential to move on to the next level.”

All four sophomores grew up playing baseball together. All are competitive in their own way, but all agree that nothing beats being able to advance to the next level with friends in tow.

“It was a good feeling to have the chance to play with my best friends at the varsity level,” Bohler said. “It made me want to work harder to prove to my coaches I could be an asset to the team.”

Photography courtesy of Daniel Kerrigan Jr.

ITG Next | 27

“From coach pitch to Lowndes carsity, we have all advanced to each level of baseball together, and that is what makes it special,” Steel said.

Each has their own strengths and weaknesses; luckily, Page has certain coaching techniques that help them all perform as a team with their individual skill sets.

“My personal strategy is team first,” Page said.

“If we individually do things that are team driven and not individually driven, then we all have success together. This may sound bad, but great players don't need motivation. They are driven from within to be successful. That's these young men's greatest attribute is they don't have to be motivated.”

That belief couldn’t be truer for these players.

Some, like Joyner and Bohler, know the importance of having a strong coaching staff at their sides to improve their playing.

“Practices are really intense”, Joyner said. “We get a lot of swings in and a lot of live reps. Also, from a pitching standpoint, practices were extremely beneficial. Our pitching coach, Palmer Betts, had exercises and a throwing program for every day, which helped a lot with my success on the bump.”

“To stay motivated you have to have fun while you play,” Bohler said. “That’s why I like going to the field with the boys and putting in the extra work. To stay sharp I go to the cages and hit a couple times a week and train the other three days.”

Others, like Kerrigan and Steel, know which position their skills thrive in, and they put in the extra work to keep them sharp.

“I take pride in being a lockdown defender and taking care of my pitching staff,” Kerrigan said. “As a transfer into Lowndes this year, I want to thank the coaching staff and our program for the opportunity.”

“Although my primary position is first base, I felt that my biggest contribution to the team was on the mound,” Steel said. “I also have a very competitive drive, which not only pushes myself but hopefully pushes my teammates as well. The team as a whole is very encouraging. From practice to the games, we are constantly competing with one another, which is what I believe drives us all to be the best ball player we can be.”

As far as the future goes, Page thinks these four players have bright ones ahead of them. Not only do they have the talent and motivation, he said they are also great kids in general.

“I believe the future for all four young men is very bright, not only on the diamond but also in the classroom and in life,” he said. “All four have great character and come from great families. I can see them all playing at the next level and playing well. It's easy in our game to be very arrogant and not be looked at well by your teammates, but these young men are all leaders because of their ability to be humble and respectful of the game and the players.”

28 | itgnext.com

Mason Steel

Photography courtesy of Blake Steel

Photography courtesy of Suzanne Bohler

Tristan Bohler

William Joyner

Photography courtesy of Ed Joyner

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ITG Next | 29

Fighter Mentality Leads to Trojan Success Written by: Phil Jones Photo courtesy of Nitavion Burrus

The 2019 football season was special for the Brooks County Trojans football team. Led by head coach Maurice Freeman, Brooks County rebounded from a 1-3 start to make it to the GHSA Class AA State Title contest, where they lost in a shootout to Dublin. Despite the loss, it was a great season for Brooks County. One of the biggest reasons for Brooks' success last season was the improved play of quarterback Nitavion Burrus.

As a sophomore, Burrus didn’t begin playing until the fourth game of the season, a 13-10 win over Dublin. He had injured his knee playing basketball that year, and the recovery forced him to miss the start of the 2018 season. Still, Natavion was able to put up solid numbers in the remaining nine games he played in, as he threw for over a 1,000 yards with 15 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 60%.

Last year, with Burrus

“In the beginning, we were all trying to do it on our own. Then, once we decided to listen to our coaches and trust in one another, that’s when we started playing as a team, and getting better.”

— Nitavion Burrus

healthy, the junior signal caller doubled his passing yards for the season, throwing for 2,088 yards and 22 touchdowns. He rushed for another 676 yards and added eight rushing TDs. The start of the season didn’t exactly look too promising.

“In the beginning, we were all trying to do it on our own,” Burrus said.

“Then, once we decided to listen to our coaches and trust in one another, that’s when we started playing as a team and getting better.”

Those leadership skills are not lost on his head coach.

“Nitavion has a fighter's mentality,” Freeman said. “He is a down-toearth guy and doesn’t get too distracted.”

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“Nitavion has a fighter's mentality. He is a down to earth guy, and doesn’t get too distracted.”

—Maurice Freeman ed demeanor showed as the Trojans' march into the playoffs began and teammates started talking about making it to the title game. It was exciting, but Burrus stayed focused on the task at hand.

“I take it game by game, and if it happens (making it to the championship game), then great,” Burrus said. “But I was focused on just winning one game at a time.”

Now, looking ahead to his senior season at Brooks County, he wants to be a more mature quarterback this season

and become more of a pocket passer.

“I know I can run with it, but I want to be more patient,” he said.

At the moment, Burrus is drawing interest from Kennesaw State, but there will certainly be more colleges that come calling. Burrus said he would like to play football as long as he can, but if it doesn’t work out that way, he wants to one day run his own construction company.

Building a winner, I’m sure.

GHSA Hopes to Return to Play in July

3 Ways COVID-19 May Affect Sports Attendance Written by: Cameron Jones

Written by: Kyle Grondin

The GHSA still remains hopeful for high school sports to return in the fall. Among the list of the proposals is a pitch to bring practice back in early July.

Georgia high school sports are still cancelled for the remainder of the season. But the question still remains: When will it be safe enough to come back?

With only 101 days to the start of the 2020 football season, everyone is itching for sports to return like never before.

There are multiple reasons the Georgia High School Association would err on the side of caution when it comes to the return of sporting activities, but football remains one of the key financial pillars of high school sports. The loss of a football season could have major ramifications on school athletic programs as a whole. Many football coaches have been concerned with the idea of starting the season on time without adequate practice time beforehand.

The GHSA said they hope to return as soon as possible and even as early as two months from now.

"We will be looking at local, state, and national information to attempt to make the best decision going forward," GHSA Executive Director Robin Hines said in a statement. "I am hopeful that we can implement a measured return to training with guidance in June. All of the information needed to make such a decision is not available, but we are working toward this goal.

Social distancing, reduced numbers of athletes and coaches per session, disinfecting facilities, as well as standard hygiene practices will certainly be a part of any return to sport training. Again, no decisions have been made at this time."

One other proposal has been leaked that includes a starting practice time around July 6, which would include five days to acclimate to the weather conditions. These practices would be without pads. After the first week, teams would be able to put on shoulder pads for two weeks, and then it would build into fully padded practices on July 27.

This allows games to return on time on Aug. 21.

All fans, players, and coaches would love to have their football back on time. Hines, and the GHSA, seem hopeful for a return as well.

"I am in the process of gathering as much information as possible to narrow down a date that we may be able to begin some type of face-to-face work with our student athletes," Hines said.

Take a trip to your local grocery store right now and you’ll see how this virus is affecting our social behaviors. Most people are wearing masks, designated marks on the floor highlight a 6-foot distance between customers, and employees are all wearing gloves. This is just for grocery shopping. How is this virus going to affect other aspects of our lives post-pandemic?

Life is going to change as we know it, whether we like it or not. The lockdown may be lifted soon, but the effects will linger for quite a long time, possibly forever. The new restrictions may be strenuous; however, they’re necessary to prevent another, potentially more deadly outbreak.

Sporting events, save for the UFC, have been shut down. The NBA season might be scrapped altogether, and concerns around college football being delayed are now beginning to surface. Once sports begin to open up, what can we expect to change so that we can again attend a live competition?

Masks, Masks, and More Masks “Wearing a mask won't actually keep you from getting sick. They’re hard to breathe in and don’t stop a virus from infecting you!” Yes, that might be true. A mask will not keep you entirely safe from an invasive virus. It does, however, keep you from spreading the virus to those around you via your breath.

