Sports

Defensive back Nicah Pass reaches for the ball during football practice on May 15. Pass, a senior, plays alongside his brother, Zion, a sophomore. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Defensive back Nicah Pass reaches for the ball during football practice on May 15. Pass, a senior, plays alongside his brother, Zion, a sophomore. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS football team looks to build on 2025's success

Ethan Greene
Thursday, May 21, 2026
The Oglethorpe County football team wrapped up a 10-day, no-pads installation camp last week as the Patriots look to continue to build on last year’s momentum, despite losing key players on both sides of the ball.
Oglethorpe County’s Nicah Pass competes in the high jump at the Class A Division I meet at UGA on Tuesday. Pass finished 11th and the OCHS boys were 23rd. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County’s Nicah Pass competes in the high jump at the Class A Division I meet at UGA on Tuesday. Pass finished 11th and the OCHS boys were 23rd. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Turner, Burgess shine, but girls are 14th, boys 23rd

Ethan Greene
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Michael Holland said he wasn’t disappointed by the Oglethorpe County girls’ 14th-place finish at the Class A Division I Track and Field Championships on Tuesday. “I think that the girls came out and performed to their potential,” said Holland, who co-coaches the girls' team.
Ke’mauri Brown lands in the sand pit while practicing the long jump two years ago. He qualified for state in the long jump and the 100 meters, and is on both the 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams. (Samuel Higgs/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Ke’mauri Brown lands in the sand pit while practicing the long jump two years ago. He qualified for state in the long jump and the 100 meters, and is on both the 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams. (Samuel Higgs/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS track athletes qualify for next week’s state meet

Echo Staff
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Oglethorpe County track and field athletes are heading to the Class A Division I state track and field meet at the new UGA track on Tuesday, May 12. For the boys, Ke’mauri Brown and Nicah Pass each qualified in four events at the Class A Division I sectionals in Bremen on Monday.

Prep Roundup: OCHS hires Toomer as boys basketball coach

News Staff
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Dayon Toomer has been hired as the new boys basketball coach at Oglethorpe County High School. Toomer replaces Carlos Strong, who led the program for two seasons. The Patriots were 2-22 overall and 0-12 in Region 8-A Division I this past season.

Sports hall of fame nominations end May 2

Echo Staff
Friday, April 24, 2026
Nominations are being accepted for the Oglethorpe County High School Sports Hall of Fame through May 2. The hall recognizes individuals (athletes, coaches and community members) who have made significant contributions to the OCHS athletic program between 1970 and 2020.
Elin Turner won the 100- and 300-meter hurdles as the OCHS girls track and field team captured its sixth straight region title at Banks County on Monday. Turner was the high-point winner for the meet. (Submitted Photo)

Elin Turner won the 100- and 300-meter hurdles as the OCHS girls track and field team captured its sixth straight region title at Banks County on Monday. Turner was the high-point winner for the meet. (Submitted Photo)

Turner sparks girls track to region title

Echo Staff
Friday, April 24, 2026
Elin Turner was the high-point winner to lead the Oglethorpe County girls track and field team to the Region 8-A Division I title on Monday in Homer, their sixth consecutive region championship.
Some may see a lot of work however coach Adams saw this land and a vision was born to grow the sport of running in the county. (Submitted Photo)

Some may see a lot of work however coach Adams saw this land and a vision was born to grow the sport of running in the county. (Submitted Photo)

New cross country course provides training ground

Grant Turnage
Thursday, April 23, 2026
The Oglethorpe County cross country program has not been able to host a 5K race for years. High-traffic roads intersect potential routes at the schools, which was a major operational obstacle.  That changed this spring with a new all-grass cross country course at Oglethorpe Middle School.
Cousins and OCHS athletes Tripp White and Elizabeth Cook show their college colors during White’s signing day on April 9. White, a pitcher, will play for Andrew College and Cook, a volleyball player, has signed to play at Truett McConnell. (Submitted Photo)

Cousins and OCHS athletes Tripp White and Elizabeth Cook show their college colors during White’s signing day on April 9. White, a pitcher, will play for Andrew College and Cook, a volleyball player, has signed to play at Truett McConnell. (Submitted Photo)

Athletics a family affair for White, Cook

Nicholas Eriksen
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Tripp White signed to play baseball for Andrew College last week, following in a family line that has produced five collegiate athletes.  “It was very exciting,” he said. “It kept me busy for a very long time, but it was good.

OCHS sports hall of fame nominations are now open

News Staff
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Nominations are being accepted for the Oglethorpe County High School Sports Hall of Fame through May 2. The hall recognizes individuals (athletes, coaches and community members) who have made significant contributions to the OCHS athletic program between 1970 and 2020.
The Oglethorpe County volleyball team rushes the court after defeating Bremen to clinch the Class A state title on Oct. 29. It was the first volleyball state title in school history. (Photo/Drew Bearden)

The Oglethorpe County volleyball team rushes the court after defeating Bremen to clinch the Class A state title on Oct. 29. It was the first volleyball state title in school history. (Photo/Drew Bearden)

OCHS gold: Players, coaches reflect on state titles

Grant Turnage and Nicholas Eriksen
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
CORRECTION: Information was incorrect about the status of Leanna Newton in OCHS volleyball game against Armuchee in the April 9, 2026 print edition of The Oglethorpe Echo. The correct information is in the story below. Recent success OCHS has won six state titles since 2019.