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Barrow Journal
Chris Bridges, Sports Editor
770-867-6397, phone
678-425-1435, FAX
cbridges @barrowjoumal.com
AHS wrestlers finish second at Wildcat Open
Only a select
few earn status
of being hero
Right is still right even if no
one does it. Wrong is still wrong,
even if everyone does it.
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Home was certainly sweet for the
Apalachee High School wrestling
team this past weekend.
Coach Jim Stoudcnmire's Mat
Wildcats' hosted a tournament and
when all the action was complete
found themselves with a second-place
trophy trailing only Commerce in
total points.
“I was extremely proud of how
our kids performed both on and off
the mats,” Stoudenmire said. “We
wrestled against some very strong
competition and performed well, and
showed a lot of class win or lose.”
A total of seven AHS grapplers took
first place in their respective weight
classes including Aaron Roberts (112),
Austin Sheppard (125), Zak Moore
(103) and Chris Hamrick (189).
Aaron Segars (135) and Cody
Segars (145) were third while was
Tony Hoard was fourth at 285.
Sheppard was also MVP in the light
weight divisions.
see AHS wrestling on page SB
It’s not easy being a hero. I
guess that’s the way it should
be. Otherwise anyone could
be one and the designation
would not mean anything.
We lost a hero last week although
the mere mention of her name
still makes seem people see red.
Or should I say it makes some
people see red
and black.
Jan Kemp,
long ago vilified
by most in the
Bulldog Nation,
passed away
from complica
tions due to
Alzheimer’s at a
too early age. No
doubt the stress
she endured had
to play a role in
her early passing. The human body
and mind are only capable of deal
ing with so much and she certainly
had to weather more than her fair
share of storms when she made
the decision to do what was right.
Of course, we all agree doing
what is right is, well, the right thing
to do. But how many of us have
the inner makeup to do it when
the time comes? How many of us
are willing to put everything we
know from family to our career
on the line for what is “right?”
It’s not an easy thing to do and
most simply look the other way
when that moment of truth comes.
It goes back to what makes some
heroes. Kemp was a hero. She knew
what was going on inside the archa
ic remedial studies program for
athletes at the University of Georgia
was wrong. Athletes being shuffled
through for what they could do on
the football field with little regard of
whether they could pass a test or in
some extreme cases, read or write.
While not as widespread today,
back in the early 80s if you could
contribute on the football field, it
was not unheard of, common in
some instances, to get a free pass in
the classroom. A disgrace yes, but
that was the nature of the beast.
Kemp became the rallying point
for all UGA fanatics, most of whom
never even attended the Athens-
based school. Called every name
in the book, most of which could
not printed here, Kemp pressed
on after her firing and was deter
mined to be the light that exposed
the dark side of college athletics.
She eventually won, although
even today, decades later, her name
is still cursed and spit on by those
who view winning football games
as the real meaning of college. Her
death was actually celebrated by
some. One post on a message board
referred to the fact it took Georgia
two decades to win an SEC title in
football after her deeds and then
said, “Good riddance” to her.
Reaction like this is why we have
so few heroes. It’s easier to simply
ignore wrong doings and pretend
the injustice which is occurring is
not happening. Most of us have
done so at some time in our life.
Not wanting to get involved, not
wanting to rock the boat and sim
ply wanting to stay in the shadows
are reasons we tell ourselves not
to speak up and do what is right.
Jan Kemp did what was right,
however. She had the courage few
of us have. Her passing did gamer
some positive press coverage in late
2008, which was a welcome sight.
Still, there is no statue honoring
her for her deeds in what she did.
No, the statue was recently
unveiled for the football coach
in charge of the program she
revealed to be corrupt.
chris
bridges
First & Ten
Chris Bridges is sports editor
of the Barrow Journal. E-mail
comments about this column to
cbridges @ barrowjournal, com.