Some sporting events have over 100,000 fans in attendance at one time, condensed into a single arena. Whether it’s an outdoor or indoor arena, that’s a lot of humans to herd together. If even a single person is sick, they could transfer it to thousands of people in a matter of hours. With the potential of a deadly virus, such as the coronavirus, we should expect this scenario to be prevented at all costs. Any time you attend a sporting event now, expect to see a large percentage of fans wearing masks.

Empty Seats Social distancing has reached its peak. No more handshakes when meeting someone, a simple head nod will do.

Keeping 6 feet apart may translate to having an empty seat or two between you and the next closest fan. To prevent the spread of the virus, we may witness a shift in seating arrangements at live sporting events. Families or friends attending sporting events may have the opportunity to purchase seats next to one another, but strangers may become separated from one another.

Empty rows or sections could be enforced to ensure another breakout cannot happen. Although this translates to less money for sport organizations, state laws may enforce these restrictions with little room for negotiation. Aerial views of packed stadiums may look much different than they did just a year ago.

More Streaming The easiest way to stay healthy is to avoid large crowds. One cough in a crowd could lead to a hundred hospital visits.

The UFC is currently the only major sports organization that’s still producing live events. They’ve followed strict guidelines, restricting any fan attendance in their arenas.

Fighters who normally walk out to screaming fans now experience an empty venue. All the viewership of their events comes from airing them live on ESPN+ and pay-per-view.

Whether it’s due to government enforced regulations, or simply out of fear of getting sick, many fans may choose to bypass attending a live sporting event in favor of their TV and couch. This means streaming services for sporting events have the potential to grow substantially.

Only time will tell how COVID-19 will affect sports attendance. The world has changed, and we must change with it. If we don’t start taking the necessary precautions now, we may lose millions to the next pandemic.

ITG Next | 31

The Lost Boys of Summer Written by: Kyle Grondin | Photography courtesy of Jaden Woods

The baseball season has stopped this spring, with players and teams unable to practice or play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While players remain optimistic to finish their seasons, we could view 2020 as the lost season of baseball.

Jaden Woods was ready to take on the world his senior season.

Blessed with a 90 MPH fastball, a mid-70s slider, and also showing great speed and ability from the outfield, he was one of the major reasons that Houston County baseball had a lot of hype in 2020. Only now, they may never get the chance to live up to that hype.

Governor Brian Kemp announced on Thursday that all K-12 schools in the state will remain closed until April 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That includes all after school activities such as athletics. There’s a chance that this becomes the lost season for spring athletics. The NCAA has already cancelled spring sports for the season, as it is deemed unsafe to play.

Woods is trying to stay focused despite the chance of cancellation.

“I’m throwing three days a week still,” Woods said. “Plus hitting every other day and in the bullpens once a week. It’s not nearly as much as what we were doing with prac32 | itgnext.com

tice during the season, but it’s enough to keep fresh for the season.”

Woods, Houston County, and all of the high schools in Georgia are in a sort of waiting game right now. No official announcement has been made from the GHSA, so Woods said that Bears coach Matt Hopkins continued to reiterate to the team the importance of staying conditioned and staying prepared.

“Nobody knows for sure,” Woods said. “So we know we have to be ready for anything and try to stay prepared so we can get off to a good start if the season comes back.”

The Bears were rated No. 3 in the state coming into preseason, but had a slow start due to a difficult travel schedule before the break, and sat at 6-6 on the season. They were getting set to enter region play and felt like this could still salvage and put together a special season.

“We had a lot of talent across the field; we could’ve made a deep run,” Woods said. “We had all Division I players in the outfield and a great team overall. If the suspension ends, my top goal is to be more thankful for the game and focus on enjoying the little things and enjoy the game.”

Woods is still on a positive track, as he is set to enroll at the University of Georgia next season on scholarship, but there are many athletes who are stuck in a bind due to the pandemic. Senior season is when a lot of high school athletes get a chance to prove themselves on the field, and many are battling for college scholarships.

Of course, that won’t change the severity of the situation. As the virus rages on, staying safe is more important than any game. Thinking about these kids and what they are missing out on makes it all the more difficult. Woods said he didn’t think about it until much later on.

“It really hurt at first,” Woods said. “I felt like my season would be taken away from me or from the team. My coach always said, ‘Play every play like it’s my last play,’ but I never actually envisioned this being my last play. If it’s my last game, I’d like to thank Houston County for watching me grow into a man and growing up and gaining a lot of life and baseball experience from my time being a Bear.”

Thomasville Sports Bonds the City Written by: Kyle Grondin | Photography courtesy of Ben Peirce

Thomasville, like the rest of Georgia, is working to stay connected after the closure of the school for the rest of the academic year. The football team is hoping to hit the ground running in the fall, but are finding different ways to bond as a team while helping the community.

Throughout a time of uncertainty, the Thomasville Bulldogs continue to stand for their community.

Shortly before the shelter in place order from the Governor of Georgia and the cancellation of schools for the semester, the Bulldogs football team and athletic staff have managed to reach out to the community and help everyone they can.

Thomasville football coach Zach Grage said they’ve always worked to give back however they can.

“We normally have spring service projects where we do something every other Saturday,” Grage said. “Our last was at the Hearts and Hands for Horses and also for the Food Bank, just seeing us throughout the community, and everybody has been able to try and chip in and help the community and help these kids out.”

Since the closure of the school, many of the athletic staff and nutrition team has stepped up to ensure the students are being fed each day. The school’s gym has become a location to hand out school lunches to the students, and many of the coaches and training staff have stepped up to help out.

Sports has a funny way of bonding a community. Some may argue that it’s just a game, but the work put in by coaches and team staff continues to be the bond that holds everyone together. Thom-

asville has seen some adversity over the years, but when a team can hold the town together, it creates a path of salvation for many.

“Many of our coaches and even through our middle school staff who are no longer on contract are coming in to put their time in and help out," Grage said. "There was a shooting in our town just before the Cairo game; and people may disagree, but when it comes to Friday nights at 7, everyone comes together, and it’s always a beautiful thing.

Thomasville’s staff continues to check in on kids throughout the closure and works to ensure every kid is safe, happy, and healthy.

Grage credited the leadership of his football team, a young team that has really matured over the past year on their way to the state semifinals. They have been an instrumental part of keeping the team together.

“It’s been an adjustment, but we’re working hard to check on every kid," Grage said. "We had our first coaches meeting, and I had to be taught how to use Zoom, so that was fun. Now we're using it to check on the kids and have some meetings with them to see how they’re doing. If someone isn’t there, we reach out to our leaders, and they do a good job of tracking kids down and helping out.”

Thomasville hopes to continue its season in the fall.

“We’re just trying to stay in touch with them as much as we can," Grage said. "The benefit of the technological age is being able to stay home and be safe while still talking to our players. Hopefully, we can get past this and return to some sense of normalcy.”

ITG Next | 33

The Impact of COVID-19 on Written by: Kyle Grondin

Sports are still shut down, and here is what every fan is trying to figure out: When will they be back?

Some fans may not like the answer as it pertains to high school football next season.

The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on the spring sports season, and it could potentially impact the fall. We’re now four months away from the beginning of the regular football season, and we may still be feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic by then.

Many high school sports organizations, including the GHSA and FHSAA, are working to find solutions that don’t upset the fall sports season. But, especially in terms of football, many schools have already cancelled their spring practices, and realistically they may only get a limited amount of time in the preseason for practices. There’s

a major impact on players, teams, and schools.

This could affect all teams and players in the first weeks of the season. Many coaches have been concerned about the potential conditioning of players when they miss months of organized practices and weightlifting routines. August in the South is not exactly the most forgiving in terms of weather and humidity; athletes not conditioned to that environment could perform poorly, affecting their health and the game.

To start the season on time, players will need at least a month of practice to be well conditioned and play safely in the hot month of August.

The impact on teams with new coaches and young rosters could also be serious. With coaching changes come new schemes, instituting game plans, and teaching kids a whole new playbook. If they

don’t get the opportunity to do that, those teams are at a significant disadvantage with only a minimal amount of time to prepare for the season.

