8.25.16

over the mountain journal

Otmj

2016 otm high school

football

otmj.com

inside

otm key players Meet players from your favorite team coaches predict will play a key role in their success this season.

larry wooden Spain park

to watch

james Edwards vEStavia hillS

Wald

Daniel Salchert oak Mountain

Thursday, august 25, 2016

chestin jones hoMEwooD

Ethan housel BriarwooD

Community Chest

Zach carroll Mountain Brook

inside /// team profiles /// schedules /// rosters /// a look back at

Bailey Mara john carroll cortez hall hoovEr

Journal photos by Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls Jr., Hal Yeager, Jordan

over the mountain journal

social

u

the ’76 spartan state championship season /// and more

Over the Mountain Football Part of the Area’s Culture

By Lee Davis

G

Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

erald Gann holds the distinction of having been the head football coach at three Over the Mountain schools – Homewood, Hoover and John Carroll Catholic.

When he began his career with the Patriots in 1979, the former Berry assistant showed his understanding of the importance the game held in this area.

The day Gann accepted the job, he told the gathered media: “Our goal is to make the Homewood game the most important thing in town on Friday night.”

As the record shows, Gann and the coaches who followed him succeeded in that goal.

Homewood, of course, isn’t alone. The home game is the biggest thing going on in communities across the Over the Mountain area on any given Friday night. And there is plenty of evidence that the bond between communities and high school teams is stronger than ever.

There are many factors that can bring a team close to a community, and there’s one that stands above all: winning.

“Everybody loves a winner,” said Gene Ellison, who coached Mountain Brook to a long string of successful seasons in the 1980s.

“When I became head coach, Mountain Brook hadn’t had much success for a few years. I could feel the hunger for a winner in the community,” he said. “Then we got a group of kids who were really good athletes, and we started winning. The crowds got better and the excitement was there, not See community, page 26

Stars and Stripes: Homewood High School varsity football players pause for the National Anthem as they prepare to take on Pelham in last week’s season opener.

inside

fall fashion Some of our favorite shops show off what’s in store.

Fashion Page 24

From Mountain Brook to Panama Former football star taught agroforestry through Peace Corps. life Page 12

going for the gold Over the Mountain retailers nominated for state award. business Page 20

2 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

Opinion/Contents

Tagging Out Domestic Abuse You soon may be able to show your support in the fight against domestic abuse and violence merely by driving – or even parking – your car.

King’s Home has been approved for a personalized auto license tag.

The operation will receive $41.25 for each tag purchased, in addition to drivers conveying their support for the King’s Home mission by displaying the blue and white tags on their cars.

But 1,000 tags must be spoken for before the state will begin producing them. If you are interested in committing to buy a King’s Home tag, you can sign up at kingshome.org or contact King’s Home Development Director John Tidwell at 775-1810 or jtidwell@kingshome.com.

King’s Home, previously called King’s Ranch and Hannah Home, has been in operation for 40 years. During that time, it has provided for thousands of youth, women and children seeking refuge from abuse, neglect, abandonment, and other difficult and impoverished circumstances, according to a statement from the group.

King’s Home owns and operates 22 residential group homes on six campuses in four Alabama counties.

in this issue About Town 3 people 9 news 10 life 12 social 14

weddings 19 business 20 schools 22 fashion 23 28 sports

murphy’s law

H

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Deep Thoughts

been one of those magic people who ere is the secret to college have continual off-the-rack sucfootball success: For every cess. For me, clothes shopping is a all-star running back you lot like birding. I cannot head out sign, you must sign a backup back in into the retail wilderness secure that case all-star number one gets injured I’m going to come across an indigo or is arrested on a weapons charge bunting. I just have to keep my eyes in an after-hours nightclub. This is open and my credit card ready in called having depth. case one appears.

The same is true of running a My buntings have come so few household. You only have to run out and far between that when I have a of propane one time during a Fourth successful sighting, I immediately of July barbecue before you learn buy two. They may be a different that you must always, always keep a color, they may not. I don’t mind backup tank in reserve. By the same being boring. (Didn’t she wear that token, I keep a backup hairdryer last time?) I just want things to fit. because there is no substitute when Sue Murphy Taking things up and taking things your hair is drenched and you have has grown tiresome and I’ve to be out the door, fully coiffed, in I even have two identical in tossed out too many things that I half an hour. bathing suits purchased bought with an “it’ll do” shrug.

I’m big on backups. My panRight now, I have good depth try is lined with duplicate cans on one golden day a few in the khaki arena. In fact, the of tomato soup and peaches and years back when some weaker performers may have to be baked beans. My half empty boxes rogue designer (fired cut from the team. I’m OK with of rice and noodles sit in front of full, unopened clones and, immediately afterward) my black slacks and low impact – one in play and one on along the baseboard, the cases of put out a suit that did not sneakers the bench. I even have two identiHarold’s Diet Coke are stacked make me cringe. I should cal bathing suits purchased on three deep. one golden day a few years back The laundry room cabinet have bought three. when some rogue designer (fired holds two jugs of laundry soap, immediately afterward) put out a two bottles of fabric softener, two suit that did not make me cringe. I stain-fighting pens. I have two should have bought three. bottles of dish soap, two boxes of dishwasher deterI’m short on dresses. I wish I had more skirts – gent and two of those sponges that have a scrubber not the short kind, more kinda long. Maybe I’ll find on one side. them. Maybe I won’t. So if you see me out in the My daughters lovingly (?) refer to my bathroom same pair of black slacks and low-vol knit top that I supply shelves as the Mom Closet. They snicker at wore the time before, know that I am doing the best my double rows of bath soap and tissues and toilet I can. I’m shallow in that area, but I’m looking to go paper but, when they visit, they help themselves just deep. the same.

The world is full of wonderful things, but some I have depth in the Mom Closet, but in my clothes of them are only wonderful for somebody else. My closet, not so much. If my little black dress (really advice? Know who you are, know what you want, not all that little) suffers an injury and has to be and when you find it, buy two. Deep thoughts. ❖ pulled from the roster, I’ll be in trouble. I’ve never

On otmj.com

There’s so much happening in the Over the Mountain area, we can’t fit it all in the paper! Visit www.otmj.com for more stories and photos.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

August 25, 2016 JOU RNAL Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald Copy Editor: Virginia Martin Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Staff Writers: Sarah Kuper, Emily Williams Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Lee Davis Contributors: Susan Murphy, June Mathews, William C. Singleton III, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls Jr., Bryan Bunch, Jordan Wald, Tyler Waldrep Advertising Sales: Suzanne Wald, Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald Vol. 27, No. 2

Over The Mountain Journal is a suburban bi-weekly newspaper delivered to Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County areas. Subscriptions for The Journal are available for $24 yearly. Mail to: Over the Mountain Journal, P.O. Box 660502, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. Phone: (205) 823-9646. E-mail the editorial department at editorial@otmj.com. E-mail our advertising department at ads@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com.

Copyright 2016 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Journal is not responsible for return of photos, copy and other unsolicited materials submitted. To have materials returned, please specify when submitting and provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All materials submitted are subject to editorial review and may be edited or declined without notification.

over the Mountain Views We went to Boiling N’ Bragging last Saturday and asked :

What’s your favorite tailgating food?

“Barbecue.”

“Buffalo Chicken Dip.”

“Wings.”

“Veggie Burger.”

Bernadine Faulkner Mountain Brook

Raegan Camp Samford University

Maggie Powell Homewood

Savannah Ahlgrim Homewood

Aug. 25-Sept. 7 Thurs., Aug. 25 BIRMINGHAM

PikaZOO Birmingham Zoo An evening Pokemon Go event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. featuring two hours of non-stop lures at the Zoo’s 25 Pokéstops and two gyms. All Zoo pathways will be open but the animals will not be on exhibit. In addition to $5 event admission, train rides will be offered for $1. For more information, visit birminghamzoo.com.

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 3

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

select items marked 50 percent off.

Shopping bags will be provided and no large purses or bags will be allowed.

For more information, visit the “Twice As Nice Sale (BAMOM)” Facebook page.

Sat., Aug. 27 BIRMINGHAM

Fairytales and Frog Day Birmingham Zoo This event will be held behind the Schaeffer Eye Center Wildlife Stage.

The zoo will host a fairytale themed celebration from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. behind the Schaeffer Eye Center Wildlife Stage. The free event will feature face

painting, photo opportunities, animal demonstrations and music. Children are encouraged to dress up. For more information, visit birminghamzoo.com.

BIRMINGHAM

Fairy Tale Ball Embassy Suites Birmingham-Hoover River Ballroom The Board of Directors and Junior Board of Childcare Resources will host a family-friendly gala from 5:30-8:30 p.m. featuring music, hors d’oeuvres, adult and children’s beverages, a candy bar, fairy tale characters, stilt walkers, magicians, jugglers and more. Proceeds benefit the organization’s efforts to

provide quality care and education to children. Tickets are $20 for children 3-12 or $90 per adult. For more information, visit the “10th Annual Fairy Tale Ball” Facebook page.

BIRMINGHAM

AIDS Alabama’s 30th Anniversary Celebration BridgeStreet Gallery and Loft AIDS Alabama will celebrate its 30th anniversary from 7-10 p.m. featuring nine local artists creating works of art on-site available for silent auction.

Music will be provided by the Steve McCullough band. Tickets are $100 and include hors d’oeuvres by Happy

Catering and complimentary beer, wine and lemonade. For more information, visit aidsalabama.org.

HOOVER

SOZO Children Dinner The Wynfrey Hotel The sixth annual Sozo Children Fundraising Dinner will be held from 6-9 p.m. and includes both live and silent auctions and a full-course meal.

Individual tickets are $80. Tables are available for $2,500. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Sozo Children’s homes for neglected children in Uganda. For more information, visit sozochildren.org/bhamdinner.

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Tailgate Challenge, Sat., Aug. 27 The Bell Center The Bell Center will host its annual tailgating event from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Guests can taste a variety of tailgating food prepared by various teams, music and kid-friendly events.

Celebrity judges will award titles to winning teams. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 4-11. For more information, visit thebellcenter.org. ❖

Aug. 26-28 BIRMINGHAM

Sidewalk Film Festival Downtown Birmingham The 18th annual festival will include screenings of over 200 movies, parties, discussion panels, workshops, music

and food. Admission ranges from $25 to $275 depending on ticketing or pass options. For more information and a full schedule, visit sidewalkfest.com.

Fri., Aug. 26-27 BIRMINGHAM

Twice as Nice Sale Zamora Shrine Center Birmingham Area Mothers of Multiples will sponsor a consignment sale, featuring clothing, shoes and accessories for women and children as well as baby equipment and furniture.

The sale will be open Friday from 5-9 p.m. and no children under the age of 10 are allowed. The Saturday sale will be held from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with

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4 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

An Evening with

Dinnertainment is unlike any other area non-profit gala in that the entertainment is provided by those who actually benefit from the fundraiser.

Best Show in Town

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 • 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 • 7:30 p.m.

Leslie S. Wright Center Leslie S. Wright Center Join us for this exciting evening of inspiration, stories, songs, and more to support the Auxiliary’s work for the children of Big Oak Ranch.

Join us for this exciting evening of inspiration, stories,Tickets songs, more to support the Auxiliary’s work areand available online at tickets.samford.edu by callingof 205.726.2853 for theorchildren Big Oak Ranch.

Donations to provide tickets for the children at the Ranch to attend the concert may be mailed to The Auxiliary Big Oak Ranch: Tickets are available online at tickets.samford.edu P.O. Box 530887, Birmingham, AL 35253

or by calling 205.726.2853

Donations to provide tickets for the children at the Ranch to attend the concert may be mailed to The Auxiliary Big Oak Ranch: P.O. Box 530887, Birmingham, AL 35253

Samford University

Clothing.

Accessories.

Chic Classic Style.

Monograms Plus.

Cabaret-Style Benefit Raises Money, Awareness for Exceptional Foundation

By Sarah Kuper The Exceptional Foundation will host its third annual Dinnertainment event Sept. 9 at a private club in Mountain Brook. (For location details go to exceptionalfoundation.org).

Tricia Kirk, executive director at the Exceptional Foundation, said she hopes the benefit raises funds but also gives attendees a glimpse of daily life at the Exceptional Foundation in Homewood.

“If people saw what we really did all day and the fun we have, they would love it as much as we do,” she said.

Dinnertainment is unlike any other area non-profit gala in that the entertainment is provided by those who actually benefit from the fundraiser.

Exceptional Foundation participants, individuals of all ages with special needs, will present songs, skits, videos and other performances Kirk said the idea of having participants involved in the evening was born out of their love of karaoke.

“Karaoke day at the foundation is very popular,” she said.

She said the acts continue to evolve.

“At the dinner, we will see perfor-

mances from the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and even Adele,” she said.

Plus, the participants are introducing a more multimedia experience for guests.

Taking cues from the popular late-night sketch “Carpool Karaoke,” performers, with the help of staff, are mounting cameras on car dashboards

‘Just because they have an exceptionality doesn’t mean they can’t have fun and a sense of humor. This event shows everyone that the special needs community is just fine.’ and singing along to favorite songs in dramatic – and hilarious – fashion. The video results will play at the event.

The acts are practiced and rehearsed in the weeks leading up to the big event but, Kirk said, odds are a lot of what guests see on Sept. 9 will be ad-lib.

Put Your team LoYaLtY In WrItIng

“As much as they practice, a lot of it is spur of the moment, they’ll say whatever comes to mind – it has sort of a cabaret type feel,” she said.

It is that atmosphere, Kirk said, that she believes can be very eye-opening for guests.

“Just because they have an exceptionality doesn’t mean they can’t have fun and a sense of humor,” she said.

“This event shows everyone that the special needs community is just fine.”

She emphasizes that participants are excited to make viewers laugh “with” them and not “at” them.

Tickets to Dinnertainment are available online and cost $150. That includes a cocktail hour, seated dinner and, of course, the live entertainment.

Proceeds go toward programming at the foundation. Organizers are hoping to raise at least $175,000. They estimate 400 people already have reserved their tickets, and space is getting limited.

The Young Alabama CPA’s are the presenting sponsor.

Kirk adds that audience members should come prepared to participate along with the entertainers. ❖

Photo special to the Journal

In celebration of our 10-year anniversary, the Auxiliary of Big Oak Ranch proudly presents...

a.m.-1 p.m. benefitting Urban Purpose, a ministry serving the homeless and underprivileged persons in Birmingham.

The event includes a 5k, and a kid’s Mess Fest for ages 4-12 featuring inflatables, slip n’ slides, water games and more. Admission is $45 for the 5k, $250 per workout team and $10 for the Mess Fest. For more information, visit shades.org/events/challenge.

Sun., Aug. 28 BIRMINGHAM

Middle Eastern Food Festival St. George Melkite Catholic Church Sept. 8-10 Saint George Melkite Catholic Church will host its 35th annual festival featuring homemade Middle Eastern food, music and dance. Food will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day.

Downtown delivery will be available for Thurs. and Fri. lunch with a $75.00 minimum order. For takeout and delivery call 492-9621. A drive through service will operate until 7:00 p.m. Proceeds will benefit local charities and church maintenance.

For more information, visit saintgeorgeonline.org. ❖

Sat., Aug. 27 VESTAVIA HILLS

HOOVER

Philos Moore Hoover Library Philos Moore a singer/songwriter from Birmingham will perform a unique blend of Americana, folk, and alt-country at 2:30 p.m. on The Plaza. For more information visit hooverlibrary.org.

Tues., Aug. 30 HOMEWOOD

Tuesday Night Lights Shades Valley Community Church West Homewood Farmer’s Market will host its final installment of Tuesday Night Lights from 5-8 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, featuring vendors, trucks, music, kids activities and education, chef appearances and more. For more information, visit westhomewood.com.

Aug. 30-Sept. 17

Urban Purpose Challenge Shades Mountain Baptist Church The church will host an event from 8

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 5

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

BIRMINGHAM

“The Little Engine that Could”

Birmingham Children’s Theatre BCT will perform the musical version of the classic children’s book on the WeeFolks stage, adapted by the theatre’s playwright Jean Pierce. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children.

For more information, visit bct123.org.

Wed., Aug. 31

Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network will present its seventh annual event from 9 a.m.-noon giving family caregivers the opportunity to interact with local legislators. Event speakers include Rep. April Weaver, Attorney Robert Cornelius and Dr. Laura Fiveash.

Admission is free to caregivers but

seating is limited. To register, email mterry@ucphuntsville.org or call 256859-4900.

VESTAVIA HILLS

No More Safety Pins Liberty Church Grace Klein Community presents

BIRMINGHAM

Silent Auction Bradley Lecture Center The Central Alabama Hydrocephalus Association and the Hydrocephalus Association Walk will co-host their annual silent auction from 5-8 p.m.

For more information, visit the “Central Alabama Hydrocephalus Association Silent Auction” Facebook page.

labor day

Sale 50% off entire store

Thurs., Sept. 8

up to

BIRMINGHAM

Glow for a Cure Highland Park Golf Course Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama will host its fifth annual night golf tournament from 4:30-10 p.m. benefiting ACA’s research program. The evening includes 18 holes of golf, range balls, dinner and awards. Registration is $800 per foursome, $200 for single players and $25 for spectators. Spectator tickets include BBQ and beverages only. To register, call Vance Holder at 871-7970 or visit alzca.org.

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Pam Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 Aug. 2016

This is your AD PrOOF from the OvEr THE MOuNTAiN JOurNA Aug. 25, 2016 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1

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if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

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CALL FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION | APLANFORME.COM | 205.994.2393 4704 CAHABA RIVER ROAD, SUITE A1 BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35243

6 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

About Town

Photo by Drew Burke Photography

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

top flight: Above, the Southern Museum of Flight’s Elizabeth Grady is preparing for the Bombshell Celebration for Women in Aviation Aug. 26 benefitting the Mary Alice Beatty Scholarship for women in aviation. Below, museum founder and female aviator Mary Alice Beatty, holding her daughter Mary Alice Carmichael.

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When Elizabeth Grady joined the Southern Museum of Flight staff in 2012, a small plaque tucked away in her new office space caught her eye.

It mentioned Mary Alice Beatty, who, Grady would learn, created the museum 50 years ago. But the museum was not paying homage to the early aviatrix who founded it.

“There was no mention of this woman besides this tiny plaque on the wall,” said Grady, events manager for the museum.

The curiosity that plaque sparked in Grady and the information she found when she researched Beatty led the museum to celebrate not just its matriarch, but the history of women in aviation.

The Bombshell Celebration for Women in Aviation, a 1940s-themed dance and benefit auction set for Aug. 26, will raise money for the Mary Alice Beatty Scholarship. The scholarship supports young women pursuing a career in aviation, but it also is the face of the museum’s initiative to shed more light on the history of women in aviation and promote career opportunities for women in aviation fields.

The path to those opportunities was not an easy one in Beatty’s time.

Grady said she found in researching Beatty that she had taken an active role in the aviation career of her husband, Donald. The couple took many trips in the early 1930s and ‘40s through Central and South America and were the first aviation couple to fly over the Andes Mountains.

“Her husband worked in transportation and would take these trips down to South America looking for radio signals and potential sites for

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1

Photo courtesy of the Southern Museum of Flight.

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new transportation,” Grady said. “At the time, she was starting to have children, but she would go on these trips with him and took a very active role in his work. It was a very nontraditional role that she was taking on for the time period.”

Beatty was one of the first women in the state to learn how to pilot a plane, which Grady said was kept quiet because of social standards for women at the time. In an effort to connect to other women in aviationbased careers, Beatty formed a group called Aviatrix. She and her husband also forged connections with other aviation officials in the community to create a group that would later become the Birmingham Air Club.

In the mid-1960s, a civic committee planning the centennial celebration of Birmingham charged Beatty with creating a regional air museum that celebrated local aviation history.

She was given $400 to complete the project.

Using her own collection of artifacts gathered during her husband’s aviation career, Beatty created six display cases that made up the

Birmingham Museum of Aviation. It was housed at Samford University, then named Howard University.

Over the course of 50 years, those six display cases evolved into an entire museum showcasing the South’s aviation history.

“We’re looking back at what she has done and celebrating what other women can do,” Grady said. “Right now is the time and there is a resurgence of women going into aviation fields.”

Grady said there are a plethora of aviation-based career paths, from engineering to management. Schools are helping push these careers, including Auburn University’s Aviation Center, but the studies don’t come cheap.

“On top of a regular tuition fee, there is an extra $50,000 that you have to pay,” Grady said. “That goes towards getting all of the licensing, but afterwards it is easy to obtain a position working for a major airline.”

