New Albany Gazette Fall Sports Preview 2018

2018

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

NEW ALBANY | EAST UNION | INGOMAR | MYRTLE | WEST UNION 1

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

2018 Fall Sports Preview

Front cover: Front row left - Joel Wilkinson, East Union, Josh Basil, East Union, Jaiden Deaton, New Albany, Zach Ball, New Albany, Tyler Bramlitt, Myrtle, JT Hudson, Myrtle. Back row left - Kye Roberts, East Union, Bobby Darren Stafford, East Union, Loden Bolen, New Albany, Alex Mirfield, New Albany, Hunter Matkins, Myrtle, Evan Gann, Myrtle.

Table of Content photo: Ally Smith, Myrtle, Jenny Thompson, West Union, Maggie Moore, New Albany, Lauren Thompson, Ingomar, Raelee Bell, East Union.

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

Table of Contents 8 New Albany Football 9 New Albany Cheer 11 New Albany Band 12 East Union Football 13 East Union Cheer 15 Union County Band 16 Myrtle Football 17 Myrtle Cheer 20 East Union Softball 21 Ingomar Softball 24 Myrtle Softball 25 West Union Softball 31 New Albany Cross Country 32 East Union Cross Country 33 Ingomar Cross Country 34 Myrtle Cross Country 35 West Union Cross Country 37 Ingomar Swim 39 New Albany Volleyball 40 Fall Schedules 41 Fall Schedules

Special Thanks Cody Stubblefield, Kevin Walton, Justin Hollis, Mary Beth Muncie, Ashley Garrett, Pam Bramlitt, David Hopple, Andy Hall, Lisa Browning Photography, Josh Blythe, Andy Wilbanks, Marty Cook, Lisa Bogue, Alison Laney, Nathan McLellen, Steven Adams, Chris Greer, J.C. Hayles, Jennifer Pannell, Reid Gann and all the athletes from New Albany and Union County High Schools that made this publication possible with their participation.

Articles written by Dennis Clayton, Sports Editor and Gene Phelps. Cover and table of contents photos by Dennis Clayton.

Layout/Composition by David Johnson.

Advertising sales by Dennis Clayton and Tracie Callicutt.

Ad design by Sonny Harrison.

New Albany Gazette

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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NEW ALBANY FOOTBALL

Bulldogs stress best as standard for 2018

T

he New Albany Bulldogs will focus on doing all the little things right and want each player to focus on doing their best in everything on and off the field. Firstyear coach Cody Stubblefield stresses that this will be a point of emphasis for the entire year for the Bulldogs.

“We are not necessarily going to be talking about wins and losses, but what we are going to talk about is doing all the little things right and the motto that we are going to use and push across to the team is ‘Best is the Standard’,” Stubblefield said. “Best is the standard is the way they do their locker, being on time, what they are doing in the classroom, how they act at home and everything that they are doing.

“In everything they do, if it’s less than the best, then it’s unacceptable for us. So we are going to push that and we are going to expect that. We feel like if we go out there and take care of the little things plus we give great effort, then the results are going to be in our favor.”

The Bulldogs return several players at key positions and the coaching staff will be working to find the right fit as they will rely on some very young underclassmen to fill starting spots affected by graduation.

“We feel like we’ve got some guys at some critical positions that we feel good about,” Stubblefield said. “Our quarterback (Loden Bolen) comes back after three years experience.

We’ve got a couple of receivers that are seniors that we feel really good about. Those guys at receiver also play on defense, so that adds strength there as well.

“We have a defensive end, Mirfield (Alex), who’s played quite a bit and has got experience there. As far as across the board, we feel that we are going to be young. There’s going to be a lot of sophomores that we are going to depend on and juniors sprinkled in, but our upperclassmen numberswise are limited, so that is why we are going to focus on those younger kids.

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

The older guys that we do have, we do feel good about those guys that are there.”

The Bulldogs will operate out of the spread offense and Stubblefield feels he has the right man for the job in senior quarterback Bolen.

“Loden has been the starting quarterback for three years and we’re excited to have him back, said Stubblefield. “We feel he can really the ball out in our spread offense and put the ball where it needs to be. Charlie Lott is a kid that has come in and has gotten reps at quarterback also, who’s done a good job and we are fortunate to have somebody else right there that competes for that position.”

Shamarqueces Smith will work in the backfield at the running back position and the coaching staff has confidence that he can become a very good high school running back.

Bryson Prather will also work at running back for the Bulldogs.

“Bryson is also going to transfer and be on the defensive side of the ball quite a bit and we expect him to be a game-changer probably at nose guard,” Stubblefield said. “He’s extremely quick at the ball and one of the strongest kids around. If you can set the point and disrupt the offense at that position of nose guard, you can create a lot of problems.”

Isaiah Cohran and Kaleb Adair will be the slot receivers for New Albany and should be impact players on the offensive side of the ball.

“We feel great about Adair and Cohran, they are a big reason why we are going to continue to be a spread offensive team,” said Stubblefield.

“We felt like we can move them around and create advantages for them using motion or shifts and they will be a huge part of the offense. We are really, really confident in those two.”

Coach Shane Ard will be back to handle the defensive coordinator position for New Albany and lead the defense.

“We feel like linebacker-wise that we’ve got some guys that we feel good

Head Coach Cody Stubblefield (first season at New Albany) Assistant Coaches:

Shane Ard, Tyrone Foote, Todd Lott, Kendall Murphy, Evan Pounds, Collin Stubblefield

Athletic Trainer:

Chase Wilkerson

about and the secondary will have some of our receivers at defensive back,” Stubblefield said. “The free safety will be Jeremiah Gardner, who is also a kid coming back. We don’t have a lot of upperclassmen, but we feel good about our kids.”

Noah Gray is the lone returning starter on the offensive line and Stubblefield said there is a possibility that the other four starters could be sophomores.

“That presents a challenge right away, but with that, we expect to gain a lot of experience down the road, said Stubblefield.

New Albany will again compete in Division 1-4A with Byhalia, Corinth, Ripley, Senatobia and Tishomingo County. The Bulldogs finished fourth and made the playoffs in 2017.

“We need to do the small things right, making sure we are not involved with penalties, making sure we take care of the football and then just playing fast,” Stubblefield said. “We want the game to be simple and fun, we don’t want the guys thinking out there, but playing as fast as they can be, doing the little things right.”

NEW ALBANY FOOTBALL Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 New Albany Bulldogs Football Team - Kalob Adair, QT Sanders, Jeremiah Gardner, Hunter Hodges, Bryson Prather, Jaiden Deaton, Micah Reed, Ramaryon Crawford, Arlando Gates, Charlie Lott, John Wright Welborn, Zach Ball, Loden Bolen, Isaiah Cohran, EJ Buchanon, Jackson Formsma, Shamarqueces Smith, Elijah Fleming, CJ Hill, Miles Lang, Cameron Knox, Damarko Smith, Amaudric Frazier, Adrian Garcia, Ethan Jackson, Alex Mirfield, Chance Roberts, Ben Jenkins, Tatterian Wilson, Caleb McDonald, Sean Mardis, Lewis Creekmore, Caleb Melson, Dayton Hall, Jaelon Roby, Daniel Bullock, Jeffrey Vanzant, Gavin Crumpton, Kris Haynes, Nathan Wilson, Dylan Stout, Noah Gray, Kylein Mullins, Adam Conlee, Francisco Guerrero, Jason Taylor, Robert Mason, Dustin McCraw, Tre Dean, Kerrion Bolden, Parker Formsma, Dalton McDaniel, Tyler Elias, Michael Roby, Milton Regalado, Jordan Vaughn, Nicholas Cathey.