That doesn’t even include teams that are featuring new quarterbacks or offensive lines, that take time, repetition, and chemistry to work cohesively. Those teams will have a huge disadvantage and will have to play further catchup from where they already are. New coaches will really have to prove their worth, and it may be difficult to judge them right out the gate.

Finally, we have the school impacts. Kirk Herbstreit has said he doesn’t believe the NFL and college football seasons will start on time, and they have multi-million-dollar television deals to fall back on if they can’t put fans in the stands. The NFL season also starts a month after the

high school football season, and there’s concern about the outlook to the start of their season.

High school football doesn’t bring in the television money of college football or the NFL. If it’s deemed unsafe for high school football teams to have fans in the stands, will schools find it financially feasible for fall sports to continue with no revenue while putting coaches and school personnel at risk of exposure?

There are a lot of questions that still need answering. But fans should be prepared for the chance that football is delayed, cancelled, or played with nobody in the stands for next season.

ITG Next Book Club: Top 5 Sports Books The Boys of Summer

Open

Must Win

Friday Night Lights

The Book of Basketball

The best baseball book of all time is a love letter to America’s favorite pastime. Roger Kahn was the beat writer for the Brooklyn Dodgers during their run of success to the 1955 World Series. The lifelong fan then followed some of the great Dodgers on the team to see how they’ve aged and how the game and world around them have changed.

There’s no need to be a tennis fan to enjoy this book.

Open is not a story of just tennis or a glorifying autobiography by Agassi himself, but rather a book that is described by the title perfectly. Agassi is honest with himself and open about his life. If you want to be a professional athlete, read this book to understand the sacrifices that have to be made to be one of the greatest in your sport.

With a little bit of a local feel, get a piece of South Georgia in your reading as Drew Jubera comes to Valdosta High School in a difficult time. Long gone are the days of Wright Bazemore and Nick Hyder, and the Wildcats find themselves in a town divided. They’re a team stuck in the past looking toward an uncertain future with a desire to be successful once again. It is a great read for your South Georgia football fix.

Similar to Must Win, Friday Night Lights is a staple in any sports book reading, but read the book over watching the movie. Bissinger goes to Odessa, Texas, to experience what small town Texas football is really all about. He leaves the team of Permian High School on their path to a state championship and is critical of a town that prioritizes winning state over the behavior of their children and a faltering education system.

One of the greatest modern sports writers, Bill Simmons dives into anything and everything basketball. Simmons uses his encyclopedic sports knowledge to tackle topics such as the greatest players of all time, fixing the Basketball Hall of Fame, and even finding out the secret to success in team sports.

It’s a great read for basketball fans at any level.

by Roger Kahn

34 | itgnext.com

by Drew Jubera

by Roger Kahn

by Buzz Bissinger

by Bill Simmons

The Football Pandemic:

Is Safety or Politics Driving the Return to Sports?

Written by: Kyle Grondin

In the sporting world, the biggest question has been the return of football during the coronavirus pandemic. At the professional, collegiate, and high school levels, regional and political lines seem to have been drawn on whether or not football should return. But what is the motivation to not bring football back?

The battle lines have been drawn, and the students are in the middle of a lifelong battle of political strife. Last week, the AJC had five longtime sports writers take a stance on whether or not sports, mainly football, should return in the fall. Of the five, four said they weren’t optimistic football would start for the Aug. 21 opening kickoff.

One stance was that testing needed to be ample enough to allow players at all 426 schools to be tested. The next stance was that everything was set to change in the sports world, and 10,000 people sharing close quarters, public restrooms, and concession stands wasn’t realistic. The third stance was that there wasn’t optimism for a return to fall sports. This was due to differing opinions by regions and the safety of integrating those regions. The fourth stance offered the solution of flipping the schedule, allowing non-contact sports to happen in the fall and more contact sports, such as football, to start in the winter or spring. The fifth stance paints a murky picture of the idea of football starting in August and that even following CDC guidelines could mean an October start date, if we’re lucky.

One thing missing from a lot of these pieces? Opinions from medical experts.

Around the rest of the country, NFL owners have met with medical experts and announced that they intend to have a football season with fans in the stands in 2020.

With the NCAA, it’s more complicated. California continues to have a full shut down and believes that schools will remain online through the fall semester. Ohio State, Iowa, and schools in the SEC have all expressed intentions to play games, even if it means allowing only a fifth of the crowd, as Ohio State said early in the week.

The AJC’s stance is pushing back against the rest of the state in terms of restarting football. GHSA Executive Director Robin Hines said that they have been speaking with medical experts and hope to have a safe plan in place to allow teams to return to facilities in June under restrictions. They plan to meet on May 21 with a proposal to return sporting activities.

In addition to the GHSA, Arkansas has, although not official, a rumored plan in place to allow high school teams to return on June 1. Alabama and Louisiana both have said that they plan to open facilities on June 8. And while the FHSAA hasn’t announced anything for fall sports, Florida governor Ron DeSantis has said that “all professional sports are welcome” in the Sunshine State.

While California continues to stay closed, Georgia has reopened after three weeks of a statewide stay-at-home order, and the cases in the state have been on the decline for the last 12 days.

While safety remains imperative to any return to football, experts should speak on whether it is safe or unsafe to play.

If you’ve noticed a theme here, it seems political allegiances have played just as big a role on the decision to return to sports as have evidence and statistics. States like California, which is one of the biggest blue states in the country, have taken the strongest stand against the return of sports. States that lean more red, like Alabama and Louisiana, are leaned heavily in the other direction.

Have sports now become a political agenda?

Even in just Georgia, Atlanta is a more liberal city that is taking a more ironically conservative approach to the return of football.

While the rural areas of Georgia are ready to return to a semblance of normalcy, counties surrounding Atlanta currently make up about 44% of the state’s cases. Could there be a scenario in which schools outside of Atlanta return with sports and schools in Atlanta do not? The GHSA is the governing body, but by no means has control over the school districts and their counties. If certain schools feel unsafe returning, or find it financially unfeasible – like Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville determined last week when they cancelled fall sports – then that may just be the decision that needs to be made.

Hines has said that players, coaches, and athletic directors are roaring to get back on the field. And if they’re willing to do it safely, following CDC guidelines while case numbers continue to decline, shouldn’t that be enough to get football going in the fall?

Life must return to some sort of normalcy. Cases in Georgia continue to decline, and if players, coaches, and – most importantly – fans are willing to make concessions to allow it, then football should come back. Every day you wake up and get in your car, you’re assuming risk for your health and safety; COVID-19 doesn’t change that.

We as citizens must be able to assume our own risk. If you’re an older parent or coach and it may be a health risk for you to be out at the stadium on Friday nights, then you may decide that being at the game is not safe for you. But if you’re at a lower risk, then you should be allowed to play and attend football games if that is your belief. Each person is individualized and should use the best medical opinions to make that decision for themselves.

If it means masks are required at games to limit spreading that risk to others, or sanitizing before entering the stadium, I am all for it. Safety comes first, but football is an institution. There are safe solutions to allow students to play their senior seasons, get their last chance at a state championship, and have the best high school experience they can.

What’s your vote: to play or not to play?

ITG Next | 35

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A Sibling (SPORTS) Rivalry Written by: Phil Jones | Photography courtesy of Wright Kimbro

Sibling rivalries are an accepted part of brothers and sisters growing up together, challenging each other at every turn.

Whether it's brother versus brother or sister versus sister, there's going to be a natural rivalry with one another. In the case of Gatlin and Kennedy Kimbrough, it’s a rivalry of sister versus brother, but a healthy rivalry, where one seems to drive the other toward success.

Gatlin and Kennedy Kimbro attend Valwood and have participated in several sports their entire lives. Gatlin is a ninth-grader who played basketball and baseball up until this year, but currently only plays football. Kennedy, meanwhile, has been and continues to be a multisport athlete, playing basketball, softball, tennis, and track. However, her main sport right now is volleyball. She plays for the Valwood volleyball team and has also

started a beach volleyball team.

Gatlin Kimbro also played multiple sports before reaching high school, but decided to focus strictly on football. His intention was to contribute as a receiver.

