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2B
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2007
HoCo boys swim past Lee, Perry; earn more state qualifiers
From staff reports
Houston County hosted a meet
Tuesday at the Fort Valley State
University pool between it, Lee
County and Perry. For the Bears,
that translated into a dominating
performance. They finished with
223.50 points. Lee County had
74.50 and Perry 62.
And, as in the meet prior, Houston
County also had some swimmers
post state qualifying times. Among
them was Justin Burkholder, who
swam to a time of 2:07.60 and qual
ified in the 200 IM. Josh Morgan
qualified in the 100 Free with a
time of 51:44 and Aaron Meece
qualified in the 500 Free with a time
of 5:16.48. Brett Niemantsverdriet
qualified in the 100 Back with a
time of 59.65 and Nathan Meece
qualified in the 100 Breast with
a time of 1:08.18. The Bears have
now qualified for the state tour
nament in 14 events: 200 Medley
Relay, 200 and 400 Free Relay, 200
TEAM
From page iB
a true competitor in every sense
of the word. He is a baseball play
er at heart. He runs cross country
because he likes to compete. There
was never a workout that was too
hard or a challenge he didn’t want
to face. I think his experience as a
baseball player has allowed him to
develop a true sense of team. He
knows his role and is constantly
driven to succeed.
"Matt kept our team motivated
and challenged younger guys to go
harder. He is truly happy for others
successes and motivates them to
run faster."
Hunter Wo]ohn
School: Westfield
Year: Senior
Position: Team's number two/
three runner
Impact: Was the Region 3-AAA
number seven runner.
“Hunter has helped lead
Westfield's cross country team both
physically and spiritually," Bryan said.
“His contributions to the 2007 region
championship began long before his
number seven finish. He researched
proper ways to stretch and helped
map out our training regimen.
Other. Was a team co-captain
and, Bryan said, was instrumental
in pushing the junior varsity boys to
be the powerhouse that they have
become.
Coach’s Corner: “Hunter is
truly a student of running. He was
the braun and heart behind the entire
team's day-to-day activity."
Jacob Parnell
School: Westfield
Year: Senior
Position: Team’s number one
runner
Impact: A two-time Region 3-
AAA champion, he has achieved a
top 20 GISA State finish and sev
eral overall victories over the course
of his career at Westfield. He won
the individual region championship
outright in both 2006 and 2007 and
was a member of the Boys’ Varsity
Region Champions for Region 3AAA
for both 2003 and 2007.
Other: “Jake,” said Bryan, served
as a senior captain for the team. Was
named to the All-Region and All-
Houston County team for most - if
not all - of his career, Bryan added.
Coach’s Corner: “He set the
example for underclassmen and JV
runners alike. Jake never failed to
push himself to his absolute limits to
achieve victory for himself and, more
importantly, for his team.
“Jacob has always led by example
and shares his extensive knowledge
with varsity, junior varsity, opposing
teams, and coaches. He is the most
selfless and driven athlete that I
have coached in my 16 years in the
profession!”
Second team - boys
Stephen Bassett
School: Warner Robins
Year: Sophomore
Position: Team’s fifth runner at
region and state
Impact: Helped lead to the team
to back-to-back Region 1-AAAAA
championships and qualify for the
GHSA AAAAA state tournament.
Also had two top 20 finishes. His
best time came at the region meet
with a time of 18:43.
Coach’s Corner: “Stephen
played a big part in the boys win
ning the county championship as the
sixth runner on our team as his finish
broke the tie with Perry to win the
championship.
Jesse Yeomans
School: Perry
Year: Sophomore
Impact: Helped the team qualify
for the AAA state tournament, and
was their fastest runner all year,
Hardy said, “When practice began,
I had no idea that he would become
our fastest. Jesse’s only prior experi
ence with running was during track
season in his freshmen year.
“He really developed a love for
running and realized that he had
potential to be good.”
Posted a fast time of 17:32. “He
gave us a guy that was going to
challenge top runners from other
schools,” said Hardy. “He gives us a
strong presence we can rely on for
two more years.”
Coach’s Corner: “Jesse is truly
just realizing his potential. He sets
goals that push him to succeed. He
always wants to do more. Jesse
and 100 Free (Josh Morgan), 200
IM and 100 Breast (Burkholder),
50 and 100 Free (Mark Weber), 500
Free and 100 Back (Joey Morgan),
500 Free (Aaron Meece), 100 Breast
(Nathan Meece) and 100 Back
(Niemantsverdriet).