New Albany Cheerleaders

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 New Albany Football Cheerleaders: Front left - Madeline Blackburn, Chyolanda Caroline, Molly Keener, Montana Bullwinkel, Charlsie Stacks. Second row left - Heaven Freeman, Riley Allred, Molly Beth White, Meredith Prescott, Hannah Harris, Chloe Cobb. Back row left - Jodi Parks, Chloe Amos, Gracie Stanford, Maggie Scott, Laura Ruth Welborn. Not pictured - Bailey Robertson.

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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NEW ALBANY SENIORS

Bulldogs Class of 2018

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 New Albany Seniors: Front row left - Dylan Stout, Dayton Hall, Riley Allred, Jeremiah Gardner, Hannah Harris, John Wright Welborn, Zach Ball. Back row left - Jaelon Roby, Molly Beth White, Alex Mirfield, Jaiden Deaton, Meredith Prescott, Loden Bolen.

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Pride of New Albany Seniors: Ahlaeya Judon, Brittney Robinson, Hailey Prince, Haley Bullock, Hannah Holt, Jayla Ligon, Jocelyn Urzua, Joshua Montgomery, Madison Foster, Nylan Blissett, Thobi Smith.

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

PRIDE OF NEW ALBANY

Pride of New Albany High School Band

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Pride of New Albany Band Members - Shomai Barry, Autumn Baukman, Nylan Blissett, Dayla Brennan, Haley Bullock, Emma Buskirk, Crystal Calvin, Chyolanda Caroline, Analise Cheairs, Spohie Chen, Lilly Faith Childs, Catherine Coleman, Rebecca Coltharp, Kailyn Cotten, Madison Cotten, Drew Darling, Lindsay Delashmit, Breana Elder, Colby Elder, Katie Evans, Laken Fooshee, Lige Foster, Madison Foster, Scarlet Gamez, Alyssa Garcia, Kyleigh Gibbs, Adam Graham, Eder Guevara, Roxana Guzman, Laura Grace Hardy, Hayes Hemby, Logan Henry, Hailey Hogue, Haley Holston, Hannah Holt, Micah House, Colin Hughes, Ben Jenkins, Claudia Jeter, Ashanti Jones, Amber Joyner, Pacey Kelly, Jake Leach, Jaclyn Ledbetter, Jayla Ligon, Juan Luna, Miranda Maldanado, Connor Mathis, Joshua Montgomery, Ruth Montgomery, Jake Moore, Lucy Morris, McKenzie Paker, Colin Paul, Joshua Paul, Ashley Payne, Hailey Prince, Elliot Pullman, Jaylee Ragsdale, Dillon Richey, Grant Richey, Hayes Richey, Francisco Rivera, Trevor Roaton, Chance Roberts, Bailey Robertson, Brittney Robinson, Kiana Rogers, Trey Roten, Christiana Rowan, Janiya Rutherford, Hailee Rutledge, Jasmine Sanders, Aaron Scales, Annea Scales, Alexis Shackleford, Thobi Smith, Layla Stewart, Isabella Strockbrine, Jason Taylor, Sophia Taylor, Amariz Teller, Anadelia Tirado, Kathryn Torres, Catherine Truemper, Randy Trullet, Jocelyn Urzua, Nayely Urzua, Gia Vainisi, Taylor Vaughn, Allison Villaneuva, Grace Wages, Matthew White, Elizabeth Whitten, Marlie Williams, Nathan Wilson, Mentora Woods, Eli Young, Emma Kate Young, Nicole Young. Anna Austin - Auxiliary Captain, Jonathan Pegues - Percussion Captain and Ahlaeya Judon - Drum Major.

2018 Halftime Show

The Witches Lair Show Tunes The Dark Mark Sarahʼs Theme Swann Lake Iʼll Put a Spell on You

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Pride of New Albany Drum Major - Ahlaeya Judon

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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EAST UNION FOOTBALL

Urchins hope new offense Finds success

T

here are a lot of new things happening this season in connection with East Union football.

The Urchins will have new uniforms, including a white helmet – they’ve worn brown ones in the past – with the familiar seahorse/urchin logo on one side and a player’s number on the other.

But that’s not the biggest news.

East Union will run a new offense – Houston’s split-back veer.

The Urchins will run the veer with a new quarterback, Ty Walton, the freshman son of head coach Kevin Walton.

“Ty is a running back playing quarterback,” Kevin Walton said.

“He’s got a lot of pressure on him, but he knows that. How well our offense runs depends on his reads. He’ll be ready.

“He’s put the work in this summer.

He’s worked as hard as anybody we have. He’s put on 20 to 25 pounds of muscle and gotten a little bit taller. The added muscle’s going to help him.”

There will also be a lot of young players on the field in the form of freshmen: center Josh Duley, guard Parker Rogers, wide receivers Hayden Roberts, Thad Bell and Collin Stevens, defensive lineman Bryce McLellan, linebackers Nick Lamontagne and Gage Fellows, who at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, will also be a key target at tight end.

“Our youth is a concern,” Walton said. “They’re getting thrown out there early. They’re going to have to learn. We’ve got young linemen and Ty being a freshman. We’ll have some growing pains. Hopefully by division we’ll have that all worked out.”

There will also be plenty of experienced players on the field. One of those is senior running back Joel Wilkinson. The 5-10, 175-pound back has rushed for 4,841 yards and scored 58 touchdowns since his freshman season.

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

In 2016, Wilkinson rushed for 2,443 yards and scored 31 touchdowns. Last season, with teams keying on him, he rushed for 1,431 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.

“Now, in the new offense, it won’t just be him getting it 90 percent of the time,” Walton said. “The other back could get it as much as him. It’s going to be more balanced. I don’t think people will be able to key on Joel.”

Wilkinson will also be the quarterback in the Wildcat package.

Sharing duties in the backfield will be junior Tay Vance, who has been clocked in 4.5 in the 40-yard dash.

Junior Zach Rhodes and sophomores Sam Murray, Bradley Hampton and Colton Plump add depth at running back.

Junior guard Eli Hodges, senior tackle Kye Roberts, junior tackle Colby Gray and Lamontagne are scheduled for duty on the offensive front with Duley and Rogers.

The tight ends are Fellows and senior Josh Basil. The top returning wide receiver is DeJuan Hubbard, who caught eight touchdown passes last season.