BASKETBALL SPOTLIGHT:
WINDER-BARROW HIGH SCHOOL BULLDOGGS
QUALITY PLAY
(Top) Winder-Barrow High School’s D.J. Butler, competing against Monroe Area Friday, has helped his
team to a 6-1 start. Coach Eli Connell (bottom) has been pleased with his team’s effort early in the 2008-09
season. Photos by Jessica Brown
Doggs overcome lack of experience
to enjoy eariy-season success
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
T he season is a long way
from being over, but
Winder-Barrow High
School boys basketball coach Eli
Connell will certainly take a 6-1
start.
“I’m not someone who looks
too far ahead,”
Connell said
Sunday night after
he finished break
ing down the win
from Friday night
against Monroe
Area. “In the pre
season, I didn’t look at our schedule
and think we could be 4-1 or 5-1.
When the break gets here we will
look at the region standings and see
where we are.”
In the Bulldoggs’ first few games
of the season, the team had a
tendency to fall behind. Connell
knew the team had to rid itself of
that habit.
“We gradually stopped that and
began to play better out of the gate,”
the coach said. “It was something
we focused on. Lately, we have
been fortunate to get ahead.”
In Friday’s win against Monroe
Area, Winder-Barrow never trailed.
Foul trouble has also been a talk
ing point for the Bulldoggs.
see WBHS Success on page SB
Inside:
WBHS teams
sweep rival Mon
roe Area
— Pages 2B, 3B
Bulldogg
swimmers
set records
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
It was a record-setting day
for the Winder-Barrow High
School swim teams.
During Saturday’s short trip
to the Ramsey Center at the
University of Georgia, several
WBHS Bulldoggs and Lady
Bulldoggs established personal
bests.
Cary Hughes, Devin Rambo,
Joey Sandlin and Billy
Hentenaar opened the after
noon by breaking the school
record in the 200 medley relay
in 2:04.63.
Hughes (2:13.79) and Anya
Lewis (2:30.67) followed by
breaking the records in the boys
and girls 200 freestyle.
Hughes continued his record
setting meet by then breaking
his 500 free record by 34 sec
onds. His previous record stood
at 6:54.16 with the new mark
now established at 6:19.85.
Hughes broke a school record
in each event he competed in
Saturday in Athens.
Finishing up the evening were
Billy Hentenaar, Joey Sandlin,
Devin Rambo and Hughes
establishing a new record in the
boys 200 free relay (1:46.74).
Also noted by the WBHS
coaches were heat winners
Christine Faur (100 breast
stroke), Abby Henry, Amy
Wright, Megan Greene and
Anya Lewis (200 medley relay
and) Clara Moody (50 free.)
The WBHS swim teams are
now off until Jan. 10 when they
will travel to Augusta.
Westside
girls team
earns victory
The Westside Middle School
girls basketball team recorded
a close 28-24 win against rival
Haymon Morris last Friday
night.
Coach Clay Carlyle’s team
started strong taking an 8-4
first quarter lead before trailing
12-11 at halftime.
The Huskies showed a new
found aggressiveness, Carlyle
said, in the second half tak
ing back the lead and holding
off several runs by Haymon
Morris.
The Huskies were led by
Ashley Gunter and Ryan Burke
who both scored eight points.
Tia Carter added seven points
and Vanessa Goldston contrib
uted three points while playing
her most physical game of the
season snagging numerous key
rebounds, her coach said.
Westside is set to play at
Winder Barrow Middle School
Wednesday (today).
Young Mat Bulldoggs showing promise
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Considering the overall youth of his team this
season, Winder-Barrow High School wrestling
coach Chad Home was impressed with his squad’s
sixth place showing at the Apalachee High School
Wildcat Open last weekend.
Going into the final round, the Mat Bulldoggs
actually had a chance to finish as high as fourth
although the team had to face Commerce, the
eventual tournament champion.
“We were shooting for the top five, but we were
missing two weight classes,” said Home, who is in
his first season with the WBHS program.
Four Bulldogg wrestlers earned medals includ
ing Eric Sheppard (third place, 112), Cody
Faulkner (fourth place, 103), Chase Beal, (fourth
place, 162) and Taylor Keinat (second place,
140).
see WBHS wrestling on page SB
MAT
BATTLES
Zack
Gutierez
wrestles
in the 152
pound divi
sion for
Winder-
Barrow.
Photo by
Jessica
Brown