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Page 8— Wednesday, January 10, 2024, The True Citizen
BCHS wrestlers have their
first march of the new year
Brannon Braddock
Jbraddo4@gmail.com
On January 4, 2024, the
Burke County Bears wrestling
teams participated in their first
match of the new year. They
traveled to Grovetown to face
off against the Warriors on
their senior night
Because it was senior night,
the Warriors’ coach split his
squad into two teams. Burke
County was able to beat one
squad 54-21 and tie the other
squad 42-42. The following
individuals each recorded wins
against Grovetown: Jonah
Dixon, Franklin Brown, Will
Joyner, Skyler Brown, Chase
Pace, Tripp Beatty, Caleb El
lison, Joshua Arroyo, Tyrell
Heirs, Brandon Lively, and
Veunte Gross.
The Bears have a packed
schedule this week, traveling
to Hephzibah yesterday and to
Lakeside tomorrow. Addition
ally, the girls have their area
team dual on Friday at Green
brier, and the boys have their
area team dual on Saturday at
Wayne County.
EBA puts up tough fight
against Robert Toombs
Friday’s overtime toss to
Robert Toombs was a tough
game for the Edmund Burke
Academy Lady Spartans.
Despite the 54-53 loss Janu
ary 5, the Spartans showed
resiliency after being down at
one point in the second half
of the game played at Mur
ray Gymnasium. Behind by
14 points, they engineered an
amazing comeback, resuming
the competitiveness of the
game.
Leila Eastmead was lights
out from the free throw line,
said Head Coach Daniel Han
nah. Braelyn Reeves did a great
job rebounding for the team.
Leading in rebounds, Ellee
Mobley demonstrated her best
game of the season. She also
held an all-state player to four
points and showed aggressive
offense. “Going through a
3- game losing streak is tough
for this group, but each game
we've learned and improved,”
Hannah said. “I'm proud of
these girls and we are nowhere
near panic-mode because we
know that these games are the
level of competition that we
need to see in order to reach our
goals at the end of the season.”
The Lady Spartans hold an
8-4 record thus far.
Robert Toombs also defeated
the EBA Spartan boys Friday in
a close game with a final score
of 44-43.
“I was so pleased with our
performance in the first half
and the fourth quarter on Fri
day,” said Hannah. “Our third
quarter saw us give up almost
as many points as we had in the
entire first half and only score
three points.”
The Spartans struggled to
hit shots from the outside, but
did a much better job on the
offensive glass by getting 11
offensive rebounds. The im
provement the team has made
throughout the season might
not be seen in the record, but
the first time they played RTC A
they lost by 20 points, Hannah
pointed out.
“We had a chance to win it
at the end and only gave up 44
points,” he said. “We have to
continue to improve against
ball pressure and finding the
open man when we get trapped,
but I'm enjoying seeing the
progress that we are making
from one day to the next.”
The EBA Spartan Boys hold
a record of 2-6 so far this
season.
Winners of the All- Age Derby Championship
(l-r, front row) Champion Erins Happy Hour shown with Scout Luke Eisenhart and Runner-
up Game Star shown with Scout Mark Haynes. (Back row) Mary Kimbrell, Johnny Atkinson,
Sarah Shwarz, Sarah Bull, Judd Carlton, Jack Shwarz, Mike Sweet, John Ray Kimbrell, Nell
Mobley, Jerry Raynor, Ike Todd, Gary Futch and Judges Mike Jackson and Austin Sherman.
Georgia Quail Championship
Champion - Touch’s Malcolm Story, Handler Mark Mclean, Owner Alex Rickert, Scout Jerry
Raynor, Runner-up- Haney’s All In, Handler Mark McLean, Owners Steve and Stacy Cray,
Scout Jerry Raynor.
Mobley
Nell approached her
grandson Craig Elliott with
a request: “I want you to do
something,” she recalled
saying. “I want you to take
over my position. I am 88 years
old and my years are certainly
numbered, I would think.”
Although her appeal caught
him off guard, Craig didn’t
hesitate to accept the role. “I
was honored she asked me,”
he stated recently.
Craig is no stranger to the
event. Until approximately
12 years ago, he put birds out
every morning of the trials
with Art Lively and Matthew
Jenkins. Even now, Craig
assists in cooking the oysters,
fish and barbeque for the trials
every year.
Although this year’s event
just commenced, Craig has
nearly completed his one
year of training. Nell begins
preparing for the event that
begins every January 2 in
March of the previous year.
Craig’s training for this year’s
event began March 2023. To
help him along, Nell handed
over a composition book
filled with tasks that must be
completed. There is something
to do nearly every day.
“There is a lot to learn, but
we are getting there,” Craig
said enthusiastically. “It’s a
whole lot more than I ever
imagined.”
The biggest challenge was
lining up the judges. Craig
doesn’t have the connections
that Nell has developed during
43 years of organizing the
event. But just like Nell, he
considers interacting with the
participants as his favorite
aspect of the competition.
So far, there is nothing that
he has noticed that requires
modification from the way Nell
does it.
“If it’s not broke, why fix
if?” he asked. “Right now, I
plan on doing it just like she
has been doing it. It’s worked
for 40 years.”
Nell expects him to
Continued from front
handle the job himself next
year However, Nell has no
intentions of missing out on the
trials anytime soon.
“I am going to be here as long
as I am able,” she promised.
“As long as my health is good,
I intend to come out here every
day. I am going to be here even
if I’m not going to be anything
but in the way. I love this sport
and I wouldn’t miss seeing the
people who come for anything
on Earth.”
Craig owns Salters Building
Supply and his wife Amy is
an employee of Burke Health.
Their two sons are involved
in the event as well and attend
regularly. Craig’s cousin, Mary
Alice Jones, will continue to
assist whenever Craig needs
support. She has helped Nell
for years.
“Lamar Mobley would be
one happy human being to
know that these trials have
been carried on like this, and
that Craig is taking over this
position,” Nell stated.
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