“The boys are coming along and
swimming wqll,” said Head Coach
Jamey Richardson. “We have a ton
of confidence right now from the
season’s first two meets. We have
freshmen who are doing an out
standing job, seniors who demand
excellence from themselves and
others, and juniors and sophomores
whose contributions are invalu
able.”
He added that Drew Bratcher, a
senior, sophomores Michael Morgan
and Karsten Tufts and junior
Brandon Munda provide the team
with the flexibility to put their
other swimmers in events where
they can excel.
“All do well at their own events,”
he said, “but having these three be
is very coach able and has a very
bright future ahead."
Evan Grantham
School: Westfield
Year: Freshman
Position: Team’s number two/
three runner
Impact: Achieved a ranking of
third in GISA Region 3-AAA with a
third-place finish, said cross country
Head Coach Wendy Bryan.
“Evan is a runner who has yet to
reach his full potential,” Bryan said.
‘There are no limits to his talents and
his future is very bright in the cross
country world. Evan will be a strong
anchor for WHS as we continue to
grow and improve our cross country
program. Look for much more on
this runner in the years to come!”
Will Walton
School: Westfield
Year: Sophomore
Position: Team's number four
runner
*
Impact: Finished 10th at the
region meet. Further, he steadily
improved throughout the year and
came through to help place the
Hornets ahead of Deerfield Windsor
for the first time since 2003, said
Bryan.
“Will continues to improve on a
daily basis and will help to keep
Westfield’s varsity boys’ team a
region championship contender for
the next two years. Look to hear
more from Will Walton in the years
to come!”
Runner of the Year - girls
Danielle Atkins
School: Warner Robins
Year: Senior
Position: Team’s number two
runner
Impact: Helped the team win its
second Region 1 -AAAAA champion
ship, qualify for the GHSA AAAAA
state tournament and finish 16th at
that venue. She also finished in the
top 10 six times during the season.
Her best time of the year was at
Mercer with a time of 21:27.
Other: She was team captain,
made the All-County and All-Region
teams and made the Warner Robins
Wall of Fame for the third time.
Coach’s Corner: “Danielle will
give you her all at practice and in
the meets. She is determined to be
the best at whatever she does and
excels in cross country. She became
the first girl to run in four state cham
pionships and she will be sorely
missed.”
First team - girls
Caroline Mauldin
School: Warner Robins
Year: Freshman
Position: Team’s number one
runner
Impact: Helped the team win its
second Region 1 -AAAAA champion
ship, qualify for the GHSA AAAAA
state tournament and finish 16th at
that venue. She also finished the
team’s number one runner in 11 of
12 meets and won two races. Her
best time of the year was 19:59.
“She had an awesome first year,”
Erpelding said.
Other: Set three school records,
won the region championship and
was the Region Runner of the Year.
She also made the All-County team,
All-Region team and the Warner
Robins Wall of Fame.
Coach’s Corner: “She made an
impact from the start of a great sea
son. She works hard and is a team
player and lets her feet do the talk
ing. She has a great future at Warner
Robins High School.”
Emily Bailey
School: Warner Robins
Year: Freshman
Position: Team's number three
runner
Impact: Helped the team win its
second Region 1 -AAAAA champion
ship, qualify for the GHSA AAAAA
state tournament and finish 16th at
that venue. She finished in the top 10
three times and top 15 six times. She
ran her best time of the year at state
with a time of 21:55.
Other: Set one school record,
made the All-Region team and was
named to the Warner Robins Wall
of Fame.
Coach’s Corner: “Emily had
a great freshman year. She works
hard at practice and works hard to
improve her time in every meet.”
Brittney Hill
School: Warner Robins
Yean Senior
Position: Team’s number four
able to swim any event gives me the
freedom to let the others qualify for
state in different events and later,
we can start narrowing and refin
ing where we want to enter the
state meet where we can get the
most points.”
He further added that Jimmy
Shaw and Chris Davis were mak
ing strides, and if they developed
the work ethic the others have,
their individual success would be
parallel to that of the team. Joel
Robertson, Nick Wilhelm, and Sean
Preston, Richardson said, are fresh
men who are making immediate
improvement, and Aaron Meece
and Niemantsverdriet are fresh
men who have come in as success
ful club level swimmers who have
made an immediate impact by each
already qualifying in one event and
will eventually qualify for state
in another this season. Dae-won
Lee is a Korean exchange student
who has already contributed with a
relay team that accumulated points
runner
Impact: Helped the team win its
second Region 1 -AAAAA champion
ship, qualify for the GHSA AAAAA
state tournament and finish 16th at
that venue. She also finished in the
top 15 five times. Her best time of
the year was at region with a time
of 22:29.
