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Photos from
Commerce’s
season-opening
track meet
Page 4B
MARCH 2, 2016
The Commerce News
The Banks County News
Phone: 706-621-7204
Fax: 706-367-8056
cameron@mainstreetnews.com
Section B
J.B. Hawkins Humanitarian Award
Stephenson wins prestigious award
Commerce coach honored with the Georgia Sports
Hall of Fame's J.B. Hawkins Humanitarian Award
Stephenson honored
Retired Commerce coach
Jimbo Stephenson accepts his
award at the Georgia Sports Hall
of Fame in Macon last weekend.
BY CAMERON WHITLOCK
Longtime Commerce Middle School head
football coach Jimmy (Jimbo) Stephenson
was honored last weekend at the 2016 Georgia
Sports Hall of Fame induction in Macon.
Stephenson became the first-ever recipient
of the J.B. Hawkins Humanitarian Award, an
honor given in recognition of an individual that
has made significant contributions to youth
sports in Georgia.
“It’s an unbelievable honor,” said Stephen
son. “The fact that coach (Michael) Brown
nominated me was an honor in itself. When
we got out there and saw how big of a deal
this thing really was, I thought this is some
thing that common people like me don’t get to
experience every day.”
Stephenson, who coached football at CMS
for over 40 years (1973-2014), served as a pos
itive role model for countless young students
and athletes. A 1968 graduate of Commerce
High School, Stephenson began his coaching
tenure under legendary Tiger football coach
See “Stephenson” on 2B
CHS Baseball
Power Hitters
Wrestling
Swinging for the fences
Drew Hulsey (14) and a host of other Tiger players con
gratulate Matthew Flint (middle) after a three-run homer
during the Tigers’ 11-7 win over Rabun County last week.
Photo by Cameron Whitlock
Tigers improve to 3-0 behind
big performances at the plate
BY CAMERON WHITLOCK
The Diamond Tigers are swing
ing for the fences.
Commerce has won three con
secutive games to start the season
largely due to a batting lineup that
has had no problem racking up
big hits.
In three games, the Tigers have
already recorded two homeruns,
one triple, six doubles and 22
singles. Head coach Steve Cotrell
attributes much of the Tigers’ suc
cess to hard work in the weight
room.
“We have swung the bat well
at times and definitely the weight
room has been a major factor,” he
said. “The kids have worked from
that aspect and coach (Michael)
Brown has played a major factor
in those getting stronger while in
the weight room.”
Commerce improved to 3-0 on
Saturday following a 7-2 road win
over Lincoln County.
Two doubles by Matthew Flint
helped Commerce grab an early
lead. Flint’s first double came in
the top of the first inning with
two runners on base. He drove
in Trevor Johnson to put the
Tigers on the scoreboard. Jona
than Ray scored on the following
at-bat when he capitalized on a
wild throw by the Lincoln County
infield.
The Red Devils put up their first
run of the day in the bottom of the
first, but the Tigers answered with
another big inning in the top of
the second.
Triston Price, Devine Burnett
and J’Varius Wood got the Tigers
going with three consecutive
singles to start the inning. Price
See “Hitters” on 2B
BCHS Boys’ Tennis
Leopards sweep Athens
Christian to open season
Return to sender
Banks County’s Hunter Payne swings at an
oncoming shot during the Leopards’ matchup with
Jefferson on Monday.
The Banks County boys’ tennis
team opened its 2016 season with a 5-0
home win over Athens Christian last
Thursday.
Alex Amato won his No.l singles
match 8-1, while No. 2 singles player
Braxton Ledfod won 8-0. Alex Vickery
won 8-1 at No. 3 singles.
The No. 1 doubles pair of Gabe Mar
tin and Luke Schaefer defeated their
opponents 8-1, while Hunter Payne
and Stetson Boswell won 8-0 in their
No. 2 doubles match.
Banks County head coach Jim
McKinney praised his squad for their
performace - especially in poor con
ditions.
“It was a very strong start to the sea
son,” said McKinney.
On Monday the Leopards traveled
to Jefferson where they lost a tight 4-1
contest to the hosting Dragons.
Ledford got the Leopards’ sole victo
ry at No. 2 singles.
Banks County will travel to Athens
Christian on Thursday.
Georgia's best
Commerce head wres
tling coach Kendall Love
was recently named wres
tling Coach of the Year
by the Georgia Wrestling
Coaches Association.
Love named
GWCA's Coach
of the Year
Commerce High School head
wrestling coach Kendall Love was
recently named as the Georgia
Wrestling Coaches Association’s
Coach of the Year.
Love has led the Tigers to
three-consecutive state duals titles
and three-consecutive traditional
state titles. This season, 11 out
of 14 Commerce wrestlers took
home individual state champion
ships, while all 14 Tiger wrestlers
made the Class A finals in their
respective weight classes.
During his 10 years at Com
merce, Love has helped trans
form the Tiger wrestling program
into a dynasty in Class A. Com
merce has won countless area
titles and fielded numerous state
placers during Love’s tenure. Love
credits much of his success to his
wrestlers and supporting cast.
“Obviously it’s a big honor,”
said Love. “But it’s a lot easier to
attain when you have the type of
kids that we have right now. They
don’t mind hard work and they
don’t mind doing what they need
to do to succeed. We have great
assistant coaches, great parents
and a great administration. I’m
thrilled to get the award, but to
be quite honest, there are a lot of
people that need to be recognized
just as much as me.”
Love will be officially recog
nized at next year’s GHSA State
Traditional Tournament. As Geor
gia’s official Coach of the Year,
Love will be nominated to receive
the Southeastern Regional Coach
of the Year award. Regional win
ners will be nominated for the
USA Wrestling Coaches Associa
tion’s National Coach of the Year.
“I’ve been in wrestling for a
long time and I can’t recall a team
putting 14 in the finals at any level
in any state,” said GWCA repre
sentative Paul White. “So I think
all the coaches voting know what
an accomplishment that is.”
Love won the Georgia and
Southeast Regional Assistant
Coach of the Year award in 2006
during his tenure at Jefferson.
