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August 3, 2016 Phone: 770-867-6397 Fax:706-621-4115 cbridges@barrowjournal. com Section B ★★★★ High School Football: Apalachee High School Wildcats Optimism surrounds year two of Sims’ era Wildcats begin 2016 season Aug. 26 against River Ridge By Chris Bridges Journal Sports Editor T he level of enthusiasm which is emerging from the Apalachee High School practices can be viewed as surprising when one considers the recent history of the program. Coming off an 0-10 season in 2015 — and a program mark of 1-29 the past three years — AHS is look ing for things to take an upward turn in 2016. No one is predicting a 10-0 season or a region championship, but there remains a firm confidence that things can get better for a pro gram which has not been to the state playoffs since 2009. “The kids are certainly working hard,” second-year head coach Steve Sims said recently. “There’s no doubt about that. No one is looking back on what has happened. Every one is working to make things better for the future of this program.” The 2016 season, which begins Aug. 26 against River Ridge at home, will feature five non-region games to start the new campaign. The Region 8-AAAAAA schedule begins Sept. 30 against county rival Winder-Barrow High School. See Wildcats on Page 3B SUMMER DRILLS Apalachee High School senior receiver Ethan Morris tries to stay away from a defend er during a practice session last week. Photo by Jessica Brown LOOKING DOWNFIELD Winder-Barrow High School quarterbacks work during a practice session last week. The Bulldoggs, who have been forecast to finish in the top four of Region 8-AAAAAA this fall, will take the field for a preseason scrimmage against Flowery Branch High School on Friday, Aug. 12. The regular season opener will be Friday, Aug. 19, at Clarke Central High School in Athens. Photos by Jessica Brown NEW SEASON APPROACHES WBHS coach Heath Webb (left) con ducts practice last week while players go through offensive drills (above). The Bulldoggs are set for a newly-formed region and classification this fall. Local Stars WBHS plans reception for Lady Doggs’ Nelson-Ododa The Winder-Barrow High School Lady Bulldogg coach ing staff will host reception for standout player Olivia Nelson-Ododa on Thursday beginning at 2:45 p.m. The event will be in the WBHS cafeteria. Refresh ments will be served at 2:45 p.m. followed by a question and answer session with Nel son-Ododa at 3 p.m. The past few months have been very memorable for Nel son-Ododa as she helped lead the Lady Bulldoggs to a state runner-up season in March. This past summer the WBHS standout player qualified for Team USA being chosen as one of 12 chosen for the over seas travel roster among 130 who tried out initially. Thursday's event will give those in attendance a chance to ask Nelson-Ododa about her trip during her playing time for Team USA. Nelson-Ododa worked her way into the starting lineup for Team USA and averaged 12 points and 9.4 rebounds during seven games. Her high point total came against South Korea when she finished with 21. Knights look to scrimmage The Bethlehem Christian Academy football team will venture to Briarwood Academy in Warrenton this Friday for a preseason scrimmage at 6 p.m. The Knights will then look to their Aug. 12 reg ular season opener against Piedmont Academy. BCA will host Piedmont for an 8 p.m. kickoff. The game will kick off 30 minutes later than usual to try and combat the extreme heat from this summer. Sports Opinion Allen’s upbeat nature will be missed the most Trade sends Demeritte from Rangers to Braves Once upon a time, as the story often goes, a young high school coach and a young sports journalist were in the early stages of their respective careers. It was in the town of Cov ington, less than an hour from Winder, where the coach and sports writer were trying to improve in their chosen profes sions. The coach, Stan Allen, By Chris Bridges and the sports writer, yours truly, developed a friendship that would continue decades later. Through that friendship came a mutual respect for each other’s work as well as an insight into what the other did for a living. Tragically, bad news arrived last Friday as word reached me that Allen had passed away after bravely battling numerous health issues through the years. While he has been unable to coach the last couple of sea sons following a four-year stint with the Winder-Barrow High School program, Allen longed to return to the side lines and often sent messages to me telling me he hoped the upcoming season would, in fact, be the one where he was able to coach again. See Bridges on Page 5B Hometown star Travis Demeritte is now part of the Atlanta Braves organization. Demeritte was part of the three-player deal between the Texas Rangers and Atlan ta Braves earlier this week which will see the Winder-Barrow High School gradua tion part of his home state’s professional team. Demeritte was drafted out of high school by the Rangers and has played pro fessional baseball for three years. See DeMeritte on Page 6B