Newspaper Page Text
Page 2A - Pike County Journal Reporter - Wednesday, November 8, 2023
GHSA reclassification will drop Pike teams to Class AA
Barring any changes,
Pike County athletic
teams will compete in
GHSA’s Class AA through
the 2026 school year. PC
teams currently compete
in Class AAA.
PC’s full time enroll
ment (FTE) is projected
to be 1,089 next fall.
That slots PC as the
15th largest school in
Class AA in terms of
enrollment for 2024.
Pending
school appeals,
Class AA will
be home to 59
schools. The
largest school
in the clas
sification will be
Miller Grove with
an FTE of 1,169.
The smallest will
be Washington
County with an
FTE of 913.
Beginning in 2024-25,
private schools will play
in a separate champion
ship tournament in all
sports.
Next up is the region
realignment process.
PC’s current region op
ponent Jackson will also
fall to Class AA. Current
region members Mary
Persons, Peach County
and Upson-Lee will re
main in Class AAA.
STUDENT: From Sweden living with Pike County host family
PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER
Hedvig Rask of Sweden attends the University of Georgia as part of Rotary International’s exchange student program and
when she is not on campus, she spends time with her host family in Pike County. Pictured are (l-r) Hedvig Rask, Sandy Jenkins,
James Jenkins, Shirley Weakly and Melanie White.
FROM PAGE ONE
Hedvig grew up in
Lund, home to one of
the oldest universities in
Sweden, so Athens feels
a little bit like home since
it is also a ‘college town.’
Southern cuisine
is quite different from
traditional Swedish foods
such as pickled herring.
“Sometimes when they
serve fish in the dining
halls, it feels a bit like food
from home,” she said.
She said the weather
here is different from
southern Sweden where
it is mostly rainy in the
fall. She said she hopes
it will snow this winter in
Georgia and she will miss
skiing with friends back
home. She said in south
ern Sweden where she
lives, the snow usually
builds up to around six
inches over the winter.
She has enjoyed sever
al typical southern expe
riences including a rodeo
(which had her friends
from back home jeal
ous), a visit to Savannah
and football games. She
wasn’t impressed with
the game of football, not
ing that the whistle blows
too much and there are
only short bursts of time
when the players are
actually playing.
She plans to visit New
York City in December
and hopes to travel
out west in the 60 days
between the conclusion
of her classes at UGA
and her return home.
She won’t be returning
home but her parents
will visit her around the
holidays and she is going
to experience a truly
southern Thanksgiving
celebration.
“This has been a very
fun experience and 1
recommend anyone who
has the opportunity to do
it,” said Hedvig. “Not only
do we get to meet great
people like my host fami
ly, but we also get to meet
all the kids who are part
of the exchange program
so I’ve met people from
all around the world.”
Jenkins has been
a member of Rotary
International for 30 years
and Hedvig found her
home in Pike through the
Georgia Rotary Student
Program. He said hosting
an exchange student has
been something he has
always wanted to do and
that he wants Hedvig to
experience as much as
possible during her stay.
His daughter Melissa
White said she was so
glad her dad is hosting
Hedvig during her ex
change student program.
“It’s been great to get
to know her and nice
to have another girl to
talk to and we definitely
share an interest in ani
mals,” she said. “1 teared
up when 1 found out he
was going to host an ex
change student because
we’re talking about some
one who already has 12
kids and it just shows
how selfless he really is.”
Pirates bitten by Bulldogs
We Honor and Salute
PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER
The Pirates football team didn’t have a winning season but
they were still supported by the community, the Pirate Regi
ment marching band and the PCHS cheerleaders.
The Pirates football
team ended their season
with a 56-7 loss to region
foes the Mary Persons
Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs were 9-1
on the season with an un
defeated region record.
The Pirates were close
a few times but were un
able to secure a win this
season.
The football team and
other Pike County High
School teams may drop
down to AA competition
next year after the recent
reclassification efforts of
the Georgia High School
Association (see story at
top of page).
Despite their season
record, the football team
and band always filled
Pirates stadium for home
games.
“We are very proud of
our team and seniors for
all their hard work and
their commitment to this
team and program,” said
head coach Bryan Holley.
Seniors who played
their last high school
football game included
Cody Adams, Steven
Blake, Tyson Clark, Jake
Gilpin, Tony Harper, An
drew Hood, Kyle Keese,
Maverick Lane, TJ Law
rence, Luke Moon, Elijah
Moore, Kyle Nixon, Ka-
sun Patterson, Hendrick
Smith, Cameron Sweat
and Cameron Tuggle.
PCHS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 3 rd vs. Mary Persons
Offensive Player Defensive Player Special Teams
Cameron Tuggle #8 Elijah Moore #11 Kyle Keesee #44
Offensive Lineman Scout Team Player
Andrew Hood #65 Ty Brown #53
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