To help young women debating whether to pursue an aviation education, the museum began the Beatty

See Flight, facing page

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

flight,

From previous page

scholarship, which is coordinated with help from Beatty’s daughter, Mary Alice Carmichael. The scholarship awards $5,000 each year to a woman aged 19 to 30 who is pursuing a career in aviation. Last year, the first recipient was Jordan Gardner, who used the funds to participate in executive management training for a position with the Department of Transportation.

A Party to Beat the Drum

To help raise funds for the scholarship, the museum will serve as the venue for its second annual womencentric event, newly dubbed the Bombshell Celebration for Women in Aviation. Guests are encouraged, but not required, to don 1940s military dress and USO fashion.

“It certainly isn’t required that guests dress up, but it’s fun,” Grady said. “The costumes can be anything from the era, whether it’s a 1940s tea dress, fatigues or a military uniform.”

She found her costume for last year’s event at the AA Army Surplus Store in Leeds.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m., featuring a silent auction alongside a variety of themed performances by Ladies Night Out!, a dance lesson by Steel City Swing and live music by Old Fashioned Rhythm Method.

The highlight of the evening, according to Grady, will be the reveal of a 2016-2017 Bombshell Calendar, produced by Drew Burke and Melissa

Shannon of Birmingham Pinups with help from designer Colin Nekritz.

“With the calendar, we wanted to create something that was a marketing piece for sure, but also brings awareness,” Grady said. Harkening back to the classic definition of a bombshell, the calendar models have been dressed in their 1940s pinup best. To signify the evolution of the term, Grady said, the museum handpicked a group of powerful women in the Birmingham community who serve as role models for young women.

Leading the Bombshells is calendar sponsor Coquette Barnes, TWA former flight attendant, and committee members Courtney Sanak, Rebecca Caine, Jessica Lynn and Sarah Nichole Lowery. A tribute to B-25 WASP pilots includes Melissa Shannon, Moxie Fontaine, Kelly Henderson and Taylor Dyer. Months will also feature Jessica Garner, Jess Devine Gifts; Alison Page, Aero Joe; Chelsea Grace Sloan; Cassandra “Comedienne Joy” King, Dining out with Comedienne Joy; Sara Powell; Andrea Lindenberg, Talk 99.5 Birmingham’s Real Talk; Kayla Funk, Open Hands Overflowing Hearts; Tiffany Huynh; Dana and Wedy Rose; and ABC 33/40 Talk of Alabama’s Nicole Allshouse, Ebony Hall and Erica Lembo.

The calendars are $20 and will be sold at the event. Guests also have the option of buying a calendar online with their $30 ticket purchase.

For more information, visit southernmuseumofflight.org. ❖

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 7

an item swap Fri. from 5-9 p.m., Sat. from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Items include maternity, kids clothing, baby gear, toys, games and shoes. The cost to participate is $25 per every 20 items. For more information, visit gracekleincommunity.com.

Brunch, Art & Beats

Save The date

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Sept. 9-10

BOHEMIAN SUNDAYS, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

HOMEWOOD

Lil’ Lambs Fall Sale Trinity United Methodist Church This consignment sale will feature gently worn clothes, toys and furniture Fri. from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sat. from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers and consigners shop early at a preview sale on Thurs., Sept. 8. Select items will be half-priced on Sat. For more information, visit trinitybirmingham.com.

MOUNTAIN BROOK

Sweet Repeats Mountain Brook Community Church This consignment sale will take place Fri. from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sat. from 9 a.m.-noon. From 9 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri., strollers will not be allowed. Most items will be half-priced on Sat. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the church’s short-term mission trips. Parking will be available behind the gym near the UCF House. For more information, visit mbcc. us/sweet-repeats-consignment-sale/. ❖

Send about town info to: editorial@otmj.com

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8 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

Hoover Doctor’s Study Shows Surgery Improves Recuperation From Shoulder Injuries

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By Sarah Kuper Before becoming an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in athletic and arthritic conditions, Tyler Marshall was a varsity athlete at Hoover High School.

So he said he knows the pressures of high school sports, especially in Alabama.

“I understand the scenario – it’s Johnny’s senior year, he is the team captain, his shoulder comes out of socket and all everyone wants is for him to get back in the game,” he said.

But, Marshall warns, in the long run that may not be what is best for Johnny.

In his study presented at this summer’s American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine annual meeting, Marshall concluded that long-term outcomes for shoulder injuries are improved if athletes have surgical repairs after the first incident, especially for patients between the ages of 16 and 25.

He said he understands that most parents don’t want to rush their teen athlete to the operating table after one shoulder dislocation, but his study shows that surgical repair reduces the risk of recurrent injury, thus saving the individual from the possibility of shoulder trouble later in life.

“Everyone wants to get their kid back on the field,” he said.

“Truthfully, the shoulder will feel better after some time, but once the shoulder has come out of socket, there is a 70 percent chance it will happen again within the same sports season.”

Marshall said that every time the

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

and demanding a lot of themselves.”

Marshall said the most common sports that result in the injuries he focuses on in his study are contact sports such as football, basketball, soccer and rugby.

After finishing his fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in 2015, Marshall and his wife came back home to Hoover, where he practices at Alabama Orthopaedic Spine &

‘It is great to come home and serve the community you grew up in.’

Photo special to the Journal

A Sporting Chance

People

Marshall specializes in many sportsrelated procedures, including joint repairs and replacements.

shoulder comes out of the socket, cartilage is destroyed and it leads to chronic shoulder pain.

He’s witnessed this firsthand while training at UAB and the Cleveland Clinic.

During residency and fellowship, Marshall worked with college and professional sports teams such as the University of Alabama at Birmingham football team and the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.

But, he said he focused his research and now much of his practice on younger athletes.

“It blends my interest and experience. High school athletes are putting their shoulder through extreme competition. They are pushing their limits

Sports Medicine Associates.

He said he came back after completing his training because Hoover is home.

“It is great to come home and serve the community you grew up in,” Marshall said.

Marshall specializes in many sports-related procedures, including joint repairs and replacements.

The shoulder repair surgery is minimally invasive and generally has a six-week recovery period.

Marshall said he understands the hesitancy athletes, coaches and parents have, and he isn’t trying to push surgery on everyone, but he wants to have an honest conversation.

“It’s easy to get wrapped up in the pageantry of competitive high school football. But 99 percent of these athletes are not going to take it to the next level, so it makes sense to put their health as a priority,” he said. ❖

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 9

people

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Johnson Earns Eagle Scout Rank

Mr. and Mrs. Dick Mason of Jackson, Mississippi.

Joseph Britton Johnson Jr., a member of Boy Scout Troop 63 at Canterbury United Methodist Church, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout from the Vulcan District Eagle Board.

A Court of Honor ceremony was held Aug. 14.

For his Eagle Scout Project, Johnson built a series of benches at Joseph Britton Crestline Johnson Jr. Elementary, his alma mater, to create an outdoor learning area. He named the area The Jerome Lewis Outdoor Classroom in memory of Crestline’s beloved janitor and 2016 National Janitor of the Year, who passed away from cancer while Johnson was completing his project.

Johnson earned 23 merit badges and had 24 camping nights. He held the positions of patrol leader, senior assistant patrol leader and den chief in his troop.

Johnson is a junior at Mountain Brook High School, where he plays varsity basketball and is a member of the Interact Club. He is involved in BigTime Ministries and is an active member of his church youth group at Canterbury.

Johnson is the son of Amanda and Jay Johnson of Mountain Brook. He is the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Ellison Conrad of Abingdon, Virginia, and

Hoover Student Selected for Macy’s Great American Marching Band Joel Sullivan of Hoover High School recently was selected to participate in the 2016 Macy’s Great American Marching Band, which will perform in the 90th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 24.

Sullivan is one of 200 Joel Sullivan band members selected from more than 14,000 high schools across the country based on musical ability and achievements. He will perform under the direction of Drs. Richard Good and Douglas Rosener of Auburn University and Barry Houser of the University of Illinois and will march along with 40 flags and dancers.

“The character that Joel displays is consistent with previous drumline section leaders at Hoover High School: a strong work ethic, the ability to teach his peers and to foster a communication line with the incoming freshman and create a sense of family and nurturing within our percussion ensemble,” said Jeffrey Fondren, assistant director of bands.

Sullivan was a member of the 2015 Scholastic Open Percussion ensemble, which received a gold medal

at the Southeastern Color Guard and Percussion Championship in Nashville.

He was selected to be a member of the 2015 Platinum Marching Drumline at the University of Southern Mississippi Drumline Summer Camp.

He is a sophomore and a member of the National Honor Society. He serves as the battery section leader for Hoover’s Marching Buccaneer Drumline and is the top jazz drummer for the First Edition jazz band at Hoover High.

Sullivan is the son of Mark and Gena Sullivan of Hoover.

Trunk Show

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Mountain Brook’s Pelham Attends Aviation Challenge Henry Pelham of Mountain Brook recently attended the Aviation Challenge at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.

The weeklong program promotes science, technology, engineering and math while training students and adults with hands-on activities based on teamwork, leadership and problem solving.

Pelham participated in the Aviation Challenge’s Mach II program, designed for students who are interested in military aviation and the mechanics of flight. He spent the week training with a team that flew a simulated F-18 fighter jet.

Pelham and his crew learned critical land and water survival skills and mastered Top Gun flying maneuvers, graduating with honors.

Pelham joins more than 750,000 Space Camp graduates from all 50 states and 69 international locations. ❖

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News

10 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

Going Strong u homewood

u over the mountain

Federal Court Approves Sale of Berry High School Campus

Samford Celebrates 175th Anniversary and Expands into the Future

By Emily Williams

Aug. 17 marked a new chapter for the former W.A. Berry High School campus as a federal judge approved the Hoover Board of Education’s sale of the property.

The property soon will be purchased by the Vestavia Hills Board of Education.

In a released statement, Dr. Kathy Murphy, Hoover school superintendent, stated that she was pleased with the court’s decision.

“Many in our community fondly remember their time at W.A. Berry High School,” Murphy said. “It’s a school rich in history … a place where memories of a lifetime were made.”

Murphy said she is pleased to know that Vestavia Hills will revitalize the property and provide new students with the opportunity to make their own memories on the campus.

Dr. Sheila Phillips, Vestavia Hills school superintendent, thanked officials from Hoover and Vestavia Hills who contributed to the city’s efforts to acquire the campus.

“We believe this facility will benefit all Vestavia Hills children and residents as we work together to preserve and revitalize the legacy of this great school and stadium,” Phillips said.

She went on to announce that the board of education plans to seek comments from the community on its plans for the facility by holding forums and focus groups and conducting surveys in the community.

“We will move forward with these conversations thoughtfully and methodically to ensure all our stakeholders are heard in the months ahead,” Phillips stated.

The first two community forums will take place Sept. 8 at noon and at 6 p.m. at the board of education building on Montgomery Highway.

U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala said in her court order that the sale of the building would not violate a desegregation order under which schools in Jefferson County have operated for more than 40 years.

u vestavia Hills

Photo courtesy Samford University

As freshmen arrive on campus Aug. 26 and start classes Aug. 29, Samford University President Andrew Westmoreland said that he has more to be proud of this year than any of his 10 previous first days of school.

The university is entering its 175th year with the largest freshman class in its history and two new buildings for the College of Health Sciences. After a November celebration of the anniversary, the next benchmark will be announcing the details of a major capital campaign now in the final planning stages.

The 2016-17 student population is expected to be at least 5,400 members strong, which is about a 1,000-student increase from last year.

“We are about to embark on the largest student population in our history,” Westmoreland said. “This is the eighth consecutive year that we have experienced record-breaking enrollment.”

Westmoreland said a recent economic impact study conducted for the school shows its presence produces about $335 million a year and 700 volunteer service hours last year for the surrounding community.

In addition, the school is putting the finishing touches on two of the three buildings currently on the property, leasing the third building back to Southern Progress. The recent acquisition added 28 acres to the campus and 231,501 square feet of top-of-the-line learning and office space for the College of Health Sciences.

“In 1987, we sold the buildings (property) for $3 million dollars, and, let’s just say, we paid a little more than that to get them back,” Westmoreland said with a smile.

One of the most exciting features of the space, according to Vice Provost Nena Sanders, is an entire floor modeled to look and feel like an actual hospital, which will be used as a simulation center.

The two buildings house the schools of health professions, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Sanders said the availability of more space allowed the college to continue to offer both undergraduate and graduate programs in respiratory care, for which the school still is awaiting accreditation.

“UAB recently shut down their respiratory care programs, which was a cause for concern for many community members,” Sanders said.

“The community actually reached out to us asking if we would be keeping our program and we listened. It is important to us to continue to meet the needs of the surrounding community.”

Westmoreland said the new buildings “have put us very much on the cutting edge of what’s to come in these fields. … This is a total gamechanger for Samford and a rather remarkable development.”

Thanks to the ever-increasing number of students, parking is a well-known issue for the university and the surrounding neighborhoods, and Westmoreland was excited to note that the new addition has added 607 parking spaces. Shuttle services also have been revamped and the school released a video to all students two weeks ago in which a character named “Samford Moses” teaches his “Five Sammandments” of parking on campus.

“The video is so cheesy that you almost have

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Fire Department Raises Funds for Childhood Cancer

‘We are about to embark on the largest student population in our history. This is the eighth consecutive year that we have experienced record-breaking enrollment.’ Samford University President Andrew Westmoreland to watch the whole thing, which will seem like it lasts forever,” Westmoreland said.

To celebrate not just the continued success of the college, but also its history, Samford will recognize its 175th anniversary through a variety of programs. Festivities will be held throughout Homecoming weekend, Nov. 10-13, with a formal convocation Nov. 11 at 2:30 p.m. in the Wright Center followed by an anniversary ball in the Hanna Center. The official anniversary date of Samford’s charter by the Alabama Legislature is Dec. 29.

In conjunction with the anniversary, Westmoreland announced Aug. 19 that the university plans to launch a significant capital campaign in November. Though he remained tight-lipped regarding the campaign specifics, he did provide some information about the purpose of the funds raised.

If all goes according to plan and the campaign reaches its goal, Westmoreland said,

two-thirds of the amount will be used to create an endowment that will largely fund scholarships and support academic programs, with the remainder used for the campus’ physical needs.

“One of our greatest needs is the renovation of some of our older facilities,” Westmoreland said. “Our campus is about 60 years old and, just like a 60-year-old person, it is showing the wear and tear.”

He added that the funds will support his five-year goal to update the physical aspects of the institution starting with a renovation of the campus’ most worn-out buildings, for example Buchanan Hall, which houses the university’s music programs, and many of the residence halls.

As the university continues to grow, Westmoreland said he hopes to accommodate the increased population while maintaining the personalized aspects of a smaller campus that he feels draw in many of Samford’s applicants. ❖

When it came time to choose this year’s beneficiary of the Vestavia Hills Fire Department’s annual T-shirt drive, firefighter Kris Madison had a suggestion.

“A cause that is close to me and my wife is childhood cancer awareness,” Madison said.

His wife, Jennifer, has been a pharmacy technician for Children’s of Alabama for 14 years, more than eight of those years spent in the hematology and oncology clinics.

“We have seen firsthand the effects of this disease on the children afflicted and their families,” he said.

Thus, this year’s T-shirt drive will benefit the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s. The department recently has concluded a pre-sale of the shirts and will begin the official sale in September.

“The goal of our campaign is to raise awareness of childhood cancers,” Martin said. “Funding for pediatric cancer research pales in comparison to other diseases such as breast cancer. We are a small part of many advocates nationwide trying to bring awareness and funding of pediatric cancers to higher levels in a search for a cure.”

Community members can order their shirts at any of Vestavia Hill’s five fire stations. Prices are $15 for short sleeves and $20 for long sleeves, with a $2 extra charge for sizes 2XL and larger. All proceeds raised through the sale will be donated to the center.

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 11

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

“We do not have a monetary goal for this year due to it being our inaugural year, but our end goal is raising awareness of pediatric cancers and the need for increased funding,” Martin said.

For more information, visit the Vestavia Hills Fire Department’s Facebook page.

u Mountain Brook

Junior Women’s Committee Presents Check to Emmet O’Neal

Emmet O’Neal Library’s Junior Women’s Committee of 100 presented a $50,000 check to library staff Aug. 16.

The funds were raised during the past fiscal year in honor of the library’s 50th anniversary.

The funds were presented during a board of trustees meeting by committee President Bronwyne Chapman and Vice President Grace Kipp to Maxwell Pulliam, chair of the library’s board, and Gloria Repolesk, head of the Children’s Department.

The Junior Women’s Committee raises money for the Children’s Department through various efforts throughout the year, most notable a summer reading kick-off carnival held in May. Their next planned event will be a holiday party in December, complete with photos with Santa, hosted to honor anyone who has bought a “book buddy.”

The book buddy program allows library patrons to buy books for the library in honor of a friend or relative. ❖

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

—Emily Williams

From left: Maxwell Pulliam, chairman of Emmet O’Neal Library board of trustees, Gloria Repolesk, head of the Children’s Department, Bronwyne Chapman, president of Junior Women’s Committee of 100, and Grace Kipp, vice president of Junior Women’s Committee of 100.

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life

12 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

From Mountain Brook to Panama Former Football Star Taught Agroforestry Through Peace Corps

By Lee Davis

‘Some people think the Peace Corps is just a bunch of hippies sitting around and doing nothing.’

Photos special to the Journal

Local football fans may well remember Charlie Higgenbotham in his playing days as a standout linebacker for Mountain Brook High School, the University of Alabama and, finally, the University of South Alabama.

But unlike some former college football players, Higgenbotham didn’t go on to play in the National Football League. Instead, he worked to make the world a better place.

Higgenbotham just returned from a two-year stint in Panama, where he worked as a member of the Peace Corps to teach sustainable agroforestry practices to farmers in one of the country’s most remote regions.

So how did Higgenbotham go from the creature comforts of Mountain Brook to a place where basic modern conveniences were nonexistent? It was simply a calling.

After graduation from college, Higgenbotham went to work for a high-tech firm in California. After a short while, he decided it wasn’t for him.

“I decided I never wanted to sit in front of a computer screen again,” he said.

Soon Higgenbotham was back in Mountain Brook, working at a small book store. But his future path was coming into focus.

“I had a vision,” he recalled. “I wanted to live abroad, learn a foreign language, help others and serve. That led to the Peace Corps.”

The Peace Corps, created by President John F. Kennedy in the 1960s, is a volunteer organization operated by the United States government created to offer technical, economic, social and agricultural assistance to countries around the world. It provided the exact outlet that Higgenbotham was seeking.

“Some people think the Peace Corps is just a bunch of hippies sitting around and doing nothing,” Higgenbotham said, laughing. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Higgenbotham went through an intense process of interviews and applications before being invited to serve as a sustainable agriculture systems extension agent in Panama in June 2014.

Then his training began in earnest. Higgenbotham spent 10 weeks studying subjects such as the Spanish language, tropical agriculture and the history, economics and culture of Panama. He also learned about medical and safety techniques and administrative issues.

By August, Higgenbotham was ready. He was assigned to Daypuru, a small indigenous community located in the Darien province near the Columbian border. Upon arriving in

“There are Chinese, Far East Indians, and every nationality you can think of,” he explained. “Many of them are descendants of people who came to build the Panama Canal early in the 20th Century.”

The conditions in which the people live might be considered primitive

by American standards – with no refrigeration, air conditioning or internet – but Higgenbotham said they have life’s necessities.

Panama living: Charlie Higgenbotham just returned from a two-year stint in Panama, where he worked as a member of the Peace Corps to teach sustainable agroforestry practices to farmers in one of the country’s most remote regions.

Panama City, Higgenbotham followed the only trek to Daypuru that exists: a five-hour bus ride, a three-hour boat trip, followed by a two-hour hike.

“We only use public transportation, so there were no cars,” he said.

“Panama City is just like any other large city, but once you get away from that area, even basic electricity is rare.”

Daypuru was inhabited by fewer than 200 residents who were members of the Embera tribe and lived by planting crops such as rice, corn and coffee. Higgenbotham and his fellow volunteers worked to help improve the productivity of the farming operations by teaching modern agroforestry

methods.

“The people were generally friendly,” Higgenbotham said. “Imagine if you’d been doing something one way for a long time and someone from another country came in and said to do it another way. Some will take that better than others. But overall, most of the people were friendly and were glad we were there.”

Not all of Higgenbotham’s work was related to agriculture. He also was involved in health education and building infrastructure. One project close to his heart was the construction of a full-length basketball court.