“Josh Basil is going to be a key player for us at tight and defensive end,” Walton said. “He’s a good blocker and we’ll be throwing to him in the flats a lot.”

On the 6-foot Hubbard, Walton said, “He’s got great hands and runs good routes.”

Walton hopes the running the veer will give his team an advantage.

“The good thing about it is we’ll be the only team running it,” he said.

“Opponents will have only have one week to prepare for it. How well we get at running it is going to be key for us. It’s just the little things will make the difference.”

On defense, Steven Basil is the new coordinator. Brandon Cherry will work with the defensive line, while Chris Lucius and Bregon Staples will assist in the secondary. Scott Duley is

Head Coach Kevin Walton (fourth season at East Union) Assistant Coaches:

Stephen Basil, Brandon Cherry, Scott Duley, Chris Lucius, Pregon Staples

Athletic Trainer:

Jeremy Dorrough

the offensive line coach. Cherry will coach the running backs and Lucius and Staples will coach the receivers.

Edgar Zapata, a 5-10, 185 sophomore will start at middle linebacker and be the backup quarterback. Conner Johnson, a junior, and Bobby Stafford, a senior, return on the defensive front. Joining Basil on the ends will be sophomore Brady Hall and junior Eli Pannell. A junior, Micah Ellis, has moved from line to weak side linebacker.

Roberts and Wilkinson will be the safeties. Fulgham and Rhodes will be the starting cornerbacks.

Wilkinson and Bell will share the kicking duties. Collin Stevens is the punter. Basil is the long snapper, where he’s been since his freshman season.

Walton is confident his team can improve on last year’s 5-7 finish.

“I feel like we’ll have a chance to compete in our division … better than we ever had,” he said. “I have high expectations. I told the boys I expect a lot out of them. We’ve set our goals high to take another step up the ladder we haven’t taken.”

EAST UNION FOOTBALL Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 East Union Football Team: Colton Plunk, DeJuan Hubbard, Eli Pannell, Chase Brown, Zach Rhodes, Ty Walton, Thad Bell, Josh Basil, Sam Murry, Mkcah Ellis, Hayden Roberts, Brandon Smith, Edgar Zapata, Micah Fulgham, Tay Vance, Ethan Brooks, Joel Wilkinson, Peyton Parker, Jesse Crump, Shelton Graves, Brady Hall, Paxton Jordan, Connor Bishop, Bobby Darren Stafford, Josh Duley, Kolby Gray, Nick Lamontagne, Jacob Robbins, Eli Hodges, Connor Johnson, Kye Roberts, Jackson Hill, Parker Rodgers, Bryce McLellen, Collin Stephens, Gage Fellows. Assistant coaches - Scott Duley, Stephen Basil, Chris Lucius, Brandon Cherry, Pregon Staples. Head Coach - Kevin Walton.

East Union Cheerleaders

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 East Union Cheerleaders: Front row left - Jesley Wages, Mary Herod, Tristen Dye, Jessie Roberts, Abbie Nieminen, Cierra Goad, Delani Akin, Savannah Greer. Back row left - Katie Gentry, Kirsten Hitt, Brooklyn Goad, Mary Kate Nobles, Isaiah Sheffield, Annalise Bailey, Anna Mims, Kylie Rackley, Whitney Grimes. Not pictured - Tyler Chadwick.

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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EAST UNION SENIORS

Urchins Class of 2018

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 East Union Seniors - Bobby Darren Stafford, Joel Wilkinson, Josh Basil, Kye Roberts.

Union County Band Class of 2018

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

Union County Band Seniors - Lexi Smith and Mikayla Rakestraw.

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

UNION COUNTY BAND

Union County Band

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Union County Band: Front - Mikayla Rakestraw. Second row left - Haley Grubbs, Olivia Porch, Katelyn Keith, Zoe Grant, Savannah Fryar, Molly Porter, Robin Elgin, Madison Grammer. Third row left - Logan Pickens, Christopher Shaffer, Mary-Colston Warren, Cade Crane, Jaxon McDowell, Halei Leahey, Savannah Griffin. Fourth row left - Tyler Loague, Aidan Garrett, Konner Little, Emily Richey, Max Smithey. Fifth row left - Katie Gullick, Valora Beaty, Lexi Smith, Emma Smith, Claire Jackson. Not Pictured - Delani Akin, Tyler Chadwick, Maddie Flake, Drew Kelly, Bradley McBrayer, Kai Stewart.

2018 Halftime Show

Star Wars: the Force Awakens Show Tunes Main Theme/ReyĘźs Theme March of the Resistance The Jedi Steps/Finale

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

Drum Major Mikayla Rakestraw

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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MYRTLE FOOTBALL

Hawks kick off first varsity season in 2018

R

eady or not, Myrtle kicks off its third football season with an eight-game varsity schedule … a year ahead of time.

Head coach Justin Hollis had hoped to give his young program another year of junior varsity play before joining the MHSAA ranks as a Class 1A participant. However, when he had trouble scheduling JV competition, he quick kicked.

“I thought if we could find enough varsity games that could help us, we’d just do that,” he said. “This year was supposed to be another JV year. When I was at Vardaman, we played with ninth and tenth graders and wound up playing for North state one year.

In 1A you’re going to have a lot of young guys you’re going to have to play anyway.”

Myrtle will play 2A East Union in a jamboree, eight varsity regular-season games, and one JV game against Class 5A Saltillo.

Offensively, the Hawks have sophomore running back A.I Nugent returning. In the team’s lone game against varsity competition last season – Middleton, Tenn. – Nugent rushed for 156 yards on 31 carries and scored a TD while playing with a hamstring injury.

Nugent will have some help in the backfield from sophomores Elijah Thompson, Ethan Hunt and Andrew Phillips.

“We feel like we’ve got four running backs, so people can’t focus in on one person,” Hollis said. “Last year everybody focused on A.I., who was our best player at that time.”

The quarterback position will be shared early between Thompson and two-year junior high and JV starter Jaden Taylor, a freshman.

Hollis plans to add a few more wrinkles to his offense this season.

“We were so, so vanilla the first two years, more than I wanted to be,”

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

he said. “But, we tried to get good at the small stuff. We feel like we’re getting more advanced on that, so that we can expand, move people around to get the ball in their hands.

“We’re a spread, power team. I want to establish the line of scrimmage and establish us being physical. Also we want to get into the read game side of it. Maybe start on some RPOs (runpass options) to keep the defenses honest.”

The blockers on the offensive line are young, but talented. Hollis is counting on junior Trace Thompson and sophomore Connor Coleman to lead the way. Seniors Hunter Matkins and Evan Gann, and freshman J.T. Jones, are expected to start.

Seniors Tyler Bramlitt, J.T. Hudson, Alosius Smith will be the wide receivers, along with the versatile Thompson, and sophomore Carl Graham. Sophomore Luke Gaines will be the tight end.

Hollis is expecting more intensity and fight from his defense.

“We started a little slow and were tentative at times last year,” he said.

“By the end of the year, probably the last two and half games, we figured out how to play the game physically, laying the lumber, playing lights out.