Other: Made the All-Region
team and was named to the Warner
Robins Wall of fame.
Coach’s Corner: “Brittney has
been a part of the girl’s team for
three years and has been a consis
tent runner during her time. She will
be sorely missed."
Megan Breitbach
School: Houston County
Year: Sophomore
Impact: Had a “great” impact on
the team's score, said Coach Natalie
Grace, as she was “first or second in
every race."
Coach's Corner: ‘Megan has
shown extreme commitment to run
ning.”
Klersten Wharton
School: Houston County
Year: Junior
Impact: Always finished in the
top five or top 10 in the overall race,
Grace said. “Kiersten has had a
great impact on our team by bringing
us together as a family," she said.
“She is a natural leader and not
afraid to take charge at the right time.
“She has been an encouragement
to both teams for commitment and
hard work.”
Other: Was named team captain
and received the Team Leadership
award.
Coach’s Corner: “Kiersten has
shown hard work through tough
times. She has pushed through
injuries, extreme pain, and has never
stopped giving her 100 percent effort
- even when I thought she might
need to slow down. She is a fireball!
And even when the doctors com
manded her to not run because of a
concussion, she came out and sup
ported her team 100 percent. She is
a fine young lady!
Elizabeth Lambert
School: Northside
Year: Sophomore
Impact: Qualified for the GHSA
AAAA state tournament and finished
69th at that venue. She also fin
ished the year with a combined score
of 150 points. Her best time was
21:22.
“Her love for running had a tre
mendous effect on the team suc
cess,” Byrd said. “Her leadershfp
inspired other teammates to vyork
hard."
Other: She made the All-Region
team, All-County team, placed fourth
at region and third in the Houston
Count meet.
Coach’s Corner: “This is my
second year coaching Elizabeth. I
really enjoy coaching her because
of her dedication to the sport. She
never complains no matter what the
workout is for that day and she
doesn't mind putting the extra miles
in during the season and especially
during the off season.”
Sami Jacobs
School: Northside
Year: Senior
Position: Team's number two
runner
Impact: She was the most
improved runner from last season,
Byrd said, adding she was a key run
ner in the region championship.
“She trained had all summer and
it paid off," Byrd said. “She inspired
the underclassmen runners to work
hard.”
Other: Received three medals at
invitational meets this season.
Coach’s Corner: “I have
enjoyed coaching Sami for three
years. I have seen her mature into a
great runner with determination and
love for the sport."
Bethany Loggins
School: Perry
Year: Senior
Impact: She went from three
years of cheering to her first - and
only - year of cross country and
become the team's “rock,” said
Hardy. “She never missed a practice
and always completed the workouts.
"Bethany ran some good times for
someone that has never competed in
cross country.” And, he added, she
continued to train with the boys when
the girl’s season was over. “Her
strength and dedication impacted all
of the other runners," Hardy said. “I
knew I could count on her const-
SPORTS
tency.
Coach’s Corner: “Bethany is
a true team player. She was at the
state meet cheering on our boy's
team. It’s nice to have someone that
works hard and pushes others to do
the same. She had a true desire to
see us all succeed and helped moti
vate others to work hard each and
every day.”
Kim Campbell
School: Westfield
Year: Senior
Position: Team's number three/
four/five runner
Impact: Was the only senior on
the girls’ varsity Region 3-AAA run
ner-up (the Lady Hornets) team for
the 2007 season, Bryan said. “She
helped push each runner, varsity and
junior varsity, to the limits of his/her
physical performance.
“Kim’s work ethic and dedication to
the team helped each runner become
better throughout the season.”
Coach’s Corner: “She might
not have been the fastest runner on
the team, but she worked as hard, if
not harder, that any of the WHS run
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Harrison Joshua
Adams - Theft
by Taking (Motor
Vehicle), Violation
of Parole. LKL:
Warner Robins
Jelie Ryan
Blalock - Violation
of Probation State
Court. LKL: 102
Annes Brook,
Warner Robins
ft
Theo Crapps
- Bail Jumping.
LKL: 92 West Cliff
Circle, Warner
Robins
IF YOU DON'T LIKE SEEING YOUR PICTURE ON THIS PAGE,
- r-.m, -r- .nr--i n-m
against Walton.
“Such dedication and desire to
accomplish is rare but necessary
if they intend to meet their goals,”
he said. “This is the core of the
, HoCo Locos group you see running
around before and during football
games... and they will also be at the
spring sports events, too.”
As for the Lady Bears, they fell to
Lee County at the meet. The Lady
Trojans had 181, Houston County
157 and Perry 30.
