Sports talk Thursday with Lauren Hunter-Football is coming

Sports

We’ve been talking about it all summer. I’ve covered more camps than I can count. Young athletes have been out as early as January lifting and preparing for it. Finally on Wednesday I felt it.

Football season is coming.

Wednesday morning bright and early found me on the football field of Fannin County High School covering the last day of their youth football camp. Now as I said a few sentences earlier I’ve been out all summer covering football camps, but this was the first time it really clicked with me that we are only a few weeks away. And I won’t lie, a lot of it had to do with the weather.

Being at the Fannin County youth camp on Wednesday in some cooler air made me realize just how close we are to football season!

There was a slight breeze and I dare to say chill on Wednesday that I hadn’t felt all summer. Granted it was early in the morning and I’m so used to summer heat that even the slightest temperature drop can make me reach for my jacket. But this time, surrounded by young athletes who are the future of their program, it all started to set in.

It’s hard to imagine Friday Night Lights when it’s 90 degrees in Georgia in the middle of July. When I think of football I think of all the late Friday afternoons when I was in high school and the trees were ablaze with the bright orange and reds of fall. I think of the UGA games I’ve gone to where it’s been so cold part of the reason I was standing was not so much to cheer than to try and keep warm.

I will admit, football season has kind of snuck up on me this year. Earlier in the summer, Team FYN Sports was in baseball mode covering the local youth tournaments. I was in baseball mode keeping up with the Braves. But this is the South, and not just the South but SEC stronghold too. So of course even though baseball comes to the forefront, football stays simmering on the back burner at all times. That’s another reason why when I felt that cooler air on Wednesday, I was so easily able to slip back into football mode.

Local high schools start back as early as the week after next, with scrimmages coming the week after and then regular season the week after that. It’s crazy to think how time flies, and for teams that have been out practicing all summer, they realize that this is where the rubber meets the road.

I remember the first story I did for Team FYN Sports involving football was earlier this summer when Dawson County scrimmaged Pickens in a spring game. It took me a moment to realize when I got to the Dawson County field to realize that were weren’t in August, and this being in May we still had another three full months to go. But you couldn’t have told that to either of the two sides that night.

The mommas of the Dawson County Tigers formed a tunnel for the players to run through at their spring game like it was a regular season game.

The Dawson County mommas circled up for pre-game prayer, and lined up to form a tunnel for their sons to run through onto the field. Both home and away stands had a decent amount of fans to fill them. Both schools even brought their marching bands, and Pickens brought their cheerleaders. This energy is what I try to convey to everyone when I say that sports, and especially football, create a community rivaled by few other events.

Each time I’ve gone to a camp, or scrimmage, or even just a practice in this community, I’ve seldom been the only one there who is not a part of the team. Parents will come by to see their sons, or even just community members will drop by to get a look at the team before they run out for the first game. There’s something else special about following a team from the ground up, a season from the beginning to end. I know I’m not the only one that feels that way, and it makes my job all the much more enjoyable.

Over the last couple of weeks BKP and I have been going around North Georgia and interviewing coaches from all of the teams we cover. While last week I focused on the coaches and all of the effort that they have been putting in, it’s no overstatement to say that these players have been putting in their fair share too.

And they all seem ready. They’ve all been lifting and getting stronger since the beginning of the year. They’ve been out running drills and working for positions since the weather was warm enough. Now they’re breaking out the pads, helmets and fine tuning plays until it’s time for that first kick-off.

Football season is coming, and from the locker room to the press box, I think we’re all ready.

GHS Track Seniors Recognized and Celebrate Win Over Dragons

GHS Track

By: Leah Davis

On March 21st, the Gilmer High School track team hosted county rivals Pickens Dragons at a home track meet.

 

Hosting Senior Recognitions as well, the Gilmer County Track team brought home numerous individual victories along with an overall victory for both the Boy’s and Girls Teams to aid in the celebrations.

 

Due to extreme weather on March 21th, half the track events were postponed till March 23th.

 

Luke Stolz, from Gilmer, won the boy’s 3200m with a time of 13:15. Norma Solis, from Gilmer, won girl’s 3200m with a time of 14:56.
Olivia Moore, from Pickens, won the girl’s pole vault with a 11’0. Tidwell, from Pickens, won the boy’s pole vault with a height of 13’0.

GHS Track

Austin Masenthin pole vaulting for the Bobcats.

 

Raven Sparks, from Gilmer, won the girl’s shot put with 33’9. She also won the discus throw with 100’3. Buntz, from Pickens, won the boy’s shot put with 40’0. Jhaydon Ragsdale, from Gilmer, won the discus throw with 115’10.

