Newspaper Page Text
Follow the Knights on their New Athletic Website, weareul.org,
to Find Schedules, Scores, Directions to Events, and More.
The Upson Beacon
Thursday,
July 29, 2021
Page 5B
50 Years
By Jim Fowler
Fifty can be either good or bad, ac
cording to how you see it. It’s not too
good on a math test but it’s great as
what you get paid for an hour’s work.
Well, as of this Sunday, Aug. 1, it will
mean so much to me. This Sunday will
be Karen and my 50th wedding anni
versary.
I guess when people get married,
they never think of being wed for 50
years. I don’t think that I ever did. It
was just a day-by-day adventure for us,
just trying to do the best we could.
Yeah, I know that this is supposed
to be a sports column. OK, let me see.
When Karen and I got married, I was
the basketball coach at Yatesville High
School, which was Karen’s alma mater.
She supported me in everyway, attend
ing all our games at home and on the
road. She traveled many miles on one
of those yellow hounds going to games
in Roberta, Woodbury, Milner, Macon,
and points beyond, and even kept the
official score book for many of our
home games.
She continued to be my strength
when we moved to Upson High in 1973.
I helped with football there and she be
came a member of the “wives’ club”
that attended most of those games,
along with her continued support of my
basketball team. In 1974, Shannon
came along, and then in 1977 Hayley
was born. This completely changed our
family structure. I was needed at home
more.
So, after 10 years in coaching, I
moved into school administration. She
didn’t have to bundle up the girls and
get them to the home games or even
take them on those cold mid-week road
trips. I was at home more and in the
way a lot more.
She and I kept the scorebook at
local softball games for about 20 years
and she accompanied me on Braves’
spring training trips for over 30 years.
You see, in some way, sports have al
ways been a part of our lives.
After completing very good public
careers, we both retired in 2005 and
have been very happy about that deci
sion. We have traveled and enjoyed our
family but, more than that, we have en
joyed each other. When you see one of
us you will normally see the other as
well.
A don’t really remember the yearly
milestones in our marriage. By that I
mean I don’t remember 20th, 30th, or
40th anniversaries. I do remember that
Shannon and Hayley surprised us with
a 25th anniversary celebration and I
guess that I kinda realized that we had
been together for a good while.
This 50th anniversary means so
much to me because it took me about
four years to convince Karen to marry
me. I didn’t know if I would ever make
her my wife, much less reach the 50th
milestone. Those early days seem so far
away, yet I do have vivid memories of
many things. I look at the pictures and
think, “Man, we were so young and
happy.” Well, we are still very happy
but not so young anymore.
I believe a couple has to have four
things to reach the 50th plateau. Of
course you have to have good health to
manage through those years. You have
to have a supportive and loving family
to give you strength. You have to have
a faith that helps you navigate through
the problems and adventures that you
face.
And lastly, you have to have a true
and forgiving love for each other. Oh,
there may be times when you don’t like
each other too much, but that can’t
overcome that true love. I must say that
Karen is my best friend.
I could say a lot more about our
50th anniversary, but space doesn’t
allow me to do so. Just let me say that I
have loved Karen Purvis since she was
15 years old. The day that I married her
was the best day of my life, and 50 years
later I still love her with all my heart.
She is a special and beautiful lady!
Forgive me for being “unsportslike”
this week, but your 50th anniversary
only comes along once. I hope I can say
the same on our 60th!
PS”
7*1
Photo Submitted
Russell Kaczmarek continues to be a force in his weight class. His sophomore season offers him a chance at expanding on his region championship from last season.
Fighting Knights Cap Summer
at Hamptnn Summer Scramble
By Jacob Stewart
sports@upsonbeacon.com
Upson-Lee wrestling traveled to Hamp
ton High School to compete in the Hampton
Summer Scramble. The scramble put the
Fighting Knights’ work this summer to the
test. Upson-Lee lost its first match to
Number 3 AAAAA Ola High School, but
bounced back to win for the rest of the day.
The Fighting Knights defeated Hampton,
Morgan County, and Crisp County to finish
the day 3-1.
