Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

May 14, 2008 Section b The Banks County News Sports Editor: Chris Bridges Contact: 706-367-2745 www.mainstreetnews.com First & Ten ★ ★ ★ chris@mainstreetnews.com BY CHRIS BRIDGES Harn provides inspiration to all around him J ay Harn put the finishing touches on his high school athletic career Saturday leaving all those who witnessed his performances impressed and wanting to see more. The Banks County High School senior continues to be an inspira tion to all those who know him personally and those who know him from seeing him compete. Two state championships during the wheelchair events at the state track meet in Jefferson this past week, along with a runner-up fin ish, are only part of the story. I first met Jay in the summer of 2005. I had just arrived on the scene and remember seeing him during summer football work outs. He was one of many who were preparing for the upcoming season and no doubt had a bright future ahead of him on the foot ball field. That fall, however, Harn was the victim of a hunting accident which has forever changed his life. Falling from his deer stand, Harn was paralyzed from the waist down. Despite the best efforts of his doctors and by Harn, the condition remains. That turn of events would be more than some people could handle. To be honest, I’m not sure I could deal with it. I have a supportive family which is vital in cases like this, but the mental challenge it would present — not to mention the physical one — is something I cannot begin to com prehend. Harn, however, has literally become an inspiration to me and countless others who have come in contact with him. Every time I see him now, he asks me how I am doing. Imagine that. He asks me how I am doing. He is always smiling and to be honest, you view him as a regular high school senior. He cuts up with his friends, competes in sports, has a girlfriend and is preparing for life after graduation. Still, life is not the same for Harn and that’s why his accom plishments this past week make everyone who witnessed them smile. The look captured on his face by our photographer Lyn Sengupta says it all in my opin ion. Harn had just won one of his two wheelchair race events and the moment was not lost on him. I will miss seeing Jay compete next spring. Track season at BCHS won’t be the same without him. I will miss his competitive spirit, his great positive attitude and the great way in which he represented his school. It will also be difficult not hav ing Jay around to provide inspira tion for those who know. I admit he provided it for me. Afterall, when you get to know Jay how can the little things in life bother you. I only wish I could have the positive approach Jay does on a daily basis. I’m not ashamed to say he is a hero of mine. He is also a friend. That’s something I hope he feels the same way about. Best of luck Jay in all the future brings. You have given all of us reason to smile. Chris Bridges is sports editor of The Banks County News. Contact him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail at chris@mainstreetnews.com. High School Track Harn shines at state meet for Leopards, wins two events BY CHRIS BRIDGES Saturday was a day to shine for Jay Harn. The Banks County High School senior captured first place in both the 200-meter and 800-meter events in the wheelchair competition at the GHSA state track meet in Jefferson. Harn’s first place showings fol lowed up a second-place finish in the shot put competition two days earlier. Harn’s efforts allowed BCHS to win the wheelchair division at the state meet for 2008 with 28 overall points. This was the first year a team championship was awarded as seven athletes from six different schools competed. The BCHS senior set a personal best in the 800-meter and was one tenth of a sec- State Champion Banks County High School's Jay Harn captured two state titles in the wheelchair compe tition at the state track meet Saturday in Jefferson. ond off his personal best in the 200-meter. While competing in the shot put, Harn also made a personal best throw of 19-8.5. The state champion in the event set a state record with a throw of 20-5. See State Track on page 3B Li - 1 r. 1 * El- J V V STATE CHAMP BCHS senior Jay Harn cap tured two state titles in the wheelchair competition at the state track meet in Jefferson last week. Photo by Lyn Sengupta BCHS: Class AA State Baseball Playoffs Leopards run into roadblock during first round of state BY CHRIS BRIDGES H oly Innocents High School rolled out the welcome mat for the Banks County High School baseball team last Friday. Unfortunately, for the Diamond Leopards it was a rude welcome as the host Golden Bears, the defending Class AA state champions, made quick work of BCHS in the opening round of the state playoffs. Holy Innocents posted 11-0 and 16-0 wins with both games of Friday’s double header in Atlanta going just five innings. Those losses ended the season for the Diamond Leopards, who were making their return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2001. Despite the losses, the future appears to be on solid ground for the BCHS baseball program, which has made steady progress during the past four years under the direction of head coach Joe Lord. “Even though we got defeated pretty hand ily by the defending state champions, it wasn’t because of The rewd o f gomg to lack of effort, the state playoffs is a preparation or testament to the hard desire,” Lord work put in by our said . “ I look for them to prob- players and coaches... ably go to the - Coach Joe Lord state finals. I think it will come down to Weslyan or Holy Innocents for the AA crown.” Instead of looking solely at the two state play off contests in which his team was overmatched, Lord is focusing on the 2008 season as a whole. The season consisted of 16 wins with only three losses coming to teams which did