Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2010
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 3B
Prep Volleyball
JCCHS hopes win total grows as program does
Prep Volleyball
Juniors guide Dragons volleyball program
By Ben Munro
CRYSTAL COLLEY is starting to see a lot of
the same faces on the volleyball court and hopes
her Jackson County volley Panthers can build on
that continuity.
“I feel like we’re finally building up on the pro
gram,” said Colley, who enters her third year as
head coach. “The same girls are returning ... The
junior varsity girls are going to varsity. I’m finally
getting the same girls over and over.”
The season starts Aug. 14 at East Jackson.
Jackson County is coming off a 4-29 campaign
last year. The program is growing in numbers,
though, as evidenced by the 35 to 40 girls who
tried out.
“That’s something going into my third year that
I’m proud of,” said Colley, a former three-year
varsity player for Jackson County who was on the
school’s 2001 team that advanced to the state Elite
Eight. “We’ve got more girls trying out and more
younger players are getting involved.”
Colley reports a successful voluntary offseason
program, in which five girls emerged as leaders:
senior setter Samantha Kenneth, senior middle
hitter Breanna Chapman, junior outside hitter
Jasmine Williams, junior outside hitter Rachel
Smith and junior middle hitter Katie Ruddick.
The summer session included Jackson County
winning two matches at a camp at Johnson High
School. Colley points to at least one area in which
the Panthers have improved as the fall season
opener nears.
“We’re getting stronger on our serving,” she
said. “Our serving percentages are higher and our
aces have been improved.”
The team also seeks to improve its on-court
communication.
“We’re opening up to the ball and trusting each
other on the court,” Colley said.
The hope is that the olfseason strides show up in
the win column this season. This year’s mission:
to finish above .500.
“Our goal is to have a winning season this year
and to continue to improve our stats,” Colley said.
Jackson County will have to get used to some
change as it seeks that goal. The team moves to
Region 8-AA/A this season, which includes East
Jackson and Jefferson.
READY FOR THE SEASON
Jackson County will be looking to
returning players like Rachel Smith
(left) for leadership this season.
Volley Panthers at a glance
•2009 record: 4-29
•Players: Have five upperclassmen — two seniors,
three juniors — who led the team during summer
workouts
•What else: JCCHS, which starts its season Aug. 14,
moves down to Region 8-AA/A this year.
“I’m really looking forward to our region and
the matches we have on our schedule.” Colley
said.
Overall, the future is looking brighter for a
Jackson County volleyball program that’s trying
to regain its footing.
“I am proud of the work the girls have done
this summer, and I have enjoyed watching their
knowledge of the game grow,” Colley said. “I
am excited about the leadership of my returning
players and the dedication and skill growth of my
younger players.”
JCCHS continued from IB
Junior Jalen Banks, who
finished last season as Jackson
County’s starting quarterback,
and sophomore Kyle Daniel
are locked in a heated compe
tition for starting job.
Kirk said the competition
should be fun to watch, call
ing the race a dead heat right
now.
“At this point, we don’t
have a starting quarterback
right now,” Kirk said.
Competition is also brew
ing at spots at linebacker and
running back.
Regardless of how the depth
chart plays out, those listed as
second-teamers won’t be rele
gated to the sidelines, Kirk said.
Some backups could come in
as early as the second series he
said. “The kids are going to get
their reps ... It’s not like it’s a
draw back,” he said.
Meanwhile, participation
continues to be strong for
Jackson County, whose four
wins last year were the most in
12 seasons. Seventy-six players
dressed out for the first prac
tice after having 91 compete in
spring ball. Kirk said that slight
dip is due to natural attrition.
“Some kids go through the
summer and realize that it’s not
for them,” Kirk said.
For the others, they have the
season opener against Johnson
to look forward to.
“We tell them if we can get
you through August when we
have our first game, that’s when
you get your payback,” Kirk
said.
NOTES: Jackson County
scrimmages Athens Christian
Aug. 20 at Panther Stadium.
The first annual North Georgia Holiness Fellowship Youth Camp was held
on June 14th through 17th, at the Nicholson Community Center. This youth
camp is sponsored by several of the area Holiness Churches.
More than eighty children took part in daily classes, singing, crafts and
activities. Several different states were represented including Tennessee,
Oklahoma, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. An afternoon
service was held for the older children with an opportunity to hear sermons
from some of the younger ministers from both local and visiting churches. A
nightly church service was held with Bro. Joseph Futral from Alabama as
the invited speaker. Brother Joseph did a tremendous job and was truly a
blessing to all who heard him.
The goal of this youth camp is to help lead our young people to know
Christ and to encourage those who already know Him to continue in the
ways of truth. It is our sincere prayer that each and every person, both young
and old, that took part in this Youth Camp left with a deeper experience in
God and a greater desire to serve Him in this troubled world in which we live.
We would like to thank the City of Nicholson for allowing us to use their
beautiful Community Center for this event.
We would also like to thank all of the local churches for their efforts and
support put forth to make this 2010 Youth Camp such a success! This event
was a wonderful opportunity for worship and fellowship. It was truly a
blessing to see the excitement and enthusiasm of each one that attended and/
or helped with this event!
We are excited about what God has in store for our future!
For more information about this and other events sponsored by the North
Georgia Holiness Fellowship please contact:
Bro. Marty Smith
287 Sanford Drive
Nicholson, GA 30565
By Ben Munro
GRANTED IT’S a brief history, but the Jefferson
volleyball program is coming off its best since the
high school took up the sport in 2006.