Russell Kaczmarek picked up where he
left off from last season with a perfect 3-0
day. Trenton Young and Matthew Hickmon
went 2-0 on the day. Other wrestlers to pick
up wins were Connor Walker, Avery Gomez,
JR McGuirk, Austin Besse, Ty Gresham,
Tyler Culbreth, and Jay Jay Kenan. More
wrestlers competed and helped the Fighting
Knights, including Trever Young, Bobo
McCoy, Kaden Goins, Micah Garner, Trae
Jones, and Scotty Nix.
The wrestlers were coached by Dominic
Stuckey, Matthew Delli-Gatti, Kolby Scha-
denberg, and managed by Grade McBurnett.
The scramble wrapped up a great
summer for the Fighting Knights, who look
to be a threat in Region 2-AAA this Winter.
Signature Moments: Terry Searcy Jr.’s Acrobatic
Catch leads to First Playoff Win in 15 Years
Terry Searcy Jr. made an impact on both sides of the ball last season, and he may have made the
biggest play of the season against Southeast Bulloch. Photo by Jacob Stewart
By Jacob Stewart
sports@upsonbeacon.com
On Nov. 27, 2020, the Upson-Lee Gridi
ron Knights led Southeast Bulloch 8-0 after
one half of the opening round of the state
playoffs. The Knights added another touch
down on the back of the offensive line and
Millique Smith’s heavy yardage in the third
quarter to take a 16-0 lead, but the Yellow
Jackets were not done.
With under 10 minutes left in the third
quarter, Southeast Bulloch star Tyler Griffin
began to make his presence felt. He scored
the Yellow Jackets’ first touchdown, but a
failed two-point conversion kept the score at
16-6.
Griffin was on the way to taking over the
game after a crazy touchdown catch in the
Yellow Jackets’ following drive that made the
game 16-13 an d shifted all the momentum in
the hands of the home team.
The impact of the Knights' next drive was
going to define the entirety of the game for
better or for worse.
On third and 10, Jake Davis found Terry
Searcy Jr. and sent the ball in his direction.
Searcy leaped and brought down an acro
batic catch that went for 18-yards and con
verted the third down.
The catch helped extend the drive that
went on to last over five minutes. Smith
capped the drive with a rushing touchdown
and the Knights converted another two-point
conversion.
The catch demolished the momentum
that Southeast Bulloch had built. From that
moment forward, the Yellow Jackets did not
score, and the Knights went on to win their
first playoff game in 15 years.
lady Knights Knock on Dust and Get Ready for Regular Season
By Jacob Stewart
sports@upsonbeacon.com
The Upson-Lee Lady Knights Softball
Team scrimmaged Schley County last week
to get one last look at the team before the
regular season kicks off on Aug. 6. The
Lady Knights went without a win, drop
ping the first game 7-3 and the second 16-
11. The first game featured mostly varsity
players from both teams and the second
consisted mostly of junior varsity players.
Grade Self was the starting pitcher for
the Lady Knights and worked seven full in
nings. Self will likely be the focal point of
Coach Taylor English’s rotation this sea
son. Self pitched a clean first four innings
that helped the Lady Knights hold a 1-0
lead, but Schley County jumped on her in
the third trip through the order.
Trouble commanding her changeup
hindered Self from keeping hitters off bal
ance. Self still pitched a solid outing and
with seven innings under her belt, she will
be ready for the regular season.
A tandem of Elbe Watson and Sage
Rogers pitched the second game. Rogers is
a new arm that the Lady Knights are hop
ing to see develop. “She has the form and
is athletic and smart enough to make the
adjustments needed,” said Coach English.
Upson-Lee was without shortstop and
key bat Jillian Gassman, so there was a lot
of shifting on defense. Defensive align
ment seemed to be a major focus for the
Photo by Jacob Stewart
Ellie Watson pitched four innings in game two. She will be
an important piece for the Lady Knights this season.
coaching staff at the beginning of the
summer and Coach English believes he has
the correct formula to continue to be a top
defensive team.
The Lady Knights are set to begin reg
ular-season competition at 6 p.m. on Aug.
6 against Stratford Academy at Gordon
State College. The following day they will
face Ace Academy and Newton High
School at Pike County High School.