But, entering his freshman season at the varsity level, an interest in kicking coupled with the fact that Valwood was in need of a kicker created a unique opportunity for the Valiant. He could continue to play receiver while becoming Valwood’s kicker.

Former VSU kicker and freelance kicking coach Andy Gibbs started working with Gatlin Kimbro. The siblings' father, Wright Kimbro, actually built a homemade goal post with uprights and a cross bar, allowing him to work on his kicking at home. Gatlin Kimbro was now ready to assume a new role to help his team as their kicker. As a freshman, he converted 35 of 41 point after attempts and made 7 of 9 field goal attempts. His late game field goal against Her-

itage turned out to be the difference, giving Valwood a 22-21 win.

He also continued to contribute as a receiver, scoring his first varsity touchdown in a comefrom-behind victory over Creekside. That catch and his extra point kick tied the game, and Valwood went on to win.

So, which position does the freshman Valiant like better?

“I really enjoy playing wide receiver the most because it allows me to showcase a set of skills and because I get to play that at school, as well as on my travel team,” he said.

The travel team he speaks of is 229 Elite, sponsored by DOMO Sports Group. Headed up by coach Travis Hall, DOMO is a 7-on-7 team that competes in the NFA (the National 7v7 Football Association).

Playing with 229 Elite allows Gatlin to work on his route-running and ball-catching skills.

ITG Next | 37

Kennedy Kimbro is a rising senior and currently plays four sports, alternating between soccer, basketball, track, and tennis. But, volleyball is her main sport.

She was Valwood’s very first volleyball player as a fifth-grader when coach Val Gallahan started the program. She has continued to serve as a team leader and has really mastered the sport. She s a three-time All-Region selection and two-time All-State selection.

On the court, she is a setter, a position that mostly provides assists.

Throughout her varsity volleyball career, Kennedy has amassed 1,736 assists, with 462 digs and 174 aces. Kennedy Kimbro is on pace heading into her senior season to break a school record by reaching the 2,000 assists mark. This would make her the school’s all-time assists leader. Another major goal she would love to achieve is a state championship, and according to some, the Valiants are considered to be a favorite this season.

Kennedy has also recently started the first outdoor beach volleyball team in the Valdosta area. Beach volleyball is different from the indoor court version of the sport, utilizing just two players. Kennedy prefers this version of the sport.

“I definitely prefer the sand over the hard court," she said. "It’s hard to beat the outdoors and having that one partner you’re working with to win.”

While it still has a

38 | itgnext.com

ways to go in terms of popularity, the truth is indoor volleyball is also trying to gain more traction itself. But if there is an ambassador for the sport, it’s Kennedy Kimbro.

While the siblings seem to support each other, there still could be more sibling rivalries brewing in the Kimbrough family. Worth, 15; Wright Jr., 17; and Fendley, 10, are the siblings of Kennedy and Gatlin and are all active in sports, just like their brother and sister.

What do Kennedy and Gatlin Kimbro want to do after their Valwood days are finished? Both say they would like to continue with their respective sports if the opportunity is there.

“My plan is to play volleyball in college, and I’ve been fortunate to have several schools contact me,” Kennedy said.

Her brother is hoping for the same.

“My goal is to get an opportunity to continue playing football in college,” Gatlin said.

You can bet wherever their paths take them, the two siblings will be pulling for each other.

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ITG Next | 39

TOP DOG: Ranking the Top 5 NCAA Live Dog Mascots Written by: Kyle Grondin

From bulldogs to huskies, man’s best friend is one of the most popular mascots in the country for high school and college teams.

Occasionally, you’ll see our furriest of friends on the sidelines of your favorite team’s event. Whether football, basketball, or baseball, the dog is the biggest supporter and is often loved and adored by the school’s student body. After weeks of scientific study and analysis, ITG Next has broken down the top five dogs on college campuses, starting with Georgia’s finest at No. 5.

40 | itgnext.com

Goldie

University of Tulsa

Smokey X

University of Tennessee Smokey, the 10th of his name, is a bluetick coonhound and part of a long line who have become a staple at Volunteers games since the 1950s. The popularity of Smokey has even turned the state dog of Tennessee to the bluetick coonhound, and he has become the symbol of the Volunteers.

Smokey was first chosen in a halftime contest in 1953. As the announcer said the names of each dog, the crowd cheered for which dog they liked the most. When Smokey was announced, he answered the cheers of the crowd with a thunderous howl, and he’s been the mascot since.

On weekends with a home game, Smokey X is seen with his fraternity brothers of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He’s a bit of a show boat on game days, as he is seen prancing through the end zone after a Tennessee score. His ear’s flap in the wind as he really sticks it to the opposition, but he’s a good boy who knows how to put on a good show. Smokey is at the heart of the Tennessee Volunteer tradition, and he is the heart of Knoxville.

Goldie is the majestic golden retriever who supports the Golden Hurricanes of Tulsa. She was brought on for Tulsa’s Canine Ambassador Program and attends sporting events to promote and recruit for the program. She is also quite the athlete herself.

Goldie keeps a busy schedule, attending meetings across campus and also visiting local hospitals to meet the patients.

With all of that, she still finds time for agility training, where she qualified for the North America Diving Dogs/AKC Eukanuba National Championship. She finished eighth out of the top 18 dogs, but remains one of the cutest on our list.

Goldie also retrieves the tee after kickoff.

So along with meetings, comforting, studying, and training, she works hard on the weekends. Definitely a gold star for Goldie.

GEORGIA'S MOST POPULAR HIGH SCHOOL MASCOTS

Pint

Mission

Uga X

UC Davis

Northern Illinois University

University of Georgia

Pint is a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, and he is a hard-working doggo for the Aggies. He supports UC Davis and has the very important job of retrieving the tee after each UC Davis kickoff. The very good boy races out to the 35-yard line with extreme precision as he pounces on the tee. The collective gasps in the crowd as Pint streaks onto the field is a tradition at UC Davis games.

Pint is quite the celebrity, as his job has seen him featured on ESPN. He continues to prove himself as one of the best in the business.

The huskies were the most competitive group of the dog rankings, with Dubs II at the University of Washington, Jonathan at UCONN, and Tuffy II at NC State, the Tamaskan dog. But Mission stands out, and not just because of his bright, blue eyes, but also his heart.

Mission has been the mascot at NIU since 2013 and is a staple for game days. Mission receives bonus good boy points for his work off the field on non-game days. Mission is a certified therapy dog and is known to venture out to the local hospital, offering support to patients. In addition to comfort, his intellect is seen in the library, as he helps his fellow Huskies cram for their exams, offering any support he can.

Uga, the 10th of his name, is the English bulldog of the University of Georgia. This Uga earned his mascot collar in the year 2015 and has seen a remarkable amount of success with his Bulldog colleagues. He’s witnessed an SEC championship and Rose Bowl victory and still has the hunger for the elusive national championship.

If you don’t believe Uga is part of the team, he receives a custom-made jersey from the same material of the players’ jerseys each season. You can see him patrolling the sideline in his air-conditioned dog house as he cheers on his favorite team.

EAGLES

BULLDOGS

TIGERS

PANTHERS

WARRIORS

WILDCATS

LIONS

TROJANS

INDIANS

RAIDERS

KNIGHTS

PATRIOTS

COUGARS

BLUE DEVILS

CRUSADERS

ITG Next | 41

Twice Is Always Nice Written by: Kyle Grondin Photography by: Eric Vinson

Porter Hill felt good when he won his state championship in 2018. But his senior year, the journey made the victory more triumphant.

Running for Deerfield-Windsor, Hill dominated his junior season, en route to an individual state championship in which he set the school record. In 2019, he broke it, winning his second straight championship at the GISA level. If you would have told him in the middle of his senior season that he would do this, he probably would not have believed you.

“My senior season wasn’t going the way that I was hoping at all,” Hill said. “I had been training a lot throughout the year, but I wasn’t reaching the times I was hoping for. I really thought I was going to finish second or third, but I wasn’t capable of finishing in first. My coaches pulled me aside and told me to just keep working (and that) eventually the times will come through. That’s when things started to click.”