The Dragons went 24-11 last year, winning
18-straight games at one point, and advanced to the
first round of the state tournament.
“It was a lot of fun,” coach Mike Paul said. “We
played really well and the kids understood their
roles.”
The good news is, most of those kids are back.
The volley Dragons, who begin their season
Aug. 14 in a multi-team match at East Hall, hope to
continue adding to the history book with a quartet
of talented juniors returning from last year’s suc
cessful campaign.
Back are Amanda Daniel (setter), Taylor Cramsey
(middle hitter), Cassie Metcalf (outside hitter) and
Eden Starnes (outside hitter).
Daniel, Cramsey and Metcalf have started since
their freshman seasons.
“We’ve got a good core of kids,” Paul said. “But
you’ve got to have six to play.”
Noticeably gone is outside Stephanie Fincher,
who graduated and now plays for North Greenville
(S.C.) University.
“She led us in a lot of categories,” Paul said. “Her
leadership was outstanding.”
The team is still looking for another setter and a
middle hitter, and depth will be an issue early on,
Paul said. Those rising from the junior varsity to fill
these spots must get used to the speed of the game.
But Paul hopes the four juniors — there are no
seniors on the team — step up and take on the
leadership role.
“I’m relying on their experience to groom some
of these younger kids,” Paul said.
With the program gaining strength, Jefferson has
“ramped up” its schedule with stronger opponents.
JUNIORS LEAD THE WAY
Eden Starnes is one of four junior start
ers returning this year for Jefferson.
Volley Dragons at a glance
•2009 record: 24-11
•Players: Return four starters — all juniors — off a
team that won 18 consecutive games at one point and
advanced to the state tournament.
•What else: JHS starts the season Aug. 14 and has
just one August home meet—Aug. 28.
“We thought we should play people out
of our area that traditionally have stronger
teams.”
The pathway to state goes through the area
tournament, of course. So despite the Dragons’
regular season record, it’s Jefferson’s goal
to once again finish in the top four in Area
8-AA/A so it can return to the state meet.
“Obviously, our goal every year is to get out
of our area and progress to state,” Paul said.
NOTES: Jefferson’s only home match in
August comes Aug. 28 when it hosts six other
schools.
JHS continued from IB
The Dragons also have ail
ments at quarterback where they
must replace departed signal call
er Darius Minor. Tyler Poff and
Kevin Perez are both injured.
Transfer Bryant Shirreffs is
currently taking the bulk of the
snaps under center.
From what he saw from the
field on the first day, McFerrin
was impressed with Zach Allen
(fullback-defensive end). Carson
Newman (linebacker), Wesley
Simonton (linebacker) and Cody
Berryman (offensive line). He
also said Chris Jackson ran the
ball well. Still, McFerrin was not
able to get an evaluation on every
one due to problems with filming
the practice. “So it’s hard to single
out any individuals,” he said.
Jefferson, which hasn’t lost a
regular season game since 2007,
will break from preseason prac
tice grind when it scrimmages
Lumpkin Co. Aug. 14.
As he does every year,
McFerrin takes part of the off
season to start preparations for
the first two opponents on the
schedule, so Jefferson coaches
have already been game planning
for Commerce and North Hall.
As for this week, Jefferson
will continue to correct some of
the early errors from Monday.
“We had a good day
(Monday),” McFerrin said. “I
think we had a good first day.
We had some mistakes, but you
expect that in the first day of
pads.”
'Kids Festival.
si 0:00 a.m ■ 2:00
7re4
5th Annual Tree House Turbo Turtle Trek
Turtle Race}
jkliOO p.m^/
Saturday, August 14 • 10:00 a.m. ■ 2:00 p.m.
Crow’s Lake, Jefferson
ADOPT TURTLES ONLINE
www. raceatu rtle.com
Live Remote With
Honorary Chair
Moby In The Morning
Inflatables • Face Painting
Bar-B-Que, Hot Dogs,
Kettle Corn, Cotton Candy
Snow Cones & More!
Trekking Packages:
Single turtle - $ 5.00
Snap Pack (6 turtles) - $ 25.00
Snappers Dozen (12 turtles) - $ 50.00
Herd of Turtles (25 turtles) - $100.00
Top Turtle Prizes:
1st Place $2,500 Cash
2nd Place Bahamas Cruise
3rd Place $500 Savings Bond
4th Place Gas Grill and 12 piece Tool Set
5th Place Flip Ultra HD Camcorder
6th Place Johnny’s Pizza for 1 year
7th Place Children’s party for 10 at
Funopolis Family Fun Center
8th Place $100 Gas Card
9th Place 2 Tickets and 1 parking pass at
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
10th Place MP4 Player
ADOPTION LOCATIONS
Community Bank & Trust
First American Bank & Trust
Hometown Community Bank
Mountain Valley Community Bank
The Peoples Bank
Verity Bank
The Peoples Bank
Stop and Ride
Barrow Regional Medical Center
Newell Orthodontics
Publix Super Market Charities
Southeast Toyota Distributors
Garbage Hound Sanitation
Year One
CDLofGA
On The Run
Mountain Valley Community Bank
First American Bank & Trust
Community Bank & Trust
Barrow Journal
Jackson Herald
Braselton News
Barrow County News
Living Jackson
WIMO
106.1 WNGC
Benefiting The Tree House. Inc.
Proceeds from the Tree House Turtle Trek help to strengthen communities by reducing the
occurrence and impact of child abuse through counseling, educating, supporting and nurturing
children and families in Barrow, Banks, and Jackson counties.
www.thetreehouseinc.org • 770-868-1900