B2 | FRIDAY, MAY 9,2025
Lake Oconee News
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LAKECOUNTRY
Greene, Morgan to compete at state level
LANCE McCURLEY/Staff
Gabrielle Massey will represent the Lady Dogs
at the Class AA state meet by competing in the
4x200 and the 4x400-meter relay races.
Lance McCurley
lance@lakeoconeenews.us
The track-and-field teams
from Greene County and Morgan
County performed well at their
respective sectional meets, and
each is now sending several
athletes to compete at the state
level.
Greene County’s boys and girls
are sending 11 athletes to the
Class A Division II state meet,
which takes place in Albany. They
qualified six boys and five girls for
a chance to place and win a state
title.
“It’s great to be able to have
this many kids qualify for state,”
Greene County head track and
field coach James Miller told the
Lake Oconee News. “It gives you
a chance to compete for a cham
pionship, which is what we want
to do.”
Greene County’s qualifiers are
RJ Monford, Javius Cleveland,
Tamari Roberts, Amari Kilpat
rick, Justin Robertson, Laryous
Burt, Jakayla Burdette, Maleah
Jarrells, Jaylah Thompson,
Londonlee Chambers, and
Carla Dunn.
Morgan County’s track-and-
field teams are sending 21 athletes
to the Class 2A meet, which takes
place at East Jackson. They qual
ified eight boys and 13 girls for
the state meet, giving them a solid
chance to win a few medals.
“I’m extremely proud of my boys
and girls for moving on to the
state meet,” Morgan County head
coach Kelan Fraise said. “Now, it’s
time for us to buckle down and
try to land as many athletes on
the podium as we can. I definitely
know we can do it.”
Morgan County’s qualifiers
are Brody Jenkins, Jack Morris,
Jamari Mundy, Crayman Burke,
Dylan Smith, Cori Griffin, Ezekiel
Locus, Peyton Houser, Ariana
Edwards, Chandler Aaron,
Kymora Smith, Quinn Takacs,
Layla Veasley, Aziyah Robertson,
Javeria Gresham, Mary Faulker,
Nylaa Hodnett, Nariyah Burke,
Gabrielle Massey, Emily Thomas,
and Lila Catterton.
The GHSA high school track-
and-field state championships
will take place May 9-10 at
different sites.
LANCE McCURLEY/Staff
Laryous Burt will represent the Tigers in the
4x100-meter relay.
MORGANCOUNTY
Two Diamond Dogs sign to play at college level
Lance McCurley
lance@lakeoconeenews.us
Last week, Morgan
County baseball’s Ben
Atkinson and Skylar
McCoy signed to play at
the next level.
Both seniors will
remain in the Peach
State. Atkinson is signing
with LaGrange College,
and McCoy is heading
to Middle Georgia State
University. They’ve been
big-time contributors
for the Dogs the last few
years.
Atkinson has been a
solid arm for Morgan
County on the mound
throughout his career and
this season.
The right-hander is
excited about the next
chapter in life and is ready
to be a LaGrange Panther.
“I’m very excited about
the chance to play baseball
at LaGrange. They have
an outstanding program,
a well-respected coaching
staff, and I’m extremely
grateful for the oppor
tunity,” Atkinson said. “I
know they can develop me
and maximize my poten
tial. I appreciate all of the
coaches who have helped
me along the way.”
Morgan County head
coach Steve Westmore
land said Atkinson has
worked hard to reach the
next level.
“Ben is the kind of kid
that you love to coach.
Those are the kids that
give you some gratifica
tion as a coach,because
he’d probably be classi
fied as a late bloomer,”
Westmoreland said.
“He didn’t start pitching
until the spring of his
sophomore year, made
a commitment to it over
the last year, and just gets
better and better and
better. He’s going to throw
some really big innings for
us, and I’m really proud of
what he’s done.”
McCoy has been domi
nant on the mound for
Morgan County as a
senior and throughout his
career. He’s also a signif
icant contributor to his
team’s success at the plate
this season, being one of
its leaders in home runs.
Westmoreland noted
that McCoy has been one
of the team’s most consis
tent arms he has relied on
this year.
“Skylar worked his way
into that role,” Westmo
reland said. “He’s also
been one of our big run
producers at the plate.
Middle Georgia is getting
a great two-way player.
They’re going to let him
play first base and pitch.”
McCoy looks forward
to being a Middle Georgia
Duke and credits his
supporting cast for helping
him reach this point.
“Thank you to the
family, friends, coaches,
and all relationships along
the way,” McCoy said.
“One of the biggest parts
is my home at Morgan
County, it is truly a family
full of supporters. I’m
happy to move into a new
family at Middle Georgia.
I thank God for the game
and the lessons along the
way, on and off the field.”
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LANCE McCURLEY/Staff
Last week, Morgan County seniors Skylar McCoy
(left) and Ben Atkinson signed to play baseball at the
college level.
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