Sports talk Thursday with Lauren Hunter-Football is coming
Sports August 2, 2019We’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.
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 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 March 28, 2017By: 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.
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.
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
Uncategorized March 22, 2017GHS 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.
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 March 20, 2017
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.
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.
Both Tennis teams will be in action next week against Heritage High School.
Bobcats fall to Dragons in Double Header
GHS Baseball March 14, 2017Bobcats 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.
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.
Coosawattee Takes on Gilmer and Pickens at Home
Community June 12, 2012The Torpedoes of Coosawattee Took on the Pickens Dragons and Gilmer Bobcats Thursday, June 7, 2012. (more…)