not reach the state playoffs. The Leopards never lost more than two games in a row and only lost three home games this spring. BCHS also had a five-game winning streak at one point in 2008 and finished five games above the .500 mark. The Leopards tied for first in the subregion, finished third among 12 schools in 8-AA and made it to the state playoffs. “The reward of getting to the state playoffs is a testament to the hard work put in by our players and coaches not only during the season, but dur ing summer ball, offseason workouts and previ ous years leading up to this one,” Lord said. “We know what it takes to get there and we have con tinued to raise the bar. We got a taste of the state tournament and next year we’ll be looking to get back and go even farther. It’ll be a challenge, but we’ll be up to it.” In the first game against Holy Innocents, STATE PLAY Banks County High School's Chris Porter attempts to reach first base during Friday's state playoff contest in Atlanta against Holy Innocents High School. The Leopards advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2001 this spring. Photo by Lyn Sengupta Jeff Smith, Tyler McEntire and Wesley Angel handled the pitching. Alex Gailey and Zack Dale provided the offense for BCHS. In game two, Gailey, Kasey Hudgins and Angel handled the pitching duties while Porter had the team’s only hit. Looking ahead to next spring will see the Leopards competing in a revamped Region 8-AA. Jefferson, who has been a force in Class A, will be one of the schools be moving in. “We’ll more than likely play a full region slate with no region tournament,” Lord said. “Two time region champ North Oconee will be in there as well so we’ll have our work cut out for us. We believe we can compete with any of these teams, however. We got there this year, and next year our goal is to make back-to-back trips and advance as far as we can.” BCHS will lose two seniors — Gailey and Aaron Wagoner — to graduation this spring. Lord said a solid group of returning players should help the Leopards be a contender for the state playoffs again in 2009. Senior duo paces BCHS during 2008 BY CHRIS BRIDGES The Banks County High School baseball senior class of 2008 will always be special to coach Joe Lord. Aaron Wagoner and Alex Gailey began their freshman seasons the same year Lord became the Diamond Leopard head coach. Four years later, Lord has grown as a coach, Gailey and Wagoner have grown as players and the BCHS program has grown as a whole. “We have all grown together,” Lord said this week as he reflected on the 2008 season and the three years before that. “Alex and Aaron have been keys to our improve ment.” Gailey was a four-year starter for the Leopards. “I know everybody we play won’t miss seeing No. 8 on the field, but we sure will,” Lord said. “He’s been an integral part of our building pro cess and our success.” Gailey has already signed with Piedmont College where he will continue his academic and athletic careers. Lord said the high school standout will do well at the next level. “He’s been a valuable asset to us on the mound and at the plate,” the coach said. “He is a great young man and a great leader. He is a tre mendous competitor and a winner. He’s been on the pitcher’s mound and at the plate in some key situa tions over his career and he will be tough to replace. He will do well in baseball and most importantly in life.” Also helping lead the way this season — and for the past four years — has been Wagoner. For the past two seasons, Wagoner has been the starting second baseman for the Diamond Leopards and has been able to provide a needed level of defensive stability in the infield. Lord also had high amounts of praise for this senior. See Seniors on page 3B High School Football Leopards prepare to wrap up spring with Saturday scrimmage BCHS coaches asking for special donations as admission to contest BY CHRIS BRIDGES The Banks County High School football team will conclude spring practice this week with all eyes looking toward the upcoming 2008 season. Second-year head coach Blair Armstrong said earlier this week practice has been positive and the coaches are pleased with the progress several play ers have shown. “We are excited about what we have seen,” Armstrong said. “It’s fun to see the improvement the players have made.” Several returning players as well as some new comers have caught the attention of the coaches to this point in spring drills. Justin Beasley looks “faster than ever” Armstrong said and Demetric Dempson has gotten “faster and stronger” during the offseason. The BCHS head coach also noted the spring practice performance of Clint Caudell, who is returning from a shoulder injury. Other players who have been standouts include Travis Betts, Brent Bowman, Cody Gowder, Matthew Patton, Chris Mota and Darryl Childers. One position which will have to be filled for BCHS this fall is quarterback. Last year’s starter, Dustin Worley, graduated. Worley, who signed with Catawba College in North Carolina passed for 1,000 yards his senior season including a 300-yard performance against Washington-Wilkes in the region playoffs. Armstrong said Alex Banks, last year’s starter on the junior varsity, knows the players although the coaches would like for him to gain more expe rience. Chris Porter is expected to get a look at the position along with Brett Armour and Chase Armour, who are expected to return to the program for the upcoming year. “We will be new at quarteback,” Armstrong said. “It will be a challenge to see who can make it.” BCHS will hold its annaul spring scrimmage Saturday at 7 p.m. Coaches are asking those who attend to follow the “DDDT” plan when it comes to admission. Coaches are asking fans to bring at least one of the following for admission: •DVDs (R) for highlight videos and game record ing •Detergent (liquid) for uniform washing. See Spring Football on page 2B