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In the Game High School Sports Magazine is a growing family of monthly high school athletic magazines. We published our first issue in South Georgia in August of 2007. Following the school calendar months of August through June for publication, our magazine focuses on local high school athletes and athletic programs within South Georgia.

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

We include other sports information pertinent to the South Georgia area as well.

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

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

Player Spotligh t

It was a new ng was new to me. player. “The weightlifti is a big deal in Colquitt County, challenge. But football of football. That made it fun,” a part and weights are

Will Bannister

Academic Athlete

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the was already at else. Bannister football. Over time for anything he began playing top of his class when has found a way to balance his he This year in the last two years, with the gridiron. classroom schedule struggle to maintain his stellar a A’s and worked particular, it’s been “I’ve always made It’s taken academic record. a different story. been has my year do time to hard. But this level. I don’t have s hard work to another week so I spend my weekend the homework during stuff,” he says. ian. He never working on school set out to be valedictor s. He simply Bannister never of a goal for academic earned him even had much his best doing and best, class. It also wanted to do his int average in his the highest grade-po of the toughest courses a high landed him in some is taking calculus take. Bannister learning. To take school student can Tech via distance He attends the through Georgia to enroll at Tech. as Georgia Tech the class, he had takes the same tests in his school class online and he is the only student students. He knows

has had a he says. specialist, Bannister memorable As Colquitt’s PAT most ply his trade. His recent moment. lot of chances to is also his most moment, however, Colquitt welcomed the Camden 9, On Friday, Nov. Last year, Colquitt Tharpe Stadium. on a last-second Wildcats to Mack out of the playoffs playing their first knocked Camden n. The Wildcats, conversio away from going two-point 1, were one win season in Region play yet again; since Head Coach undefeated in region the Camden program, the ‘Cats over told us Jeff Herron took game. “Coach Propstor seven had not lost a region first six withstanding the the key would be was on them – they said the pressure also He and a possible minutes. an undefeated season senior night,” just were playing for ship. For us, it was extra point national champion scored first but the says Bannister. Camden

primary has been his s life, soccer but lost in the Will Bannister’ For most of playoffs in 2010 with rs made the the season ister started sport. The Packe rance Last year, Bann year’s postseason appea first round. all bug footb the previous The after n. high hopes ing the seaso getting up not finish d to focus on neede but he ended he returns he felt like This year, he had bitten and of football.

“Our big senior season 2013 campaign? better for his goal for the to beat them . His primary County. I’d love to the pitch r is against Tift rivalry in socce my senior year.”

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a 96 average. “That and he’s carrying he taking the class my late nights,” 6-0 until the cause for a lot of class is the main The score remained Segraves broke sailed wide right. ’s success. In says. quarterback Cole is a key to Bannister fourth quarter, when run to tie the game at six apiece. and Time management n he is class president a 70 -yard touchdow the field and drove home the to university calculus, Program. on advantage. additionparticipated in the Governor ’s Honors activities, Bannister trotted cular he has the Packers a one-point give extracurri to Wildcats and point The load extra 12-6. practice, mean His academic again to go up days a week of footballdays or he will Camden scored Late in the game, coupled with six were unsuccessful. organize his time to take a 13went for two but he has to carefully s studying so end zone one more attempted that “I spend my weekendto do as much Colquitt found the try a minute left, Camdenthe turf. The quickly fall behind. my classes. I also 12 lead. With under ly on day,” he says.

I can get ahead of that fell harmless during the school a 55-yard field goal the Wildcats’ undefeated season, homework as I can decided where he will attend Packers had spoiled title and handed them their first on a few Bannister hasn’t ’s extra s. He has his eyes a possible national Herron. And Bannister entire college after he graduate he remains undecided. He Coach under region loss team in the schools but placing one made by either total team effort. Ivy League college but he isn’t going point – the only to play football in was a “It like .

“I’m not would difference basket. l night. Camden that proverbia game – was the about college. all of his eggs in like champions all the decision I make was relentless,” Our defense played I may go out for to let football dictate but our defense had opportunities I choose has football, different .