Higgenbotham’s father, Jay, was a basketball star at Mountain Brook and

at Birmingham-Southern College in the 1970s.

In addition to providing tangible help, part of the Peace Corps’ mission is to share American culture and to bring foreign culture back to the United States. Sometimes the stereotypes and misconceptions can run both ways.

“They thought everyone in the United States was tall, white, had blue eyes and blonde hair and looked like movie stars,” Higgenbotham said.

“It took them a while to realize that wasn’t the case.”

On the other hand, Panama also has one of the most diverse populations in Central America.

“Remember that there’s no television, just a lot of transistor radios,” he said. “All of the villages are near the river, so most of the houses are on stilts because it rains frequently. But the people are very clean. Most of them bathe in the river three or four times a day. One of the first phrases I learned in Spanish was, ‘I’m going to bathe in the river.’”

Last July, Jay Higgenbotham came to Panama to see what his son had been experiencing. His highlight was to teach basketball to a group of Daypuru residents who didn’t know the game.

“They didn’t shoot very well, but they picked up dribbling pretty quickly,” the elder Higgenbotham said. “What was most impressive was that they were good at passing and moving without the ball. That may have come from their experience with soccer.”

Higgenbotham came away with a new appreciation of what his son was accomplishing.

“I was very proud of Charlie before he went,” he said. “I was even prouder after I’d seen what he had done.”

Charlie Higgenbotham returned home earlier this month and said the two-year odyssey deeply changed him.

“The two years in Panama made me appreciate the small things,” he said. “Conveniences we take for granted every day aren’t common in many places in the world. The experience also taught me to slow down and take a deep breath and to remember how fortunate we are to live in the United States.”

Higgenbotham is considering a position in the Peace Corps Response Program – which is open to former Peace Corps participants.

Whatever path he takes from here, Charlie Higgenbotham’s trek from the football fields of Alabama to the most remote areas of Panama was the challenge of a lifetime. ❖

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 13

life

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Going for Gold

Girl Scout Raises Awareness about State Park Funding Amendment

By Sarah Kuper

Hoaglund is inviting people to come out to Oak Mountain State Park on Sept. 24 to enjoy all the park has Maddie Hoaglund won’t be quite to offer. old enough to vote on Nov. 8, but she She said there will be hiking, runis doing her part to raise awareness ning, mountain biking and, of course, about an amendment on the ballot. information about Amendment 2.

As part of her Girl Scout Gold “When you talk to people about Award project, the high school senior it, it seems like everyone is for the is holding an event Sept. 24 at Oak amendment once they know, but there Mountain State Park to highlight is just no publicity about it.” issues behind Amendment 2.

Over the summer, Hoaglund The amendment concerns the sent out letters to partners of Oak reallocation of state park funds in Mountain State Park and Alabama. As an avid runother interested parties to ner who enjoys nearby drum up support for her Oak Mountain State Park, project.

Hoaglund said the cause is She said she got a lot close to her heart. of positive response and A “yes” vote for learned that one person Amendment 2 would mean can make a difference. the voter wants to prohibit “It gets stressful but the Legislature from realI’m learning the imporlocating state park funds for tance of initiative and folother uses. low through. I think that From 2011-2015, the Maddie Hoaglund is a skill a lot of people are Alabama Legislature took lacking nowadays.” nearly $15 million from One requirement of a Gold Award the state parks fund and moved it to project is to spend at least 80 hours the general fund. In that time, several planning and executing the event.

Alabama parks closed or restricted “I’m definitely spending my 80 hours and activities because of budget hours. Over the summer it wasn’t so shortfalls. bad but now that school has started Hoaglund became aware of the it is getting crazy,” said Hoaglund, a upcoming vote about the same time senior at Oak Mountain Presbyterian she began to pursue the Gold Award Church’s Westminster School.

– the highest achievement in the Girl Hoaglund said she has grown even Scout program.

To earn the Gold Award, Hoaglund more passionate about local parks since planning “Love Your State needed to choose an issue she felt Parks Day” and she’s learned the passionately about and then take importance of taking action on behalf action to make a difference. of the community.

That’s when her idea for “Love “It’s helped me with awareness Your State Parks Day” was born.

about what is going on in my community. I started inside my immediate community with Oak Mountain Park and worked my way out.”

Hoaglund has not yet begun the college application process but she said she knows she would like to run competitively in college and pursue a degree in the classics.

She has two younger sisters, both of whom are involved with the Girl Scouts and will soon be working toward their own Gold Awards. ❖

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if we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

A Gala for Hope ACS Toasts Southern Research at Annual Event

G

Ashley and Ryan Robinett.

Photos special to the Journal

uests celebrated “A Toast to Life” as they gathered at Birmingham Country Club on Aug. 20 for the American Cancer Society’s 36th annual Hope Gala.

The evening was hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Peter Lichty and honored Southern Research, represented by Art Tipton, and cancer survivor Kirstin Hoff.

The ballroom was decorated with gold, green and white flowers designed by Ray Jordan of Flowerbuds.

This year’s gala was coordinated by co-chairs Carmen Morrow and Margaret Lichty, aided by sponsorship chair Ashley Robinett. Mike Royer served as emcee.

In a highlight of the evening, the Sugar Babies took to the stage during dinner, dedicating their performance to their beloved member, the late Carole Zanaty, who lost her battle with lung cancer in 2007.

Following dinner, Jack Grainger took the stage as auctioneer for a live auction coordinated by Annie Axon and Suzanne Wright. Winning bidders were treated to a glass of champagne delivered by the Sugar Babies and provided by Mercedes Benz U.S. International Inc.

From left: Randall and Carmen Morrow with Margaret and Peter Lichty.

Matthew and Brooke Rodgers.

The evening concluded with dancing, accompanied by the music of the band The Schmohawks. ❖

Calton Hill Detached homes in Mountain Brook Luxury townhomes in Birmingham

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Calton Hill is an exclusive new home community located in both Mountain Brook and Birmingham. Arrive through the beautifully designed gated entrance and experience old world architecture and village-like charm at its best. Painted brick exteriors with rock and cedar accents, classic gas lanterns, lush landscaping, and neighborhood street lights evoke the spirit of Old England. Modern features such as open floor plans, energy efficiency, high ceilings, and commercial grade appliances ensures the best of both worlds. Just a few minutes away from the Villages of Mountain Brook and Downtown, Calton Hill offers convenience and style not to be found elsewhere.

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Art and Katie Tipton with Cyndi and Dr. Jack Secrist.

Jeffrey and Gail Bayer.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 15

social

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include Robin Griffis, Emily Ferrell, Amy Neiman, Abby Murray, Karen Roberson, Sarah Paulk, Beth Rose, Courtney Truss, Jennifer Jackson, Dory Serotsky, Alisha Johnson, Katie Pirkle, Amy Holditch, Riley Goree, Amy Bickell, Kelly Gould, Catie Ronson, Briana Morton, Kendall Snider, Jessica Kribbs, Amanda Hawkins, Eva Gonzalez, Jennifer Chewning, Laurie Shanks, Julie Mizerany, Raegan Bellenger, Lyndsey Mooney, Hannah Johnson, Shelli Morrow and Erin Watkins. ❖

To: From: Front, from left: Abigail Corcoran, Alisa Foley, Blaire Middleton, Blair Crabtree, Emily Israel, Jennifer Chada and Meg Webb. Back: Alexa McElroy, Tabby McClain, Ashley Kimball, Julie Herring, Amber Kelley, Holly Daugherty and Deana Hughes. Below, outgoing President Deana Hughes presented a check for $201,000 to Jeannie Colquett, executive director of The Bell Center for Early Intervention.

In With the New

Service Guild Inducts New Officers, Presents $201K Check To The Bell Center

New, Collectible Antique Dolls 2820 Petticoat Lane Mtn. Brook Village 870-5544 Open Thur. - Sat. 10am - 4:30pm

Mary Charles Robbins Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax May 2010

This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOU June 3, 2010 issue. Please fax approval or c

Please make sure all informat including address and phon

Please initial and fax back within

If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday your ad will run as is. We print the pape

Thank you for your prompt

The Service Guild of Birmingham welcomed new members and inducted new officers while celebrating the close of its 2015-2016 service year with a luncheon and check presentation.

The event was held May 16 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, where guests enjoyed a lunch catered

by Kathy G. and Company.

At the luncheon, outgoing President Deana Hughes presented a check for $201,000 to Jeannie Colquett, executive director of The Bell Center for Early Intervention.

The amount donated was raised during the year through various fundraising efforts by the guild.

The festivities included an awards ceremony and recognitions, as well as a presentation from past Service Guild President Karen Love.

The Betty Bell Service award was given to Mona Ponder. Blair Crabtree and Blaire Middleton each received the Service Guild Outstanding New Member award, and Stacey Morales was granted the Garnet Deramus award.

Inducted as 2016-2017 board officers were Hughes, president adviser; Abigail Corcoran, president; Crabtree, president elect; Meg Webb, member at large; Amber Kelley, vice president of communications; Ashley Kimball, secretary; Grace Kipp, treasurer; Alexa McElroy, vice president of membership; Holly Daugherty, vice president of fundraising; Emily Israel, vice president of classroom; Middleton, gala chair; Alisa Foley, Mercedes Marathon chair; Tabby McClain, special events chair; Jennifer Chadha, meetings and hospitality chair; and Julie Herring, nominating chair.

New Service Guild members

To:

Date:

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16 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

From left: Lee Anne McCalley, Charles McCalley, Bo Gresham and Laura Wedgeworth.

Homeward Bound

Family Promise Hosts Annual Bound and Determined Fundraiser

HE ONCE BEAT HIS DAD FOUR STRAIGHT GAMES IN CHESS. AFTERWARD, HE CELEBRATED WITH SOME ORANGE SLICES AND A BOOK ABOUT WIZARDS.

and at Children’s of Alabama we want to see every child grow up and live to their fullest potential. That’s why we recruit, train and retain the most inquiring minds, the most skilled hands and the most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine.

C H I L D R E N A M A Z E U S E V E R Y D AY

Family Promise of Birmingham raised books and cash during its Bound and Determined fundraiser, held July 28 at Rosewood Hall.

The annual event supports the organization’s efforts to provide shelter, meals and other forms of support to homeless children and families in the greater Birmingham area.

Board member Edie Steiniger chaired the event’s auction committee, offering guests the opportunity to bid on beach and mountain getaways, jewelry and more in silent and live auctions. Other activities included basket raffles and a popular photo booth.

In addition, book donations were accepted and will be divided among the children and adolescents involved with the program.

The event was hosted by Family Promise board of directors Don Acton, Shawn Barnes, Tyler Busby, Terry Chapman, Joe Dean, Neil Eggers, Richard Goldstein, Kent Hartzog, Tom Lamkin, Kenneth Moore, Carlos Otalora, Michelle Paradiso, Rebecca Richardson, Kate Short, Drew Smith, Brenda Tidwell and Danny Whitsett. ❖

Heather VacLav and Caroline Prilenski.

1600 7TH AVENUE SOUTH, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 ChildrensAL.org

From left: Neil Eggers, Kent Hartzog and Drew Smith.

The Rev. Sam Williamson and Paula Williamson.

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2/25/16 2:05 PM

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Woof! Sip. Woof!

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 17

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Annual Dinner and Auction Benefits Shelby Humane Society

Therena Smith and Laura Steen.

More than 140 people attended the sold-out Bark & Wine benefitting Shelby Humane Society on July 23, hosted by the organization’s board of directors.

Held at the Greystone Country Club in Hoover, the event treated guests to dinner, drinks and a live auction led by Jack Granger.

Shelby Humane Society Executive Director Judy Van Luchene updated the crowd on the organization’s many successful programs and services, including local adoptions, transports to northern states and quick fix programs to reduce overpopulation.

As the only open-admission

From left: Kenny Hanks, Allyn Hanks, Anna Hanks, Cassidy Sklar and Mitch Poe.

animal shelter in Shelby County, Shelby Humane Society annually cares for more than 5,000 animals.

Silent and live auction items included a trip to Napa, California, a baseball experience at Wrigley Field with the Chicago Cubs, Adirondack chairs decorated with paw prints from shelter cats and dogs, a tailgate package with barbecue and Yeti items, a Greystone golf package, an in-home chef dinner for eight and a trip to San Destin, Florida.

“This is the seventh year Shelby

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Humane has hosted Bark & Wine and this event continues to grow and help Shelby Humane achieve our life-saving mission,” said Melissa Brown, vice president of the board. “Past adopters and supporters of Shelby Humane Society enjoy attending to see the continued successes of the shelter. For those that were not familiar with Shelby Humane Society yet, attending Bark & Wine introduced them to the numerous programs and achievements the hard-working staff at the shelter accomplishes.” ❖

Help your student face a new year To: with a clear complexion!

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Renee Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax August

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18 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

The First Bite

Photos by Andi Rice Photography.

Birmingham Restaurant Week Treats Guests to Preview Party

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From left: Lynn Isbell, Ariel Williams, April Trent and Kirsta Williams.

This is your ad proof from the over the mountain Journal for the august 25, 2016 issue. Please contact your sales representative as soon as possible to approve your ad or make changes. You may fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

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please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

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SUNDAYS AT 8:15 & 10:45 AM

Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church 5080 Cahaba Valley Trace Birmingham, AL 35242

#wheregraceabounds

Cathy and Chuck Cargal.

The event featured a selection of appetizers, entrees and desserts.

Liz and Mark Boger.

More than 500 guests made their way to Regions Field on Aug. 3 to celebrate the impending Birmingham Restaurant Week with a preview party.

The event sold out for the third year in a row, proving to be another success for event hosts REV Bham and sponsors Alagasco and the city of Birmingham.

As guests mingled in the Diamonds Direct room overlooking the field, they were treated to a view of a Baron’s baseball game.

The event featured a selection of appetizers, entrees and desserts from 14 restaurants and vendors participat-

ing in Birmingham Restaurant Week, held Aug. 12-21.

The menu included: Ovenbird, tomato gazpacho; Sky Castle, watermelon salad skewers; Little Savannah, pasta a la bolognese; BYOB, atomic dogs; Slice, prosciutto wrapped figs topped with goat cheese and walnuts; POP’S Neighborhood Grill, POP’s Famous Dog; East 59, zesty buffalo chicken dip and hot artichoke dip; Dreamland BBQ, smoked sausage with pimento cheese, BBQ onion dip and hickory grilled rib tips; Tropicaleo, mofongo balls and arroz con cilantro; Eugene’s Hot Chicken, popcorn chicken four ways; Magic

City Baking Co., cake bites and mini cupcakes; Naughty But Nice Kettle Corn Co., offered in flavors “naughty and nice,” “cheddar makes it better,” and “French toast;” Lady Bell Cakery, Babe Ruth brownie bites and All American Grand Slammers cake shots; and an assortment of Baseemah’s Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls.

Bourbon samplings from Cooper’s Craft and wine from United Johnson were on hand to complement the tasty treats.

Through the event, $8,300 was raised to benefit the Urban Food Project. ❖

weddings & engagements

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Delgado-Parsons

Michelle Lynn Delgado and Adam Michael Parsons were married Dec. 5 at Midtown Fellowship Church in Nashville, Tennessee. The Rev. Randy Draughon officiated the ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Dennis G. Delgado of Birmingham. The groom is the son

of Dr. and Mrs. Rick Parsons of Knoxville, Tennessee and Ms. Beth Parsons of Longmont, Colorado.

Denise Scroggins and Deana Callison, sisters of the bride, were the matrons of honor. Bridesmaids were Lauren Parsons, sister of the groom, Katie Gaston, Mallory Hutchison, Amy Ingram, Cameron Riley, Stefanie Robertson and Emily Saunders. Junior bridesmaids were Ava and Kate Scroggins, nieces of the bride. Flower girls were Mary Callison and Olivia Scroggins, nieces of the bride.

Ryan Parsons, brother of the groom, served as best man.

Groomsmen were Chris Bolen, Ben Decker, Will Hamblen, James Hildreth, T.J. Tipton, Shane Walker and Tyler Wall. The ring bearer was James Callison, nephew of the bride.

The reader was Kristen Di Cristina and program attendants were Lindsay Frail and Elizabeth Guerra.

Following a honeymoon trip in Mexico, the couple live in Nashville.

Moon 50th Anniversary

Fifty and Fun...Far from Done!

Leon and Linda (Henley) Moon will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 1. They were married at Berney Points Baptist Church in Birmingham.

Mr. and Mrs. Moon have two children and six grandchildren.

The couple will celebrate by taking a trip, which they are keeping secret from the family until their return.

Congratulations Oopie and Pops!

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 19

Phillips 50th Anniversary

High school sweethearts John Phillips and Denise McLellan of Altadena married 50 years ago, on Aug. 13, 1966, at Ensley Baptist Church.

Their wonderful family includes: Hunter Phillips; Kate Phillips and Joe Hudson (Conner, Cameron, Amy Beth and Abbey); and John and Shanna Phillips (Emma Grace, Bennett and Graham).

Mr. Phillips, a University of West Alabama graduate, and Mrs. Phillips, a University of Alabama graduate, have enjoyed working together in their writing business, spending time with their family and serving the Lord.

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business

20 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Over the Mountain Retailers Nominated for State Award

Marguerite Ray, owner of Marguerite’s Conceits, said it isn’t the first time her shop has been nominated but it is certainly a shock to be a finalist.

“I can’t even believe it. I love what I do. It wasn’t a specific goal of mine but it is such an honor and nice to be recognized.”

Ray’s shop has a small footprint on Canterbury Road, but it is filled with what Ray calls “feel good, pampering” merchandise.

Ray carries high-end designers such as Ann Gish, Serena and Lily, Scout and cinda b. Shelves are piled high with soft blankets and silk sheets, and tables display beautiful candles and bath accessories. On standing racks hang comfy and whimsical pajama sets.

But the foundation of Ray’s business comes from her training and experience as an interior designer.

“Linens are the bulk of my business. I have an interior design degree so it’s really fun to work with my cus-

Journal photo by Maury Wald

Marguerite’s Conceits

Once Upon A Time owner Linda Flaherty, above left, opened the Crestline Village store in 1996 focusing on nursery design and special occasion clothing. Marguerite Ray, owner of Marguerite’s Conceits, above right, said it isn’t the first time her shop has been nominated but it is certainly a shock to be a finalist.

Looking toward the future, Ray said she is branching out a little bit to carry more clothes and a wider range of lines.

After selling more than 700 cashmere ponchos last holiday season, Ray is even more keen to find the next big hit as she heads into the fall and winter.

Ray said she is grateful to all her loyal customers and for all the new faces discovering the store since the development of the Grand Bohemian Hotel and Lane Parke complex.

Most of all, Ray feels confident in her business because she has never had doubts or regrets.

“I have never thought to myself, ‘Oh, gross. I have to go to work today’.”

tomers, figuring out what will work best for them.”

Ray said she has helped customers design bedrooms as far away as South America and the British Virgin Islands.

Marguerite’s Conceits is actually the second linen shop Ray has owned; she and a partner opened Table Matters in Mountain Brook Village in the early 90’s, focusing on beautiful table linens and décor.

Two years later, Ray sold her part of the business to open Marguerite’s Conceits and focus on a different range of luxury products.

Ray believes much of her success comes from keeping her finger on the pulse of what customers are looking for and from offering loyal and friendly service.

Once Upon a Time

Offering beautiful children’s clothing, accessories, linens and furniture for 20 years, Once Upon a Time has become a staple in the lives of many Over the Mountain parents and children.

Store owner Linda Flaherty opened the Crestline Village store in 1996 focusing on nursery design and special occasion clothing.

The idea stemmed from her love of sewing, especially nursery decor.

“My sisters and I worked on the nursery when our youngest sister had her first baby. It was on the way back from that trip that I had the idea,” Flaherty said.

She began the business, then called Nursery Décor, out of her home, where she would sew custom

Back to School Business Merchants at The Heights Village in Cahaba Heights held a Back to School Tailgate Bash last Saturday to celebrate a new school year and the kickoff of a new football season. The event included music by Kate and the Howlers, face painting, games and a special visit from some very popular princesses.

Left: From left: Lila Warner, Ashley Johnson, Charlotte Warner and Charlotte Wickersham. right: Magali Serrano and Sophia Morlandt.

Far Right: Karen Yearout with daughter Adrianne.

Below left: Gigi’s employees Kendall Carter and Elizabeth Sturgeon. Below right: Magali Serrano and Vincent Morlandt.

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

The Alabama Retail Association has announced that two Mountain Brook businesses are finalists for the Alabama Retailer of the Year award.

