Sports

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)

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)

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.

Kenzie Henderson tied for the top high jump at the Class A Division I sectional on Monday to advance to the state meet. She’s won three straight high jump state titles. (Photo/Wade Cheek)

Prep Roundup: Track athletes advance to Class A Div. I meet

News Staff

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Oglethorpe County will send 22 athletes — 11 boys and 11 girls — to the Class A Division I state track and field meet at Rome on Friday and Saturday. The OCHS girls will try to defend their 2024 title, which was their third in four years.

OCHS football players go through spring drills at Patriot Stadium on Tuesday. Head coach Mike Holland expects to see improvement from several returning players this year. (Photo/Emma Greene)

Key players back as football team starts spring practices

Emma Greene

Thursday, May 8, 2025

The Oglethorpe County football team has started spring practice, which consists of 10 practices in roughly two weeks.

Submitted Photo

Prep Roundup: OCHS track teams win region titles

News Staff

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Oglethorpe County’s boys and girls track teams won the Region 8-A Division I track titles last week. Elin Turner was the overall point winner for the girls, winning the triple jump, the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles.

Oglethorpe County soccer players Emily and Madeleine Forschler signed with South Georgia State earlier this year. Erich (left) and Melissa Forschler, their parents, attended the signing. Erich Forschler is also the girls soccer coach at OCHS. (Submitted photo)

OCHS athletes ready to compete at the next level

Avery Cameron

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Several Oglethorpe County High School seniors are preparing to take their athletic careers to the next level. Emily and Madeleine Forschler will continue playing soccer together at South Georgia State College, while Miles Mason is set to wrestle at Truett McConnell University.

Brielle Jones bends her knees in preparation to jump into the standing jump pit as Dwight Howard Sr. watches on April 17. Jones won the fourth heat of the girl’s standing long jump event at the North Georgia Youth Track and Field Championship on April 19. (Photo/Anna Izquierdo)

Rec track team focuses on the fundamentals

Anna Izquierdo and Mitchell Stone

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Dwight Howard Sr. had a goal with the creation of the first recreation track and field program in 2024: to prepare athletes for competition prior to middle school.

Oglethorpe County senior Kenzie Henderson is shooting for her fourth state high jump title to cap her high school athletic career. She’s also excelled in volleyball and basketball at OCHS. (Submitted Photo)

Henderson’s legacy as a quiet leader, gifted athlete

Kayda Hammock

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Whether sprinting down the track, digging a volleyball or dropping double-doubles on the basketball court, senior Kenzie Henderson is a multi-sport athlete who has done it all. Even more important, she said being an athlete in Oglethorpe County has impacted her for the better.