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SPORTS DawsonNewscom Wednesday, May 17, 2023 facebook.com/dawsonnews twitter.com/dawsonnews 8 soccer players earn All-Region honors Rio White Dawson County News Bryce Beach focuses on the opposing team's offense during a match earlier this season. He was chosen as a FirstTeam All-Region pick. By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com A total of eight Dawson County High School soccer players earned spots on their respective All-Region lists — six coming from the girls team and two from the boys team. Heading up the list on the Region 7-3A First Team were goalkeeper Bryce Beach, freshman scoring machine Harper Dussouy, and fellow first-year star Cayden Townley. Beach, a junior on the boys team, improved his already impressive goalkeeping resume by accumulating 81 saves during the 2023 season while also helping direct a new-look defensive back line. His quick instincts and calm demeanor proved important in tight games that the Tigers faced this past season, including against Lumpkin, White, and Pickens. Dussouy served as a creative force for the resurgent Lady Tigers, scoring 18 goals and providing 12 assists to help the team return to the state play offs. Townley’s role was also critically important, but in a less conspicuous way. She was a defensive enforcer, keep ing the team’s shape in the back while making key long passes to jumpstart offensive possessions. The All-Region Second Team included Townley’s defensive partner Corbi Hicks, whose energy and will ingness to engage in tackles set a new standard for the Lady Tigers defense. Midfielder Elena Nelson also received a Second Team honor after becoming one of the team’s most competitive and physical players. Nelson wasn’t only a scrappy play er, though, she had the skills to help break the opponent’s offensive flow and create scoring opportunities for her team — even knocking in five goals along the way. For the boys team, sophomore Hector Tenorio was the second All- Region selection, earning a place on the Second Team after expanding on his exciting freshman season. Whether playing on the wing or through the middle, Tenorio adjusted well to frequent formation changes and provided excitement for a team often plagued with injuries. See Soccer|3B Strong finish at state finals DRWSQn’ Photos by Rio White Dawson County News Anna LeCave races to the finish line in the 800-meter race during the State Sectionals. LeCave finished third in the State Finals with a school record time of 2:23.1. 4x800 team earns runner-up, LeCave third in 800 individual Emily Kurtz runs the anchor leg of the girls 4x400 relay event dur ing the State Sectionals. She ran that and the 4x800 event at the State Finals, helping the latter team earn a state runner-up finish. By Rio White riowhite@ dawsonnews.com Dawson County’s varsity track and field team wrapped up their season at the Class 3A State Finals in Albany last week, with three new school records leading to three top-6 finishes. On the opening day of action on Thursday, May 11, Emily Kurtz helped break two of those records. Head coach Arron Haynes made the bold move to swap Kurtz into the 4x800 team specifically for the State Finals race, hoping to improve on that group’s sixth-place State finish last year. The 4x800 team of Jules Phillips, Katie Gloeckner, Kurtz and Anna FeCave not only rocketed their way to a state runner-up finish with a time of 10:05, they obliterated the former DCHS top mark by 21 sec onds. That old record time was shared between a previous iteration of this year’s 4x800 group and a relay team from 2016. Earlier in the day, Kurtz accom plished something on an individual See Track 13B FOOTBALL Tigers show positive signs at Spring Game By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com With the school year wrapping up, the Dawson County football team gave a glimpse of what may be in store for next season, hosting their Spring Game against East Forsyth on Friday, May 12. While no official score was kept, the Tigers fin ished the game with a 35-27 advantage — showing positive signs on both sides of the ball. The 2022 region champion squad included many seniors, meaning that Friday’s game gave many players a chance to make an impression that could potentially lead to a starting role. With another new committee of running backs set to shine, the offensive line will need to be playing at a high level once again. See Football 13B Elliott muscles out third-place finish at Darlington race By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com Chase Elliott found a way to earn his best finish since returning from his injury, coming up in third position at Darlington Raceway’s Goodyear 400 on Sunday, May 14, during throwback weekend. Elliott paid tribute to his father’s early 2000s resurgence by racing in the red Ray Evernham No. 9 paint scheme, harkening back to Bill’s Dodge days and Chase’s childhood. While Chase had a solid run at Darlington, he largely blamed himself for not being able to advance past the eighth to twelfth-position bubble he floated in for most of the race. “I felt like our car was plenty good throughout the whole day; I just do such a terrible job getting up through traffic,” Elliott said. “Everything on the other side of the wall and the car that I was driving was really good, so I need to just try to improve and keep going to work on the areas I’m struggling in.” Pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr. led more than 100 laps to begin a race that included several recognizable See Elliott 13B Jett, Pagel round out college signees for DCHS school year By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com Two more Dawson County High School student-athletes recently made their choices to continue their careers at the collegiate level, with football player Doug Pagel signing with Hanover College in Indiana and Jace Jett joining the track and field team at Truett McConnell University. Both players battled through injuries in the past season, showing both physical and mental determination in the process. Pagel’s career as a wide receiver cul minated in him winning the team’s George Moser Leadership Award after displaying his willingness to help the team even through injury. “Doug played hurt most of the year and would never quit — that’s just who he is,” head coach Sid Maxwell said. “To build this football program, you need See Signings 13B Rio White Dawson County News Doug Pagel (above) and Jace Jett (below) sign their collegiate letters of intent. Emily Kurtz The Player of the Week is Emily Kurtz, who finished sixth at State Finals in the pole vault and set a new DCHS record height of 9 feet even. Sponsored by: We’ve Gone Green! M-F: 8:00 - 5:00 “We will be here when you need us. ” 130 Industrial Park Rd, Dawsonville Dawsonville’s Premier Collision Center