Marguerite’s Conceits, a linens and gift shop in Mountain Brook Village, and Once Upon a Time, a “Southern baby” boutique with locations in Crestline Village and Homewood, are in the running along with a dozen other businesses from all over the state.

The two businesses were nominated and chosen by a panel of judges from the retail community.

Both businesses have been operating locally for more than two decades.

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

By Sarah Kuper

linens for clients.

A few years later, Flaherty opened the Crestline Village location of what is now Once Upon a Time.

From the beginning, she loved the way the store brought her into families’ lives.

“The customers become our friends. We help these first-time parents prepare for a life they’ve never experienced before.”

Now, a second generation of customers is frequenting Once Upon a Time for their children. Plus, Flaherty said, the quality and the traditional style of merchandise still appeals to an older generation.

“We do cater to grandmas,” she said.

Though the store carries traditional Southern wares, Flaherty is moving forward with modern methods to keep her business successful and approachable for a younger consumer.

“One goal that we have accomplished is to get the website up where people can register online,” she said. “We were overwhelmed in the first two weeks!”

Her next project is to select a software that can help with coordination between the store’s two locations in real time.

She said being chosen as a finalist for the Retailer of the Year award is an honor.

“We are thrilled. We appreciate the recognition from our peers. I have worked hard.”

Both Ray and Flaherty will have to wait until October to find out what level of award they will receive – gold, silver or bronze – but it seems being chosen as finalists has been prize enough. ❖

What’s Old is Still New

by Jeff Butler

TH

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Summer is over. As you might imagine, we received numerous call over the summer from parents about their children and what they might be doing. Mom fielded calls from parents about everything from DUIs to IV heroin use and callers’ ages ranged from 35 to 85. As a parent, you never stop wanting the best for your child.

Here’s the harsh reality of the times. We’ve all heard this or something like it, “kids are going to be kids. They’re going To: Ken to experiment.” Our parents From: Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 said it. Our grandparents FAX: 205-824-1246 probably said it. Well, this still Date: Jan. 2015 holds true. However, the circumstances have changed.

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about how they used to play in the toy bin while their mothers shopped for them,” she said.

Owning a small business for 35 years has been a blessing to Rothoff, though maybe not in the financial sense.

“I’m not the wealthiest shop owner, but in reality I am. God works in wonderful ways.”

Rothoff said she also has been blessed with wonderful employees and helpers including Travis and her granddaughter Sophie Shunnarah.

Shunnarah said Korduroy Krocodile essentially is a second home and she values the relationships she has built as a child and a young adult.

“Someone will come in and ask, ‘Do you think this will look good on my daughter?’ and we will know exactly who she is talking about,” Shunnarah said.

Even after 35 years, Rothoff said she doesn’t often think about retiring.

“If I retire or sell the business, it will be in the fine print that I still get to work here,” she said.

As far as a way to commemorate 35 years, Rothoff said it has been a busy summer and she’s not sure how she will celebrate.

“I guess I’ll have to think of something special to do!” ❖

O W

Scoring a great find at a consignment or resale shop is a point of pride nowadays, but Lynda Rothoff said it wasn’t always that way.

“Consignment shopping was sort of taboo when we first opened,” she said. “Customers would park and come in through the back and leave through the back. Back then, people thought of consignment stores like they thought of Goodwill.”

In the same location on Linden Avenue in Homewood for 35 years, Rothoff’s Korduroy Krocodile was one of the first high-end children’s consignment stores in the Over the Mountain area.

Rothoff has lived in Edgewood for 43 years. After retirement from the corporate world left her restless, she started Korduroy Krocodile.

She quickly learned that, despite the stigma, a childrens’ consignment store was needed in the area; she had 100 consigners in her first month.

Since then, business has grown and Rothoff has opened up more floor space and begun to offer a wider range of clothes, shoes, toys and accessories, always keeping standards high.

She said her shop’s longevity has kept her aware of childrens’ clothing trends.

“The clothes have gotten more casual, but of course you still see that Southern flare – smocking and pleating. Older kids are wanting more of the brand name clothes like Under Armor.”

While Rothoff and her staff sift through merchandise to offer the highest quality, she suspects that isn’t the only thing bringing customers back.

“It’s so much about the relationships. People will come by to relax and browse and say, ‘Hi.’ Sometimes people just come to talk and even have a good cry on a bad day.”

Mandi Travis, a long-time employee, recalls a time when a customer overheard her talk about a Bible study lesson.

“I was talking about what we were learning and she came back and told Lynda later about how she was impacted by what she overheard,” Travis said.

Rothoff said she is thankful to be a part of her loyal customers’ lives, especially now that she is seeing a second generation shop for their children.

“Parents come in and comment

Rehab Reality

OUR 118 YEAR

N

By Sarah Kuper

Lynda Rothoff, center, with Korduroy Krocodile employees Mandi Travis and Sophie Shunnarah. The store had been in the same location on Linden Avenue in Homewood for 35 years.

Journal photo by Sarah Kuper

Korduroy Krocodile Consignment Has Catered to Families For 35 Years

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 21

business

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Destin, FL Healing water front setting Licensed & court approved

22 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

school

Taking the Lead

City Officials Welcome Leadership Mountain Brook Class of 2016-17

By Emily Williams Mountain Brook city officials gathered at City Hall on Aug. 16 to welcome the 2016-17 class of Leadership Mountain Brook, a program offered to juniors and seniors at Mountain Brook High School that fosters leadership skills while exposing students to the inner-workings of a city government.

The 20 students – 10 juniors and 10 seniors – will spend the year working closely with different departments of the city both to learn and to offer their own ideas to enhance the quality of life in the city.

The class is led by MBHS business teacher Amber Benson, who, along with a committee, selects students for the program through an application process and interviews.

“Overall, the students selected are passionate about their community, take initiative, communicate effectively and have time to commit themselves to the program,” Benson said.

Class members were welcomed to their new positions by Mayor Terry Oden; Dana Hazen, director of planning, building and sustainability; Ted Cook, chief of police; Shannon Williams, director of parks and recreation; Ronald Vaughn, director of public works; Sue DeBrecht, executive director of Emmett O’Neal Library; Steve Boone, director of finance; Stacey Cole, deputy fire chief; and Sam Gaston, city manager.

In an addition to the curriculum this year, the class will work directly

Open their world to the Arts!

with these departments in an effort to learn about the inner workings of a city government firsthand. The students also are encouraged to voice their opinions and ideas throughout the process and leave their mark on the city.

“Over the last number of years, Leadership Mountain Brook has come up with some fantastic ideas for the city,” Superintendent Dicky Barlowe said. “In fact, I just walked across one of them – the bricks outside of this building.”

In a new feature this year, Barlowe and the Mountain Brook School System’s central office administrators will join their fellow city officials and teach class members about the history and operations of the school system.

Benson said she hopes the addition will change the student’s perspective of their daily school routine and, just maybe, they will consider the school system when planning annual improvement projects.

“Each year, I look forward to watching these students grow and develop their leadership skills in a unique setting,” Benson said. “It’s exciting to see each class challenge themselves to be the best. The students know what the previous groups have accomplished and how those projects are impacting the community.”

The 2015-16 class’ published children’s book, “Buttons Explores Mountain Brook,” caught the eye of one of the new class members,

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Matthew Bullock.

“I’ve seen what the other classes have done over the years and it grabbed a lot of attention and inspired me to want to do something more for the community,” Bullock said.

Though the class has just received their official welcome, they already have started their work. The students are working on a placement with Emmett O’Neal Library and are charged with creating something special for the upcoming Taste of Mountain Brook event.

“One of the first things we’re doing is trying to come up with a mission statement,” Bullock said.

“It needs to be something that lasts throughout the years.”

“The excitement I experience each year lies in the moments when I witness the students developing their ideas and executing them into viable community improvements,” Benson said. “It is very rewarding to watch the transformation in the student’s confidence level as they progress through this leadership program.”

Members of the 2016-17 Leadership Mountain Brook class are Kendall Alby, Lane Berry, Mary Frances Bloodworth, Jennings Briley, Matthew Bullock, Will Bundy, Fredda Cardwell, Gracie Carmichael, Isabella DeGaris, Emily Ferguson, Madison Gaston, Sarah Gladney, Caroline Goings, Mary Louise Howland, Sarah Hydinger, Jonathan Jones, Rose Levine, Lily Rucker, Noelle Thrasher and Virginia Winn. ❖

Spring Valley board members, left to right, Jack Levy, Joe Abbott, Billy Cornay, John McDonald, Laura Fiveash and Sally Whitley.

Spring Valley School Opens in New Home Spring Valley School recently moved to the former Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

The new location, off of Lakeshore Drive at 2701 Sydney Drive, includes 6.5 acres, enough land to allow for expansion in the future. It contains a gym, which the school did not have in its previous location at Crestline Christian Church, and a large auditorium that can be used for school dances.

Best of all, according to school Executive Director Laura Fiveash, it has 14 toilets.

“The most shocking thing that I always tell people is that our old location had three toilets in the whole building,” Fiveash laughed. “That’s two toilets for the girls and one for the boys. And that includes not just (for) the students, but the faculty and the parents who visit.”

Spring Valley is an independent college-preparatory school that serves 60 students who suffer from a wide range of learning disabilities.

It maintains a ratio of eight to nine students per instructor.

When Spring Valley bought the old Aldersgate building in July, it had been nearly vacant for four years, used only a few hours each weekend. While builders

took care of structural jobs, such as replacing the roofing, school staff and community supporters tackled the small stuff. Protective Life staff members donated 250 service hours, helping paint and replace fixtures, for instance.

“It was a whirlwind, but everything has fallen into place,” Fiveash said.

“When the space became available, we got to work and raised $500,000 in the last six months simply by writing grants and reaching out on a personal level for things like corporate gifts and private donations.”

The school moved into the new building in time for the first day of classes on Aug. 15.

Moving forward, the school plans to double the number of students it serves to 120 and raise funds to continue offering scholarships to students who need financial support. The school also has a three-year fundraising goal to pay for expanding the building and buying an adjacent plot of land.

“This is a whole new beginning for us,” Fiveash said. “We’ll have the space to do so many new things, and we’re going to start a community service requirement for the students to give back to the community.” ❖

Photo special to the Journal

Journal photo by Emily Williams

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Crestline Team Places in International Destination Imagination Tournament

Crestline Elementary teacher Heather Phillips and members of the “Meme Team” with the “maker cart” they created and entered into the Global Destination Imagination Tournament.

A group of fourth-grade students from Crestline Elementary recently competed in the Global Destination Imagination Tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee. Teammates Wiley Cooper, Patton Hahn, James Hard, Frederic Smith and Banks Tessier made up the group called the Meme Team.

The Meme Team, led by Crestline’s Page teacher, Heather Phillips, is the first team from Mountain Brook to compete at the tournament’s global level.

After qualifying for globals by winning at both the regional and state-level competitions, the students joined more

than 8,000 students representing more than 20 countries at the final tournament.

The Meme Team ranked in the top 20 of the Instant Challenge category, an “innovation under pressure” task. In this category, the team was presented a problem and asked to deliver a possible solution under a strict time constraint, engaging their quick, creative and critical thinking skills.

Teammates were also highly ranked in the Meme Event, presenting their solution to a particular community need. The group worked on its project throughout the school year to create

7/18/2011 1:26:22 PM

a “maker cart” to be used during exploration time in Crestline’s fourthgrade classes. The cart included functional items such as batteries, wires, lightbulbs, pipe cleaners, Legos, straws and more. In addition, the team created online tutorials, accessible during exploration time, that taught students how to use items on the cart to light lightbulbs, mobilize motors or produce unique creations with ordinary items.

According to school officials, the maker cart will continue to be used in the classroom by Crestline Elementary students. ❖

fashion The Cutting Edge

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 23

Birmingham Fashion Week Showcases Local and National Talent

Six years have passed since childhood friends Heidi Elnora and Jeana Lee Thompson celebrated their first Birmingham Fashion Week and, according to Thompson, those years of experience haven’t lightened the workload.

“Every year has been amazing, but as it’s grown it has become more and more difficult to organize,” Thompson said. “Here at year number six we’re able to add some great new features and surprises. You start to realize just how much hard work it takes to make everything bigger and better each year, but it’s also very exciting.”

Both co-founders are fashionistas in their own right. Thompson and her sister co-own Bella Bridesmaid in Homewood. Elnora keeps a flagship store in downtown Birmingham for her international bridal brand heidi elnora. Over the years, the two women have seen their one-night fashion show evolve into a three-night extravaganza.

This year’s showcase will take place Aug. 25-27 in Boutwell Auditorium.

One of the aspects of the show that has most notably evolved, Thompson said, is the level of talent being showcased on the main runway.

Last year, the headlining designers were mostly Project Runway contestants. But this year guests will see designers that can be found in stores across the country.

“The talent that we have this year is far more recognizable,” Thompson said. “One of the biggest names is Rails. They are huge and worn by almost every celebrity.” Thompson added that Forbes in an article a year ago named Rails one of the top brands in contemporary fashion.

The fashions that will grace the runway won’t be too far out of reach. Though designers hail from far-off places such as Los Angeles and New York, the brands are available at local retailers. Thompson and the Birmingham Fashion Week staff coordinate with local runway retailers Gus Mayer and The Clothes Tree to find out which are their favorite brands before Local students will be taking their design creations to the stage for the Rising Design Star Competition, presented in conjunction with Birmingham Fashion Week.

Sixty semifinalists from middle and high schools around the state will have the opportunity to present their themed design submissions.

“This is one of my favorite aspects of the weekend,” fashion week co-founder Jeana Lee Thompson said.

“It’s unbelievable the talent we have seen this year and I expect people to be blown away. Anybody that has ever been to this show before knows just how amazing these kids are.”

This year’s theme is “Future of Fashion,” which asked the designer to create a piece that embodied their vision of how fashion will evolve over the next century. The garments were created using pieces of recycled or alternative material such as glue, staples, tape, safety pins and paper clips.

Models will walk the runway at

Photos courtesy Birmingham Fashion Week

By Emily Williams

Birmingham Fashion Week veteran and Vestavia Hills High School sophomore Bradford Billingsley, featured on “Project Runway: Threads,” will graduate to the main stage this year and show a collection of runway gowns. Jeana Lee Thompson, above right, co-founded BFW with her childhood friend, Heidi Elnora, six years ago.

they begin recruiting designers.

Birmingham Fashion Week veteran and Vestavia Hills High School sophomore Bradford Billingsley, featured on “Project Runway: Threads,” will graduate to the main stage this year and show a collection of runway gowns.

Billingsley previously participated in the fashion week’s Rising Design Star competition for local middle and high school students.

“We just love (Billingsley) and I’m so excited to have him back,” Thompson said. “I feel like we’ve seen him really grow up and come into his own. When he first started competing in the competition, he was just a small child and

now he has this phenomenal collection that he has been working on for a year.”

Giving local talent the opportunity to shine is what Thompson describes as the mission of Birmingham Fashion Week. Kids can showcase their skills through the Rising Design Star competition and up-and-coming talent through the Emerging Designer competition.

It doesn’t stop at design, the 140 models walking the runway had to audition for their spots on stage in the Fresh Face of Fashion: Model Search competition. Last year’s winner, Ellie Martin of Mountain Brook, has gone on to work for big names such as Forever 21.

“When we started this event, we did it because we felt like there was so much talent in Birmingham that flew under the radar,” Thompson said. “There are so many different aspects of this weekend that make it such a great event and it provides a platform for so many.

Even hair and makeup artists are given the opportunity to showcase their talents.”

Each evening beginning at 7 p.m., the fashion week runway in Boutwell Auditorium will feature fall/winter and holiday looks from professional brands including Hale Bob, by Smith, Abbey Glass, Benjamin Jay, Rails, Alice & Trixie and, of course, heidi elnora.

“This year, the show is a more comprehensive collection,” Thompson said. “I’ve only caught a glimpse of some of the designs, but as far as holiday trends go, expect to see a lot of sequins and flowing caftans.”

Thanks to the extra space, air conditioning and plethora of parking spaces, Thompson and her crew expect this to be the best fashion week yet, with some secret surprises in store. Tickets begin at $20 per night.

“Birmingham Fashion Week is a great opportunity that was simply never here before,” Thompson said. “It takes a whole community to help this run smoothly, but it never ceases to come off flawlessly.”

For more information and a full schedule, visit bhamfashionweek.com. ❖

Rising To the Occasion

OTM Students to Show Futuristic Designs at Birmingham Fashion Week

Anna Lee

Camille Colter

Matthew Pierce

Harlan Alford

Rigdon Hendrix

Chloe Annadkin

Karley Wilson

Ellen Landy

John Price

Brooke Lindsey

Camille Miceli

McKinley Rohrer

Boutwell Auditorium, showcasing each piece for judging, on Aug. 25 and 26.

The top three winning garments will be announced on Saturday evening, Aug. 27 at the “Fashion Finale.” The top three designers will receive cash prizes, and the first place winner will receive a college scholarship and editorial coverage.

Rising Star Competition semi-finalists from the Over the Mountain area include, from Homewood: Anna Lee, Camille Colter, Demi Shamsi-Basha, Madeline Kline, Matthew Pierce, Rigdon Hendrix, Harlan Alford, and Saliva Almansoob.

From Hoover: Anna Cate Weeks, Charity Kent, Chloe Annadkin, Francesca Dichiara, Karley Wilson, Ontra Awad and Lola Waldrop.

From Mountain Brook: Ellen Landy, John Price and Mary Frances Torbert.

From Vestavia Hills: Brooke Lindsey, Camille Miceli, Liz Link and McKinley Rohrer.

—Emily Williams

24 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

fashion

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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Fall Fashion Journal photos by Lee Walls Jr.

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Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 25

fashion

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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From page 28

Photo special to the Journal

Barret Pickering booted three field goals.

Hoover trailed 7-0 early in the game before scoring 23 unanswered points for the victory.

“It was all about focus,” Hoover coach Josh Niblett said. “So many people in our community are talking about the trip to Texas next week (for the Tom Landry Classic).

But we had to stay focused on the challenge in front of us tonight.”

Darius Farmer’s interception in the end zone on the game’s final play clinched Spain Park’s narrow 21-17 win over host Gadsden City.

The Jaguars built a 21-7 lead in the second half before the Titans staged a furious rally that almost Spain Park 21, pulled the game Gadsden City 17 from the fire.

Spain Park’s second touchdown came when linebacker Rayfe Richey picked up a Gadsden fumble and dashed to the end zone. Larry Wooden and Rayfe Richey also earned touchdown for the winners.

Soccer Players Commit to Community Projects on Serve Day

Birmingham United Soccer Association’s 06 North boys team and coach Colby Childress served the Pelham Police Department lunch during the group’s second annual Serve Day. On July 31, at the end of BUSA’s Annual Competitive Team Camp, players on more than 70 teams, coaches and parents helped complete more than 60

community, From page 1

just among the students and parents, but for the townspeople. Our games became a social event for the whole city.”

That’s when true tailgating began to take place at the Spartans’ school parking lot before games – a tradition

service projects. “One of the most important life skills we can teach our players and membership is how to serve and impact people within our own community,” BUSA Executive Director Andrew Brower said in a statement. Among other projects, the teams cleaned up trash in and around the Sipsey River, worked on buildings and grounds at King’s Home, and provided lunch and supplies to parents and patients at Children’s of Alabama. For more information on BUSA, visit birminghamunited.com.

that continues today.

Another factor is the neighborhood rivalries that develop throughout time.

Students at Over the Mountain schools socialize and attend church and other activities with students from other area schools. Many of them are close friends – which makes them all the more eager to win bragging rights on Friday nights.

“We made a million mistakes, but found a way to win,” Jaguar coach Shawn Raney said. “It wasn’t pretty, but it was good enough.”

Mountain Brook probably didn’t pack towels and chairs for its trip to Gulf Shores, Mtn. Brook 56, but the Dolphins prob- Gulf Shores 6 ably wish the Spartans had come to their town to play beach ball instead of football.

Coach Chris Yeager’s team routed Gulf Shores 56-6.

Senior running back Sam Everette raced for 191 yards on only 19 attempts. Quarterback Hamp Sission passed for 104 yards. Mountain Brook rolled up 494 yards of total offense.

Oak Mountain took an early 14-0 lead but couldn’t hold Chelsea 49, on as Class Oak Mountain 33 6A’s Chelsea stormed back to win a 49-33 shootout.

Eagle quarterback Wyatt Legas passed for 268 yards and produced more than 300 total yards for the evening. Daniel Salchert scored three touchdowns in the losing cause.