You can’t play tentative. You can’t play thinking too much.”

Again, Coleman and Connor will be counted on up front. The linebackers are Nugent, Hudson, Jones and Gann.

A sophomore, Tyler Harris, is expected to play on the line if he recovers from an offseason injury.

“Coleman works so hard and he’s developed a mean streak,” Hollis said.

“He truly leads by example. (Trace) Thompson’s motor never stops. He has sold out to the weight room. He’s physical and plays hard.”

Again, (Eligah) Thompson will likely start in the secondary along with Hudson, Smith, Graham and

Head Coach Justin Hollis (first season at Myrtle) Assistant Coaches:

Shayne Adams, Rob Browning, Gaylon Jones, Jeremy Smithey

Athletic Trainer:

Sandricka Bowen

Bramlitt.

Thompson is also being counted on to handle the kicking and punting duties. Gaines will be the long snapper.

Graham and Smith should see return duty.

“We’ve got to stay healthy,” Hollis said. “We’ve got 29 players, which is an average size for a 1A team. We’re going to have to play with more of an edge than we’ve ever played with.

The first few games we’ve got are really challenging up front. It’s going to test us. We’ve got to maintain our concentration and be physical.”

As for goals, Hollis wants his players to understand what it takes to become an all-around player, an allaround athlete.

“I want to see them grow up and see how important the weight room is,” he said. “If they get through the season and learn and see that what we’re preaching to them – not just lip service – is what they need to do in all of their sports … then I think we will have accomplished a lot.”

MYRTLE FOOTBALL Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Myrtle Hawk Football Team - J.T. Hudson, Gabe Medlin, Carl Graham, Tristan Enis, A.I. Nugent, Charles Hefner, Ethen Hunt, Jeffrey Vanzant, Elijah Thompson, Caden Hutcheson, Jackson Mayer, Jack Holcomb, Jaden Taylor, Luke Gaines, Tyler Bramlitt, Andrew Phillips, Colt Hall, Tyler Harris, Austin Ketchum, Dalton Galloway, JT Jones, Even Gann, Greg Woods, Hunter Matkins, Trace Thompson, Kai Davis, Dylan Byers, Connor Coleman.

Myrtle Cheerleaders

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Myrtle Hawk Football Cheerleaders: Front row left - Mollie Moody, Cole Hogue, Lily Jeter, Allie Brooke Rodgers, Haleigh Jamison, Sierra Robbins. Back row left - Haley thomas, Rebekah Medlin, Maggie Moody, Alana Holguin, Cailyn Rape, Isabella Robinson, Kinzie Claire Waits, Memory Hutcheson. Not pictured - Sarah Kate Thompson.

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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MYRTLE SENIORS

Myrtle Class of 2018

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Myrtle Seniors: Front row left - Memory Hutcheson, Haleigh Jamison, Allie Brooke Rodgers. Back row left - Tyler Bramlitt, Austin Ketchum, Evan Gann, Hunter Matkins, JT Hudson.

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

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EAST UNION SOFTBALL

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 East Union Slowpitch Softball Team: Front row left - Sylvie McVey, Olivia Elder, Dakota Hines, Bella Roberts, Addison Clayton, Katie Sherwood, Raven Watson, Mia Hutcheson, Jessie Roberts. Back row left - Callie Smith, Emma Boatner, Jorja Roberson, Maggie McVey, Hope Robbins, Hannah White, Baylee Pannell, Bryanne Dill, Kylie Rackley, Kaitie Boatner. Not pictured - Emily Coggin, Raelee Bell, Harleigh Wheelington, Carrie Wilkinson, Maria Cabellero.

Lady Urchins return heavy hitters in 2018

H

itting home runs – in bunches – has become the trend in Mississippi slow-pitch softball.

East Union’s Lady Urchins have hit their share in recent years, especially sophomore Emily Coggin and senior Raelee Bell. The two sluggers combined for 40-plus homers last season. Coggin has hit 47 bombs the last two seasons combined.

“You play on a fast-pitch field with a 210-foot fence and Emily Coggin and Raelee Bell are going hit home runs,” coach Josh Blythe said. “It’s a hitter’s game. If you can’t hit, especially on these fields we play on, it’s going to be a long night.”

Bell batted .720 last season and was named the division’s MVP in 2017.

East Union finished 19-12 last

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

season and third last season in a strong division, which includes Smithville, Pine Grove and Wheeler.

Blythe hopes his experienced lineup – they only lost two starters – can take his ball club far in the MHSAA postseason.

Coggin plays first base and Bell can play second or in the outfield.

Kaitie Boatner, a junior, is scheduled to play shortstop while junior Bryanne Dill and freshman Harleigh Wheelington will play third.

“Defensively, I think we’re going to be pretty solid,” Blythe said. “I’ve got Bell scheduled to play second. She may have to go back to the outfield, because she’s so good there in slowpitch. Boatner is solid defensively.

She can flat go get it.”

The pitcher, junior Jessie Roberts,

returns. The catcher is expected to be junior Baylee Pannell.

The five outfield candidates are juniors Sylvie McVey and Hannah White, sophomore Maggie McVey and freshmen Jorga Robertson and Carrie Wilkinson.

“Pannell can really smash it,” Blythe said. “The wildcard is the McVey girls. Maggie was a dynamite fast-pitch player for us. Sylvie can really hit it a ton in slow-pitch. She’s got big-time power.”

Blythe likes his team’s chances to do well in this final season of Union County slow-pitch play.

“We’ll be as athletic defensively as we’ve been in quite a few years,” he said. “You’ve got to catch the ball, make routine plays, and scored some runs. I think we can do that.”

INGOMAR SOFTBALL Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Ingomar Slowpitch Softball Team: Front row left - Lindsay Dillard, Kaily Edwards, Katherine Smith, Cadence Robbins, Addison Pickens, Lydia Haynie. Back row left - Alex Wilhite, Carson Grisham, Lauren Thompson, Gara Beth Self, Ashley Forester, T’nya Jones, Camleigh Ball. Not pictured - Katie Beth Hall.

Lady Falcons will mix experience, youth in 2018

I

ngomar returns five starters from the 2017 season, but will need to fill five other spots in the lineup due to graduation. Coach Andy Wilbanks may also shuffle the normal positions for some of the returners in order to put the best players in the most important positions.

“We’ve got a good group of starters coming back, we lost half, but returning half, so there’s going to be four or five spots that we’ve got to fill with players that have not previously played varsity,” Wilbanks said. “That’s going to be the kicker, if we can get those positions filled and get production out of those. I think we’ve got a chance to be okay, be pretty good.”

Wilbanks knows what to expect of of his experienced players, but knows

there will be some question marks regarding the first-time starters that will see action.

Gara Beth Self, Lauren Thompson, Carson Grisham, Ashley Forester, Alex Wilhite and Kaily Edwards are returners from 2017 that the Lady Falcons will rely on to provide the foundation of the team.