 

Griffin Cagle, from Gilmer, won the boy’s long jump with a length of 18’11. Caroline Teague, from Gilmer, won the girl’s long jump with a length of 14’7. Cain, from Pickens, won the triple jump with 39’9. Karla Cantrell, from Gilmer, won the girl’s triple jump with a length of 30’7.

 

Goss, from Pickens, won the boy’s high jump with the height of 5’8. Rowe Fowler, from Gilmer, won the girl’s high jump with a height of 4’10.

 

The Pickens Boy’s 4×100 Team A won their event. Karla Cantrell, Aubrey Cagle, Olivia Thompson, and Grace Pleasant, from Gilmer, won the girl’s 100x4m with the time of 54.91.

 

Carlos Cruz, from Gilmer, won the Boy’s 1600m with the time of 4:54. Grace Pleasant, from Gilmer, won the Girl’s 1600m with a time of 6:01.

 

Griffin Cagle, from Gilmer, won the Boy’s 400m. Karla Cantrell, from Gilmer, won the Girl’s 400m with the time of 1:06.21.

 

Davis, from Pickens, won the Boy’s 100m with a time of 10.96. Prather, from Pickens, won the Girl’s 100m.

 

Tucker, from Pickens, won the Boy’s 100/110m hurdles with a time of 18.70. Olivia Moore, from Pickens, won the Girl’s 100/110m hurdles with the time of 15.07.

 

Carlos Cruz, from Gilmer, won the Boy’s 800m. Grace Pleasant, from Gilmer, won the Girl’s 800m.

 

Davis, from Pickens, won the Boy’s 200m. Prather, from Pickens, won the Girl’s 200m with a time of 30.57.

 

Griffin Cagle, from Gilmer, won the Boy’s 300m hurdles. Karla Cantrell, from Gilmer, won the Girl’s 300m hurdles with a time of 50.18.

 

Griffin Cagle, Austin Masenthin, Jonathan Hoek, and Carlos Cruz, from Gilmer, won the Boy’s 4x400m event with a time of 3:47. Grace Pleasant, Caroline Teague, Olivia Thompson, Karla Cantrell, from Gilmer, won the Girl’s 4x400m event with a time of 4:38.

 

The Gilmer High School Track Seniors were recognized

Tuesday night.

 

GHS Track 1

Seniors: Luke Stolz, Zach, Kent Lee, Raven Sparks, Karla Cantrell, and Griffin Cagle.

The Gilmer track girls beat the Dragons, 90-43. The Gilmer track boys beat the Dragons, 70-66. Both Gilmer teams will be back in action on Thursday at home.

GHS Soccer Teams’ going to State for the First Time

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GHS Soccer Teams’ on a Roll

 

By: Mariela Aguillon

This year’s GHS soccer teams’ are committed, focused, and determined to succeed.

Monday morning GHS announced the Boy’s and Girl’s soccer teams have made it to the state tournament.  For the first time Gilmer High has made it to the state tournament.

After defeating The Pickens County Dragons the Bobcats secured their state tournament position.

Girl’s Team Captains Sabrina Zagarola, Autumn Durham, and Josie Sheehan as well as  Boy’s Team Captains’ Rodrigo Casas, Eduardo Pantoja, and Christian Hernandez, are proud to have taken part in their team’s achievement.

GHS SoccerGHS Soccer1

The team is working really hard to get further and get passed playoffs. When asked how they got this far Boy’s Captain, Rodrigo Casas, stated “ the team has really gotten to know each other and the chemistry we have built has helped us on the field.”

Without a doubt they have improved their teamwork and combined their skills on the field making The Bobcats a strong Opponent.

The training, sweat, and pain have paid off for both teams. Without a doubt the team will continue with their hard work and perseverance to accomplish their goals.

 

 

Gilmer and Pickens Tennis Tied Up

GHS Tennis

 

Gilmer and Pickens Tennis Tied Up

By: Leah Davis

On March 16th, the Bobcats battled the Dragons in tennis.

 

Riley Hice started the night off by winning his single match against Stephen Jordan and Carter Hice comes in after winning his single match against San Barber. The Bobcats lead the Dragons 3-0 after Jackson Stolz won the final single match.
The Bobcats, undefeated in the singles against the Dragons, lost ground in doubles as they fell on both matches to the Dragons. The final score of the Boy’s tennis was 3-2, with the Bobcats leaving the Dragons hanging by a thread.

GHS Tennis

Senior Riley Hice taking down Stephen Jordan in his singles match.

 

The girl’s tennis opened up with Lauren Cole, from the Bobcats, defeating Emma Depuma in the first singles match. The Bobcat’s Katie Sheahan left Katie Cowart, from the Dragons, hanging in the dust. The Bobcats were up 2-0, but the Dragons came back and won the last singles and won both the doubles. The final score was 3-2, with the Dragons winning over the Bobcats.