Currently in regard to state qual
ifying, Annie Bratcher leads the
way. She has qualified in three
events: 100 Fly - it coming Tuesday
- 100 Free and 100 Breast.
However, “Seniors Kaitlyn
Carriker and Ansley Campbell are
team leaders,” Richardson said,
“who set 4he standards for a team
which looks to win its sixth consecu
tive county championship. Kaitlyn,
Annie and Ansley are all skilled
swimmers in each event, and com
bined with Kaitlyn Merrifield, form
ners. Rising varsity runners will have
some big shoes to fill in the coming
years!"
Leigh James
School: Westfield
Year: Sophomore
Position: Team’s number one/
two runner
Impact: Helped the team achieve
GISA Region 3-AAA runner-up status
for the 2007 season with a number
four finish in Elko, Bryan said.
“Leigh kept the team entertained
and fought through some breathing
problems in several races to keep
her team in contention for a win
in almost every race,” said Bryan.
“Leigh’s unorthodox style of run
ning frequently fooled other run
ners into thinking that she might
be easily beaten. Not so! Leigh
runs strong and fast from start to
finish and leaves nothing on the
course.”
Coach’s Corner: “Leigh
will help Mallory Eubanks keep
Westfield’s varsity girls in the race
for the region championship for the
next two years.”
! ■MB
Brendon Montrel
Allen - Simple
Battery. LKL 311
Orchard Lane,
Warner Robins
Charles Hunlm
Bowman
- Violation of
Probation Superior
Court. LKL: 171
Carter Circle,
Warner Robins
.■ >-
Chad Dawson
- Violation of
Probation Superior
Court. LKL: 104
Brandywine Court,
Warner Robins
a strong relay team for the Lady
Bears.”
“Caitlin Wilhelm and Nellie
Daley are juniors are counted on for
top finishes in every meet. Daley’s
focus has been on the 200 and 500
but she can handle sprints as well.
Wilhelm is a versatile swimmer
who swims multiple events. Kimber
Bergo and Timmie Warren bring
club experience to the team, and
Jill Smith, Kristen Robinson, Molly
Welchel, Brandi de Neuf and Lexus
Brantley are veterans to the team
who know what is required to be
successful.”
Newcomers, he added, are Megan
Breitbach, April Collins, Christa
Cranford, Ashley Getrum, Jordan
Hicks, Ansley Lamb, Lucy Ma,
Heather Miller, Emily Richardson,
Jasmine Wilford, Jasmine Williams
and Elizabeth Weber.
“We’re fortunate to have them
and their efforts will help secure
the fortune of the program,” he
said.
James Askew
- Violation of
Probation Superior
Court. LKL: 201
Madrid St., Warner
Robins
Marco
Antonio Ardon
- Aggravated
assault. LKL: 120
Ignico Dr., Warner
Robins
Lamar Andy
Chatfield
- Violation of
Probation Superior
Court. LKL: 180
Vicki Dr., Warner
Robins
Sammie Lee
Dinkins - Violation*
of Probation State
Court. LKL: 1127
Calhoun Dr.,
Warner Robins
Scot) Bridges
- Violation of
Probation. LKL:
305 S. Cambridge,
Warner Robins
Jimmy Lance
Deason - Theft by
Taking, Theft by
Deception. LKL:
813 Arrowhead
Trail, Warner
Robins
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
Mallory Eubanks
School: Westfield
Year: Sophomore
Position: Team’s number one/
two runner
Impact: Finished the season
with a region runner-up individual
finish in Elko.
She was instrumental in leading
the girls to their team runner-up sta
tus for Region 3-AAA, said Bryan.
“Mallory is a quiet leader.who
goes about her training and competi
tion without fanfare and never fails
to succeed. She fluctuated between
number one and number two for the
varsity girls for most of the season,
but put forth her best performance
during the region meet. She and
Leigh James will anchor the girls’
varsity team for the next two years
and provide an excellent example for
the upcoming junior varsity runners.”
Coach’s Corner: “Mallory is
very easy to coach with a work ethic
that rivals that of any athlete in any
sport. She will be a force to be reck
oned with in Region 3-AAA for the
remainder of her time at Westfield.”
Bari Allan
Augustus - Theft
by Shoplifting
X 3. LKL: Warner
Robins
Vernon Collins
- Violation of
Probation Superior
Court. LKL: 318
Brantley Dr., Lot
17, Centerville
Jay David
Emerson - Bench
Warrant Superior
Court, Bail
Jumping, other.
LKL: 100 Port Terr.,
Warner Robins
mill