Oak Mountain closed the margin to 35-33 late in the game only to see the Hornets score twice to seal the verdict.

Vestavia Hills and Briarwood didn’t open their season, but they played a jamboree game. The Rebels led 7-0 before the junior varsity squads took over in the second half.

Top : Senior Patriot wide receiver Andrew Cleveland goes up to make a nice reception over a Pelham defender. bottom: Homewood’s Antoine McGhee closes in on Pelham’s quarterback.

Long-time Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson believes strongly in the neighborhood matches. The Rebels have played close-by neighbors Homewood, Mountain Brook and Hoover (formerly Berry) virtually every year since the 1970s.

“Those games are important to our players and draw the most interest from the fans and the community at

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large,” Anderson said. “Our best gates of the season usually come from the Over the Mountain rivalries. It means a lot to our fans for us to play those schools.”

The city of Hoover is unique among Over the Mountain municipalities as it is served by two high schools that bring an intercity rivalry into the mix. Hoover High School, in its earlier incarnation as Berry, had a monopoly on the affections of fans until the opening of Spain Park in 2001. The Buccaneer program dominated for the better part of 14 years before the Jaguars finally claimed two wins over their rival in 2015.

Hoover fans, who see their team frequently schedule made-for-television matches with out-of-state powers, understand the importance of games with local rivals. No coach has had more success against the Bucs over the years than Vestavia’s Anderson. Ask most Hoover fans whom they would rather see their team defeat, a school from Florida or Vestavia, the likely choice would be the Rebels.

In addition to its rivalry with Hoover, Spain Park has developed a heathy competition with close neighbor Oak Mountain, which draws its student base largely from unincorporated Shelby County. The Eagle program, which began in 1999, also at one time had a rivalry with private school power Briarwood, just down the road on U.S. 119.

The brotherhood of community associated with high school football

shows itself in other ways. Take a look at any Over the Mountain school’s game program or stadium and you are likely to see advertisements from local businesses supporting the area’s teams. Corporate sponsors also step up to support special events such as a local hamburger chain’s sponsorship of this year’s Homewood-Pelham season opener at Samford University’s Seibert Stadium.

“Games like this are a special experience for our players,” Homewood coach Ben Berguson said. “Anytime they get the opportunity to play at a college venue, it’s a great opportunity.

We’re grateful for the sponsors who made this happen.”

The special support that high school football enjoys appears to be undented by modern technology. If anything, the proliferation of social media has increased interest as an exciting play or game can be transmitted to thousands in a matter of seconds.

Even television saturation of college football hasn’t seemed to seriously hurt attendance. For years, high school coaches warned that if college games were ever televised on Friday nights, it could lead to the death of the sport at their level. So far, that hasn’t happened.

In fact, Gerald Gann’s premonition of many years ago has proved accurate. When it comes to the Over the Mountain area, the high school football game really is the biggest thing happening on Friday nights. ❖

sports

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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positon he has played ever since.

Fortunately, Jones isn’t the only outstanding back that the Patriots will call upon in the new season. Junior Nick McCoy and sophomore David Robertson have outstanding potential.

Inexperience in the offensive line could be an issue, but Jones doesn’t think that will be a problem.

“Our coaches will do a great job with our young linemen,” he said. “So we can’t worry about that. Our job is to gain as much yardage as we can on every play with no excuses. It’s a challenge that I think we can handle.”

Homewood’s season ended with a heartbreaking 40-39 loss to perennial Class 6A superpower Clay-Chalkville in a game the Patriots could easily have won. Jones said the memory of that stinging defeat will serve as a motivator this time around.

“We think about it every day,” he said. “It’s tough to look back on a game and say, ‘If we had done this or that, we would have won.’ The past can’t be changed, but we can use it as an incentive to pay attention to the details and get better every day.”

The Patriots have won exactly nine games in each of the past four seasons, and Jones would like to be part of the group that raises that total into double digits.

“Winning nine games a year is good, but we think we can do better,” he said. “We want to be in a position to play for a championship. You can’t do that by winning only nine games.”

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 27

Chestin Jones rushed for 116 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Patriot’s 21-14 win over Pelham last Thursday.

Jones’ favorite professional player is Houston Texans wide receiver Braxton Miller. The choice of Miller may be surprising, considering his college was Ohio State, which isn’t exactly the most popular team in the state of Alabama.

But Jones is quick to make the distinction. “Just because Braxton Miller is my favorite player doesn’t mean Ohio State is my favorite team,” he said, laughing. “I make sure people know that, because otherwise

I get a strange look when I mention Braxton’s name.”

Jones would love a shot at major college football, but he’s taking things as they come.

“All I can do is the best I can and make our team as good as possible.

If I do that, the rewards will come,” he said.

Chestin Jones’ first name may be unusual, but if he and Homewood have a big season, every fan in Alabama will know it well. ❖

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, August 25, 2016

2016 OTM High School Football Up Close

Sports

Inside

lee davis

Early Warnings

Brand Name

Chestin Jones Expected to Lead Patriot Offense in 2016

Patriots Survive Scare, Bucs, Jags, Spartans Win

By Lee Davis

See week 1, page 26

Jamboree Jam: A host of Vestavia defenders stop Briarwood’s J.R. Tran Reno in the Rebel’s 20-7 win over the Lions last week.

Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

If the event planners for the Milo’s Breakfast Kickoff Classic at Samford University were looking for a compelling inaugural game, Homewood and Pelham were happy to oblige.

The Patriots overcame a 14-0 deficit late in the third quarter to pull out a 21-14 victory at Seibert Stadium on Thursday night.

Senior running Homewood 21, back Chestin Pelham 14 Jones provided the spark with three late touchdowns.

The Panthers mishandled a punt snap on their own 20-yard line late in the game to set up Jones’ third and final score. He completed the night with 116 yards on the ground.

Both teams struggled with errors, as there were 22 total penalties in the game.

“We didn’t play our best, but I told our team we had a whole new game to play in the second half,” Homewood coach Ben Berguson said.

“Pelham had a terrific night.”

Jones said the Panthers’ strong start put a lot of pressure on the Patriots.

“We started slowly, and we had to pick it up and do better,” he explained. “I felt that it was up to me to help get us back in the game.”

Hoover journeyed to Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl to take a 23-7 win Hoover 23, over CentralCentral-Phenix City 7 Phenix City in the Champions Challenge Football Classic.

Buc quarterback Garrett Farquhar, making his first start, completed eight of 25 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a score.

One of the first things you notice about Homewood’s Chestin Jones is his unusual first name.

“My father’s name is Chester,” Jones explained last week. “When I was born, they didn’t want to name me ‘Chester,’ but they wanted something similar. So they came up with ‘Chestin.’”

If you see Jones on the football field, the first thing you might notice is his effectiveness in running the ball. Patriot coach Ben Berguson thinks Jones’ productivity could be the key to his team’s season in 2016.

“Chestin is probably our best athlete,” Berguson said. “As he goes, so goes our offense. He’s a tremendous player and a great young man and we are expecting a lot from him. And that’s the way he wants it.”

Jones’ statistics from Homewood’s 9-3 season last year aren’t eyepopping, largely because the Patriots had multiple weapons in their offense.

He gained 313 yards, averaging 4.8 points a game with four touchdowns.

His best game came in Homewood’s 27-3 rout of Jackson-Olin, when he gained 76 yards on 10 carries, including a 50-yard touchdown run.

“My goal is to rush for 1,000 yards,” Jones said. “For me, that would be a personal milestone. But by far the most important thing is helping our team any way I can.”

Jones’ football career began at the age of 6, when he played for the East Lake Cowboys. He started as an offensive lineman. When Jones was 10 years old, his family moved to Homewood and coaches discovered his skills as a running back. That’s the See Jones, page 27

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over the mountain journal

2016 otm high school

football

Meet players from your favorite team coaches predict will play a key role in their success this season.

Larry Wooden Spain park

Chestin Jones Homewood

to watch

James Edwards vestavia hills

Daniel Salchert oak mountain

Ethan Housel Briarwood

Bailey Mara john carroll

Zach Carroll mountain Brook

Cortez Hall Hoover

inside /// team profiles /// schedules /// rosters /// a look back at the ’76 Spartan State championship season /// and more

Journal photos by Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls Jr., Hal Yeager, Jordan Wald

otm key players

2 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

OTM High School Football

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Rushing Challenge Jaguar Larry Wooden Ready for a Big 2016

By Lee Davis

Journal file photo by Marvin Gentry

Spain Park’s two football victories over archrival Hoover last season added some spice to an already intense crosstown rivalry.

And Larry Wooden wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Yes, we’ve talked some smack with them (Hoover players) since then,” Spain Park tailback Wooden said at media day in July. “It goes both ways. It’s just a fun part of the rivalry.”

The talking may be fun, but Wooden is serious on the field. In his junior season of 2015, he rushed for nearly 900 yards and gained more than 1200 all-purpose yards.

“We’ll be counting on Larry a lot this fall,” said Spain Park coach Shawn Raney. “He is a threat in so many ways. We’re going to try to get the ball in his hands as much as we can.”

Wooden’s best game last season may have come in Spain Park’s 21-7 win over Mountain Brook. He burned the Spartans by gaining 103 yards on only 15 carries with two touchdowns.

His longest run from scrimmage was 42 yards. Wooden also caught four passes for 30 yards.

Larry is one of those guys who, when he gets the ball, people get excited,” Raney said. “He is always a threat to go all the way.”

A typical Wooden play came in Spain Park’s 38-35 loss to Austin in the season opener last year. The Jaguars were on their own 25 when Wooden caught a routine screen pass.

After getting a good block along the sideline, he cut inside, shook off one defender and dashed 75 yards for a touchdown.

“Larry has great explosiveness,” Raney said.

“He follows his blockers well and knows how to make things happen on his own. Larry has great football instincts.”

Wooden is a superb physical specimen. He stands 6 feet tall, weighs 190 pounds, completes

“We’ve got more speed and a little more size than maybe we’ve had over the past few years. I think we have a chance to make an impact in our new region.”

Fred Yancey Briarwood

Page 6

“We’ve built a solid program here. But we want to get to the next level.”

Ben Berguson Homewood

Page 8

the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds and squats 375 pounds in the weight room. But his greatest asset can’t be measured with a stop watch or a tape measure.

“Larry is a leader of this team,” said a Spain Park senior. “He doesn’t cheer and yell much.

He leads by example. The older guys and the younger guys all have a lot of respect for him.”

There’s plenty to respect about Wooden in the classroom as well. He has a 3.2 grade point average and plans to major in a field related to sports medicine in college.

“I want to be the best student I can be in my academic studies and in sports,” he said.

Wooden also stars on the Jaguar basketball team.

The 2015 season was in many ways a breakout season for both Wooden and the Spain Park program.

In addition to finishing 12-2, the team’s 17-0 upset of Hoover on Oct. 1 was the Jags’ first on-the-field win over the Bucs, although they earned a forfeit a decade ago. Just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, Spain Park edged Hoover 7-6 in the state Class 6A semi-finals.

The team’s magical run ended with a narrow 14-12 loss to McGillToolen in the Class 6A final.

For Wooden, the wins over Hoover were especially sweet.

“Beating Hoover meant a lot to our team, our school and our fans,” he said. “Through the years, we hadn’t had much success against them. So getting these wins was very special.”

If there was a down side to last season, it’s that Spain Park won’t be able to sneak up on anyone in 2016.

“The last time Spain Park reached the (state championship) final, we went 4-6 the next year,” Raney recalled. “We want to develop consistency in our program and be one of the best teams in the state every year.”

Wooden understands what his coach is saying.

“It’s fun to be the team that everyone is gunning for,” he said. “Being a favorite should just make us want to work harder than ever. Nobody is going to roll over just because we had a good team last year.”

While Wooden is totally focused on the business at hand, he makes no secret that his goal is to play college football.

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to play at the next level,” he said. “I’ve shown that I can put in the work required to do that.

If I do my job, everything will take care of itself.”

And Larry Wooden wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s (a) different vibe when you come in these doors. We don’t care what everybody else is saying.”

Josh Niblett

“We had one of the best off-season programs since I’ve been here. We’ve got a lot of guys here who are determined to get Mountain Brook back to where it is supposed to be.”

Chris Yeager

“We want to develop consistency in our program,” said Raney, who begins his fifth year as head coach.

“We’re trying to get to the point where we are one of the best teams in the state every year.”

Sean Raney

Hoover

Page 10

“These kids are dying to win, they really, really want to win ... This place means a lot to me, and I stay up late at night figuring out ways to do it.”

Logan Colafrancesco John Carroll

Page 12

Mountain Brook

Page 14

“You get a taste of the playoffs, and that’s a good taste. You want to get that back. They’ve got a little bit of a chip on their shoulder.”

Cris Bell Oak Mountain

Page 16

Spain Park

Page 18

“Coaching is what God wants me to do. He’ll let me know when it’s time to go.”

Buddy Anderson Vestavia

Page 20

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4 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Photos special to the Journal

state champs

Members of the Mountain Brook High School 1976 Class 4A state championship football team, front row, from left: Steve Glasscock, Richard Burg, Gil Rush, Frank Thomas, Mike Quinn, John Ault, Billy Morris, Jack Brown, Gregg Little, Riley Ogilvie and Jay Willoughby. Second row: Sam Hicks, Tommy Lister, John Shoemaker, John Bromberg, Carl Moss, John Blackburn, Bobby Staub, Rem Miller, John Martin, Jeff Young and R.J. Lyons. Third row: Randy Bailey, James Donley, Major Ogilvie, Jonah Cohen, Tim Brice, Gregg Ellis, Gil Key, David Wininger, Jack Faircloth, Peter Lester and Bill Williston. Fourth row: Rob Gams, Bob Shoulders, Mark Farris, Charles Henckell, Tony Titus, Mark Josey, Chris Rimmer, Bill Cole, Chris Willoughby, Lange Borroughs and Randy Jones. Fifth row: Dale Phillips, John Pasker, Cullom Walker, Craig Lokey, Ed Bowren, Frank Barnett, Max Niemann, Charles Bice, George Nakos, Craig Maluff and Chris Christie. Sixth row: Mark Bowren, Phillip Townsend, Charlie Sharp, Randall Bondurant, Rudolph Hauenstein, Otto Eisenhart, Rich Lipscumb, Dean Nakos, Joe Abbott, Bill McKibben and Lee Condrey. Seventh row: Coach Rhoades, George Bell, Coach Bradley, Coach Wright, Erick Cooper, Sam Price, Keith Bouchillon, Coach Balazik, Coach Fisher, Coach Brenner and Richard Rickart.

By Lee Davis What a difference a season made for the Mountain Brook Spartans football team in 1976.

The previous season, the Spartans had surprised everyone except themselves in posting a 13-0 record and winning the Class 4A championship.

If nobody expected Mountain Brook to claim a title in 1975, everyone expected it to win again in 1976. The talented juniors from the championship team returned for their senior seasons.

“There’s nothing as sweet as that first championship,” Spartan quarterback Richard Burg recalled. “The second one was expected.”

Expectations didn’t diminish the magnitude of the achievement. Even playing with a virtual bull’s eye on its back, Mountain Brook rolled through yet another season undefeated as a potent offense averaged 30 points a game. The Spartans bagged their second straight title with a 52-26 demolition of Murphy of Mobile on a cold December night at Legion Field.

“The two teams were a little different,” said former running back Major Ogilvie, who would rush for more than 2,500 yards while on the way to All-State and All-American honors. “The 1975 team was led by the defense. In 1976, we were more about offense.”

There were other differences as well. The 1975 roster carried fewer than 40 players. The 1976 squad had about 70.

“After winning that first title, more guys wanted to be a part of it,” recalled Billy Morris, the Spartans’ other outstanding running back.

“Nothing succeeds like success.”

Perhaps the biggest difference came on the coaching staff. Shortly after the 1975 season, head coach Robert Higginbotham was dismissed following a dispute with Mountain Brook Board of Education Superintendent William Eddins.

Higginbotham’s abrupt departure sent shock waves across the state and upset many of the returning players.

“A lot of guys were really upset when Coach Higginbotham left,” Morris recalled. “There was a lot of loyalty to him among the players. We weren’t sure what would happen next.”

The board wisely retained assistants Mark

the

Twice of Glory

Spartans Earned Second Title 40 Years Ago Bradley and Marty Brenner and brought in Rick Rhoades, a 29-year old assistant at Jeff Davis in Montgomery, to take the top job.

Rhoades was different from the taciturn Higginbotham in style and personality, and that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

‘The two teams were a little different. The 1975 team was led by the defense. In 1976, we were more about offense.’

Major Ogilvie “Looking back on it, you have to give Coach Rhoades a lot of credit,” Ogilvie recalled. “He understood what he had inherited at Mountain Brook. We had been successful, so he let the players play and didn’t change much.”

Ogilvie – as was the case with many of the Mountain Brook players – credited

Higginbotham for developing them into highquality athletes, but he also came to respect Rhoades.

“Coach Higginbotham had a very serious demeanor and didn’t joke around much,” he said. “Coach Rhoades was a little more relaxed and light-hearted. But they were both very good coaches.”

Mountain Brook began the season much as it had the previous season, with a double digit win over Vestavia Hills. The first real test came the next week with a visit to Jeff Davis at Cramton Bowl.

The fans saw an epic shootout, and the Spartans prevailed 38-35 on the strength of a late field goal by Rem Miller.

“That was a really good game,” Ogilvie recalled. “Jeff Davis had an established program and the fact we went down there and won showed that we were good enough to have a chance to win another state title. It helped our confidence as the season went along.”

Miller was a straight-on kicker, which even in 1976 was becoming a rarity. “The soccerstyle kickers were starting to become more com-

Richard Burg, left and Keith Bouchillon celebrate Mountain Brook’s victory over Murphy High School, completing a two-year run of championships in 1975-76 and a 27 game winning streak that remains to this day.

mon,” said Morris. “I think about it now, Rem may have been one of the last straight-on guys I remember seeing. He was as good as any of them.”

Mountain Brook coasted to easy wins over Hewitt-Trussville and Erwin before hosting arch-rival Berry. The Spartans had ended a long losing streak to Coach Bob Finley’ Bucs the previous season and expected another tough test. They got one, as Mountain Brook prevailed 28-17.

“Berry was considered our biggest rival at the time, and 1975 was the first year Mountain Brook had ever beaten them,” Morris said. “The fact we were able to do it two years in a row was important to us.”

The Spartans’ closest call of the regular season may have come the next week. Richard Burg’s quarterback sneak for a touchdown in overtime earned Mountain Brook a 21-14 nailbiter over Banks.

Victories over Shades Valley, Hueytown, Tuscaloosa and Homewood followed as the Spartans capped their second consecutive

See ’76 Spartas, page 23

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 5

state champs

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6 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

Briarwood

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Journal photos by Marvin Gentry

Members of the 2016 Briarwood Christian School varsity football team include: Kolby Kwarcinski, Ethan Housel, Bennett Miles, Andrew Sherrod, Wilson Hand, Barrett Tindall, Michael Hiers, Ashton Dominque, J.R. Tran Reno, William Gray, Luke Miskelley, Gabe Morris, Matthew McKenna, Cade Dickinson, Mark Hand, Luke Hess, Mason Algren, Gabe Russell, Jordan Harmon, Hudson Hartsfield, Jonathan Hill, Caleb Daniels, Jay Kynerd, Alex Key, Bradford Pattillo, Carson Donnelly, Champ Stewart, J.A. Perry, Mac McNamee, Joseph Mungenast, Brandon Guthrie, Noah Whatley, Brandon Kassouf, Carson Eddy, Sam Hamner, Hunter Whatley, Will Pratt, Tucker Johnston, Carson Kolb, Conner Hutson, Nathan Cale, Cooper Thompson, William Heidepriem, Garrett Bell, Landon Berg, Jacob Hawk, Will Baumbach, Cole Scordino Ward Combs, Patrick Blythe, Michael Holmes, Ross Godbehere, Mac Brown, Ian Davis, Riley Bush, Brooks Burgess, Collin Dorrill, Ryan Walker, Bryce Perrien, Reid Mays, P.C. Stickland, Quaid Rasmussam, Jake Dyson, Michael Murphy and Dalton Brooks.

All the Way in Class 5A New Classification Raises Lion Hopes

By Lee Davis There’s a new look for Briarwood football in 2016.

The new look isn’t the coach, as veteran Fred Yancey begins his 27th year as the leader of the Lions.

The new look isn’t in the uniforms, either, as the team’s gold helmets and blue jerseys have become one of the area’s finest traditions.