“We are probably going to have to do a little different positioning this year,” said Wilbanks. “Our plan is to move Thompson to short and put Gara Beth out in left field where she’s got an opportunity to do a little more defensively. We are going to try that and hopefully it will work and if it doesn’t, we will regroup.”

Katie Beth Hall, a freshman, saw some playing time late in the season in 2017 and will be counted on to

contribute this year.

“We’e hoping that we can put her in that pitching spot and she’s done a good job so far,” Wilbanks said. “She’s an athlete and she’s a competitor, so she can the handle pressure and we are looking to get something our of her as a youngster.”

Ingomar will be in the same tough 1A/2A Division as last year and Wilbanks said scoring runs is the key to winning.

“It will be competitive, you know, the thing about slowpitch is that you’ve got to score a bunch of runs and make routine plays,” said Wilbanks. “If you can do that, you win 99 percent of the time. We’ll definitely have to show up and compete every time we suit up.”

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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MYRTLE SOFTBALL

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Myrtle Slowpitch Softball Team: Front left - McKenzie Jones, Kierstyn Shoops, Mallory McDonald, Ava Jones, Madisyn Hall, Lily Jeter, Aubrey Henderson, Mollie Moody. Middle row left - Ally Smith, Keragen McCullough, Sarah Kate Thompson, Jessica Pickens, Haleigh Jamison, Emma Speck, Caylie Streich, Mia Stewart, Olivia Decanter. Back row left - Coach Marty Cook, Lexi Hutcheson, Amanda Watkins, Cailyn Rape, Kenzie Waits, Breanna Smith.

Myrtle rebuilds and reloads for final season

M

arty Cook expects big things from his young Myrtle Lady Hawks in the program’s final season of slow-pitch softball.

His team lost six starters from last year’s roster, including the entire infield.

“It’s going to be a rebuilding year … in our final year,” Cook said, then smiled. “Your main goal is to make the playoffs. You never know what’s going to happen, especially in slowpitch. In fast-pitch it’s pitcher and catcher and you can shut somebody down.

“In slow-pitch it’s whoever catches fire. We’re hoping to put our pieces in place and be ready roll by the playoffs and make a good run.”

Cook believes the pitcher is key even in slow-pitch. That’s why he’s excited about the return in the circle of

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

Haleigh Jamison, a two-year starter.

“She has learned to put an arch in her pitches to prevent so many home runs,” he said.

And home runs are a huge part of slow-pitch since most schools moved their fences closer for fastpitch softball. Last season, Myrtle hit 48 homers. Of course, Cook says 90 percent of those home runs have graduated.

“I don’t know how much power we’ll have,” he said. “We had some kids hit home runs last year in JV. It’s become a home run game. I go back to a game we played against Ingomar last year and scored 29 runs and we got beat. We got beat on a walk-off three-run homer.

“That’s what it has become. That’s how it is today, you’ve got to be able to hit the long ball.”

Along with Jamison, Myrtle has three sophomore starters returning: shortstop Sara Kate Thompson, outfielder Breanna Smith and outfielder Keragan McCullough.

Sophomore outfielder Amanda Watkins returns after showing some power last season. Other players expected to start are: sophomore outfielder Jessica Pickens, sophomore outfielder Cailyn Rape, senior third baseman Ally Smith and freshman first baseman Kinzie Waits.

The catcher will be “whoever’s hitting the ball well in practice,” Cook said, then laughed.

This season is Cook’s sixth at the slow-pitch helm. The fast-pitch season will be his 14th with the Lady Hawks, who last season played in the MHSAA Class 1A state championship series at Mississippi State.

WEST UNION SOFTBALL Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 West Union Slowpitch Softball: Front left - Coach Lisa Bogue, Maggie Dix, Chloe Wright, Katie Wallace, Alana Martin, Jenny Thompson, Josie Baird, Crissa Goodwin, Claire Douell, Coach Bailey Bogue. Not pictured - Laina Corder, Kylie Ann Jumper, Sophie Hooker, Mackenzie Morris, Anna Grace Jackson, Molly Jackson.

West Union winds down slowpitch with youth

W

est Union will put the finishing touches on their slowpitch softball with a team loaded with youth as many older players from last year have opted to not play one final year. Only two seniors return for Coach Lisa Bogue, Jenny Thompson and Katie Wallace.

“I honestly just hope to have enough to show up and play, so I don’t know who will contribute what from the underclassmen,” Bogue said. “We just look forward to getting out and playing the game one last season and maybe somebody will shine for us.”

Chloe Wright and Anna Grace Jackson are a pair of juniors that will return for the Lady Eagles and will look to help Thompson and Wallace lead the team to success.

“We will see if they can lead us to some success as far as fundamentals,

team chemistry and that sort of thing,” said Bogue.

Wallace is the returning pitcher and Bogue says that she is the only member of the team that is experienced in the art of slowpitch pitching.

“Our incoming seventh grade girls have never played slowpitch, but having played fastpitch this summer, the strengths that they bring are speed,” Bogue said. “We are looking forward to having some added speed to team and maybe we can use that to our benefit.”

West Union will compete in the combined 1A/2A Division again this year and Bogue describes it as “tough”.

“Just like last year, we have Ingomar who is a powerhouse, Myrtle had a great run in fastpitch and they are riding that,” said Bogue. “We

also have Walnut, Falkner and Blue Mountain in our division.”

Bogue has had several successful seasons in slowpitch and fastpitch softball and has strong emotions about the final year of the sport in Union County.

“It is a sad day, it really is,” Bogue said. “I know people think that you can’t get a scholarship, but if you look at all the girls that I have had that signed over the years, which was about 10, they played both slowpitch and fastpitch.

“It didn’t hurt them and in fact I believe it made them better and if you asked every one of them, I think that they would tell you the same thing.

It doesn’t cost the school anything, you foot your own bills. It’s kinda sad to see it go, it was a tradition that is going away.”

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

NEW ALBANY CROSS COUNTRY Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 New Albany Cross Country Team: Front row left - Julie Ann Hogue, Emma Laney, Abby Laney, Laura Grace Hardy.

Back row left - Jesse Nicholson, Dawson Boyd, R.J. Rutherford, Jacob Hogue, Collin Paul, Jake Moore, Trey Roten. Not pictured - Maria Favela, Ana Rose Hamblin, Carlos Romero, Luke Hamblin.

Laney hopes to build Bulldogs’ running program

N

ew Albany first-year cross country coach Alison Laney is excited about the potential growth of the program.

“We’ve got a lot of runners this year,” she said. “We’ve got 31 signed up, boys and girls. We’re excited about all these young runners.”

Laney knows having numbers is crucial to building a competitive program.

“I’d really like to grow our numbers and get a lot of the younger kids excited about it,” she said. “We want them to be excited about running and grow a passion for it.”

Last season, New Albany’s girls finished 15th at state. Senior runner Maria Favela is expected to return.

She finished 16th overall last season at the state meet, running a 7:22 on the 5K course at Choctaw Trails in

Clinton.

“I’m excited about Maria returning,” Laney said. “She finished pretty well last year at state.”

