Sports

Oglethorpe County’s Caden Hartrum runs for a touchdown in a game against Elbert County last fall. Hartrum will start at quarterback for the Patriots this season. (Photo/Avni Trivedi)

Oglethorpe County’s Caden Hartrum runs for a touchdown in a game against Elbert County last fall. Hartrum will start at quarterback for the Patriots this season. (Photo/Avni Trivedi)

Summer workouts prepare Patriots for first practice

Emma Greene
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
The Oglethorpe County football team will hit the field on Monday for its first official practice, but the Patriots have been working all summer. The Patriots have been “strongly encouraged” to attend optional practices since the beginning of June, coach Michael Holland said.
The Oglethorpe County Major League all-star team included (back row, from left) assistant coach Peyton Carlisle, assistant coach Brody Bearden and head coach Chuck Gabriel; (middle row, from left) Griffin Foster, Leeland Bearden, Julian Trejo, Trey Gabriel, Jonathan Thurmond, Joseph Bailey, Branson Campbell, Graysen Tambling, Liam Hansford; and (front, from left) Sam Hastie Helms, JR McAphee and Brian Buck. (Submitted Photo)

The Oglethorpe County Major League all-star team included (back row, from left) assistant coach Peyton Carlisle, assistant coach Brody Bearden and head coach Chuck Gabriel; (middle row, from left) Griffin Foster, Leeland Bearden, Julian Trejo, Trey Gabriel, Jonathan Thurmond, Joseph Bailey, Branson Campbell, Graysen Tambling, Liam Hansford; and (front, from left) Sam Hastie Helms, JR McAphee and Brian Buck. (Submitted Photo)

Major League all-stars finish second in district

Emma Greene
Thursday, July 10, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Major League all-star team finished as district runner-up last Friday morning in Hartwell.  Oglethorpe County needed one win to advance to the state tournament in Macon, but lost to Franklin County twice to end the season. “I was proud of them,” head coach Chuck Gabriel said.
KB Bonds, a former OCHS lineman who plays for Shorter University, leads campers through drills at his football camp at OCHS on Saturday. Bonds had 24 tackles, one-half of a sack and recovered a fumble for Shorter last fall. (Photo/Emma Greene)

KB Bonds, a former OCHS lineman who plays for Shorter University, leads campers through drills at his football camp at OCHS on Saturday. Bonds had 24 tackles, one-half of a sack and recovered a fumble for Shorter last fall. (Photo/Emma Greene)

Photos: Camp Fun with KB Bonds

Emma Greene
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Elizabeth Cook holds a trophy for being named All-American after leading the Walton Elite Volleyball Club to a third-place finish at the AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships last month. Cook will be a senior at OCHS this fall. (Submitted Photo)

Elizabeth Cook holds a trophy for being named All-American after leading the Walton Elite Volleyball Club to a third-place finish at the AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships last month. Cook will be a senior at OCHS this fall. (Submitted Photo)

Cook earns All-American status with volleyball team

Emma Greene
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Elizabeth Cook had an impressive season with the Walton Elite Volleyball Club.
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.