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Wrestlers dominate Nutcracker Invitational
Dragons take
several top honors
The Pickens Wrestling
Team had a busy week. On
Wednesday, December 14th
they traveled to Sequoyah for
a tri-match. The Dragons
began the night with a 41-33
win over River Ridge. The
team finished the evening
spoiling Sequoyah's senior
night with a 45-22 victory.
Then over the weekend,
the team competed in the
Nutcracker Invitational at
Lumpkin High School. Fri
day night was the JV portion
of the tournament. The fol
lowing wrestlers all placed
1st in their pools: Brighton
Biles, RJ Mullins, Isaiah
Lacy, Brandon Stone, David
Klein, John Thompson, and
Max Marshall.
On Saturday, the varsity
and girl's team competed.
Dylan Gonzalez and Philip
Jax were crowned tourna
ment champs, while Kylie
Cothran, Jadan Dean, &
Kaleb Nicholson placed 3rd.
See Jr. High Wrestling
Report on Page 3B
PHS Dragons Basketball
showing balanced attack
photo/Robin Dunn
Camden Dunn in action earlier this year against
Sonoraville.
Led by a balanced effort, the Dragons took a 65-48 region
victory on the visiting Lumpkin Indians.
Isaiah Williams led with a double, double 13 points
and 10 rebounds. Three other Dragons were in double
figures led by James Tilley’s 14 points, McCord Purdy’s
13 points, and Caleb Lanford’s 13 points.
The game stayed close through the first half with Pick
ens leading 30-25 at the half. The Dragons extended their
lead to 11 points, ending the third quarter up 46-35. The
lead was extended with excellent defense by the Dragons
and good team play leading to a 65-48 final.
The Dragons travel to North Murray for holiday action
Dec 20th, 22nd, and 23rd.
Above, varsity and girls ’ team left to right - Kylie Cothran, Dylan Gonzalez, Philip Jax,
and Jadan Dean.
Below, JV left to right - John Thompson, Max Marshall, Isaiah Lacy, RJ Mullins, David
Klein, and Brighton Biles.
Nettes lose first game of season to
state champs Lumpkin Lady Indians
Packed house for
tight matchup
The Dragonettes fell just
short in their biggest matchup
of the young season against
the returning state champion
Lumpkin Lady Indians. A
packed house witnessed a
back and forth contest that
stayed tight until the end
when a last second three
point attempt fell short and
Lumpkin escaped with a SO
SO win.
Pickens started strong in
front of a rowdy home
crowd, enjoying a 1st half
lead as high as six points at
24-18. The seasoned group
Brylee Deering takes a shot versus Lumpkin. See more
Continued on Page 9B photos on Page 9B.
Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teams compete
Over the past tournament
season, July 2022 - July 2023
Team NGMA has sent over
20 different competitors to
over 13 various tournaments
taking home over 100
medals.
In Taekwondo Team
NGMA has seven competi
tors going for state cham
pion, multiple competitors
competing at district champi
onships, and will possibly
have competitors competing
at world championships in
July 2023.
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
Team NGMA has claimed
multiple victories by way of
submission over the past
tournament season. All the
instructors would like to say
how extremely proud of we
are of everyone that has com
peted this year. They have all
worked so hard and we could
not be more proud of our stu
dents. They really make us
enjoy coming in to work to
teach them.
Pictured Top Row: So
phie Wallace, Ezra Bass,
Micalt Hollowell, Douglas
Hodge, Michael "Mike"
Smith (BJJ), Zaclt Bjork
(BJJ), Danis Dale (BJJ),
John Faulkner, Julianna
Dunn, Bryson Cahill.
Middle Row: Hezekiah
Roland, London Lee, Fiona
McAllister, Jase Hollowell,
Judah Kurylo, Sam
Schreiber, Logan Taff, Whit
ley Young, William Fits,
Dawson Mosley, Graecyn
Whaley.
Bottom Row: Damon
Easley, instructor.
Not Pictured: Stacey
(Taekwondo instructor) and
Jack Kisner (Taekwondo
and Jiu-Jitsu instructor),
owner and instructors, Gar
rett Dyess (Taekwondo com
petitor).
Sports
Fanatic
By
Tommy
Gartrell
Columnist
Farewell!!
On Saturday, news
broke about free agent
shortstop Dansby Swan
son much to the dismay of
many Braves fans. The 28
year old reportedly agreed
to a 7 year, $177 million
contract with the Chicago
Cubs.
Farewell!
Notwithstanding the
sentimental and emotional
impact or this signing, At
lanta’s roster is not made
or broken by one player.
Swanson’s popularity
as a Georgia native, and
his appeal to the ladies
made him a favorite here.
However, when all of the
factors are considered, his
exodus from Atlanta could
be fortuitous for the fran
chise in the long run.
Obviously, the dollar
amount and length of the
contract was far more than
the Braves were willing to
go. The club currently has
the fifth highest salary in
Major League Baseball
and it is approaching the
luxury tax threshold as
well. There really should
not be any surprise in this
matter since Atlanta and
the Swanson camp failed
to reach agreement on a
contract extension before
nor during this past base
ball season.
For the newlywed
who’s wife Mallory Pugh
is a professional soccer
player in the “Windy
City”, this deal could be
perfect for them both.
Let’s hope so because
Swanson is a likable guy.
No one should feel ani
mosity towards him over a
business decision that ob
viously put more money
in his pockets.
As for the Braves, they
might miss him for a little
while, but they have other
options and a little money
to spend on other areas of
need like left field.
Remember that rookie
Vaughn Grissom who
wowed fans at second
base after his call up in
August. He is a shortstop
by trade and according to
third base coach and in
field guru Ron Washing
ton, “the kid can pick it.”
Almost from his first
week in the big leagues,
Grissom’s success made
Swanson expendable. One
of my columns from Sep
tember suggested this pos
sibility.
If Grissom still needs
more time and practice be
fore getting the starting
nod, the Braves possess
trade capital and cash in
reserve to acquire a vet
eran defensive shortstop
as a temporary stopgap.
Swanson’s gold glove cal
iber defense might be
challenging to replace yet
not impossible.
Offensively, the return
of a healthy Ozzie Albies
who missed most of 2022
with injuries and a fully
recovered Ronald Acuna
Jr should compensate for
the loss of Swanson. Gris
som’s bat brings more fre
quent contact and a
willingness to use the
whole field adds more
versatility to the lineup as
well.
Swanson basically is a
dead pull hitter and incon
sistent at the plate. Even in
Continued on Page 5B