Under If the school filled out a lot of paperwork for recalls Bannister so I’ve I’ve consuming sport. time team. a kickers, is the don’t recruit Football anywhere more demanding. colleges. Most schoolsto coaches. I would love to play Propst, it’s even Head Coach Rush lated six days per to get film football-re trying g been arduous and Bannister does somethin says. ITG are long, film sessions leave much if I could,” he week. Practices intense. That doesn’t weight workouts

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points kicked mainly extra a time season, he has the kick off duties is that he This Jr. thing about Bannisterfinals. Back though he has handled game, which Colquitt The interesting the Prior to the Camden made 27-of-28 extra County’s the semifinals and futbol or two. had at the top, Colquitt missed one trip to r for the Packers team, 13-12, Bannister f it truly was lonely of the most joined the football the other won, he was center midfielde would be one is currently then, He finally decided to start playing Will Banniste r points. When Bannisteradjustments, particularly in in the world. He new to the game. make a few and will team. miserable people his conditioning He wasn’t entirely the he had to in the class of 2013 football last year. ing. With soccer, Rich Tyndall, In spent condition with Packers of ranked number one hadn’t His kicking terms of running. He ian this spring. in September He had done some used to consisted primarily Athlete feature likely be the valedictor consistent football room and wasn’t offseason had Game’s Academic one of the most with him in the a football of time in the weight freshman year, have also been enjoyed kicking when he became Bannister. a lot Since Bannister ’s or the 2010. “I All that changed for football,” recalls teams in the state. decided to go out placekicker. lifting.

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by Robert Preston

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Market Area The South Georgia Edition covers 25 schools in Atkinson, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Dougherty, Decatur, Grady, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lee, Lowndes, Mitchell, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, and Worth counties.

Player Spotlight

Aulden Bynum Valwood School

ar Rising St sponsored by:

Aulden's Favorites: Sport to watch on TV: College football Favorite team besides UGA: Ole Miss Sport you wish you could play but can’t: Golf Food: Barbecue ribs or steak Person to meet: Drew Brees Last book: Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10

by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson Favorite subject in school: History Least favorite subject: English

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Player Spotlight

Cook Senior Turns Down Foot Offers for College Wrestling ball Career

by Robert Preston Jr.

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wo-time All-Region center (sophomore and junior year), All-Tiftarea selection at left guard as a 5’10”, 275-pound senior, and solid grades to boot.

Sounds like a recipe for a college football career, but not if you’re Cook High’s Destry Walker.

The 18-year-old has been an integral part of the Hornets’ football team for several years. His work on the line was particularly important in the offensive attack back in 2010, when the Hornets went undefeated in the regular season, won 12 games and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.

But football isn’t where Walker’s heart is. Wrestling is Walker’s first love. Since he was a freshman, he has been one of the area’s best wrestlers, and he topped off an already impressive career with a 60-win season in 2012 that ended with Walker as state champion.

Walker first wrestled competitively in seventh grade. His brother, Dexter Walker, now an aspiring bodybuilder, was also a wrestler in middle school and high school. Destry Walker grew up watching his brother on the mat, and he joined the wrestling team as soon as he became a seventh-grader.

“My brother did it, and I thought it might be fun to try,” he says. Walker wrestled one year, then played basketball when he was in the eighth grade.

When he reached Cook High School, he didn’t have plans to wrestle. His coaches had other plans.

As tryouts neared, one of his coaches invited him to practice. Walker agreed to try out, but he wasn’t very excited about it. He made the team and kind of went through the motions for the first part of the wrestling season.

Somewhere around the midpoint of that first season, something clicked. Walker grew from being a young man who wrestled just to kill time to a competitor who wanted to win. “I decided I wanted to go to state,” he says, “and I started taking things a little more seriously.”

Walker placed second in the region and went on to state, where he lost his first two matches. A year later, he again placed second in the region and went to state. Because there was no sectional meet that year, the state meet operated under a different format. Walker lost his first match and was eliminated.

In 2011, Walker enjoyed a breakout season. He

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Destry WAlker Cook High School

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photography by Micki K Photography went 50-5, won region, won the west sectionals, and placed fifth at state.

As his senior wrestling season rolled around, Walker set very high goals for himself.

He wanted a clean sweep of first places: an undefeated season, first in region, first at sectionals, and first in the state.

Player Spotligh t

He accomplished three of those goals.

The only one he didn’t achieve was the undefeated season. Walker posted a 60-2 season and won first in region, first in west sectionals again, and rolled through the state meet to bring home a championship in the heavyweight division.

Destry's Favorites: WWE—yes or no? “No. It’s a disgrace to the sport.”

Sport you wish you could play but can’t: Golf Food: Monster Thickburger combo from Hardee’s Subject: Science or health Least favorite subject: Run days in weights Last book: My AP biology book last semester Place to travel: The top of any mountain in the U.S. Person to meet: “A preside nt. None in particular. I just have a lot of questions I’d like to ask a president.”

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Multiple Media Enhancing our glossy oversized magazine is the inthegamemagazine.com website which receives thousands of page views monthly. One of our goals is to create a huge archive of high school sports information and we are well on our way. All of the feature articles are published to the web each month along with selected articles and photographs, and we are utilizing social networking sites to expand the visibility beyond the immediate coverage areas.