The new look comes in the schedule, as Briarwood, a private Christian school, moves from Class 6A to Class 5A. The move brought on by the Alabama Athletic Association’s reclassification at the end of last season aligns the program with schools of a more comparable size.

Gone from the slate in 2016 are larger schools such as Homewood, Walker, Hueytown and Pelham. In their places are smaller schools such as Fairfield, Moody, Pleasant Grove and St. Clair County. The Lions were usually competitive with the big schools, but the realignment allows them to battle on friendlier territory.

“This is really the first time since 1999 that we’re competing in a region with schools that have a student enrollment similar to ours,” Yancey said. “This means we will lose some traditional

opponents that draw people to our games, but it’s a trade-off. If we have a winning team, we will draw fans.”

While the new classification is good news for Briarwood boosters, even better news is that the Lions return considerable talent from last year’s team, which went 5-7 and worked its way to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.

“We’ve got more speed and a little more size than maybe we’ve had over the past few years,” Yancey said. “I think we have a chance to make an impact in our new region.”

Senior William Gray, at 200 pounds, is the starter at quarterback. A fine passer and runner, he’s also an outstanding leader.

“William can punt, too, which will hopefully give our opponents something else to think about,” Yancey said.

The fullback positon features three outstanding talents. Sophomore J.R. Tran Reno may be the starter, but junior Ashton Dominque and senior Wilson Hand also will see playing time.

“They will be battling to play, and that’s a good thing,” Yancey said. “All of them will help

Briarwood

at a Glance

Head coach: Fred Yancey 2015 record: 5-7 (second round of Class 6A playoffs) Region: Class 5A Region Five Fairfield, Moody, Pleasant Grove, St. Clair County, Shelby County, Wenonah, Woodlawn Stadium: Lion Pride Field (5,000)

us.”

Senior Barrett Tindall is a proven performer at halfback and junior Carson Eddy works in the slot as the “Z-back.”

“Carson has good speed and is a dangerous receiver,” the coach said.

Briarwood’s offensive line should be solid.

Senior Conner Hutson, a 230-pound two-year letterman, returns at center. Another experienced senior, Will Baumbach, also will see significant playing time.

On the left side, guard Tucker Johnston has plenty of experience and tackle Garrett Bell is a 6-4, 254-pound giant.

The right guard is senior Nathan Cale and the tackle is senior Hunter Whatley, who weighs 225 pounds.

“We’ve got some guys on our offensive line who have proven they can play,” Yancey said.

Manning the key players tight end spot Coach Fred Yancey is junior P.C. with, from left, Conner Strickland, an outHutson, Cooper standing blocker Thompson, Ethan Housel and Jordan and pass receiver.

Harmon.

Gray will find excellent targets as

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

well in his wide receiver corps. Kolby Kwarcinski will be the inside receiver with Luke Miskelley and Bradford Pattillo as the outside receivers.

Opponent Briarwood 2016 Schedule date

opponent

Aug. 26

at Chelsea

Sept. 2

Moody*

Sept. 9

at Wenonah*

Sept. 16

Fairfield*

Sept. 23

at Mortimer Jordan

Sept. 30

at St. Clair County*

Oct. 7

Woodlawn*

Oct. 14

at Shelby County*

Oct. 21

Pleasant Grove*

Oct. 28

at Madison Academy

*Region game

AlabamaFord.com GOOD LUCK LIONS and ROLL TIDE!

Eli Gold

Voice of University of Alabama Football

Briarwood Sophomore Luke Hess will handle placekicking duties.

Defense, traditionally a Lion strong point, should be strong again in 2016. Three starters return on the defensive line. Seniors Jordan Harmon and Champ Stewart occupy the end positions. Both are 215-pounders. In the interior positions are Cooper Thompson, a 240-pound spark plug, and Patrick Blythe.

Briarwood’s linebacker corps looks set as well.

One leader may be junior Gabe Russell, whose father, Lamonde, was an outstanding receiver for the University of Alabama in the 1980s. Senior Ethan Housel and sophomore Mark Hand are also rangy and effective.

Yancey will play three outstanding cornerbacks in Hudson Hartsfield, Andrew Sherrod and Jonathan Hill. The safeties are solid as well, with junior Carson Donnelly – his dad also played at Alabama – and senior Bennett Miles.

“We’ve got good kids who have been practicing hard,” Yancey said. “It should help us to be in Class 5A, but it doesn’t mean anything will be any easier. We have to go out to practice and be ready to compete every single day.”

The Lions’ schedule may be more manageable than in the past, but there are still plenty of minefields, including trips to Wenonah and Mortimer Jordan in September.

The Lions kicked off the season with a 20-7 loss to Class 7A power Vestavia Hills in a jamboree Aug. 19 before facing Class 6A’s Chelsea in the season opener the following Friday night.

Yancey isn’t taking the heat off himself, either.

At age 71, he has no plans to retire.

“I feel really good,” he said. “I still enjoy coaching as much as I ever have. As long as I think I’m making a contribution, I’ll be here.”

In 27 years, Fred Yancey has become synonymous with Briarwood football. Nothing as mundane as a reclassification will change that.

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 7

8 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

homewood

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Journal photos by Marvin Gentry

Members of the 2016 Homewood High School football team include: Chestin Jones, Nick McCoy, C.D. Daniels, TyShawn Buckner, David Robertson, Fred Williams, Chance Hall, Austin Spiers, Andrew Cleveland, Larkin Williams, Jacob Pendley, Jackson Griggs, Logan Padgett, Boubacar Sylla, Ryan Williams, Kamarrus Amison, Ky Burdeshaw, Ty Hatcher, Brandon Claiborne, Kamren Amerson, Jake Biles, Marcus McGhee, Josh Douthit, Michael Kash, Patrick Domingo, Jaden Alexander, Kris Wilkins, Antarius Mitchell, Thomas Smith, Josh Stone, Rene Briseno, Graham Duncan, Riley Meeks, Devin Bacchus, Trent Owens, John Firnberg, Crawford Doyle, Charlie Williams, Ibrahima Sylla, Malcolm Scott, Parker Allen, Elliott Yacu, Justin Williams, Traveon Allen, Javier King, Dalen Tyler, Campbell Brabston, Antoine McGhee, Vincent Adams, Tobias Thomas, Jesus Figueroa, Miguel Figueroa, Joseph Ingram, Esau Parker, Bailey Thomas, Edrick Cunningham, William Sims, Logan Bales, Joseph Molstad, Tyler Wheat, Harry Moody, Andrew Williams, Brennan Gardner, Will Strong, Jacob Armour, Johnny Moreno, Jaheim Jackson, S.J. Ramsey, Ethan Sherman, Grayson Kelley, Sam Ray, Bailey Lapinsky, Wesley Williams, Armonie McHeard, Johnathan White, Tony Jacka, David Bearden, Wilson McCraw.

Dressed to the Nines Patriots Hope to Reach Double Figures in 2016

By Lee Davis Whenever Homewood coach Ben Berguson discusses his 2016 team, he always points out a strange quirk in the Patriots’ recent won-lost records.

“For the past four seasons, we’ve won exactly nine games each,” said Berguson, who is entering his third year as head coach. “That’s pretty good at a lot of places, but we’d really like to improve on that this year.”

True enough. Homewood is 36-10 since

Homewood

at a Glance

Head Coach: Ben Berguson 2015 Record: 9-3 (second round of Class 6A playoffs) Region: Class 6A Region Five Hueytown, Jackson-Olin, John Carroll Catholic, Parker, Ramsay, Shades Valley Stadium: Waldrop Stadium (5,000)

Opponent Homewood 2016 Schedule date

opponent

Aug. 18

Homewood 21, Pelham 14

Aug. 26

at Vestavia Hills

Sept. 2

Parker*

Sept. 9

at Jackson-Olin*

Sept. 16

at Helena

Sept. 30

John Carroll Catholic*

Oct. 7

at Ramsay*

Oct. 14

Shades Valley*

Oct. 21

at Hueytown*

Oct. 28

Paul W. Bryant

*Region game

2012, but the Patriots haven’t claimed a state championship since the Bob Newton era a decade ago. Expectations are always high, and this could be the season Berguson and his charges break the nine-win ceiling.

Homewood came painfully close last season, falling to powerful Clay-Chalkville 40-39 in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. The Patriots hope to make up that final yard and dying clock this time around.

“We’ve built a solid program here,” Berguson said.

“But we want to get to the next level.”

If Homewood key players does get to the Coach Ben Berguson double digit win with, from left, Chestin mark in 2016, Jones and Antarius it probably will Mitchell. mean that senior running back

AlabamaFord.com GOOD LUCK PATRIOTS and WAR EAGLE!

Stan White

Color Announcer for Auburn University Football

Chestin Jones had a banner season. Jones is dangerous as a runner and pass receiver.

“Chestin is probably our best athlete,” Berguson said. “As he goes, so goes our offense.

See HOMEWOOD, page 22

“

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 9

homewood

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

“

Perfection is not attainable.

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hoover

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Journal photos by Hal Yeager

10 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

Members of the 2016 Hoover High School varsity football roster include: CJ Sturdivant, RJ Nelson, Kam Ford, Cortez Hall, Will Singleton, Vonte’ Brackett, Randy Jenkins, Corwin Russell, Timothy Booker, R.J. Randle, Nick Gray, DeCarlos Hurt, Tre Copeland, Jalen Parker, Peyton Wilson, Seth Compher, Chase Brown, Garrett Farquhar, Jordan Colin, KJ Vault, Jimmy Turner, Sam Sanford, Larry McCammon, Jayden Jordan, Patrick Palmore, Kendall Parker, Myles Spurling, Tyrell Goldsmith, Zach Elam, Darian Johnson, Noah Williams, Jack Milligan, Hunter Westerlund, Ben Abercrombie, Christian Hurt, Jalen Bryant, Jaden Hardy, Markese Brown, Adrian Hill, DeShon Moyer, Will Reichard, Brady Hopkins, Andrew Lorimer, Christon Taylor, Stockton Ferguson, Jabari Moore, Greg Russell, Campbell Carden, Ryan Gilbert, Isaiah Hubbard, Barret Pickering, Alex Flint, Andrew Sasser, Joseph Timpa, Josh Kissinger, Brennen Milliron, Eli West, Camren Wood, Kole Allen, Kholbe Coleman, Jonathan Snell, Brandon Johnson, Jamal Beydoun, Jack Colwell, Sam McDaniel, Mike Maye, Taylor Brown, Phillip Stanton Jr, Jacob Bodden, Caden DeGreen, Jackson Barton, Jacob Lindsey, Kelsie Sudbury, Ryan Houston, Dylan Niemoeller, Drew Traffanstedt, Austin Carter, Harper Price, Shedrick Jackson, Jayson Evans, Drew Jeffers, Nick Davis, Mark Dailey, Martavius Hollifield, Shaw Niblett, George Pickens, Richard Mayberry, David Dykes, Stevie Cole, D’Angelo Dewitt, Toren Echols, Trey Dickey, Scott Devon, Chad Tew, Ricky Palao, Chritian Edge, Kaleb Gibbs and Khamari Brown.

A Different Vibe

Hoover Coach Aims to Return to Championship Game with a New Energy

By Tyler Waldrep Hoover coach Josh Niblett has celebrated four state championships with his players since he took over in 2008, but somewhere along the way the cheers became less notable.

At times, all he could hear following a win was a sigh.

“That’s kind of been a change of thought around here because, normally, when you won, you just went, ‘Wheeeew. Alright. Glad we won,’” Niblett said. “It was almost a relief. I don’t want that anymore. I want the kids to enjoy winning.”

When Hoover met Spain Park in the semifinal round of the playoffs last season, there was nothing to celebrate as the Buccaneers found themselves eliminated before the championship game for the first time since Niblett took over the program.

That 7-6 loss also prevented Hoover’s seniors from leaving high school with four straight state championships.

Those weren’t the only impressive streaks Hoover recently saw end. For the first time since 2000, the Bucs appeared outside of the top two spots when the Alabama Sports Writers Association released its preseason poll for the upcoming season.

“It’s (a) different vibe when you come in these doors,” Niblett said. “We don’t care what everybody else is saying.”

Niblett said he’s not worried about starting the season at No. 3 in the poll. He’s a lot more interested in how his team and its new starting quarterback, Garrett Farquhar, will respond to adver-

sity on the field.

Niblett said a team leader has to think about how he reacts in front of his teammates when things don’t go his way. “You gotta be kind of a glue guy, and that’s what he is for us,” Niblett said.

Hoover returns plenty of weapons in the passing game that Farquhar can take advantage of, including receivers such as Cortez Hall, Shedrick Jackson, Kam Ford and Jimmy Turner.

“We’ve got an opportunity to be pretty explosive out on the perimeter,” Niblett said.

“Still gelling up front as far as the o-line goes, but I did feel pretty good about the way they played in the first scrimmage that we had.”

Most of the offensive line will consist of players who didn’t start last season. However, it will be anchored by two returning starters, Mike

Maye at left tackle and Austin Carter at center.

When Hoover needs Farquhar to hand the ball off, he will have plenty of options, as Niblett expects running backs C.J. Sturdivant, Vonte’ Brackett, R.J. Randle and Corwin Russell to see the field this season. Niblett said Randle could become an x-factor for the team, due to his ability to also line up as a fullback or as a receiver. But there doesn’t seem to be any doubt about who the starting back will be when the season starts.

Sturdivant, at about 5 feet, 11 inches and 210 pounds, is “a big back, power back, runs the ball hard, but he’s really got good speed,” Niblett said. “He understands the offense, understands protections, has got good hands so he can catch the football.”

Hoover’s real edge could be its special teams

Hoover High

at a Glance

Head Coach: Josh Niblett 2015 record: 10-3 Region: Class 7A Region 3 Huffman, Mountain Brook, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County.

Vestavia Hills.

Stadium: Buccaneer Stadium (5,000) Hoover Metropolitan Stadium (9,000)

play. With Barret Pickering handling kicking duties, Sturdivant and the rest of the offense doesn’t need to find the end zone, or even get near it, for the Buccaneers to come away with points.

Niblett called Pickering an “unbelievable kicker.”

“He’s a guy that hits 50 yarders with eight yards to spare,” Niblett said. “We’ve got to be really good on special teams, because I think you win and lose games there, but we want to win them, we don’t talk about losing anymore.”

If Hoover is out of field goal range, Pickering will still run out on the field on fourth down to handle punting duties. Then it’s up to the defense.

For Niblett, any conversation about key players his defense has to Coach Josh Niblett start with his midwith, from left, CJ dle linebacker.

Sturdivant, Ricky “Having Palao, Brady Hopkins, Kholbe (ColemanCortez Hall, Ben Abercrombie and Abrams) back and Austin Carter. having K.J. (Vault) back is huge, too,

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

at the second level,” Niblett said. “Kholbe’s the quarterback of our defense. … He’s an unbelievable kid, he’s a leader of our team and he understands what we expect both on the field and off

Hoover 2016Opponent Schedule date

opponent

Aug. 19 Hoover 23, Central-Phenix City 7 Aug. 26

at Allen

Sept. 2

Mountain Brook*

Sept. 9

Spain Park*

Sept. 16

at Tuscaloosa CTY*

Sept. 30

at Oak Mountain*

Oct. 7

Huffman*

Oct. 14

Vestavia Hills*

Oct. 21

at Thompson*

Oct. 28

Grayson

*Region game

AlabamaFord.com GOOD LUCK BUCS and WAR EAGLE!

Stan White

Color Announcer for Auburn University Football

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 11

hoover so he’s able to display that, he’s able to live it.”

Safeties Ben Abercrombie and Jayden Jordan will be tasked with backing up the linebackers ahead of them. Cornerback Will Singleton is the only other member of the secondary to lock down a starting position at this point.

R.J. Nelson, Tre Copeland and Chase Brown are all competing to start at the remaining corner position. Niblett said Singleton will likely become a valuable resource for whoever joins him in the secondary.

“Will Singleton’s a really, really good athlete. He’s a long, rangy guy. He’s got long arms, so he presses guys up; he can keep his distance.

But also, at the same time, he’s a strong physical kid,” he said. “Will’s got that savvy about him that makes him a good corner.”

Khamari Brown, Christon Taylor, and Ricky Palao all return up front, but plenty of other defensive linemen will see the field. Niblett said he expects nine or 10 players to rotate in on a regular basis throughout the season.

But just because they step on the field doesn’t mean they will be there long. Game reps will be determined based off production in practice each week.

That sort of competition is crucial for Hoover’s defensive line. Niblett wants to see every player on his team approach practice as if they are fighting for their jobs.

“Around here we always want it to be about competition,” he said. “Just because you start week one doesn’t mean you’re going to start week two.”

The pressure of daily competition hasn’t prevented Niblett’s team from enjoying itself in the offseason. But when it was time to work, the team got serious and finished one of the best summer sessions Niblett has seen during his tenure at Hoover.

“These kids know what they want to do,” Niblett said. “They know where they want to be playing in December.”

“

People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society. ~ Vince Lombardi

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Hoover And Jessica Daviston Make A Winning Team!

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12 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

John Carroll

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Photo special to the Journal

Members of the 2016 John Carroll High School team include: Alex Mitchell, Redmon Ransom, Kenyetta Williams, Dilan Sherrod, Malcolm Russell, Matthew Hector, Chris Burrell, Bailey Mara, Demetrius Battle, Isiah Ambrose, Zach Elliot, Malik Williams, Jeremiah Fuller, Dwuan Williams, Conner Bader, Will Chamoun, Sam Reed, Jeremy Spencer, Lucas Stachan, Gyasi Hill, Dequan Ball, Chris Hector, Brandon Woodard, Jackson Jeffries, Braxton Buckner, K’shawn Mackie, Dekelian Hall, Sam Chamoun, Mark Richard, Quince Ngo, Caleb Mills, Cydrick Walker, Ethan Scholtz, Michael Watts, John Werszner, Shakir Hasan, Rahael Poe, Alex Sabri, Anthony Bostany, Asad Muhammed, Sam Lynch, Michael Musso, Ricky Zimmerman, Romel Jones, Kingston Lampley, Graham Russell and Bennett Buckner.

Making Changes

John Carroll’s New Coach Isn’t Afraid to Take Risks in His First Season

By Tyler Waldrep

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

John Carroll coach Logan Colafrancesco felt a little nervous about how the players would receive him when he met with them for the first time in the spring.

Turns out, he didn’t have anything to worry about.

“Sometimes I’ll sit there with my hands on my hips in practice not paying attention and somebody will come hit me, and I’ll look and it will be a kid, like, ‘Hey, coach, get your hands off your hips.’ And I’m, like, ‘You’re right.’ And that tells me that they’re starting to buy in,” Colafrancesco said.

As a John Carroll alumnus who has watched most of his immediate family graduate from the school and even marry other alumni, Colafrancesco had high expectations for the program. But first, things had to change. Some changes were small, such as encouraging players to sit together at lunch or adjust their body language to keep their hands off their hips.

Other changes were more noticeable.

Colafrancesco’s predecessor, Tim Sanders believed in playing the best guy available at every position even if the team’s lack of depth meant some players had to start on both offense and defense. Colafrancesco has decided to play 11 unique starters on each side of the ball.

“We started this spring with 39 kids nine through 12. I mean, Homewood probably has 39 seniors,” he said. “But now we’re up to 52 kids, so we’ve gained 13 or 14 kids (and) we’ve lost a couple.”

John Carroll’s depth problems aren’t going away anytime soon, but Colafrancesco is confident there will be a time in the future when his players won’t have to learn a second position and play as a backup on the other side of the ball.

Colafrancesco said the strength of his defense probably is with linebackers such as Ransom Redmon and Kenyetta Williams.

He said Williams “can run sideline to sideline. He’s our jack-backer. We do some one-onone stuff. He’s always in on the tackle or around the ball and he’s got a great motor.”

John Carroll will employ a three-man

defensive line, to help the linebackers up front, consisting of Michael Watts, Rahael Poe and Dequan Ball.

Zach Elliot, C.J. Burrell, Will Chamoun, Jeremy Spencer and Dwuan Williams are all in the mix to start in John Carroll’s secondary.

“Dwuan Williams is a shutdown corner,” Colafrancesco said. “He started as a freshman

John Carroll

at a Glance

2015 record: 0-10 Head coach: Logan Colafrancesco Region: Class 6A, Region 5 Homewood, Hueytown, Jackson-Olin, Parker, Ramsay, Shades Valley.

Stadium: Carroll Field (4,000)

last year, and he’s very, very athletic.”