Abby Laney, an eighth grader, ran an 8:46 last year at the state meet. Her sister, sophomore Emma, ran a 9:23 in the championships.

Both runners make their mom – who’s their coach – proud.

“Abby has been practicing hard this summer,” Laney said. “She had to run (as a seventh grader) last year because we only had five runners.

She’s improved a lot. She’s learning strategy.

“Emma’s not as fast, much to her younger sister’s delight,” Laney said, then laughed. “She’s motivated this summer. She has come a long way.

She will be improved.”

The boys team finished 18th last

year at state. Laney hopes to see senior Carlos Romero return after he led the team with a 6:13 clocking last season in the state meet. Others in the lineup are sophomore Montgomery Owen (6:59 state), eighth grader Dawson Boyd (7:04), senior Luke Hamblin (8:09) and senior R.J. Rutherford (8:44).

“Carlos (Romero) has signed up to run,” Laney said. “He plays soccer and runs cross country, but he can do it. He has a lot of potential in cross country. I’m excited to see what he can do.”

Laney likes the idea of having two seniors – Hamblin and Rutherford – with potential.

“Luke’s been around,” she said.

“He’s steady and always gives it his all. Last year was the first year for R.J. to run. I’m excited about him.”

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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EAST UNION CROSS COUNTRY

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 East Union Cross Country Team: Front row left - Sara Sumrall, Briley Lesley, Aryanna Hattix, Brianna Courtney, Lizzie Cisowski, Hope Robbins, Annalise Bailey, Karley Conwill, Rachel Gentry, Mary Kate Nobles, Sallie Humphreys, Alyana Smith. Back row left - Jeremy Rakestraw, Justin Comans, Andrew Pilcher, Brandon Goolsby, Will Duley, Carter Phillips, Peyton Wages, Keith Goolsby, Braden Pierce, John Briggs, Chance McLellen.

Urchins in the mix for another championship

E

ast Union girls won the 2017 2A State Cross Country Championship by a narrow margin, but they return several key runners and will be in the thick of the running in 2018. The boys will be minus 2A Boys State Champion Clayton Fulgham, but Coach Nathan McLellen hopes to have a stronger team overall.

“Rachel Gentry, Mary Kate Nobles and Karley Conwill are leaders for the girls and Will Duley, John Briggs and Carter Phillips are the older kids for the boys that we’ve got,” McLellen said.

East Union girls also lost their top runner Sarah Duley to graduation, but the Lady Urchins are reloading with four seventh graders that McLellen hopes will blend in with

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

his experienced runners. Conwill will be counted on to assume the top spot vacated by Duley.

“Karley is a hard worker and she has a lot of God-given talent, so we look for her to be at the front of the pack of every race we are in,” McLellen said.

McLellen will look to his trio of upperclassmen to lead his boys team to the finish line this season.

“I believe Will was seventh overall last year at state and it’s his senior year, so we are looking for him to have a big year for the guys,” said McLellen. “John Briggs has been one of our hardest workers and he should do well. The Goolsby twins (Brandon and Keith) have got the potential to be the future of the program, so we hope they can help out a little bit this

year.”

East Union has had a good turnout numbers-wise again this year which gives McLellen plenty of options to run with.

“They just all work hard, all the success we’ve had in the past comes down to that and we just try to outwork everyone and this group is no different,” said McLellen.

The Urchins have revamped their schedule for 2018 and a few of the meets they plan to compete at include the North MS Challenge, Florence, AL, with the Union County and regional meets to be held at East Union.

“If we will work hard, we will have a chance and you’ve always got to be lucky,” McLellen said of the keys to success for his Urchins.

INGOMAR CROSS COUNTRY Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Ingomar Cross Country: Front row left - Madison McCurdy, Savannah Goins, Paige Aldridge, Jalazja McDonald.

Back row left - Coach Steven Adams, Wade Baker, Luke Roberts, Tylandist McDonald, Thomas Floyd, Amber Rakestraw, Matthew Raines, Dalton Seely.

Adams returns to lead Falcon cross country

I

ngomar first-year coach Stephen Adams actually begins his second season leading the Falcons and Lady Falcons on the cross country courses of Northeast Mississippi.

Adams coached Ingomar cross country in 2016 and didn’t last season.

“I love coaching cross country and I will be passionate about it,” he said.

“We’ll be as successful as we can be, if the kids buy in.”

Adams didn’t take the position until late last month, but he hopes to get both teams prepared before the Aug. 25 season-opening meet at Myrtle.

One of his former Ingomar cross country runners, Sydney Roberts, competes for Delta State and provided Adams with a copy of the Statesmen’s training program, which includes speed workouts.

“We’re going to be behind when it comes to getting acclimated to the heat,” Adams said. “We’re trying to catch up. I came in late, so we didn’t have a summer program established.”

Two runners of the top runners from the boys team return – juniors Thomas Floyd and Luke Roberts.

“Both of those guys have worked hard all summer,” the coach said.

Floyd finished second overall in Class 2A last year at the state meet, where he ran a 5:47 5K on Mississippi College’s Choctaw Trails course.

Roberts finished 12th overall at state last season with a 6:15 clocking.

“I’m hopeful that Thomas Floyd can win the state meet this year,” Adams said. “He should if he remains healthy. Luke Roberts has steadily improved.”

Three other runners who competed

for the Falcons last season at state are senior Wade Baker, junior Tylandist McDonald and eighth grader Dalton Seely. The trio all finished under eight minutes last year at the state meet.

On the girls side, the team’s top finisher from last season, sophomore Trinity Ennis, does not return. The team’s No. 2 finisher at state, Abbie Williams, has graduated.

That leaves the Lady Falcons with a group of young athletes, including freshman Lexie Campbell, eighth grader Madison McCurdy and eighth grader Jalazja McDonald. McCurdy had the best time (8:39) last year at state.

“I’ve got to do some recruiting,” Adams said. “I have a passion for the kids. Our goal is to consistently perform as a team, work with all of our heart and improve each meet.”

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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MYRTLE CROSS COUNTRY

Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Myrtle Cross Country Team: Front left - Hunter Paige, Joe Kizer, Drew Covington, Jonah Merritt. Second row left Paige Hall, Kylee Hudson, Emma Speck, Dream Carnell, Ava Jones, Maggie Moody, Trinity Enis, Harley Madonna, Taylor Rumsey, Shelby Rumsey, Breanna Lewis, Sydney Turner. Back row left - Ethan Neal, Payton Ligon, Daylon Jones, Will Greer, McKinney Lindsay, Gage Enis, Hunter Baggett, Hunter Brown, Blake McNeal, Dylan Gaines. Not pictured - Avery Lollar, MaryLee Lollar, Victoria Mejia, Rebekah Medlin, Lexie Senn.

Myrtle running for another title in 2018

C

oach Chris Greer and his Myrtle Lady Hawks won the 1A Girls State Cross Country title in 2017 and Greer also has the luxury of the 1A Girls State Champion, Maggie Moody, coming back for 2018. Moody will only be a freshman and will be counted on to contend for the top spot on the podium again this year.

