Here’s a closeup of one of the rings presented to the OCHS volleyball players last spring. They feature the team’s 32-8 record on one side and individual player’s jersey number and volleyball on the other side. (Submitted Photo)
The Oglethorpe County volleyball team won its first state championship last year, giving the school its first title since 2022. Months later, each player received a gold, gem-studded ring topped with the school’s logo and the team’s 32–8 record, and their jersey number on the sides.
The rings not only provide a visual reminder of what the team accomplished on the court, but also give a glimpse into the Oglethorpe County Athletic Booster Club’s behind-the-scenes work.
The volleyball team’s state title was the highlight of a historic fall athletic season for the Patriots, with five varsity teams qualifying for state.
Behind those runs, the booster club works to fund the essential uniforms, equipment, travel costs and postseason recognition that fall outside standard athletic budgets.
The club has already started focusing on new memberships and volunteers for the new school year.
The club’s leadership is largely unchanged from last year, with Janine Campbell serving as president, Jenny Wisham as vice president, Carey Paul as treasurer and Kent Huff as secretary. The special events coordinator and assistant treasurer positions remain open.
“Last year, I was the only returning board member,” Paul said. “There was a lot of transition of responsibilities from the former officers to the new officers, and then all the new officers usually come with a little bit of a new perspective or new ideas. Now that we’ve got a solid year under our belts as a collective group, I think we’ll be a little bit further ahead than we were last year.”
Paul said continuity and experience have made it easier to coordinate with the athletic department and community members.
“We’ve learned better communication,” Huff said. “Letting people know about the club and the most effective ways to reach out, and also effective ways to communicate with coaches and their needs and how to help them out, too.”
The summer months serve as a reset for the club, which meets every second Monday of each month. During this time, members plan the annual budget, information meetings, the yearly membership drive and prepare flyers to send home with student-athletes during the first week of school.
It also allows board members to meet with new coaches and discuss needs and goals. New boys wrestling coach Stanley Lattimore and boys basketball coach Dayon Toomer have attended meetings with the club.
Alongside the state championship rings and travel costs, the club helped fund new uniforms for the softball, cross country, baseball, girls basketball and cheer teams, covered golf range fees and Hudl subscriptions, and bought practice equipment for football and competition cheer.
The club also reinstated its senior scholarship program, awarding baseball player Tripp White and basketball player Carlie Gabriel after a formal application and essay process.
“We handed out two student scholarships last year — one to a male athlete, one to a female athlete — and we would love to see that number grow,” Paul said. “Where that limit would be, I’m not sure, but that would probably be the targeted goal for me as a part of the board. A good chunk of the annual fundraising goes towards that, and I would love to see it be a point where we had to increase that budget just to continue to support those sports programs and their runs for state championships.”
Apart from membership fees, the board’s funding comes from concession stand profits and the annual spring Patriot Powerball fundraiser. Patriot Powerball, a community favorite, brings in an estimated average of $20,000 in profit, and is the club’s only fundraising event, Paul said.
To help expand its community involvement and fundraising efforts, the club is seeking a special events coordinator to plan and generate those ideas.
“There are always opportunities, and we’re always looking for different ways of maybe generating some revenue back into the program,” Paul said.
In the meantime, the club is focusing on its immediate needs, like concession stand volunteers, for the upcoming school year. The club is continuing its membership drive and will have a booth and information table at Community Day at Oglethorpe County Middle School on Aug. 8 and the school open houses.
Memberships start with the $50 family plan and continue up a tiered system to the $3,500 elite and corporate sponsor level. All members receive a membership window decal and sign. Members of the Bronze tier ($250) and higher receive two passes to every OCHS or OCMS home sporting event. The deadline for signs and the fall sports program is Aug. 21.
Paul said he hopes the recent momentum of OCHS and OCMS athletic programs will drive more community members to join the club.
“Everybody likes to be part of the success,” he said. “Hopefully that attracts people willing to get in there and help give these kids the positive experience and the memorable experience that they deserve.”
Huff echoed those thoughts.
“It’s as much a boost for athletes to see the confidence and what they can do,” Huff said. “It makes our job easier to say, ‘Hey, we’ve got these good athletes. We want to support them.’ ”