Hill had an incredible race for the state championship, running the meet in 16:41. Overall, he helped Deerfield-Windsor finish second overall in the team cross country state championships.

“The day of that meet my legs just felt really good, and I felt like nobody could stop me,” Hill said. “I ran the best race of my life, and it felt so great after everything that had happened.”

Hill’s coach, Jake Clawson, has had a major impact on his running career and guided him through the last three seasons. Clawson regarded Hill as “the greatest runner in South Georgia for the last three years.”

“Coach always did a great job of putting hours into making sure each runner had a specific exercise and specific goal,” Hill said. “It was great to work with him, and it was important to him for all of us to find success.”

The expectations from the previous championships seemed to weigh on Hill throughout his senior season.

He said he felt the pressure overall of winning another state championship.

“It definitely had an effect on our races,” Hill said. “Anytime you find success is when the competition increases, so I think that winning that first championship had an impact on the following season, and the expectations to win got even greater.”

After three years of running success, Hill is attending Georgia Tech, but isn’t going to be running competitively for the Yellow Jackets, instead focusing on college academics. Hill plans to study mechanical engineering in Atlanta.

“I want to prioritize my studies more than anything," he said. "I had a blast running for Deerfield-Windsor and had a great time working with the team and my coaches to be the best we could be.”

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RJ Bryan Brantley County

MIDDLE LINEBACKER 6'0 185 LBS

What advice would you give your younger self?

Never give up.

Who has helped you the most in you sports career?

My dad. He has always pushed me to do better.

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A Team Of

DESTINY Written by: Kyle Grondin Photos courtesy of Irwin County Indians via Facebook

Sometimes in life, sports resemble something like a movie.

It’s like someone wrote down a script, hired the actors and actresses, and shot a piece over a roller coaster of eight months. That was Irwin County football during the 2019 season.

Ocilla, Georgia is a small-town in South Georgia of about 3,400 people. Like most of the southern part of the state, Ocilla is quiet, and the citizens of the town care about a few things: farming and football.

Class A football in Georgia is littered with tiny county schools with an immense amount of passion and pride for their schools.

Irwin County High School in Ocilla is no different, only that they desire that elusive state championship.

They won once, in 1975, and now are going through a bit of a golden age in their high school sports history. Some of their best prospects are in the program now, and in 2015, 2017 and 2018 they fell in the state championship game to their bitter rivals Clinch County. 2019 was the year everything changed.

The Indians in 2019 were loaded. Jamorri Colson was a star wide receiver and cornerback was one of the region two class A players of the year, along with star linebacker and running back DJ Lundy. Along with them, twins Gabriel and Garland Benyard were stars on the defense and Kam Ward proved himself as a talented backup to Lundy when needed. Many believed that Irwin County had what it took to win a state championship, if they can get over the demons of their past.

Tragedy struck. Buddy Nobles, the head coach of the Indians since 2014, was diagnosed with stomach cancer just before the season. He had revitalized the Irwin County program, leading them to four state championship appearances in his first five seasons.

His passion and intensity on the field exuded itself onto the team and into the stands.

Later, in the middle of the playoffs, Garland Benyard, one of the star players for the Indians, was shot in the chest in a freak hunting accident. He recovered but was unable to play in the key playoff games for the Indians down the stretch.

“A team of destiny,” were coach Nobles words after ending the 2019 season triumphant with a state championship victory. “If there’s been a better Class 46 | itgnext.com

A team in the history of Georgia football, I want to see them.”

It’s a valid argument to make. Irwin County went the entire season undefeated, and allowed just 70 points all season. 48 of those points happened during the playoffs, as the Indians were ripped through the regular season. They beat some of the best teams in the state, while also sweeping an impressive region slate.

“These guys just really worked together,” Interim Head Coach Casey Soliday said. “It was an impressive group that just left it all out on the field week in and week out. They stayed together and worked hard.”

After dismantling rival Fitzgerald in week two of the season, the Indians next big test came against Clinch County High School.

Clinch, the team that had knocked them off in the last two state championships, after Irwin County beat them in the regular season, meant this game was personal.

“Obviously, playing a team who’s beaten us like that, it’s on the back of your mind,” Soliday said. “Winning over Clinch and Fitzgerald early in the season was what really felt like a special season for us. We knew we had a good thing going.

The first game was rather sloppy, however. It was a back and forth affair that both teams had chances to score but came up just short. The Panthers of Clinch

“A team of destiny,” were coach Nobles words after ending the 2019 season triumphant with a state championship victory. “If there’s been a better Class A team in the history of Georgia football, I want to see them.”

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County started hot and moved the ball all the way to the 17 yard line. A DJ Lundy sack then moved the Panthers back and they missed a long field goal attempt.

Turnovers became the difference. When Irwin County fumbled, Gabriel Benyard scooped the ball, scampered 80 yards and put the Indians up 6-0. Both teams had another shot to score a touchdown, and came up short from scoring.

The third quarter was more of the same, then late in the fourth, Benyard stripped the Clinch County runner, and JyQuez Marshall took it 70 yards to the house.

After a two-point conversion, that was all the Indians needed. Irwin County completed its first victory.

The second matchup, in the semifinals, was no contest.

“Getting through a team like that was important, and it was important to our guys to get over the Clinch County jinx,” Soliday said.

“I have never seen the guys that focused on winning a game than those two games. It’s incredible to see all of those young men come together and play so well.”

That jinx lasted one half, as it was scoreless when Clinch County missed a couple of field goals. But Irwin County came out laser-focused in the second half, and scored 36 unanswered points on the way to a second shutout victory. They outscored the Panthers 50-0 in two games.

The state championship ended as the season started. A dominant performance as the Indians won 5614. A team of destiny. The players of the 2019 Irwin County Indians have forged themselves as one of the greatest small school teams in Georgia state history.

“The senior leadership on this team was just second to none,” Soliday said.

“It was an awesome season overall,” Soliday said. “Awesome for the fans. Awesome for the community. And awesome for the players and coaches. To be able to get this trophy for Buddy with everything going on.”

Buddy Nobles stood triumphant on the stage after the game, holding up the Indians state championship trophy. It was a testament to years of hard work and team dedication.

“Our senior leadership was second to none,” Soliday said. “All of the guys banded together, and the seniors were there to hold everyone accountable and make sure everyone was to reach out goals. We had come so close in years past, but they couldn’t fall short again.”

DJ Lundy went on to sign with Florida State after leading the Indians in his senior season. Jamorri Colson signed with Iowa Western Community College, after receiving offers from a few SEC programs. But the Indians should have a strong roster once again.

On Jan. 23, Buddy Nobles lost his battle with cancer. The head coach was named the coach of the year for his classification. Ocilla mourned the loss of their coach, and Nobles went 63-14 during his time as head coach of Irwin County. Nobles was known for his courage and passion on the field, and went out a champion.

It was the perfect sendoff for the highly respected coach. A team. A season of destiny.

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GIVING 100% “And you must love your Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength.”

Mark 12:30.

This year’s FCA camp theme is 100%.

“When you love something, you give it your all.”

Whatever sport you play, you give it 100% of your attention, time, and ability.

“Jesus Christ gave 100%, which was His very own life so that we can have a personal relationship with Him and spend eternity with Him in heaven for forever. He did it all for us. When we give Jesus 100% of our heart, soul, mind, and

strength, our lives will be transformed.”

The FCA Spring Fundraising Banquet was held Feb. 17, 2019, at Lowndes High School in the cafetorium with guest speaker Tim Tebow. Doors opened at 5:30 p.m., and the banquet began at 6:30 p.m. There were around 1,500 people in attendance, and Tebow did a phenomenal job speaking about his personal life, career, and spiritual walk with Christ. All table sponsors received an autographed Tim Tebow book, and there was a silent auction where various items were up for sale. This banquet did not fail to disappoint

and was the best banquet to date. Thank you to all who helped in any capacity and for your willingness to serve the Lord by serving FCA. The Berrien County Banquet and Cook County Banquet have been postponed until a later time. Once those dates have been set, we will let everyone know so that there can be plenty in attendance and much support and love can be shown in those communities.