When it came time to pick a starting quarterback, Dwuan Williams found himself in a two-man competition with junior Bailey Mara.

Colafrancesco said things probably worked out for the best considering Williams’ ability to contribute so much on the defensive side of things.

“I mean, Bailey’s 6 feet 3 inches and Duawn’s 5 feet 6 inches, so he’s more of a sprint out guy and all that, and Bailey’s more of a dropback pure passer. … He fits more of the mold of what we’re trying to do,” Colafrancesco said.

Left tackle Anthony Bostany is new to the program, but he has played basketball for the school in the past. Joining him on the offensive line are Shakir Hasan, Cydrick Walker, John Werszner, Ethan Scholtz and Asad Muhammed.

They will be tasked with clearing the way for a couple of running backs, including Demetrius Battle, Dekelian Hall and Gyasi Hill.

“For us to move the football, we’ve got key players to run the football and I love Coach Logan Colafrancesco with, throwing it,” from left, Bailey Mara, Colafrancesco Kenyada “King” said. “I’d throw Williams, Demetrius it every down if Battle and Alex we could, I love Mitchell.

(Washington

John Carroll

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

State coach) Mike Leech and all that stuff.”

When Mara does drop back to pass, Alex Mitchell will provide him with a big target that Opponent John Carroll 2016 Schedule date

opponent

Aug. 26

at Hayden

Sept. 2

Hueytown*

Sept. 9

at Parker*

Sept. 16

Jackson-Olin*

Sept. 23

Moody

Sept. 30

at Homewood

Oct. 7

Springville

Oct. 14

at Ramsay*

Oct. 21

Shades Valley*

Oct. 28

at Pelham

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 13

Colafrancesco plans to line up in several different ways throughout the season. Fellow receivers Malcolm Russell and Conner Bader also figure to play a prominent role in the passing offense.

Colafrancesco said Bader is “football savvy,

‘These kids are dying to win, they really, really want to win. Everybody expects us to go 0-10, shut the program down, whatever. I was not hired for that.’

Drive a LittLe • Save a Lot

Logan Colafrancesco

*Region game

AlabamaFord.com Best Wishes Cavaliers and ROLL TIDE!

Eli Gold

Voice of University of Alabama Football

knows how to run routes, knows how to get open, pretty athletic kid. We can move him kind of around everywhere.”

When Bader and his teammates on the offensive side of the ball can’t get it done, Lucas Stachan is the favorite to come out and kick field goals, punt and even attempt some fakes.

“We’re not going to be the cookie-cutter, fourth-and-half-an-inch, punt the ball and play defense,” Colafrancesco said. “We’re not good enough for that right now. In order for us to win some games we’ve got to take chances.”

Those chances won’t always pay off, but Colafrancesco said the thought of throwing caution to the wind and going for it has his team excited for the season to start.

“These kids are dying to win, they really, really want to win,” ColafJrancesco said.

“Everybody expects us to go 0-10, shut the program down, whatever. I was not hired for that.

This place means a lot to me, and I stay up late at night figuring out ways to do it.”

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IN CASE OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CALL 911 OR GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR LOCAL ER

14 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Journal photos by Emily Williams

mountain Brook

Members of the 2016 Mountain Brook High School varsity football team include: Hamp Greene, Joey Keating, Duncan Bicksler, Aubrey Hart, Sean Elmore, Brinson Reed, McKee Brown, Chandler Cox, Harold Joiner, Charles Cobb, Grant Griffin, Hunter Hartley, A.J. Gates, Jeb Brown, Tillman Ritchey, Daniel Wilbanks, Connor Hart, Wilson Higgins, Reid Hogue, Hamp Sisson, Zachary Carroll, William Powell, Jack Baltz, Collin Bussman, J.P. Darnall, Jackson Tew, Thomas Miller, William Gullage, James Burkett, Mason Dillard, Paul Tyson, Michael O’Leary, Bradford Page, Huston Crommelin, Sam Everette, Claiborne Crommelin, Stav Pappas, Max Sikora, Jim Williams, Wade Robinson, Tully Fulmer, Robert Reed, William Miller, Will Wetzler, Henry Barze, Blake Roth, Joe Saia, Philip Gaut, Stone Favrot, Michael Smith, Gates Johnson, Conner Bussman, Boyd McWhorter, Harrison Weaver, John Carothers, Jimmy Pham, Walter Morris, Chambers Joyce, Wilson Golden, Mark Smith, Tanner Dean, Mabry Crane, Jarrett Harrison, Baynes Autrey, John Wheeler Camp, Edward Cain, Colton Yeager, Bradford Turner, Reid Manley, Clay Stearns, Brendan Brogan, Hugh Lawson Joy, Alex Pankey, Michael Mancuso, Sean Doud, Bennett Suttles, Jack Grant, Brad Jenkins, Bill Miller, Conner Sorrells, Andrew Fuqua, Avery Schelske, Sam Somerville, Nick Belt, Bradley Pinson, Zach Morris, Price Delk, Brooks Autrey, Ian Reilly, Justin Thompson, Hayden McDonald, Bond Elliott, Will Carothers, Liam Mitchell, Anderson Tomlin, Johnny Leara, Ford Williams, Mills Lowman, Aidan Hood, John Pelham, Christian Johnston, Forsyth Elliot, Jack Barron, Ian Hall, Duncan Morris, Braden Allemand, Will Christopher, Miller Stevens, Walker Masingill, Connor Tierney, Robert Briggs, Sims Herron, Henry Gaede, Pierce Rodrigues, Spencer Cardwell, Jay Barze, Will Farrar, Gavin Lee, Sam Colvin, Sterling Edwards, Joe Bird, William Brown, Archie Breland, Will Bennett, Trey Gory, Butler Wilbanks and Jacob Kipp.

Upwardly Mobile Spartans Look for Improvement in 2016

By Lee Davis Mountain Brook coach Chris Yeager would be the first to say that the past two seasons have not been vintage times for his football program.

The Spartans ended 2015 with their second consecutive 3-7 record, one of the few times in recent decades that Mountain Brook has posted back-to-back losing marks. Despite the

‘We had one of the best off-season programs since I’ve been here. We’ve got a lot of guys here who are determined to get Mountain Brook back to where it is supposed to be.’

Chris Yeager disappointments, optimism on Bethune Drive abounds as the new year approaches.

“We had one of the best off-season programs since I’ve been here,” Yeager said. “We’ve got a lot of guys here who are determined to get Mountain Brook back to where it is supposed to be.”

Yeager’s words reflect far more than wishful thinking. The Spartans appear more talented and deeper than in recent seasons, and they could have a decent shot at returning to their accustomed spot in the post-season playoffs.

“We’ve got 40 seniors, which is one of the

biggest senior classes we’ve had in my 18 years at Mountain Brook,” Yeager said. “Experience always matters, and we’re getting good leadership from this group.”

Pulling the trigger at quarterback will be junior Hamp Sisson, capable as a runner and

passer. Behind Sisson will be a trio of outstanding runners, including seniors Sam Everette and McKee Brown and junior Harold Joiner.

Everette is the team’s leading returning rusher from 2015 and Brown – at 5-4, 150 pounds – is quick and elusive.

Mountain Brook

at a Glance

Head Coach: Chris Yeager 2015 Record: 3-7 Region: Class 7A Region 3 Hoover, Huffman, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County, Vestavia Hills Stadium: Spartan Stadium (5,000)

The Spartans’ offensive line is talented and deep and has better size than in recent years.

The leader may be senior Price Delk, but he’ll have plenty of quality players around him. Other candidates for extensive playing time are Johnny Leara, Will Carothers, John Pelham, Zac Morris, Sean Doud and Christian Johnston.

Sisson will have no shortage of fine passing targets. Clay Stearns and Wilson Golden are both capable tight ends. The wide receiver corps is made up of Sims Herron, Wilson Higgins, J.P. Darnall and Hamp Greene. Greene’s father was a place kicker at the University of Alabama in the 1990s.

Speaking of kicking, when Mountain Brook needs a field goal, Mason Dillard may be one of the best kickers in the region. Alex Pankey will also be a factor.

The Spartans gave up more than 23 points a game last season, and Yeager knows that the defense must improve if his team is to make a comeback. Two standouts will be senior middle linebacker Will Wetzler, a threekey players year starter, and Coach Chris Yeager senior free safety with, front, from left: Sam Everette and Will Zach Carroll, a Wetzler. Back: Zach two-year starter.

Carroll and Price Delk.

Tackles Joe Bird and Butler

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Wilbanks and end Sam Colvin will be strong on the defensive front. Joining Wetzler in the linebacker corps are Tanner Dean, Mabry Crane, Opponent Mtn. Brook 2016 Schedule date

opponent

Aug. 19 Mountain Brook 56, Gulf Shores 6 Aug. 26

Helena

Sept. 2

at Hoover*

Sept. 9

Thompson*

Sept. 16

at Spain Park*

Sept. 30

Tuscaloosa County*

Oct. 7

at Vestavia Hills*

Oct. 14

at Oak Mountain*

Oct. 21

Huffman*

Oct. 27

Ramsay

*Region game

AlabamaFord.com Best Wishes Spartans and ROLL TIDE!

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 15

mountain brook Henry Barze, Conner Bussman and Jack Grant.

“The key will be if we can come together as a team,” Yeager said. “Our guys are a close knit group and are willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. If we keep working hard, we’ll be fine.”

Yeager developed unity in the off-season by putting together a mentoring program matching up this year’s seniors with former Spartan players, including ex-University of Alabama star Major Ogilvie.

If the good news is that Mountain Brook is improved, the bad news is that the Spartans’ schedule is as rugged as ever. The Spartans reside in Class 7A’s Region Three, along with perennial superpowers Hoover, Spain Park and Vestavia Hills and up-and-comers Thompson and Oak Mountain. Mountain Brook must meet the Buccaneers, Warriors and Jaguars before its open date on Sept. 23, so both units will have to develop quickly if the Spartans are to be competitive. Making the schedule even more difficult is that Mountain Brook is facing Hoover, Spain Park and Vestavia on the road.

“It’s tough but that’s nothing new,” Yeager said. “Our region is the Southeastern Conference of high school football. But I think our players know what it takes to be successful at this level.

There’s no such thing as an easy game or an easy play.”

Nothing will come easy for Mountain Brook in 2016, but there are legitimate reasons for excitement among the Spartan fan base. If the injury bug stays away, there’s every reason to believe Yeager’s men will be in the hunt for a playoff spot.

With a little luck, Mountain Brook’s streak of losing seasons will stop at two.

Eli Gold

Voice of University of Alabama Football

“

Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. ~ George S. Halas

Vino

team

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16 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Journal photos by Marvin Gentry

Oak Mountain

Members of the 2016 Oak Mountain High School football team include: Nick Carney, Xzavier Brown, Noah Brown, Garrett DeAraujo, Jaylin Gaines, Logan McNaughton, Noah Egan, Wyatt Legas, Bay Hughes, Nathan Jones, Jackson Kimbrell, Grayson Alexander, Luke Percer, Carson Bobo, Jakcson Murphy, Connor Webb, Trey Allen, Mingyu Le, Thomas Pechman, Daniel Perkins, Cole Thomas, Art Smith, Ryan Childress, Hunter Martinez, Zach Nelson, Ethan Duncan, Garrison Frisch, Daniel Salchert, Trey Meadows, Justin Evans, Jackson Sauers, Jake Tice, AJ Fleet, Glen Humphrey, Spencer Hughes, Connor Wilson, Jack Russell, Jalen Thomas, Christian Hood, Davis Manning, Skylar Johnston, Dylan Hoye, Jacob Fitzgerald, Max McLaughlin, William Cline, Andrew Bearden, Fox Bowen, Nik Heino, Brett Cruce, Dane Moody, Jacob Gagnon, Clay Collins, Zach Brown, Carey Jackson, William Roberson, Devin Stern, Jordan Davis, Nick Feenker, Ben Wilke, Josh Stanford, Alex Burns, Jameson Ellet, Eli Lombardo, Connor Templin, Jacob Feenker, Payne Watkins, Juan Palacios, Brandon Stephens, Ruben Nunez, Russell Autry, Greyson McClain, Nathan Gordon, Madden McDougal, Tyler Martin, Fuller Herring, Jack Simmons, Michael Luu, John Mark Price, Ben Echols, Ben Handley, Matt Piper, Connor Kelley, Darren Lanier, Matthew Pflaum, Nicholas Young, Hudson Tate, Travis Thomasson, Peter Kolar, Nolan Tucker, Mark Henderson, Carter Owens, Zykeius Strong, Whit Jackson, Aaron Brooks, and Michael Mickey.

Stepping Up

Oak Mountain

at a Glance

Bell Leaning on Players to Lead Eagles Back to a Playoff

By Tyler Waldrep Oak Mountain coach Cris Bell didn’t need a visit to the hospital to realize things needed to change for his team, but that’s what he got.

In February, spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the open spaces in the spine, crushed the nerves between Bell’s L2 and L5 vertebrae and left him unable to walk for nine days.

“I remember they would move me from the bed to the wheelchair and I would feel like I had just run a 2-mile race,” Bell said. “It would exhaust me.”

Shortly after Bell’s six-week stint in the hospital came to an end, he returned to coaching his team aided by a golf cart and a walking stick.

He finally was able to do what he had been planning to do for most of the offseason – create a leadership council.

“In reality, I want more than just a handful of leaders,” he said. “I want to try to develop leadership amongst as many of our players as we can.”

Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors were included on the council, which originally consisted of 16 players. When the summer drew to a close, Bell’s council told him it needed to expand to include two guys competing to be the Will linebacker for the Eagles, Justin Evans and Max McLaughlin, and the starting outside linebacker, Mingyu Le. “They were leading by example despite the fact that they weren’t on the leadership council, and really that’s what we’re trying to do, trying to promote all of our guys to develop leadership,” Bell said.

Le’s backup, Xzavier Brown, and starting middle linebacker Spencer Hughes already were on the leadership council, giving the linebacking corps five of 19 total leadership positions on the team.

Thomas Pechman is one of Oak Mountain’s three returning defensive starters this season,

and he is the only one so far to have locked down a starting spot. Three guys – Brett Cruce, Zach Nelson and Jackson Sauers – will battle for the other corner spot, while Connor Webb and Hunter Martinez compete for one safety spot and Davis Manning and Jackson Murphy compete at the other.

The secondary is hardly the only place competition is taking place on what Bell believes might be his deepest team at most, if not every,

position.

Matthew Pflaum and Jordan Davis will compete to start at one end of the defensive line, while Peter Kolar and Trey Meadows will battle for time at the other. Two guys, Daniel Perkins and Whit Jackson, could see time in between those spots at the nose tackle position “They’ve all had good offseasons and worked hard,” Bell said. “We’re going to be small; I don’t know if we’ll average 200 pounds

Head Coach: Cris Bell 2015 Record: 5-5 Region: Class 7A, Region 3 Hoover, Huffman, Mountain Brook, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County, Spain Park, Vestavia Hills.

Stadium: Heardmont Park (5,000)

up front defensively.”

With only three returning defensive starters, it’s crucial that Oak Mountain’s offense picks up first downs and remains on the field. For that to happen, the Eagles’ new starting quarterback, Wyatt Legas, will have to be decisive with the football.

“A bad decision is better than no decision.

The worst decision our guys could do is be paralyzed,” Bell said. “If we make a bad decision, we like to think we’ll still try to pick up a couple yards. We just can’t allow those bad decisions to turn into turnovers.”

Bell said Legas has a lot of the intangibles that helped former quarterback Warren Shader achieve so much success at Oak Mountain. But if there’s an area in which Legas has the advantage over Shader, it’s his decision making in the passing game.

The Eagles’ option offense will limit Legas’ passing attempts, but when he does throw the ball, his primary receiving threats will include Noah Egan and Nathan Jones.

Tight end Carson Bobo could also prove to be a threat in the passing game, but his primary responsibilities likely will involve blocking for Legas and the other ball key players carriers.

Coach Cris Bell with, Four starters from left, Daniel return to help Salchert, Daniel Perkins, Wyatt Legas Bobo up front: and Spencer Hughes.

Ben Wilke at left tackle, former right guard Jacob

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Feenker at center, Nick Feenker at right guard and William Roberson at right tackle. The lone newcomer to the line, Eli Lombardo, will

Oak Mountain 2016 Schedule Opponent

date Aug. 19

opponent Chelsea 49- Oak Mtn. 33

Aug. 26

at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa

Sept. 2

at Huffman*

Sept. 9

Vestavia Hills*

Sept. 16

at Thompson*

Sept. 30

Hoover*

Oct. 7

at Tuscaloosa County*

Oct. 14

Mountain Brook*

Oct. 21

Spain Park*

Oct. 28

at Hazel Green

*Region game

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Oak Mountain replace Nick Feenker at left guard.

“They got 40 starts under their belt collectively, so we expect them to make some hay,” Bell said.

Oak Mountain might look small up front this season. Outside of Nick Feenker, the other four guys weigh between 205 and 225 pounds. But Bell said this might be the deepest offensive line he’s coached at Oak Mountain. He’s confident he can play eight or even 10 total guys there if needed.

If the offensive line can maintain its blocks, then the Eagles’ option offense will have plenty of weapons lined up in the backfield. Perhaps the most dangerous of those will be running back Daniel Salchert.

“He’s gutsy, he’s a player, he’s a fun kid to just watch,” Bell said. “You couldn’t ask for a better guy at that position with the skill set that he brings.”

As a sophomore, Salchert averaged more than six yards per carry, but last season his average dropped closer to five. He responded by spending the offseason running indoor track and hitting the weight room more so he can be both stronger and faster in his final season with the Eagles.

Bell said he’s not the only player who responded that way.

“We always preach we’re going to outwork people and maybe last year we didn’t,” Bell said. “For them to recognize that without me having to prompt them shows a lot of maturity on their part.”

Bell’s team, coming off of a five-win season, might not have the same high expectations surrounding it that the program had a year ago, when the Eagles were coming off the school’s second-ever 10-win season, but what it does have is hunger.

“You get a taste of the playoffs, and that’s a good taste. You want to get that back,” Bell said. “They’ve got a little bit of a chip on their shoulder.”

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CALL: 205.978.7030 205.978.7030 CALL: Book your vacation205.978.7030 today – hurry, offer ends August 31, 2016.

VISIT: CALL: Our Bessemer, Birmingham VISIT: Our Bessemer, Birmingham or Fultondale Fultondale Office.

VISIT: Bessemer, Birmingham or Office.

CALL:Our 205.978.7030 Visit your AAA Travel Agent for complete terms and conditions. Cruise must be booked August 4 – 31, 2016 (the “Offer Period”). Offer applies to sailings departing on or after September 4, 2016. Offer Visitexcludes your AAAallTravel for complete terms 30% and conditions.

Cruisecruise must be booked Augustin 4a –stateroom, 31, 2016which (the “Offer Offercategories. applies to sailings on or afterbutSeptember China Agent departures.

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18 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

spain park

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Journal photos by Marvin Gentry

Members of the 2016 Spain Park High School varsity football team include D’arie Johnson, Andrew Mader, Landon Shoemaker, Zach Evans, Myckael Walton, Josh Denson, William Mee, Jaden Jenkins, Mason Pronk, Damon Wright, Emmanuel Holsey, Jalen McMillian, Rayfe Richey, Braxton Barker, Clay Christian, Ronald Carl, Tony Wendes, Jo Jo Dennis, Isiah Bonilla, Damarius Farmer, Hunter Howell, Thomas Branin, Colin Kirkpatrick, Ryan Griffin, Omar Angel, Mario Davis, Darion Keahey, Nicholas Dixon, Kameron Mcdaniel, Cole Starr, Cameron Toyer, Brandon Simmons, Jalen Henderson, Cedric Tooson, Larry Wooden, Victor Davis, Jack Connell, Thomas Jordan, Kenyon Hines, Tyrece Mickens, Braxton Hall, Robert Cook, Scott Moates, Houston Hollis, Darrian Stringer, Zachary Robinson, Peyton Maner, Gaven Pudlik, Hayden Callegan, Hayes Cole, Reed Vella, Josiah Johnson, Kishawn Dawsey, Mark Muir, Daris Robinson, Ja Cory Robinson, Johnathon Harland, Joshua Stanton, Nicholas Cotumaccio, Will Mullins, William Mote, Josh Wallace, Caleb Foster, Josh Mullins, Alexander Kassouf, James Schweer, Bredt Stover, Burrell Boswell, Layth Thiab, Colton Punzel, Ethan Prolsdorfer, Broderick Polk, David Shannon, Ryan Campbell, Abdulrahman Deeb, Casen Browning, L.J. Murray, Devin Dowdle, Michael Fowler, Claudio Sarniguet, Jayme Simmons, Jalen Johnson, Cameron Young, Michael Rogers, Marcellus Payne, Ashanti Carter, Michael Allen, Luke Blackmon, Jake Carver, Christian Richburg, Davis Brown, Steven Pate, Layth Abusuad, Jacob Pughsley, Douglas Henze, Isiah Johnson, Clifford Robinson, P.T. Vercher, Kalik Mallard, Zac Shaw, Tyrese Hollamon and Joseph Reece.

