Sports

Photos of the members of the OCHS Sports Hall of Fame adorn the wall outside the main office at the school. The hall isn’t accepting applications this year after inducting eight people in 2024. (Photo/Torin Smith)

Photos of the members of the OCHS Sports Hall of Fame adorn the wall outside the main office at the school. The hall isn’t accepting applications this year after inducting eight people in 2024. (Photo/Torin Smith)

No inductions this summer, but OCHS sports hall is key

Emma Greene
Thursday, July 3, 2025
The Oglethorpe County High School Sports Hall of Fame was created in 2019 to show students that OCHS has a long history of stars and encourage athletes to achieve their dreams. “We have winners in our legacy,” former OCHS principal Susie Johnson said.
Track and field athletes represented Oglethorpe County at the GRPA Class B/C State Meet at East Jackson High School on April 25-26. The girls were 24th and the boys were 27th out of 43 counties. (Submitted Photo)

Track and field athletes represented Oglethorpe County at the GRPA Class B/C State Meet at East Jackson High School on April 25-26. The girls were 24th and the boys were 27th out of 43 counties. (Submitted Photo)

Spring sports featured more than 700 kids

Emma Greene
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Spring season at the Oglethorpe County Recreation Department was jam packed with approximately 700 kids participating in various sports. In-house championships and all-star tournaments concluded the season.
Oglethorpe County football coach Mike Holland instructs campers during offensive line drills on a blocking sled at a practice field near Patriot Stadium at the Oglethorpe County Rec Department’s youth football camp on June 19. (Photo/Elizabeth Kim)

Oglethorpe County football coach Mike Holland instructs campers during offensive line drills on a blocking sled at a practice field near Patriot Stadium at the Oglethorpe County Rec Department’s youth football camp on June 19. (Photo/Elizabeth Kim)

Photos: Football camp fun

Elizabeth Kim
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
KB Bonds, former Oglethorpe County High School football player, is about to start his junior season at Shorter University. Bonds plays on the defensive line as No. 92 for the Hawks. He's also hosting a football camp for kids on June 28 at OCHS. (Submitted Photo)

KB Bonds, former Oglethorpe County High School football player, is about to start his junior season at Shorter University. Bonds plays on the defensive line as No. 92 for the Hawks. He's also hosting a football camp for kids on June 28 at OCHS. (Submitted Photo)

KB Bonds to host OCHS football camp

Emma Greene
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
KB Bonds, defensive lineman for Shorter University and former Oglethorpe County High School football player, said he wants to help his community and allow kids to grow their knowledge of the game. To that end, Bonds is hosting a free youth football camp June 28 at OCHS.
Denim Goddard, a two-time state champ in the long and triple jumps, competes in both events for Austin Peay. As a freshman this year, her distances improved from the end of the indoor season to the end of the outdoor season. (Submitted Photo)

Denim Goddard, a two-time state champ in the long and triple jumps, competes in both events for Austin Peay. As a freshman this year, her distances improved from the end of the indoor season to the end of the outdoor season. (Submitted Photo)

Goddard gets serious, shows potential

Emma Greene
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Denim Goddard quickly realized college athletics are extremely different from high school.
Erich Forschler has decided to step down as the OCHS girls soccer coach since his twin daughters Emily and Madeleine graduated this month. OCHS is in the process of replacing him. (Photo/Owen Warden)

Erich Forschler has decided to step down as the OCHS girls soccer coach since his twin daughters Emily and Madeleine graduated this month. OCHS is in the process of replacing him. (Photo/Owen Warden)

Forschler’s departure one of many for coaching staff

Emma Greene
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Oglethorpe County High School’s athletic staff will experience changes next year, including a new girls soccer coach.Erich Forschler is stepping away from his position following the graduation of twins Emily and Madeleine Forschler, who have signed to play at South Georgia State in Douglas.
Cory Tillman, who will be a senior at Oglethorpe County High School in the fall, wins the Maxeys Model Mile 5K on Saturday. He finished with a time of 19 minutes, 40 seconds. (Photo/Emma Greene)

Cory Tillman, who will be a senior at Oglethorpe County High School in the fall, wins the Maxeys Model Mile 5K on Saturday. He finished with a time of 19 minutes, 40 seconds. (Photo/Emma Greene)

Tillman goes from OCHS track to win Maxeys 5K

Emma Greene
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Cory Tillman, fresh off running for the Oglethorpe County track and field team, won the seventh annual Maxeys Model Mile 5K on Saturday. Tillman, who will be a senior at OCHS in the fall, finished with a time of 19 minutes, 40 seconds.

Oglethorpe girls finish ninth at state track

News Staff
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
The Oglethorpe County girls finished tied for ninth at the Class A Division I state track and field meet in Rome last weekend. The Patriots, the defending state champions, tied with Social Circle with 30 points. Vidalia won with 70 points.
Ryan Sowell (from left), Chuck Thornton and James Thornton take a break from working on the Georgia Airsoft Inc. facility in Winterville last month. Thornton was one of the first to open a commercial airsoft facility. (Photo/Mitchell Stone)

Ryan Sowell (from left), Chuck Thornton and James Thornton take a break from working on the Georgia Airsoft Inc. facility in Winterville last month. Thornton was one of the first to open a commercial airsoft facility. (Photo/Mitchell Stone)

Georgia Airsoft survives through economic battles

Mitchell Stone
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Commercial airsoft was virtually non-existent in the Southeast until Chuck Thornton, a Winterville resident and paintball/airsoft pro shop owner, decided to start his own business in his backyard.
Oglethorpe County golf coach Gary Hughes takes the driver’s seat on the activity bus to drive the boys team to its tournament in Lincolnton. He’s certified to drive the school’s activity bus. (Photo/Kayda Hammock)

Oglethorpe County golf coach Gary Hughes takes the driver’s seat on the activity bus to drive the boys team to its tournament in Lincolnton. He’s certified to drive the school’s activity bus. (Photo/Kayda Hammock)

Teachers go beyond classrooms to drive student success

Kayda Hammock
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Steve Irwin and Gary Hughes are educators who do more than teach and coach. They can often be found behind the wheel, driving teams to games, meets and tournaments.