It is the desire of the FCA staff to have a oneday camp at all of our local schools this summer.

In spite of FCA camps being cancelled on college campuses all across

the United States, we want to make sure that all students, athletes, and coaches are being taken care of and are hearing the word of Jesus Christ.

We will keep everyone informed as the dates and times are planned.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes would like to sincerely thank our donors and

board members for all they do for the ministry and for the furtherance of God’s kingdom. We would not be able to do what we do without their personal, financial, and prayer support. So, from us to you, a heartfelt thank you!

Communication

the Key to Cairo’s Continued Success

Written by: Phil Jones

Cairo head soccer coach Jennifer Donalson hopes to keep the Lady Syrup Makers on the winning path. The Cairo native and 2010 graduate of Cairo High School led the Cairo Middle School Soccer team to a 16-4 record during her two seasons as head coach in 2017 and 2018. Then, after previous head coach Casey Ponder left the program, Donalson was named head coach of the Varsity Girls soccer team.

In her first full season as head coach, the Syrupmakers finished 15-6-1 overall, with a 7-3 region record. Donalson was recognized for her efforts and was named Region Coach of the Year for Region 1-AAAA. This was the third straight season of significant improvement for the team.

Donalson thinks the improved play stems from a combination of factors, starting with improved communication between the middle school and varsity teams.

“I think it’s important to know how our middle school players are progressing, and to make sure we’re on the same page as coaches,” Donalson said.

Even though she doesn’t coach the middle school team any longer, she understands the value in maintaining a line of communication with those coaches.

“I think if we as coaches all have the same game plan for these players to follow as they move up to varsity from the middle school team, we will continue to enjoy our success on the pitch.”

She also believes that her familiarity with the middle school players she coached then, and continues to coach now, is a big help.

Cairo must replace six seniors, including three players who have been a big part of the program's recent success. They are Ren Whitley, last year’s Region Defensive Player of the Year. She will play for Young Harris College. Claire Phillips has graduated, and will play for Emmanuel College. Phillips broke the school record for assists last year. Three-year starter at goalkeeper, Faith Tise, has graduated.

She will attend Troy College, not as a soccer player, but as a majorette.

Donalson will look to two returning players to lead the team this year. They are junior Braeden Puckett, who will move to keeper this year. Joining her is Lauren Jones, who as a freshman led Cairo in scoring last season.

“We will be young, but as long as we keep communicating with each other, I think we’ll be just fine,” Donalson said.

Sounds like a winning plan.

Most Goals NCAA History (Women’s)

Christine

Mia Hamm

Sinclair

Danielle Fotopoulos

110

118

103

Tiffeny Milbrett

Carin Jennings

103

102

Women’s World Cup Golden Boot Results (Goals and Assists) Alex Morgan Ellen White Megan Rapinoe Sam Kerr Cristiane Wendie Renard Carli Lloyd

Aurora Galli

USA England USA Australia Brazil France USA Italy

6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3

3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

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Team Wins 2020 State Championship With Skill, Tough Schedule Written by: Alex Dunn | Photography courtesy of Todd Webb

Brookwood High School’s girls’ basketball team has been the region runner-up for four consecutive years. However, this year a change in had plans when, through hard work and dedication, the team took home the 2020 state championship title this past season.

Todd Webb, who has coached at Brookwood for two years, said that it was an amazing feeling to see all those practices finally pay off. He believes that a part of their success had a lot to do with the brutal scheduling.

“The strength of schedule we played this season was the toughest Brookwood has ever played,” he said. “The fact that we won 18 games playing against several schools with more than 2500 students, defending state champions and All-Americans is quite an accomplishment in my eyes.

There's no way we would've won the 1st girls basketball state championship in our school's history if we hadn't challenged ourselves with a brutal schedule.”

That was not the only accomplishment. Webb’s coaching techniques were a game-chang52 | itgnext.com

er when it came to the teams’ improvement on the court.

“I spend a lot of time teaching the ‘why’ with everything we do,” Webb said.

“I think it's important that players understand not only how to do something but why it is important to learn. I'm also a big advocate of having a ‘next play’ mentality. We have a rule that if you make a mistake, you can't hang your head about it or you have to come out. I think that keeps players focused on playing at their best instead of worrying about mistakes.”

The practices themselves are intense and competitive as well.

“We want intensity in everything that we do and we make everything a competition,” Webb said. “There's a winner and a loser in every drill. We keep practice and competition records so the kids aren't just competing for the day but the entire season and previous seasons as well.”

Two seniors on the team, Holland Walker and Mollie Vick, both agree that the intense team practices helped their team pave the way

to victory. Both recounted their experience when they won the state championship.

“When the buzzer went off I sprinted over to our bench and started jumping up and down,” Vick said. “I even cried tears of joy because I was so excited and felt accomplished that all of our hard work paid off.”

“It was absolutely exhilarating,” Walker said. “Our team has put in so much work the past couple years, from weekend practices to yearround weightlifting.

This championship felt like a culmination of all of our hard work and determination.”

Vick and Walker were determined to make their last season count.

When the moment came for their team to prove that they had it in them to win, both girls had ways to motivate themselves and their team.

“Our frustration of always being runner-up motivated us to give everything we had in each game after that,” Vick said.

“I always try to say to myself ‘next play, next play.’”

Walker said. “I think this helps me tremendously. During the game, I continued to tell myself encouraging thoughts in order to block out the yell-

ing and screaming from the other team's fans and focus on the game.”

Now, with COVID-19 causing a disruption for more than just athletics, Webb said that they are still focused on defending their title. Some closures, like their weight room, have caused him and his team to get a little more creative.

“The current situation isn't ideal, especially since the weight room is so important to our improvement, but we're making the best of it,” he said. “We haven't stopped strength training. We've also had to find ways to stay connected and hold each other accountable.

We're treating this time like it's an opportunity to put in work when many others probably won't. I'd rather be in the gym or weight room with my team, but I trust them to follow through on our workout plans on their own.

All in all, Webb and his team are still proud that they were able to

bring home the state championship.

“I'm just really proud of how selfless this team played this season,” Webb said. “They didn't care who scored the most points, who took the most shots, or who played the most minutes. They

cared about each other and made winning the primary focus. It's so rewarding to watch your players create plays for each other and encourage teammates to take an open shot.”

Quayde Hawkins Bainbridge

QUARTERBACK 6'1 190 LBS What is the most memorable moment of your sports career?

Dec. 11, 2018.

2018 state champions.

What will you remember most about playing for you school?

The brothers I had on my team.

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Georgia's Top High School Athletes of All Time Written by: Kyle Grondin

Georgia continues to supply some of the best athletic talent in the country. From Walt Frazier to Herschel Walker to Trevor Lawrence, the best of the best have come from the Peach State. But who is the best?

We rank the top five Georgia high school athletes of all time based on their high school success and what they meant to their schools.

Herschel Walker

Johnson County High School Herschel Walker is one of the greatest high school football players of all time.

He became one of only two players to rush for over 3,000 yards in a season in Georgia state history when he finished with 3,167 yards his senior season. He finished with over 6,000 career yards and 86 touchdowns.

Walker, of course, became one of the greatest Georgia Bulldogs players ever and was named as one of the best college football players in history. He followed that by paving the way for high profile players to enter the USFL and later dominated for the Dallas Cowboys. He stands as one of the best ever even without the Pro Football Hall of Fame resume.

Maya Moore

Collins Hill High School Before becoming one of the most decorated WNBA and NCAA basketball players ever, Moore lit up the court at Collins Hill High School. She was the second player ever to be named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year twice, in both her junior and senior seasons. As a four-year starter, she won three state championships and a 2007 national championship. She finished as Collins Hill's leader in points, assists, rebounds, and steals and finished with a 125-3 record. She also dunked for her first time at 16 years old.