Repeated Efforts

Spain Park

at a Glance

Jaguars Hope to Be Consistent Program

By Lee Davis When Spain Park coach Shawn Raney talks about great seasons in Jaguar football history, he’s just as likely to discuss 2007 as he is 2015.

That may seem strange because Raney wasn’t Spain Park’s coach in the 2007 season.

But there’s a lesson from that year that he wants his players to carry into 2016.

“The last time Spain Park reached the state championship finals was 2007, and then we went 4-6 the next year,” Raney said. “We went to the state finals last year. We don’t want to be 4-6 this time.”

Not only that, but the Jags came within a hair of earning its first-ever Class 7A title last season, losing a 14-12 heartbreaker to McGillToolen. And reaching the championship finale wasn’t the only highlight. The Jags also scored two victories over arch-rival Hoover and even shut out perennial power Vestavia Hills. As summer turns to fall, Raney wants to prove that last year’s team wasn’t a one-year wonder.

“We want to develop consistency in our program,” said Raney, who begins his fifth year as head coach. “We’re trying to get to the point where we are one of the best teams in the state every year.”

There’s a good chance that Raney’s vision of the future is exactly where Spain Park will be in 2016. The Jags are solid across the board and will feature the hard-nosed ground attack that is consistent with Raney’s overall philosophy.

Leading the running game will be senior tailback Larry Wooden, who was Spain Park’s top rusher last season. He might be one of

Alabama’s best running backs and is a big-time college prospect.

“Larry is an outstanding player,” Raney said.

“He understands the role that our running backs need to play in our offense.”

Junior D’arie Johnson and sophomore Jalen

Head coach: Shawn Raney 2015 Record: 12-2 (State Class 7A Runner-up) Region: Class 7A Region 3 Hoover, Huffman, Mountain Brook, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County, Vestavia Hills Stadium: Finley Stadium (5,000)

Henderson give the Jaguars great depth in the running back positions.

The quarterback race is between senior Hunter Howell and junior Braxton Barker. Both candidates are solid runners and passers and display leadership skills, so the coaches are embracing a two-quarterback system.

Barker probably comes by his talents naturally. His father is former University of Alabama quarterback Jay Barker.

“We’re planning on playing both of our quarterbacks a lot,” Raney said.

Spain Park’s offensive line is in rebuilding mode. Former All-State center Grey Best picked up his diploma last spring. Raney will count heavily on senior linemen Will Mullins, Burrell Boswell and Bret Stover. Seniors Thomas Jordan and William Mee key players will be contributCoach Sean Raney ing at wide receivwith, front, from er. Newcomer Cole left: Larry Wooden, Damon Wright and Starr, who played Thomas Jordan. Back: soccer last spring, Douglas Henze, Bredt is the leading Stover and Houston hopeful for placeHollis. kicking duties.

Defensively, Raney has many holes to fill on an outstanding unit that shut out Hoover and

Spain Park 2016 Schedule Opponent

date

opponent

Aug. 19 Spain Park 21, Gadsden City 17 Aug. 26

Muscle Shoals

Sept. 2

Vestavia Hills*

Sept. 9

at Hoover*

Sept. 16

Mountain Brook*

Sept. 30

Huffman*

Oct. 7

at Thompson*

Oct. 14

Tuscaloosa County*

Oct. 21

at Oak Mountain*

Oct. 27

at Minor

*Region game

AlabamaFord.com BEST WISHES JAGUARS and WAR EAGLE!

Stan White

Color Announcer for Auburn University Football

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 19

spain park

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Vestavia on consecutive weekends last season.

Senior linebacker Houston Hollis may be the anchor, with help from Josiah Johnson. Tackles Douglas Henze and end Damon Wright will lead in the front. Henze won’t have any troubles in the classroom either – he carries a 4.2 GPA and earned a 33 on his ACT. Upperclassmen Jack Connell, Cameron Toyer and Damarius Farmer lead what should be an outstanding secondary.

Spain Park won four games by three points or less on the way to a 12-2 mark in 2015, and the Jags seem to pride themselves on their ability to win in tough situations.

“The old Spain Park would have lost some of those games,” Hobbs said. “Now we know we can make the big play at the end to win.”

The key – according to Raney – is consistency as opposed to perfection. “Where people go wrong is thinking you can make every play,” he explained. “Then people start pressing. Then they make a mistake such as a blocked punt and they’re in big trouble.”

Even an early loss doesn’t faze Raney. Spain Park suffered a heartbreaking 38-35 overtime defeat against Austin on opening night last year before rebounding to win 12 straight games.

“Sometimes a coach can feel better about his team after a loss,” said Raney. “You can see the things that need to be fixed.”

Jaguar fans hope their team won’t need too much fixing, because the schedule is brutal.

Once again competing in Class 7A’s Region 3, Spain Park faces Vestavia, Hoover and Mountain Brook on consecutive weekends and closes league play on the road against Oak Mountain.

“The margin of error is very small,” Raney said. “Our guys now understand what it takes to win. Our goal is to continue in that mode this year.”

See SPAIN PARK, page 22

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20 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

vestavia hills

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Opponent Vestavia Hills 2016 Schedule date

opponent

Aug. 26

Homewood

Sept. 2

at Spain Park*

Sept. 9

at Oak Mountain*

Sept. 16

Huffman*

Sept. 23

Helena

Sept. 30

at Thompson*

Oct. 7

Mountain Brook*

Oct. 14

at Hoover*

Oct. 21

Tuscaloosa County*

Oct. 28

at Shades Valley

*Region game

AlabamaFord.com Good Luck Rebels and ROLL TIDE!

Eli Gold

Journal photos by Marvin Gentry

Voice of University of Alabama Football

Vestavia Hills at a Glance

Members of the 2016 Vestavia Hills High School football team include Cole Dothard, Evans Crane, Travis Saunders, Conner Rohling, William Jemison, Kevin Cunningham, Bryce Glenn, Michael Gullage, Alex Hall, Gaines Berry, Garrett Lee, Ferguson Smith, Charlie Ball, Isaiah Flowers, Mitchell Langley, Frankie Donze, Ray Murphy, Coleman Petway, Sean Smyth, Weyman Prater, Cam Blake, Jonathan Hess, Tucker Queen, Chance Stephenson, Sam Fulkerson, Russell Webb, Reed Stockton, Steven Thackerson, Drew Stockard, Charlie Stoves, Andrew Knight, Asher Hamilton, Anthony Sims, Spencer Lawson, Dixon Jones, Everett Shea, Luke Denney, Freddie Updike, William Schaffeld, Cooper Jones, Ben Willoughby, Earl Bradberry, Caleb Huber, Robbie Flowers, Toliver Chatwood, Dovell Smith, DeCameron Adamson, Tripp Lowery, Trip Gurner, Neal Pirtle, Cooper Bishop, Josh Silverman, Errick Griggs, Chris Hughes, Cameron Cacace, Parker Hilburn, Carter Gill, Sawyer Dutton, Rob Barrentine, Ben Barrentine, John David Adams, Slade Stewart, Andrew Cross, Jack Silverman, Conyers Webster, Tucker Smith, Jay Cross, Andrew Sims, Andrew Manush, Grant McLean, Will Philpot, Hamilton Haynes, Richmond Maddox, Jack Kyle, Ryan Lockhart, Patrick Nuss, James Edwards, John Winford, Cort Cooper, Grayton Brooks, Braydon Brooks, Braydon Schick, Austin Kelley, Duncan Jones, Lamar Swain, Walter Thomas, Drew Gurosky, Garrett Griffin, Hayden Haynes, Barrett Striplin, Nathan Bullock, Jacob Edwards, Reed McMahon, Douglas Thompson, Termaine Brown, Micah Davis, Michael Schroeder, Jeremiah Smith, Michael Vice, Marshall Powell, Jacobi Hudson, Carter Sullivan, Jeff Weatherby, Hunter Salmon, William Padgett, Joseph Travis, Kade Cannon, Ben Williams, Diego Melendez, Chatfield Webster, Jack Dunphy, Charlie Dellaccio, Sam Looney, Manraj Singh, Jaimel Foy and Stuart Bradley.

39th Parallel

Anderson and Vestavia Just Keep Winning

By Lee Davis As Buddy Anderson enters his 39th season as head football coach of the Vestavia Hills Rebels, he’s become accustomed to the media questions about his possible retirement date.

His answer to the question now is similar to what it was 10 years ago, and probably what it will be 10 years in the future, assuming Anderson still is coaching.

“Coaching is what God wants me to do,” said Anderson. “He’ll let me know when it’s time to go.”

Then he added one short disclaimer: “I’m closer to the end (of his career) than the beginning.”

In truth, why would Anderson retire? He doesn’t play golf. He isn’t into hunting or fish-

ing. He’s not a gardener. The coach’s only real hobby is spending time with his family. And, oh yes, Anderson is the winningest coach in the hiskey players tory of Alabama Coach Buddy high school Anderson with, front, football with 320 from left: Mitchell wins, including Langley and Conner Rohling. Back: Jacob a mind-numbing Edwards and James 47 playoff victoEdwards. ries. Every time Vestavia wins a game, he sets a new record. So what’s the reason not to keep going?

The 2015 season was another good reason

See rebels, page 22

VH

Head Coach: Buddy Anderson 2016 Record: 9-3 Region: Class 7A Region 3 Hoover, Huffman, Mountain Brook, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County.

Stadium: Thompson Reynolds Stadium at Buddy Anderson Field (5,000)

vestavia hills

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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2016 high school football

rebels,

Key Matchup: Vestavia will visit Spain Park on Sept. 2 in an early season Region 3 contest.

Journal file photo by Marvin Gentry

From page 20

the Anderson era should continue. Coming off a disappointing 2014 campaign, the Rebels rebounded to post a 9-3 record against perhaps the state’s toughest schedule, advancing to the second round of the Class 7A playoffs.

“Last year was a good season,” Anderson said. “Our guys worked hard. I’m seeing a lot of that same work ethic out of this year’s group.”

The starter at quarterback is junior Coleman Petway, in whom Anderson has great confidence. Sean Smyth, a sophomore, will be in the backup role.

Rotating at fullback are Steven Thackerson, Cooper Jones and Reed Stockton.

Senior Toliver Chatwood is the front-runner at the tailback spot with William Schaffeld, Ray Murphy and Anthony Sims also in contention.

Vestavia will have a deep wide receiver corps. Joseph Travis and Mitchell Langley may have the most experience but seniors Isaiah Flowers, Trip Gurner, Jacobi Hudson and Conner Rohling are all in contention, as are juniors Drew Stockard, Cole Dothard and Everett Shea.

The Rebels will have a strong offensive line. Senior Patrick Moss is a returning starter at tackle, and Walter Thomas has been moved over from defense to contend for another tackle slot. Also in contention are senior Slade Stewart, junior John David Adams and sophomore Andrew Sims.

Brothers Hamilton and Hayden Haynes will be working at guard, along with Will Philpot, Drew Gurosky and Tucker Smith.

Senior Reed McMahon is the starter at center with Philpot and Gurosky providing relief.

The long-snapper in kicking situations is Jack Dunphy.

Jeremiah Smith is the tight end. Junior Jeff Weatherby and sophomore Michael Vice will also contribute.

Senior Manraj Singh and sophomore Caleb Huber will handle place-kicking and punting duties, respectively. Quarterback Petway and sophomore Doug Thomas are also capable punters.

Vestavia’s defense should be rock solid.

“We’ve looked good in scrimmages,” Anderson warned. “But we still have a long way to go.”

James Edwards and Michael Schroeder are the most experienced ends and Cameron Cacace, Charlie Dellaccio, Sawyer Dutton and Hunter Salmon are in the mix.

The tackles are Jacob Edwards, Barrett Striplin, Micah Davis, Douglas Thompson, Jamail Fox and Lamar Swain.

Travis Saunders and Parker Hilburn are solid seniors at inside linebacker. Others who will see work are Earl Bradberry, Asher Hamilton, Rob Barrentine and Cooper Bishop.

At the outside linebacker slots, Spencer Lawson, Luke Denney, Jonathan Hess, Cam Blake and Dixon Jones vie for playing time.

As usual, the Rebels have plenty of quality defensive backs. Seniors Alex Hall, Garrett Lee, Tucker Queen and Jonathan Hess are in the rotation, as are juniors William Jemison, Charlie Ball and Ben Willoughby.

Anderson is prepared to put inexperienced players in tough situations if required.

“We’ve got a lot of inexperience on our roster,” he said. “And the only way to get experience is to play.”

Vestavia’s schedule is as tough as ever. The Rebels are still aligned in Class 7A’s Region Three, which includes perennial foes Spain Park, Oak Mountain, Mountain Brook and Hoover. Vestavia must go on the road to play both Spain Park and Hoover this fall.

Outside the region, Anderson – ever mindful of local rivalries – opens the regular season

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

with Homewood and closes it with Shades Valley. “We’ve played Homewood every year since 1972 and we’ve played Shades Valley every year since 1973,” he said.

Anderson doesn’t live in the past, but he admittedly is not a particular fan of modern technology. Any Rebel caught texting during a team meeting can expect to feel the coach’s full wrath. Drawing on the wisdom of his 39 years as a head coach, Anderson believes that football teaches vital lessons to a tech-obsessed generation.

“Kids expect to get everything instantly now,” he said. “Entertainment and communication are at their fingertips. There’s nothing instant or easy about playing football. It’s sweating and working hard. There are certain to be bumps and bruises along the way. That’s what life will be like after they leave high school. These are lessons that they won’t necessarily get in a classroom.”

In addition to teaching life lessons, Anderson also knows what it takes to win football games, and he expects Vestavia will do a lot of winning in 2016.

spain park, From page 19

Everyone around the Spain Park program will downplay it, but there’s little doubt that the Jags’ visit to Hoover on Sept. 9 is the highlight of the schedule. The Jags earned their first-ever on-the-field victory over the Bucs last season and duplicated the feat in the playoffs. The entire city of Hoover will be holding its breath this fall to see if Spain Park’s new-found success against its big rival can carry over to a new season.

“We can’t worry about Hoover or any other team,” Raney said. “All we can do is worry about ourselves.”

The truth is that Spain Park should give its opponents plenty to worry about in 2016.

homewood, From page 8

He’s a tremendous player and a great young man and we are expecting a lot from him.”

The good news is that Jones isn’t the Patriots’ only quality running back. Junior Nick McCoy and sophomore David Robertson are also outstanding backs and should take some of the pressure off Jones.

“We’re fortunate to have three really good running backs,” Berguson said.

Nobody at Homewood is sure who the starting quarterback will be, but in this case that’s a good thing. Junior Ty Hatcher and sophomore Larkin Williams are locked in a battle for the starting role and the Patriot coaches are comfortable with either one.

“Both Ty and Larkin are excellent at both running and passing the ball,” Berguson said.

“There’s really no separation between them.

We’re planning on playing both of them a lot.”

Hatcher comes by his talents naturally.

His father, Chris, is the head football coach at Samford University and was an all-conference quarterback at Valdosta State in the 1990s.

Whoever starts at quarterback will find a bevy of impressive targets. Senior Fred Williams, junior TyShawn Buckner and sophomore Logan Padgett have outstanding size and speed.

One critical area is the offensive line, where senior Ethan Sherman is the only returning starter.

“We lost almost our entire line to graduation,” said Berguson. “We could be in good shape, but some young men are going to have to step up very quickly if things are going to come together.”

Berguson will be paying special attention to his offensive front, since he coaches the line himself.

Newcomer Ibrahima Sylla, a transfer from Jackson-Olin, will handle both place-kicking and punting duties for the Patriots.

Defensively, all-state lineman Griffin

Gentry has moved to the collegiate ranks and Berguson has many holes to fill in the front wall.

“Griffin’s going to be hard to replace, no doubt about it,” the coach said. “But as is the case with our offensive line, some young men will have to step up.”

If the line is a question mark, the linebackers are not.

Homewood returns three seniors and a junior who make up a tough and experienced unit. The inside linebackers are senior Riley Meeks and junior Trent Owens. On the outside are seniors Antarious Mitchell and Elliott Yacu.

Yacu is also a lacrosse standout.

The Patriots always have a strong secondary, and 2016 should be no exception. The leaders could be senior Jake Biles and junior C.D. Daniels. Daniels started all 12 games last season and already has a scholarship offer from Samford.

Homewood was largely unaffected by the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s realignment, landing in Class 6A’s Region Five. Their league rivals will include Hueytown, Jackson-Olin, John Carroll Catholic, Parker, Ramsay and Shades Valley.

“One characteristic of our region is that there is a lot of team speed,” Berguson said.

“Hopefully we have improved in that department as well. Every night will be a battle.”

The Patriots’ non-region slate is rugged as well. Homewood opened its season Aug. 18 with a 21-14 win over Pelham in a neutral site game at Samford University before visiting Class 7A mega-power Vestavia Hills the following week. So the young linemen will be required to grow up quickly.

While the road is rugged, Berguson is only focused on what he and his players can control.

“We can’t worry about who we play,” he said.

“We can only worry about ourselves. We need to get better every week. If we do that, we’ll be fine.”

If Homewood can avoid key injuries, the chances of reaching that elusive 10-win mark are better than good.

’76 spartans, From page 4

undefeated regular season. Mountain Brook’s winning streak had reached an eye-popping 24 consecutive games, but the challenges were just beginning.

After a routine victory over Walker County in the first round of the playoffs, the Spartans’ hopes for a second championship were nearly derailed in the second game. Hayes – an inner city Birmingham school – forced Mountain Brook to the limit before falling 18-15.

“Besides the Sugar Bowl game against Penn State (1979) and Mountain Brook’s championship game against Murphy, the Hayes game was the toughest I ever played in,” Ogilvie, who later starred at the University of Alabama, said. “They were very physical and came close to beating us.”

Morris remembers the game as well.

“Hayes had a middle linebacker that knocked me around all night,” he said. “I’ve still got some bruises.”

An even tougher test came the next week when the Spartans journeyed to Decatur for the semi-finals. The Red Raiders led 20-17 late in the game. A great run by Ogilvie and a key interception by defensive back Mike Quinn gave Mountain Brook a 24-20 victory.

The Spartans probably saved their best effort – certainly offensively – for last. They would need that effort; Murphy’s Mardye McDole was

Thursday, August 25, 2016 • 23

state champions

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

probably the state’s best wide receiver, with the exception of Mountain Brook’s Sam Price.

On the game’s first play from scrimmage, Ogilvie raced 80 yards for a touchdown. Three plays later, McDole caught a 70-yard pass

“After winning that first title, more guys wanted to be a part of it. Nothing succeeds like success.” billy Morris

from quarterback John Holman to tie the score at 7-7. Ogilvie and his team would not be contained. He rushed for an incredible 339 yards and four touchdowns, as Mountain Brook didn’t stop until it had scored a playoff record 52 points to earn its second crown.

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“We clicked offensively, but it was a tough game physically,” Ogilvie said.

“Both Richard (Burg) and Billy (Morris) were injured, so I had to get the lion’s share of the carries. Our offensive line, as always, did a great job.”

Mountain Brook’s two-year reign of dominance ended after the win over Murphy.

Legendary players such as Ogilvie, Burg, Morris, Miller wide receiver Sam Price, and linemen Bobby Shoulders and Keith Bouchillon all picked up their diplomas. Coaches Rhoades, Bradley and

Brenner moved on to other jobs. But the shine of Mountain Brook’s two-year run of championships in 1975-76 and the 27 game winning streak that accompanied it remains to this day.

“That was just a special time,” Morris said. “I can’t believe 40 years have passed. Sometimes it really seems like yesterday.”

Yesterday is gone, and the championship trophies may have gained a little tarnish. But the legacies of 1975-76 will always stand tall in memory.

Ogilvie rushed for an incredible 339 yards and four touchdowns, as Mountain Brook didn’t stop until it had scored a playoff record 52 points to earn its second crown.

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24 • Thursday, August 25, 2016

2016 high school football

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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