Moody won the 1A girls title with a time of 21:23.30 which was 45 seconds better than the second place finisher.

Avery Lollar was fifth with her time of 22:32.50 and will be a sophomore while sister Mary Lee Lollar came in 16th with a time of 23:58.20. The Lady Hawks had five runners finish in the top 21 which enabled them to win by 29 points over second place TCPS.

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

“I think we will have a solid five in girls and I’m looking forward to it,” Greer said. “In boys, we will have one of the better teams that we’ve had, but TCPS is awfully strong.

Along with Moody and the Lollar sisters, Greer will have Trinity Enis, Taylor Rumsey set to run for the girls.

Newcomers that are expected to make an impact include Dream Carnell, Victoria Mejia and Paige Hall.

“It looks like Hunter Baggett is really going to come on, Will Greer is improving and Payton Ligon has made big-time improvements,” Greer said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing them run. Gage Enis has also moved in this year.”

Greer said the keys to improvement for the boys and girls teams will be

to get more miles in and to always compete hard.

“We need to work hard every day, eat right, live right and you’ll get better,” Greer said.

Myrtle will again compete in several highly competitive cross country meets which should have the teams primed for the state championships in November.

“I think Saltillo is always a good meet, so is Pontotoc,” Greer said.

“Our meet is a good first meet.”

Greer always uses his opening meets to get a read on his runners and mostly looks for the drive and determination of each individual.

“I just look at how they compete, because they are all out of shape,” said Greer.

WEST UNION CROSS COUNTRY Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 West Union Cross Country: Front row left - Anna Carwyle, Vicki Jennings, Ella Kate Tay-lor, Emma Callicutt, Emma Carwyle. Middle row left - Matthew Moorman, Max Smithey, Bray-den Childers, Koby Hallam, Joseph Treadaway, J.Q. Brewer, Mikel Jennings, Steven Hankins. Back row left - Bruce Taylor, David Clayton, Rees Gullick, Christopher Smalley, Evan Cooper, Jonathan Wismer, Matthew Butler, Miguel Ramirez.

Eagles hope to build program on hard work

J

.C. Hayles, who was hired during the spring to coach West Union’s girls basketball team, will be making his debut this fall as the school’s cross country coach.

Coaching cross country is a first for Hayles, but he’s prepared to fire the starter’s pistol.

“I’m excited about this opportunity; it’s going to be fun,” he said. “It’s a new challenge. West Union kids are know for grit and hard work. I think we can be pretty good at this.”

Hayles has sought help from area cross country coaches, including Myrtle’s Chris Greer. He also has had some input from coach Chris Patton at Oxford High, where Hayles was an

assistant girls basketball coach last season.

Hayles wasn’t familiar with athletes when interviewed by the Gazette early in the preseason, but he plans to know them well when the regular season steps off.

“I haven’t met any of them, but I’ve heard they’re hard-working,” he said.

Hayles was making plans to get his girls basketball team to practice with cross country.

“It’s good conditioning for basketball,” he said. “I lot of my basketball players play slow-pitch softball, too. I’m not going to try to kill them. I think several of the basketball players could be good enough to run

in meets.”

Two of his basketball players – Annie Orman and Allie Green – have participated before in cross country.

The girls returning who participated in last year’s MHSAA Class 1A state meet are all freshmen: Anna Carwyle, Emma Carwyle, Robin Elgin and Taylor Rumsey.

The returning freshmen are Zack Howell, Max Smithey and Miguel Ramirez. Howell led the Eagles last season with a 6:41 clocking at the state meet.

Byrce Taylor, a senior, and David Clayton, a junior, return after competing last season at state.

2018 Fall Sports Preview

35

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

INGOMAR SWIM Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 Ingomar Swim: Front row left - Elijah Tutor, Landon Thrasher, Whit Everett, Aiden Holcomb, John Frank Robbins, Bryson Voyles, Avery Tutor. Second row left - Hannah McElroy, Madelyn McMillen, Mary Hannah Whitehead. Back row left - Coach Jennifer Pannell, Savannah Shook, Anna Beth Gandy, Tessa Hartfield, Anna Lauren Glasson, Natalie Holcomb, Assistant Coach Sherra McElroy. Not pictured - Tori Chandler, Taylor Stout, Gracie Sullivan.

Ingomar swim hopes to make positive splash

I

ngomar Swim Team nearly doubled in 2017, but Coach Jennifer Pannell and the Falcons find themselves in the midst of a rebuilding year as nine seniors graduated.

The Falcons will be led by experienced swimmers Anna Beth Gandy and Tori Chandler in the pool this season.

“The two returning swimmers are Anna Beth Gandy (11th grade) and Tori Chandler (10th grade),” Pannell said. “We expect them to be leaders, mentors and encouragers for the younger swimmers joining the team.

“Anna Beth has excelled in the backstroke and freestyle strokes. Tori has made great strides in improving her time in the butterfly stroke which is considered one of the most physically demanding strokes to master.”

Although the Falcons will be much younger this season, they will feature newcomers that Pannell expects to make an impact since many have swimming experience with other swimming organizations.

“Our new team members will be experiencing their first school competitive swimming events this year, but we expect them to all make a positive impact,” said Pannell. “We anticipate those swimmers improving quickly throughout the season.”

One of the team strengths that Pannell sees is the fact that Gandy and Chandler have many years of experience swimming in competition plus the wealth of experience within the coaching staff.

“We expect them (Gandy and Chandler) to be strong leaders and

role models for our new swimmers,” Pannell said.

Having lost so many seniors to graduation, Pannell knows 2018 will be a year to rebuild, but firmly believes that they can discover and develop the strengths of the new swimmers as the swim season progresses.

Ingomar’s schedule will feature three swim meets in Tupelo as well as one in Oxford and another in Starkville.

“We need to work together, give 100 percent at every practice, build each other up and be encouraging to each other to create a positive swim experience,” Pannell said on the keys to a successful year.

“We are a small team making strides, one stroke at a time.”

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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NEW ALBANY VOLLEYBALL Dennis Clayton/Gazette Staff

2018 New Albany Bulldogs Volleyball Team: Front row left - Ajala Lee, Choylanda Caroline, Molly Keener, Montana Bullwinkel, Hannah Hughes, Maggie Moore, Masey Kate Adams, Breshunda Starks, Endya Worship, Emma Grace Graham.

Back row left - Whitney Carroll, Madison McDonald, Bella Fernando, Janae Shackleford, Vakeria Jett, Greta Blakemore, Rosalee Roberts, Alexis Mirfield, Brooke Dowell, Maleah Parker, Head Coach Reid Gann. Not pictured Assistant Coach Austin Epting.

New Albany looks for quality leadership

T

he New Albany Bulldog volleyball team graduated five quality players and leaders, but Coach Reid Gann has three players returning that played a key role in the 2017 season that resulted in the first ever division title and the first trip to the playoffs. New Albany went 8-0 in division and finished the season 282, losing to Lewisburg in the second round of the playoffs.