Her winning didn't stopped there; she went on to be a four-time NCAA All-American and two-time NCAA National Champion in four years, along with two Wooden Awards for Player of the Year.

Her professional level didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t slow her down. In seven years, she gathered four WNBA championships, three European championships playing overseas, a FIBA championship, and two gold medals with Team USA. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the greatest winner in sports history and has an endorsement from Barack Obama as one of the best basketball players he has ever played with. A true champion.

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Frank Thomas

Columbus High School Before becoming a two-time MVP for the Chicago White Sox in 1993 and 1994, The Big Hurt was a three-sport star at Columbus High School. Thomas hit a .440 batting average his senior season at Columbus. He was also an All-State tight end and a forward for the basketball team.

Thomas went on to Auburn on a football scholarship and immediately joined the baseball team as well. He will always be remembered as one of the best.

Dwight Howard

Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy Howard was one of the last players to jump straight from high school to the NBA, and he was also one of the best to do it. His senior season, he averaged 25 points, 18 rebounds, and a staggering eight blocks per game. McDonald’s rated him as one of the 35 best McDonald’s All-Americans ever, and he continued this trend into the NBA. Howard went on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft out of high school, and he became one of the best Orlando Magic players of all time. He won three straight Defensive Player of the Year awards and was an eight-time All Star.

Trevor Lawrence

Cartersville High School Shortly before Trevor Lawrence took over at Cartersville High School, Clemson quarterback Desahun Watson broke nearly every Georgia high school record on the way out of Gainesville and was regarded as a legend in the making.

What Lawrence did to follow it up wasn’t too shabby. He and the Purple Hurricanes won 41 straight games from his sophomore to senior years. He finished with a state record 13,907 career passing yards and 161 career touchdowns. He was a two-time national Player of the Year and was compared to Peyton Manning, “except he’s athletic and has a better arm,” by Rivals scout Mike Farrell.

Lawrence followed Watson to Clemson and since has continued to thrive behind a legend, losing only one game in two seasons and making back-to-back National Championship appearances.

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A Diving Breakthrough Written by: Phil Jones | Photography courtesy of Ryan Kebler

Nothing about Hunter Kebler’s story and how he came to be a top collegiate bound diver makes sense.

There are no divers in the family, He never was interested in diving, despite growing up on the ocean in St Petersburg, Florida. His only organized sport that he played was soccer.

But, no matter how or where the urge to dive came from, Kebler went from knowing nothing about diving at the age of 15 to signing a scholarship with a school known for having one of the best diving programs in the country.

Hunter moved to Moultrie with his family, parents Ryan and Penny Kebler, in 2010. Hunter was eight years old. It wasn’t until he turned 15 that diving began to interest him. He says it was a conversation with a family member that started his interest in diving.

“One of my aunts is involved with the Olympics, and she made the comment one day that I should consider trampoline an Olympic sport,” says Hunter. “I think that kinda planted the first thought in my mind.”

The first step was to get Kebler involved with

a dive team, and fortunately for him, he was in the right place. Moultrie is home to Moss Farms, a world class diving facility.

Hunter began learning the technique of diving at Moss Farms, and began competing in events around Georgia and the Southeastern United States. Hunter admits it was a slow process in the beginning.

In his first year, Kebler didn’t qualify. In fact, he finished last in every event he entered. But, this was exactly what his coaches had in mind-to bring him along slowly.

“They told me to trust the plan, so that’s what I did,” Hunter said.

His Moss Farm coaches saw the potential in Hunter, but they weren’t the only one. A “zone” event at Georgia Tech’s aquatic center in 2018 proved to be Hunter’s breakthrough performance, and it caught the attention of Auburn diving coach Jeff Shafer.

moment for Kebler as far as his diving was concerned, but it also turned out to be a life changing event, also. Shafer and Auburn would extend an invitation for him to join the diving team at Auburn, and in November of last year, Kebler officially signed his letter of intent with the Tigers.

In three short years, Hunter Kebler had gone from diving novice to collegiate diver at a South Eastern Conference school known for its history of producing world class divers.

It just goes to show that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.

“After the first six dives, I was in first place. That’s when Coach Shafer introduced himself, and wanted to talk to me,” Hunter said.

It turned out to be not only a breakthrough

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Rico Johnson Thomasville

WIDE RECEIVER 6'3 165 LBS

Who is your biggest rival?

Ourselves because every game is a big game.

If you could play with one professional athlete in your sport, who would it be?

Tom Brady. I just want to catch one of his passes.

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Game-winning drives start here.

Success under the bright lights starts with hard work under the hot sun. Here is where practice, preparation and perspiration give rise to cheering fans, game winning drives and character that will last a lifetime. We are proud to support our hometown teams.

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The Ultimate Fan Guide to German Soccer We Help You Pick a Team to Root for Based on Your Favorite American Sports Teams Written by: Kyle Grondin

Sports are slowly re-entering our everyday lives.

Do you continue to have a hankering for sports, but can’t stay up for the Korean Baseball League? There’s no need to fear, the Bundesliga is here! Joining the KBL and UFC, the German soccer league returns without fans as one of the top leagues to return to their scheduled seasons. With the MLS, MLB, and possibly even the NBA playoffs on the verge of returning, it seems like the Bundesliga is dominating the sports world for the next few weeks.

And it’s the perfect timing, as with six games remaining on the schedule, the season is just heating up, and a lot is at stake.

Six European tournament qualifying spots are still up for grabs

for some of the top teams in Germany, and the bottom teams are battling to avoid getting relegated down to the lower level league at the end of the year. It makes for great drama and great content and is worth the watch over the next few weeks.

So, who do you root for? Everyone loves to have some sort of rooting interest, and with German soccer it’s no different. Whether it’s wanting to watch the best team or cheering for some of our American talents, here are the five teams you should consider cheering for at the end of the Bundesliga season and the American sports teams I would compare them too.

Bayern Munich CURRENT POSITION: 1st Place, 55 points TOP PLAYER: Robert Lewandowski CHEER FOR THIS TEAM IF YOU LIKE: New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, Alabama Crimson Tide, or New England Patriots Well, you’re pretty boring aren’t you? If you need a safe pick and can’t handle disappointment, pick the team that has 72 trophies in its case.

The giants of Germany, Bayern Munich is the top team in the country.

They’ve won a record of 29 Bundesliga titles and have won it the last seven years in a row. The only surprise for the Bavarians is that they haven’t clinched the championship yet, as they usually have won already. Now they sit just 4 points ahead of Borussia Dortmund and have yet to separate themselves from the pack.

Munich is similar to the Yankees and Lakers in that they are constantly getting the best players in the league. Unlike trades in American sports, they buy off the top players from the smaller German teams and add them to their already stacked roster. Lewandowski, a former Dortmund player, leads the league in scoring with 25 goals on the year.

If you love winning and love watching great soccer, Bayern Munich is never going to leave you disappointed. They’re the best team in the league for a reason.

RB Leipzig CURRENT POSITION: 3rd Place, 50 points TOP PLAYER: Timo Werner CHEER FOR THIS TEAM IF YOU LIKE: Dallas Cowboys, Brooklyn Nets, or Floyd Mayweather

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You’re a sellout.

RB Leipzig is an up-and-coming powerhouse in the German league.

They're bankrolled by the billionaire Red Bull energy drinks industry, which has made them the villains of the Bundesliga.

They’re hated in Germany because Germans hate the corporate regime. Many German teams operate under fan influence, and many fans serve as board members to their clubs' success. Red Bull is simply trying to buy its way to the top - similar to the Nets and their gentrification of Brooklyn and the Cowboys and their overall annoyance to the general masses - and they’ve come close for multiple years now.

On the field, however, they’re a joy to watch. Timo Werner is the top forward for the German National Team and sits second in the league with 21 goals. He’s one of the fastest players in the league and also one of the best finishers. Americans also have a great influence on Leipzig, as Tyler Adams is a mainstay in their midfield. He’s one of USA’s top talents and looks to help the Red Bulls to a chance at a title to end the season.

