SPORTS
DawsonNewscom
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
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Familar faces join as Lady Tigers coaches
By Rio White
riowhite@dawsonnews.com
Heading into his first season
as the DCHS girls basketball
head coach, Will Anglin has
worked to fill out his staff. Over
the past month, he chose four
individuals with deep Dawson
County roots to help bring forth
his vision for the Lady Tigers.
As announced on the team’s
official Instagram page, the first
coach hired was current
Riverview Elementary teacher
Nichole Green.
Graduating from DCHS in the
year 2000, Green would play
college basketball for
Oglethorpe University before
becoming a teacher for two
years in DeKalb County.
While on the east side, Green
was part of the coaching staff at
St. Pius X Catholic High School
that won a GHSA State champi
onship in 2006.
Later that year, Green returned
to Dawsonville to continue her
teaching career. She would
spend the next decade coaching
7th and 8th-grade basketball
before taking a break from
coaching.
“Nichole brings a veteran
mindset with a youthful spirit to
our program,” Anglin said.
“Nichole was able to play col
lege ball and has state champi
onship experience as a coach.
That experience is unmatched,
and we are lucky to have her.”
Also added to the to staff was
2018 DCHS graduate Calli
Watson, who recently finished
up a dual degree at the
University of North Georgia.
Watson currently holds the
DCHS single-game record for
most made three point shots and
was named the North Georgia
Sports Link Player of the Year as
a senior.
Before being hired full-time
on Anglin’s staff, Watson took
time out of her college schedule
to volunteer as a community
coach for the Lady Tigers for the
past two years.
“She’s a young, energetic
coach that will be a tremendous
See Coaches 13B
Rio White Dawson County News
The Lady Tigers warm up before a game last season.
Although the team will have a new head coach next season,
the many familiar faces on the coaching staff will help the
team grow.
‘We were like a family’
Photos by Rio White Dawson County News
Govorkova stands with friends during the Senior Day recognition.
Exchange student finds lifelong friends, memories in Dawsonville
By Rio White
riowhite@dawsonnews.com
During the past school
year, exchange student Vita
Govorkova experienced life
in the United States for the
first time, staying in
Dawsonville with the
Wadsworth family and
attending DCHS.
While she was a world
away from her home country
Russia, she reflected on her
time here in Dawsonville as
positive and giving her a
new perspective on life.
One of the most important
aspects of her time here was
her participation on the track
and field team — a group
that she said welcomed her
with open arms.
“We were like a family,”
Govorkova said. “We are so
close and always support
each other and that is some
thing I really like. Coach
Haynes, Pruett and all of the
coaches did a lot to have this
family [culture].”
Govorkova was also heav
ily involved in track and
field back in Russia, but
mentioned that her athletic
endeavors often felt more
individual and much less
social than the atmosphere
created by the Tigers.
In addition to the differ
ences she witnessed on an
athletic level, Govorkova
also described how high
school contrasted between
her home and host country.
Academically, she said
that the level of intensity
involved in course work was
higher in Russia due to the Vita Govorkova smiles before racing at the Track and
relatively linear and uniform Field Region Championship earlier this year.
Govorkova, an exchange student from Russia, made
See Vita 13B some of her strongest friendships on the DCHS team.
First Baptist
Church hosts
celebration
with stunts
By Rio White
riowhite@dawsonnews.com
The Lirst Baptist Church of Dawsonville
hosted its Vacation Bible School kick-off
event on Sunday, June 5, complete with
inflatables, a petting zoo, bluegrass music
and a stunt show featuring a motorcycle
and BMX bikes.
Put together by Pastor of Worship and
Senior Adults James Dollar, the event was
open to the public and served both current
church members and people new to the
community who may be looking for a local
congregation.
“We wanted to give a gift for the com
munity,” Dollar said. “We want them to
come out, enjoy it and have a good time.”
Dollar also helped bring the stunt show
group Real Encounter, a group that works
with churches to help spread the Christian
message.
While the first half of Sunday’s event
was filled with the sounds of children hav
ing fun on the inflatables and at the petting
zoo, soon the sound of Brad Bennett’s
motorcycle helped bring the crowds over to
the stunt setup.
Bennett opened up the stunt presenta
tions with motorcycle tricks that included
balancing acts on both the front and back
See Show 13B
Rio White Dawson County News
A member of the Real Encounter min
istry does a BMX bike stunt at the
event on Sunday.
Elliott’s day at debut
track ends in frustration
By Rio White
riowhite@dawsonnews.com
“What’s he doing?”
That was Chase Elliott’s reaction to
being spun out by a particularly aggressive
Ross Chastain, who had already caused
controversy at the NASCAR Cup Series
debut at the World Wide Technology
Raceway near St. Louis, Mo.
Earlier in the Enjoy Illinois 300 on
Sunday, June 5, Elliott had built up a solid
performance after beginning the race in
16th position, while also displaying the
Hooters paint scheme for the first time this
season.
With Stage One complete after 45 laps,
Elliott had moved up to ninth position and
looked to bounce back from finishing the
previous two races in 29th and 33rd.
Around 20 laps into Stage Two, the first
major incident involving Chastain
occurred. Jockeying for a top-six position
with Denny Hamlin, Chastain sent the No.
11 car into the wall, rendering Hamlin a
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Chase Elliott used this paint scheme
for the first time this season at the
Enjoy Illinois 300 on Sunday, June 5.
non-factor for the remainder of the race.
Meanwhile, Elliott had drifted toward
the back of the pack after the Stage One
break but would benefit from the caution
resulting from the first Chastain incident.
He would opt to stay out under caution
to gain track position, which would pay
off with a top-six spot for around 30 laps.
After going to pit road under the next
caution, Elliott would begin the restart in
See NASCAR 12B
Vita
Govorkova
This weeks player of the
week is Vita Govorkova,
who recently finished
her stay as an exchange
student and member of the
track and field team.
Player Of The Week!
We’ve Gone Green!
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