“We lost five good ones, a lot of quality leadership, so this summer it’s been important to find girls to step up and take leadership roles,” Gann said. “The nucleus coming back is Greta Blakemore, Maleah Parker and Maggie Moore. That’s who we really need to play well.”

Blakemore’s stats from 2017 showed a lot of balance with 236 assists, 69 service aces, 181 service points, 119 kills and 50 blocks. Parker

had 59 service aces, 147 serving points, 34 kills and 37 blocks.

Moore is the leader of the Bulldogs from her libero position where she had a team-high 173 digs, 65 service aces and 180 serving points.

“You’ve got some other upperclassmen who are going to contribute, Rosalee Roberts is going to hit left, Janae Shackleford is going to hit middle and Bella Fernando is going to step in at setter,” Gann said.

“In some ways we are young, in some ways we are not, but there are girls who have not had a lot of varsity experience that are just kinda getting their feet wet.”

Gann said he plans to run a 6-2 offense which features two setters Blakemore and Fernando. Their play will be key for the Bulldogs offensively.

“Bella didn’t see a whole lot of

varsity last year and she is starting for us this year,” Gann said. “She is working very hard and has all the physical tools to handle that position well.”

Vakeria Jett and Shackleford will move into the middle blocker position for New Albany.

“Janae plays a lot bigger than she is and can really jump,” Gann said.

“Vakeria and Janae are there because they can block. On our team, blocking comes first and they have the ability to do that. They are both athletic and I expect them to fulfill that role well.”

Gann thinks that the Bulldogs can be a very good serving team again this year which is crucial to success.

“Every good volleyball team has one thing in common, they serve well and you win by passing and serving,” said Gann.

2018 Fall Sports Preview

39

FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

New Albany football

East Union Football

Myrtle Football

August 17 Baldwyn 24 Itawamba AHS 31 @ Pontotoc

August 17 @ Falkner 24 Ashland 31 South Pontotoc

August 16 TCPS 24 HW Byers 31 @ Potts Camp

September 07 @ Amory 14 Kossuth 21 @ East Union 28 @ Senatobia

September 07 @ Mooreville 14 @ Alcorn Central 21 New Albany 28 @ Bruce

September 07 Rossville 14 @ Hickory Flat 21 @ Thrasher 28 Hickory Flat

October 05 @ Byhalia 12 Tishomingo County 19 @ Corinth 26 Ripley

October 05 Walnut 12 Open 19 @ Baldwyn 26 Strayhorn

October 05 Middleton

NEW ALBANY ANIMAL CLINIC Improving Your Health One Adjustment nt at a Time.

2 Locations Available Walk-Ins Welcome!

Dr. Greg Medlin Chiropractor medlinchiro.com

New Albany Location 132 B W Bankhead St., New Albany, MS Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday: 8 A.M. - 6 P.M. (Closed 12 P.M. - 2 P.M. for Lunch) Friday: 8 A.M. - 5 P.M. (Closed 12 P.M. - 2 P.M. for Lunch) Insurances Accepted: Blue Cross, Medicare, Humana, Aetna & United Healthcare

Ripley Location Tippah County Hospital • 1005 City Ave. N, Ripley, MS 38663 Wednesday: 8 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. (Closed 12 P.M. - 1 P.M. for Lunch) Insurances Accepted: Blue Cross & Medicare

WANT AFFORDABLE CHIROPRACTIC CARE WITHOUT INSURANCE? JOIN THE CHIROHEALTH USA DISCOUNT PROGRAM TODAY

INITIAL VISIT: $81 + $49 Family Membership Fee Includes: Patient Exam & Adjustment / Treatment Follow-Up Visits: $35 each In addition, members receive one 1/2 price treatment per month.

medlinchiro.com • 662-534-6636

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

918 HWY 30 W. NEW ALBANY, MS 38652

662-534-5176

R.D. CHILDERS, D.V.M. D.M. HUNT, D.V.M. M.A. THOMPSON, D.V.M. D.A.C.T.

HOURS: 8:00 TO 5:30 MONDAY - FRIDAY

Ingomar softball

Myrtle softball

August 04 Jamboree@Mooreville 11 East Union Classic 14 @Tupelo 16 New Site 17/18 Union County Slowpitch Tourney 20 Ingomar 21 @Pine Grove 23 @Mooreville 28 Wheeler 30 @Thrasher

August 11 @West Union Tourney 13 @Pine Grove 17/18 Union County Slowpitch Tourney 21 @West Union 27 @Walnut 30 Blue Mountain

August 11 @ West Union Tourney 14 Corinth 16 Pine Grove 17/18 Union County Slowpitch Tourney 20 @Nettleton 23 @North Pontotoc 27 Falkner 30 @West Union

September 04 Jumpertown 06 @Smithville 10 Nettleton 11 @New Site 13 Pine Grove 15 Robertson Tournament 17 Mooreville 18 @Ingomar 20 @Wheeler 25 Thrasher 27 @Jumpertown

September 04 @Blue Mountain 06 @Myrtle 11 West Union 13 Myrtle 15 Robertson Tournament 17 @Nettleton 18 Walnut 18 East Union 24 @Falkner 27 Falkner October 01 @North Pontotoc 02 North Pontotoc

October 01 West Union 02 Smithville

September 04 @Walnut 06 Ingomar 10 Blue Mountain (DH) 13 @Ingomar 15 Robertson’s Tourney 17 West Union 20 @Falkner 22 Corinth Tournament 24 Nettleton 27 Walnut 29 Mantachie Tournament October 01 Mantachie 04 North Pontotoc

West Union softball

New Albany volleyball

Ingomar swim

August 11 West Union Tourney 14 @Mantachie 16 @Walnut 17/18 Union County Slowpitch Tourney 21 Ingomar 23 @Tremont 28 Mantachie 30 Myrtle

August 04 New Albany Classic 07 @Alcorn Central 09 Olive Branch 14 Pontotoc 16 @Olive Branch 21 @Caledonia 27 Lafayette 30 Tishomingo County

September 04 Tupelo Meet 11 Oxford Meet 25 Tupelo Meet

September 04 Tremont 06 @Falkner 08 @Shannon 10 Falkner 11 @Ingomar 14 Blue Mountain (DH) 15 Robertson Tournament 17 @Myrtle 20 Walnut October 01 @East Union

FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES

East Union Softball

October 02 Starkville Meet 09 Tupelo Meet 20 North Half Meet 27 State Meet

September 04 @Pontotoc 06 @Ripley 08 CorinthTournament 11 Caledonia 13 Byhalia 18 Alcorn Central 20 @Corinth 25 Ripley 27 @Tishomingo County October 02 @Byhalia 04 Corinth 06 Starkville Yellowjacket Jam 08 @Lafayette 16 Lake Cormorant

2018 Fall Sports Preview

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Trai t o o f e ngl

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Civic Center

BNA Pa

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Welcome Home to New Albany R 43

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2018 Fall Sports Preview

Mayor Tim Kent & the Board of Aldermen

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2018 Fall Sports Preview