Borussia Dortmund CURRENT POSITION: 2nd Place, 51 points TOP PLAYERS: Jadon Sancho and Erling Håland CHEER FOR THIS TEAM IF YOU LIKE: Boston Red Sox or Green Bay Packers The darlings of the Bundesliga, Dortmund are generally adored for building a club “the right way.” They’re known for developing great talent from within at their youth academies and bringing these players up until they’re eventually bought out by the wealthier clubs in Europe like Bayern Munich.

They also have one of the most rabid fan bases in all of European soccer and are even owned by their fans, similar to the Green Bay Packers.

They’re one of the best teams in the country, but haven’t won the title since 2012, frequently falling behind Bayern Munich. Many see them as living in the shadow of the Bavarians.

With Dortmund, you’ll win a lot, as evidenced by their second place standing, but you may not always sit on top. This year’s team is fun to watch and led by a couple of teenage superstars. Englishman Jadon Sancho and Norwegian Erling Håland are 20 and 19, respectively, and make up the young core that make Dortmund so fast and so fun to watch.

There’s even some American flavor to Dortmund this season, with the youngster in Gio Reyna. He doesn’t play often for Dortmund, but when he’s in, there’s a chance for something special.

FC Schalke 04 CURRENT POSITION: 6th Place, 37 points TOP PLAYER: Salif Sané CHEER FOR THIS TEAM IF YOU SUPPORT: Florida Gators, New York Mets, or America Does your team follow the grind of embattled, gritty leaders like Tim Tebow and David Wright? Are you generally overlooked by the bigger teams in your area, like the Yankees, Seminoles, or Bulldogs? Meet Schalke, the hard-working club that rivals Dortmund, but generally feels like they’re in the shadow of their cherished rivals.

There’s one reason to love Schalke stateside, however, and that is the constant American representation on the roster. Weston McKennie is just 21, but he is a stud in the midfield position that has the energy of an Energizer Bunny. He doesn’t stop running and is out to create turnovers and generally just cause havoc for opposing teams. One of America’s brightest young stars is Schalke’s go-to player in the middle of the field and pairs with some terrific center backs to lead one of the best defensive teams in the Bundesliga.

You’ll generally feel a lot of heartbreak with Schalke, but if you love Americanized schnitzels, they’re your club.

Borussia Mönchengladbach CURRENT POSITION: 4th place TOP PLAYERS: Yann Sommer and Alassane Plea CHEER FOR THIS TEAM IF YOU SUPPORT: Georgia Bulldogs, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, or Pittsburgh Steelers Let’s face it: Your trophies, and your best days, are still way behind you. You dominated for years, but it has been decades since you lifted the silverware. But you’re back! You’re competing again to be one of the best teams in your league. Even if Bayern Munich, or the Alabama Crimson Tide, or the New England Patriots stand in your way, you feel relevant again.

It’s so close, you can almost taste it. If you feel attacked by this particular paragraph, meet Borussia Mönchengladbach.

One of the most successful clubs in Germany through the 1970s, Mönchengladbach (pronounced Mention-glad-bah) has had a resurgence of sorts over the last few years led by a solid defense and superstar Swiss keeper Yann Sommer. They’re hanging on for dear life to that fourth-place finish, which is important in European soccer to qualify for the Champions League tournament.

They also have American representation in Fabian Johnson. The skilled defenseman was a mainstay in the USA lineup at the 2014 World Cup and surely will be integral to their Bundesliga finish.

ITG Next | 63

4 Drills to Improve your Combine Numbers Written by: Kyle Grondin

Even if you perform well on the field, many scouts still want to see how you perform athletically. Here’s how you can make sure your combine numbers keep up with your on-field numbers.

The NFL Scouting Combine came and went, and the top players all went head-to-head to see who is the most athletic in their draft class. If your numbers fall short of your peers’, here are some drills to improve your combine numbers to compete with the best of the best.

40-Yard Dash

20-Yard Shuttle

The proven method to improve your 40 time is resistance running and improving your start. Many runners will tell you short distance sprints are all dependent on the first three steps.

Before you start the drill, wrap a resistance band around your chest.

The goal of this drill is to create the drive with your legs, so start in your three point stance and begin by taking three steps. Focus on keeping your body over your toes and driving through to build more power in your legs. The start can make or break a good 40 time.

Lateral quickness is essential to football at any level. Whether you’re a running back or linebacker, being able to cover sideline to sideline separates the good from the great. The perfect drill to improve your speed laterally is to work together on it in the mirror drill.

Find a partner and take turns initiating each time as one is the starter with the other mirroring his movements. This drill forces you to react quickly and instinctively, but requires you to do it constantly to show improvement.

Challenge yourself and your teammate to be better and work on moving laterally.

Three-Cone Drill

Vertical Jump

The three-cone drill is all about having quick feet and reflexes, as all of your movement is happening within 10 yards for this drill. The dot drill comes in handy, as it spreads five cones in an “X” formation, and jumping quickly in different formations allows you to improve your quickness and jumping ability.

One important aspect of the dot drill is to focus on your movement. In a drill with quick feet, extra movement will only slow you down. Leap, be precise, and focus on body control as you go from cone to cone.

Athletes often focus on building strength in their calves to jump higher, focusing on the leg press as the way to improve their vertical. But what goes overlooked is how important flexibility – the motion of your joints – is to leaping.

To improve a vertical jump, you must improve your flexibility in your calves, Achilles, hips, and hamstrings, as all of these muscles and joints work together when you leap.

Two simple exercises open up these muscles. Start by doing simple calf raises against a step. Place the balls of your feet on the step and raise your calves. You’ll feel them and your Achilles opening up as you do it.

The next is the glute bridge. Simply lay on your back with your knees at a 90 degree angle and lift your glutes up until they’re in line with your knees. Do this until you feel your hip muscles begin to open up. Building muscle is important, but maintaining flexibility is just as important for a successful combine.

64 | itgnext.com

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“New” Normal Written by: Jon Nelson Photography courtesy of Riverside Military Academy via Facebook

As we are in our “current” normal and can’t wait to get back to seeing sports on a regular basis, we have had our first for the fall season in 2018.

Riverside Military Academy, outside of Gainesville in northeast Georgia, sent a note from their President, Colonel (Ret) Staś C. Preczewski, that included this early sentence: “Having a safe and a healthy fall season requires substantial planning, writing of contracts, and early equipment purchases all of which would be binding even if the season remains banned by GHSA. Accordingly, fall interscholastic athletics at RMA are cancelled for the ’20-’21 academic year.”

Understandably, the health, safety, and security for everyone that is a part of the school on a daily basis was the weight of the decision. And RMA is going to take a hard look at the winter and spring schedules and teams as well as we all progress in the calendar.

The GHSA is still looking at dates in late July to return to the fall sports calendar, football being first on the list. With all the attached uncertainty, RMA wanted to be up front with their family and tell them their plans. As a private school, they’ll still have an intramural schedule for their cadets.

But what RMA has done raises a question as we all go forward.

Will they be the only ones to go this route?

Obviously, public schools will monitor their situations on a case-bycase basis. But, at the same time, I would imagine other schools are now in deep thought without a definitive plan on the books.

Riverside was set to play in Region 8-AA for the 2020 season. This is a region that includes Banks, Union, Elbert, and Rabun County. There isn’t any current word on those games, how they would show up in the standings, and what the rest of the schedule would hold with the games against Cherokee Bluff, Clarkston, GMC, and Whitefield Academy.

It will be the first season since World War I that the Eagles won’t be a part of a football season,according to our friends at MaxPreps and the GHSFHA. We’re entering a “new” normal at some point, and I know we’ve all heard that phrase a lot this last little while. It will take a lot of planning, forward thinking, and flexibility when it comes to the “wheres, when, and hows” of the future.

Will it look like what we’re seeing with professional sports? I couldn’t tell you right now any more than the person standing next to you or me.

But I know we’re all looking forward to showing our love for our community, school, and student-athletes when it’s safe to do so. At the same time, though, keep an eye on what happened within Gainesville as we go forward.

Play it safe, everyone. I’ll talk to you soon!

66 | itgnext.com

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