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The ADVANCE, February 10, 2021 /Page 3B
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Beck To Lead Lady Indians
Longtime Vidalia As
sistant Softball Coach
(L to R): Conley Brown and Jackson Crawley at the State Swim Meet at Georgia Tech.
Indians Swim At State
Ben Beck has been named
the new Head Coach of
The Lady Indians. The
announcement comes on
the heels of 16-year Head
Coach Brad Thompson's
resignation, who resigned
Monday citing personal
reasons.
Beck, who has been
the Vidalia Assistant
Coach since 2011, is a
1996 graduate of Vidalia
High School and has been
part of a team that has
made four trips to the
GHSA Final 4, where the
Lady Indians finished as
Runner-up twice. Beck
has also been named the
Region Assistant Coach
of the Year four times and
By Mike Branch
Sports Editor
sports 7 advance@gmaii. com
Swimming against
competition from three
classifications (A, AA &
AAA), which included
private schools, Vidalia
High School's Jackson
Crawley and Conley
Brown made a good
showing last Thursday at
the GHSA State Swim
Meet held at Georgia
Tech.
Crawley, a senior
swimming in his last high
school event, had a great
night, finishing 10th in
the 50m Freestyle and
11th in the 100m Free
style. His 50m time was
the 2nd best among AA
teams and Public Schools
competing in the divi
sion. His 100m time of
50.57 was a personal best
and was the best time in
AA and the 2nd best time
among Public Schools in
the division.
Junior Conley Brown
placed 19th in the 50m,
the 2nd best in AA, and
the 8th best time among
public schools in the divi
sion.
Crawley (3yrs) and
Brown (2yrs) are part of
the VHS Swim Team,
which is coached by Rob
Hilton, and for the past
several weeks has been a
team without a home. Be
cause of a broken heater
in the pool at Meadows
Wellness Center, the
team has become no
mads, traveling to States
boro when possible, but
for the most part, having
to settle for dry land
workouts.
And Vidalia Athletic
director Tommy Dailey
says that put them at a
disadvantage, “Most, if
not all of these teams that
we compete against have
a pool of their own with
some having a full-blown
Aquatics Center. So,
when you look at Jackson
and Conley’s finish, it
speaks volumes about
what kind of competitors
they are, and we are so
proud of them.”
was the AA State Assis
tant Coach of the Year in
2015.
Beck, who was a
member of Vidalia's first-
ever Baseball State Cham
pionship in 1995, says
that he is honored to have
a chance to be the Head
Coach of such a great
program.
"It's an honor to take
over one of the preemi
nent softball programs in
the state. It's a program
that enjoyed a lot of suc
cess in the slow pitch days
under Coach "Chunk"
Reid. Then, Coach Brad
Thompson helped build
the fastpitch program
into one that I believe is
unrivaled south of Ma
con. It's my hope that I
Ben Beck
can continue their suc
cess and build on the
well-deserved respect
that this program has gar
nered."
Vidalia High School
Principal John Sharpe
said the decision to name
Beck was easy. "Coach
Beck has been a dedi
cated teacher and coach.
He is beloved by his stu
dents, players, and their
parents. He knows our
players, the expected
work ethic, and he under
stands the expectations
we have for our program.
He is currently selecting
his staff, and I am confi
dent he will continue to
have our softball program
among the elite programs
in the state."
Indian Athletic Di
rector Tommy Dailey
echoed Sharpe's senti
ments, "We are excited
about this opportunity
for our softball team
moving forward. Coach
Beck brings stability to
the program. He has built
tremendous relationships
with these young ladies,
which will enable him to
continue to help them
reach their potential. I
feel strongly that Coach
Beck has the ability to
lead our softball program
in a positive manner and
continue its high level of
excellence."
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