About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2023)
SPORTS DawsonNewscom Wednesday, May 10, 2023 facebook.com/dawsonnews twitter.com/dawsonnews Dewendt wins individual Area 4 title Boys golf team secures third straight State bid By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com The Dawson County varsity boys and girls golf teams recently faced their toughest test of the season, setting out for the Class 3A Area 4 tourna ment on Tuesday, May 2, at the University of Georgia golf course. Starting the day for the Tigers was the boys team, who took the morning tee times looking to secure their third consecutive trip to the Class state tournament. The Lady Tigers, led by junior Samantha Dewendt, took the afternoon times seeking to improve on their previous out ings. Out of many positive perfor mances for Dawson County, Dewendt came out ahead as the low scorer in the girls tourna ment, posting a round of 82 to become the Area’s sole individ ual qualifier for State. Her score of 82 was also the lowest of all individual qualifi ers from each of the four area events. As a team, The Lady Tigers finished fifth overall, just miss ing out on a bid to state. The boys team found their groove at a challenging UGA course that proved to yield gen erally higher scores than last year’s Area Tournament course at Apple Mountain. Just like last season, the Tigers battled against 13 teams to earn a third-place team finish and qualify for state — ending up just two strokes behind Area runner-up Hebron Christian Academy. The team’s positive chemis try throughout the season was reflected in their consistent results — with the top four scorers finishing within four strokes of each other. See Golf 13B Photo courtesy of DCHS golf Samantha Dewendt was the low individual scorer at the Area 4-3A tournament on Tuesday, May 2, also earning her All-Area honors. Track runners going to Albany Five individuals, two relay teams move on to State Finals Nine Tigers earn All-Region honors By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com Dawson County’s varsity track and field team trav eled down to Atlanta’s Lakewood Stadium on Saturday, May 6, for one of two Class 3A State Sectionals, where the best athletes from four of eight regions competed for the remaining qualifying spots in each event to move on to the State Finals. This time around, the Tigers brought a pair of region champion relay teams and several other individuals and groups who were aiming to make the trip to Albany for the final round of State. In total, five individuals and two relay teams made it through the demanding — and sometimes unpre dictable — test of the State Sectionals. Of the many highlights during the day for Dawson County, the event’s final race — the 4x400 relay — proved to be a fine moment for the team. The two-time defending Region 7 champion Dawson girls team broke See Track 13B Photos by Rio White Dawson County News Jules Phillips (left) starts the second leg of the girls 4x800 relay race after receiving the baton from Addison Smith. Aaric Muilenburg (front) prepares to receive the baton from Jaden Horner in the boys 4x200 relay race.The team would set a new school record in that race. By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com After a 2023 season that saw the Dawson County varsity baseball team make its second straight trip to the Class 3A state playoffs, nine Tigers were award ed with postseason All-Region honors. While pitching largely fueled the Tigers to suc cess within Region 7-3A, the team’s offensive out put also fared well against several teams. Leading the way in First Team All-Region honors are Sawyer Bearden and Julian Horner on offense, while Trey Harvey was named as one of the region’s four best pitchers. Bearden and Horner made vast improvements from their sophomore to junior seasons, both becoming consistent contributors to a Tigers team that won four of six region series. Horner was the home run machine all season, racking up eight of those while also driving in 32 runs and posting a 1.244 OPS. Bearden was particularly strong against familiar foes, hitting for a .406 batting average with 24 hits against region opponents. Harvey was the team’s ace on the mound, finish ing the year with a 5-2 record, 1.98 earned run aver age and 63 strikeouts. Four more Tigers were chosen as Second Team picks, including three sophomore hitters who had breakout seasons. Heavy-hitting Davis Glass and solid-swinging Elijah Odom each flirted with the .400 mark within region play, while lefty Jacson Rickett had six dou bles on a .348 batting average. Pitcher Joshua Priest joined those batters as a Second Team selection. His frequent use of timely off-speed pitches led him to have a successful year See Baseball 13B Goode named Lady Tigers head coach for volleyball By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com Dawson County High School named Audrey Goode as the new head coach of the varsity volleyball team, as confirmed by the school on Friday, April 28. Goode, a 2007 graduate of DCHS, spent the past four seasons as the volley ball team’s junior varsity coach — work ing under longtime varsity team coach Tanya Porter. “I’m excited,” Goode said. “Getting to build those relationships with the girls across the board is something I’m really looking forward to.” Goode enters the head coaching role to fill the shoes of Porter — who was the program’s first head coach starting in 2016. Along with new assistant coach Courtney Walker, Goode heads up a Lady Tigers team that will be on the younger side for the 2023 season after five seniors graduated from last year’s team. Rio White Dawson County News Audrey Goode was recently chosen as the DCHS volleyball program's head coach. “We definitely lost some big power houses last year.. .but we are also bring ing back a lot of good girls,” Goode said. “We have Meghan Roche coming back on the outside, Eva Bishop and Maggie Allen in the middle...we’ve got a good group.” See Goode 13B Player Of The Week! Samantha Dewendt The Player of the Week is Samantha Dewendt, who won the Area 4-3A girls’ golf tournament with a round of 82, qualifying for State. Sponsored by: Certified Collision Center Illl-Ofir 706-216-0992 We’ve Gone Green! “We will be here when you need us. ” DAHLONEGA DUNKIN DONUTS Industrial Park Rd. M-F: 8:00 - 5:00 130 Industrial Park Rd, Dawsonville Dawsonville’s Premier Collision Center *A COMMUNITY OF HEART EXPERTS CLOSE TO HOME NORTHSIDE.COM/EXCELLENCE NORTHSIDE * EXCELLENCE HOSPITAL HEART INSTITUTE