GHS Tennis 1

Lauren Cole fighting for her victory over The Dragons

 

Both Tennis teams will be in action next week against Heritage High School.

Bobcats fall to Dragons in Double Header

GHS Baseball

Bobcats falls to Dragons in Double Header

 

By: Leah Davis

 

On Thursday night, March 9, the Bobcats hosted the Dragons to a double header.

 

Pressure began to appear early as Travis Huffman walked up to home plate for the Dragons at the top of the first. Dominic Stephens hit a fly ball gaining a double RBI that put the Dragons over the Bobcats. Tension only grew as Jace Franklin batted in a single RBI soon after. The Bobcats fell behind the Dragons, 3-0, after the top of the first.

 

At the bottom of the first, McKinley Chadwick hit a double earning a single RBI that put the Bobcats on the board.

 

All seemed quiet until the third inning when Zack Moore hit a double gaining himself a single RBI and advancing the score, 4-1, over the Bobcats.

 

At the bottom of the sixth, Tatum Chadwick hit a single which allowed Will Barnes to sprint home. That single RBI for Chadwick put the Bobcats down one less point.

Gilmer Vs Pickens

Tatum Chadwick trying to find his way to home plate.

 

However, it wasn’t enough to close the gap, the final score of the first game was 4-2 with the Dragons winning over the Bobcats.

 

It seemed the Bobcats couldn’t recover from the first game as the Dragons managed to keep the Bobcat’s offense from gaining any runs in the second. The final score was 11-0.

 

Despite a heavy loss, the Bobcats will be back for redemption on March 17th against Ridgeland High School.

“Cats” Not Weak During Make Up Week

Featured Stories, Team FYN Sports

The Gilmer High School Bobcats boys’ basketball team had a game filled week that couldn’t have gone much better. It contained a win over rival Pickens, a win on “Senior Night” over Cedartown, and a win in one of the most bizarre games ever seen against Dalton. (more…)

Lady Cats Clutch but Bobcat Boys Beat

Featured Stories, Team FYN Sports

The Gilmer High School Bobcats soccer teams hosted the region rival Pickens High School Dragons on snowy blistery evening. The Lady “Cats” scratched the “Nettes’” nets one time to many for the visitors, winning on “Sudden Death” penalty kicks 6-5. The Bobcats boys’ team was shut out two nil. (more…)

Joe Bob the Bobcat That Joined the “Cats’” Club of 1,000

Featured Stories, Team FYN Sports

The Gilmer High School Bobcats basketball teams face those from arch rival Pickens High School. The Lady “Cats” fell to the Dragonettes, 57-48; however the Bobcats lambasted the Dragons 67-37 led by Joe Bob Charles’ 26 points. Charles joined the “Cats’” club of 1,000 point scorers, scoring his 1,000th and 1,001st point on a layup with 2:59 left in the third quarter. (more…)

“Cats” Catch Crown in Own Cradle: Gilmer Wins ETC Tip-Off Tournament

Featured Stories, Team FYN Sports

The Gilmer High School Lady Bobcats and Bobcats basketball teams both placed first in the annual ETC Tip-Off Tournament. The round robin style tournament features boys and girls’ basketball games played between Copper Basin, Fannin County, Pickens, and Gilmer High Schools. Gilmer was the host school of this year’s tournament. (more…)

Coosawattee Takes on Gilmer and Pickens at Home

Community

The Torpedoes of Coosawattee Took on the Pickens Dragons and Gilmer Bobcats Thursday, June 7, 2012. (more…)

Gilmer Girls Great in Successful Shootout: Bobcat Boys Hold Off History

Featured Stories, Team FYN Sports

The Gilmer High School Bobcats girls and boys soccer teams swept the visiting Pickens Dragonettes and Dragons with the Lady “Cats” clawing out a 5-4 overtime shoot out victory, and the Bobcats’ boys came from behind, down two nil, to win 3-2. (more…)

Exclusive ETC TV# Highlights “Cats” Claim Championship of 515 with Hard Fought 28-13 Victory

Featured Stories, Team FYN Sports

The Gilmer High School Bobcats football team hosted, region rival, the Pickens High School Dragons. The 28-13 home team victory, in which the fans of both schools were invited to wear pink in honor of breast cancer awareness month in a “Pink Out,” became secondary when, following a great abundance of “chippiness” between the teams (left mostly unchecked throughout the contest by the referees) a fight broke out with 18 seconds left in the game on the Pickens sideline. The fight which lasted approximately six seconds; resulted in nine players being ejected, which entails the players sitting out of the next contest as well (Murphy/Gilmer and Allatoona/Pickens), and rampant rumors from hospitalization of a player to coaches getting arrested. (more…)

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