Sports

Members of the Oglethorpe County girls cross country team take part in the inaugural Patriot Stars and Stripes Invitational on Saturday at its new course. More than 300 runners took part in the event. (Submitted Photo)

Members of the Oglethorpe County girls cross country team take part in the inaugural Patriot Stars and Stripes Invitational on Saturday at its new course. More than 300 runners took part in the event. (Submitted Photo)

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Prep Roundup: New course shines in inaugural meet

News Staff
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Members of the Oglethorpe County cross country teams were among 300 runners who raced in the inaugural Patriot Stars and Stripes Invitational on Saturday at the new course at Oglethorpe County Middle School.
Oglethorpe County sophomore running back Zion Pass (4) takes a handoff against Washington-Wilkes on Sept. 4. Pass leads the Patriots with 207 yards rushing. (Zachary Krausman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County sophomore running back Zion Pass (4) takes a handoff against Washington-Wilkes on Sept. 4. Pass leads the Patriots with 207 yards rushing. (Zachary Krausman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Region play keeps hopes alive for football team

Wesley Webb
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
The Oglethorpe County football team has scored 13 points in four losses and has dealt with costly injuries, but the season is far from over. Region 8-AA play begins on Oct.16, giving the Patriots a chance to recover.
Nick Mathews, who graduated from OCHS in 2013, drops back while playing quarterback for the Patriots. He’s now a physical therapist in the San Francisco Giants organization.

Nick Mathews, who graduated from OCHS in 2013, drops back while playing quarterback for the Patriots. He’s now a physical therapist in the San Francisco Giants organization.

From Oglethorpe to MLB: Crawford native is physical therapist for Giants

Will Hearn
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Nick Mathews grew up on a farm in Crawford, but his current role as a physical therapist in the San Francisco Giants organization has taken him far from the borders of Oglethorpe County.
Naomi McPeake smiles with her goat, Sexy Red, and a volleyball at her family farm in Crawford. She balances her two passions, volleyball and showing goats, with the help of her family. (SYDNEY JARRARD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Naomi McPeake smiles with her goat, Sexy Red, and a volleyball at her family farm in Crawford. She balances her two passions, volleyball and showing goats, with the help of her family. (SYDNEY JARRARD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Setting her up for success

Sydney Jarrard
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Every day after volleyball practice, Naomi McPeake rushes home to her barn, where she feeds, waters, grooms, exercises and trains her goats.  “Don’t knock it till you try it,” she said. “Everybody judges me for showing goats, but they don’t know that I get so much out of it.”
Oglethorpe County volleyball coach Brianne Harrison presents Leanna Newton with a poster signifying she’s surpassed 1,000 career kills on Tuesday night. Newton, a junior, leads the Patriots with 322 kills this season. (Wesley Webb/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County volleyball coach Brianne Harrison presents Leanna Newton with a poster signifying she’s surpassed 1,000 career kills on Tuesday night. Newton, a junior, leads the Patriots with 322 kills this season. (Wesley Webb/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Prep Roundup: Turner, Matthews honored on volleyball senior night

News Staff
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
The Oglethorpe County volleyball team lost to East Jackson on senior night on Tuesday, but remains 5-1 in Region 8-AA. The Patriots lost in five sets, winning the second and third sets (25-22 and 25-19), but losing the first, fourth and fifth sets (25-22, 25-22 and 17-15).
Senior Khloe Eidson bunts the ball at Clarke Central High School for Oglethorpe County High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Eidson plays shortstop for the Patriots and is their starting hitter. (Photo/Sydney Jarrard)

Senior Khloe Eidson bunts the ball at Clarke Central High School for Oglethorpe County High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Eidson plays shortstop for the Patriots and is their starting hitter. (Photo/Sydney Jarrard)

Prep roundup: Baker leads softball team to 16-3 win over Clarke

News Staff
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Haleigh Baker pitched five innings, had a hit and drove in three runs to lead the Oglethorpe County softball team to a 16-3 victory over Clarke Central on Sept. 9. Deven Weaver had two doubles and three RBIs, Georgia Turner drove in two runs and Lillie Anderson homered with two RBIs.
Oglethorpe County’s Omar Sagastume (88), who also plays in the marching band, kicks in the loss to Washington-Wilkes on Sept. 4. Coach Mike Holland asked him to kick for the football team this fall. (Evan Frilingos/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County’s Omar Sagastume (88), who also plays in the marching band, kicks in the loss to Washington-Wilkes on Sept. 4. Coach Mike Holland asked him to kick for the football team this fall. (Evan Frilingos/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Two passions, one Friday night

Wesley Webb
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
For Omar Sagastume and Rylee Stanley, Friday nights come with a change of uniform. Sagastume changes his helmet and football for the mellophone, while Stanley switches the softball field for the trombone when the band takes the field at halftime.
The Oglethorpe County High School softball team breaks down their after game cheer at the Clarke Central high school on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. The Patriots beat Clarke Central 12-1 during its makeup game. (SYDNEY JARRARD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO))

The Oglethorpe County High School softball team breaks down their after game cheer at the Clarke Central high school on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. The Patriots beat Clarke Central 12-1 during its makeup game. (SYDNEY JARRARD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO))

Prep Report: Baker, Wisham spark softball team’s victory

News Staff
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Haleigh Baker threw a five-inning complete game and Emily Wisham went 4-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Oglethorpe County softball team to a 16-4 victory at Rabun County on Sept. 1. Lillie Anderson added three hits and two RBIs. Maebrynn Reeves, Riley Jones and Georgia Turner had two hits each.
Junior Rex Allen (left) sprints with sophomore Julian George at the end of cross country practice at OCHS on Friday. It was one of the few times OCHS runners have been able to train outside due to extreme heat and high wet bulb temperatures. (SYDNEY JARRARD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Junior Rex Allen (left) sprints with sophomore Julian George at the end of cross country practice at OCHS on Friday. It was one of the few times OCHS runners have been able to train outside due to extreme heat and high wet bulb temperatures. (SYDNEY JARRARD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Cross country faces training challenges amid soaring heat

Sydney Jarrard
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Oglethorpe County High School athletics have modified practices to keep athletes safe as the summer heat has averaged more than 8 degrees warmer than last summer. The cross country team has felt the effect of the high temperatures and the changes in training it’s caused.
Members of this year’s OCHS Sports Hall of Fame include (top, from left) Sean Daniel, Jimmy Davenport, Antonio Jewell and LaTasha Bonds Martin; (bottom, from left) Ryan Martin, Everneda Moore, Eric Pittard and Kindra Mattox Sapp. (Submitted Photo)

Members of this year’s OCHS Sports Hall of Fame include (top, from left) Sean Daniel, Jimmy Davenport, Antonio Jewell and LaTasha Bonds Martin; (bottom, from left) Ryan Martin, Everneda Moore, Eric Pittard and Kindra Mattox Sapp. (Submitted Photo)

OCHS Sports Hall of Fame to induct eight more alumni

Will Hearn
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Eight former Oglethorpe County High School athletes will cement their legacies in school history on Saturday.