We also have an established radio presence in the South Georgia market with our own In the Game Sports talk show, which airs on News Talk 105.9FM, Thursdays from 6-7pm. Guests range from local athletes and coaches to nationally recognized sports personalities.

The In the Game TV show, just as with the magazine highlights the positive aspect of high school sports in South Georgia. The show airs weekly in over 400,000 homes on Saturdays 11:00 a.m. on CBS and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. on ABC. Combination packages are available for our more aggressive advertisers who wish to enhance their bottom lines by promoting their businesses via magazine, web, TV, and radio. We can also develop a custom ad plan that fits your needs and budget.

! e v Li In the studio with host Mark Dykes Thursdays 6 - 7 PM

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not to go because I didn’t like the campus. I was thinking about it, though. A Harvard education goes a long way,” he says.

In the Greene home, basketball is extremely important. But high academic performance is even more so. “My dad makes sure I keep up my grades.

If I don’t make good grades, I can’t play basketball,” says Greene. Balancing basketball and academics isn’t difficult. Greene has done it his whole life and he’s use to the schedule. He credits his father with staying on him about his grades, but after talking with him, one gets the feeling that Greene is motivated on his own to do well.

He seems to understand that basketball doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The journey through college and beyond consists of two different components: athletic ability and academic performance. Every athlete is one game, one play, one second away from a career-ending event. Should basketball not work out for one reason or another, Greene has done everything he possibly can to ensure a bright future. “This is something I’ve prepared for my whole life. I’ve been expecting it. People like to talk, they want autographs, things like that. I just try to block out the distractions, and get my work on and off the court,” he says. ITG

Third Page Bleed 2.875 x 11.125 in.

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

by Robert Preston, Jr.

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Brannen's Favorites: NBA Team: New York Knicks Player: Kevin Durant Super power: Reading people’s minds Pepsi or Coke: Coke Food: Chicken and pasta Last book: To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

Last song before taking the court: “Kobe” by Chief Keef

Place to travel: Paris Person to meet: Michael Jordan Awards: First Team All-State,

Middle Georgia Player of the Year, Region Player of the Year, Pre-Season Mr. Georgia Basketball

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

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

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

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

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

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

lead high school athletes down a dangerous road.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Cassey Cornelius Cook Middle School

Cook Middle Pitcher/Shortstop Dominates In All Areas Of The Game

by Robert Preston Jr.

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assey Cornelius. Softball fans, don’t forget that name. It’s one that you’re going to hear a lot over the next few years. Cornelius, a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Cook Middle School in Adel, has been an important member of the Stingers softball team for three years and will almost certainly make an immediate impact at the varsity level next year. In addition to middle school ball, Cornelius also plays with the Tanel 360 Bandits 14U team. In 2012, she played 93 games with Tanel and another 26 with the Stingers. Why does she play so much? Two reasons: she loves the game and she is very, very good at it.

Cornelius’s softball career began five years ago.

She has two older sisters who also played, and she followed in their footsteps. When Cornelius entered sixth grade, she earned a spot on the Stingers' roster and contributed immediately, something John

photography by Micki K Photography these qualities have turned her into a phenomenal softball player. This year with the Stingers, she hit .674 with four homeruns, 37 RBI and 29 hits. She did not strike out all season. On the mound, she was 6-0 with a 1.75 ERA. In 29 innings, she saw 84 batters, 47 of whom she struck out. With Tanel, she hit .494 with five homeruns and 61 RBI. She had 86 singles, 32 doubles and 17 triples. Cornelius posted a .642 on-base percentage and slugged .708.

“Cassey is a tremendously talented player. The thing that makes her so special is her work ethic and her love for the game. She has the perfect mix of speed and strength, and is a natural leader. I can't say enough about her ability and I can't wait to see what the future holds for her,” says Smith.

As for that future, Cornelius hopes that includes playing softball for a Division I program. In order for that to happen, she will have to work even harder as

Last year, Cassey Cornelius decided to try something a little different.

At the request of a friend, she went out for Cook Middle’s tennis team.

She didn’t know what to expect; she just wanted a change of athletic scenery. As it turned out, she was pretty good at it. Cornelius ended up playing number-two singles and went through the season undefeated.

Cassey's Favorites:

School Banner 7.625 in. x 1.25 in.

College softball teams: Georgia and Alabama

Smith, Cook Middle’s head coach, says isn’t very common. In her three years with Cook Middle, the Stingers are 64-12 with one Deep South Conference Championship (2011). This year, the Stingers were undefeated in conference play.

When she started playing, Cornelius immediately fell in love with the game. She found that she had some natural talent for softball, and that inspired her to work even harder to improve. Cornelius possesses a relentless work ethic and drive to succeed. All of

she moves through high school. With the competition getting better and better at each successive level, there will be no time to sit back and rest on her past successes. The key will be putting in enough practice hours and games without getting burned out. That’s the fine line that all young players must walk as they pursue their athletic goals. Cornelius doesn’t think that will be a problem. “I’ll just keep practicing and working out. I’m going to stay focused on my goals. I don’t think I will get burned out,” she says. ITG

Last book: Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson Best movie in the last year: The Hunger Games Pepsi or Coke: Coke Biggest influences: Parents and Jenny Finch Person to meet: Jenny Finch Subject: Math Food: Chicken 50

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Annual Events in t h e

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速

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4005 Bear Lake Road Valdosta, GA 31601

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South Geogia head football Coaches preview the upcoming season Game of the Week Tailgate Before the Game with In The Game Pep Rally Winnersville Classic Tailgate South Georgia Football Awards Banquet 2012 High School FoSouth Georgia otball Awards Ba nquet photography by

Mediacom Defensive Player of the Year John Gray, Colquitt County

Valdosta Toyota Middle School Player of the Year Tyson Harris, Lowndes Middle

South Georgia Medical Center Special Teams Player of the Year Gustavo Gonzales, Lowndes High

The Valdosta Vault Community Service Award Recipients Shelby Wilkes, Valdosta High and Christian Parker, Lowndes High 34

Micki K Photograph

y

NewsTalk 105.9 Will Bannister, Colquitt Academic Players of the Year County and John Reynolds, Cook County

Colony Bank Offensive Player of the Year Malkom Parrish, Brooks County

Harveys Supermark et Coach of the Year Ashley Henderson , Valwood

Harveys Supermark et Coach of the Year Rush Propst, Colquitt County

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In The Game High School Sports Magazine is distributed at no charge to area schools, direct mailed to subscribers and select local businesses, and are also available for retail purchase.

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Subscriptions and back issues are also available to consumers on our website, and we offer a subscription fundraising program to all covered schools.

Academic Athlete

way players respond to coaching. Athletes are bigger, stronger, faster and better prepared. They are under more scrutiny than ever before. But they don’t blindly follow their coaches as did players in the past, when athletes would run through a brick wall just because their coaches wanted them to.

They didn’t ask questions or wonder why it was necessary. These days, players will still run through a brick wall, but you’ve got to let them know why it’s such a good idea. “But our kids are still very tough, and we’re able to push them extremely hard,” says Johnson.

For Johnson, the past 40 years are filled with memories of great players, great teams and great moments. But the most significant period of Lowndes’s history, at least to Johnson, is when the Vikings finally became their own team and were able to compete with the storied Wildcats from across town. And it wasn’t just Valdosta that had its way with Lowndes - so did everybody else.

“Everybody knew they were going to beat us. It wasn’t a question of if they were going to win - it was a question of by how much,” he says. When Lowndes began winning games, they became relevant to everybody, not just Valdosta. Johnson now has not one but five state title rings, something he never fathomed when he went to work at Lowndes as a new teacher right out of college. “It’s been monumental,” he says.

After this football season, no matter how it ends, Johnson is calling it a career. He believes it’s time to get out of the rat race that is high school football.

Johnson is at peace with his decision. He has had an incredible career, and he has no regrets when it comes to coaching. He can step away fulfilled, knowing he gave everything he had to the profession and the game he so dearly loved. “No more teaching, no more coaching. At the end of the season, it’s over,” he says. ITG

Coach's Corner

Shelby Hiers

Hiram Johnson

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Brooks Coun

Lowndes High School

Subject: Math ll Favorites: but can't: Footba you could play Parents Sport you wish Biggest influences:

by Lois Lowry Last book: The Giver Musician: Toby Mac to Africa trip Mission Place to travel: Tim Tebow Person to meet:

In addition to coaching football, Johnson also started the women’s track team at Lowndes.

Their first year of competition was 1982. He coached the girls until 2010. Between 1990 and 2010, the ladies won 18 region championships.

They finished second in the state once and third another time. “I had the opportunity to coach some very competitive young ladies. We were fortunate and blessed to have won all those championships,” he says.

Katie Walker: VMS’s First Fem ale Football Pla yer

by Robert Preston,

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by Robert Preston Jr.

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he coaching profession is volatile in this day and age. It is uncommon for coaches - head coaches and assistants alike - to remain in one place for a long period of time. Sometime over the last four decades, someone forgot to tell Hiram Johnson that he was supposed to change jobs every couple of years. He never got the memo and as such, Lowndes High School is the only place Johnson, who coaches defensive tackles and nose guards, has ever worked.

Johnson was born in the small unincorporated community of Kirkland, located on Corridor Z between Pearson and Willacoochee in Atkinson County. He attended school in nearby Douglas, graduating from George Washington Carver High School in 1968. He ran track and played football in high school and went on to participate in both sports at then-Fort Valley State College. After graduating from college, Johnson went to work at Lowndes High. Over the last 40 years, a lot of things have changed at Lowndes.

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photography by Micki K Photography But one thing has remained constant: Johnson has always been on campus, coaching and teaching.

Over the course of his career, Johnson has worked under five head coaches: West Thomas, Joe Wilson, Rick Tomberlin, Milt Miller and Randy McPherson.

He and defensive ends coach Bill Cribb are the only coaches currently on staff who were a part of all five of the Vikings state football championships (1980, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007; Cribb was a player on the 1980 team and was an assistant during the other four state title runs).

Johnson has seen firsthand how the Lowndes football program has morphed from a veritable doormat in the region into one of the top programs in the state. It all began in an unlikely place, with former Valdosta High player and coach Joe Wilson. “This region has always been competitive. Years ago, it came down to Valdosta and Thomasville. We were all but nonexistent but now we’re one of the best,” he says.

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photography by hree years ago, Micki K Photograph Katie Walker, then y a wild-eyed Valdosta nine-year-old, approache Middle’s sixth-grade d her parents and them she wanted team - even though told a fifth-grader to play football. she’s .

“We thought it was a bad idea,” Playing football is remembers her Jessica Walker. challenging enough mother, Playing, “We told her to in its own right. when wait a year, and we would talk again.” then that of Valdostayou’re a girl, in a program as storied Hoping that their as can be absolutely forget about their daughter would punishing - literally conversation, they and figuratively.

Thus football anymore. didn’t mention experience. A defensive far, Walker has enjoyed the But Katie Walker end, she says she loves did. out there and hitting going someone. “It’s awesome Last year, she once there on that field again told her parents to go out every day. I love to play football. she wanted great tackling and having Football is very time,” she says. important to Walker. a Her grandfather played for Valdosta Life as Valdosta High School in the 1950s. Her older Middle’s first female brother, Hunter, isn’t always easy. football player plays Every day, every Middle’s eighth-grad series, every play, e team. The Wildcat for Valdosta one that requires is her to important to her tradition is very family, and Walker People are watching, prove herself to her teammates wants to create own chapter of her can be suffocating waiting for her to fail. The pressure. the family’s football heritage. process, she creates . “It’s a way for other like-mindedIf, in the been hurtful comments. been hard for her. There have athletes to enjoy Some people have female a man a sport reserved called her for wanting to play for boys, that’s fine, too. football. She has herself above and to prove beyond Cautiously - and anything her teammates says her mother. apprehensively do,” Walker’s parents signed her up for tackle football at Walker tries to take the Boys and Girls Club. She played the criticism in stride. on the 9-10 Colts she would have She knew and made it through her detractors. But the whole season. she also knew that “We really didn’t many more people expect her to finish the season,” says would be in her her mother. remains focused corner. Walker on the positives Playing for the and doing her best Boys and Girls every day. Hopefully, Club didn’t quench Walker’s thirst for she will one day football. It made earn Valdosta Wildcats’ it worse. She wanted to play again. This roster. “I try to ignore a spot on the time, she wouldn’t people. I feel good the negative be playing at the Boys and Girls Club. knowing that I can that they can play show other girls Instead, she would football, too. Girls be playing for that boys can do,” can do anything she says.

After 40 Years at Lowndes High, Coach Johnson is About to Call It a Career Wilson came to Lowndes from Valdosta and almost immediately turned the Vikings into contenders. Before Wilson, Lowndes was always in the shadow of Valdosta. The annual showdown between Lowndes and Valdosta, now known as the Winnersville Classic, was anything but a classic in those days. It was usually a shellacking, and the hapless Vikings suffered mightily at the hands of Valdosta. Under Wilson, Lowndes beat Valdosta for the first time. Just a few years later, the Vikings won their first state title.

Over the years, Lowndes and the other teams in the region have continued to improve.

“I’ve never seen the level of coaching that we have here in this region before. The list goes on and on - Coach McPherson, Coach Herrin in Camden, Coach Pruitt in Coffee, all the others. The caliber of head coaches in this region is awesome. It’s like no other region in the state,” Johnson says.

Just as Johnson has seen the level of competition in the region change, he has also seen change in the 43

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