Sports

OCHS boys soccer coach Josh Austin talks to his players before the Patriots’ opener against Monroe Area on Feb. 18. Austin is in his first season as head coach. (Photo/ Kayda Hammock)

OCHS boys soccer coach Josh Austin talks to his players before the Patriots’ opener against Monroe Area on Feb. 18. Austin is in his first season as head coach. (Photo/ Kayda Hammock)

Growth key for boys team under Austin

Kayda Hammock
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The jump from assistant coach to head coach of the Oglethorpe County boys soccer team has been an adjustment for Josh Austin.“It was more just about the pure soccer last year, and this year, there’s the administrative stuff,” he said. “It’s kind of been a change for me, but we’ve handled it well.

Prep Roundup: Mason, Crowder place at state meet

News Staff
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Oglethorpe County’s Miles Mason finished fourth at 165 pounds and Paris Crowder was sixth at 138 pounds at the Class A Division I state wrestling meet in Macon last weekend. The Patriots finished 21-6 in Steve Mason’s first season as coach.
Billy Shelnutt offers advice to eighth grader Xander Bryant and fifth grader Ty Crowe at the OCMS soccer fields on Feb. 9. Bryant and Crowe are practicing for the state archery match on May 3 at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. (Photo/Anna Izquierdo)

Billy Shelnutt offers advice to eighth grader Xander Bryant and fifth grader Ty Crowe at the OCMS soccer fields on Feb. 9. Bryant and Crowe are practicing for the state archery match on May 3 at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. (Photo/Anna Izquierdo)

Coaches provide stability for 4-H archery team

Anna Izquierdo
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
JT Mathews, a seventh-grader, used a compound bow to shoot a 24-inch arrow toward the 30-meter target. Several feet away, Serenity Curry, an eighth-grader, shot an arrow toward the 30- and 40-meter targets.  After hearing a three-whistle blast from Billy Shelnutt, archers retrieved their arrows.
Su Moo, a senior goalkeeper, works through a drill during Oglethorpe County soccer practice. The Patriots will look to replace Anna Adams, last year’s starter at keeper, who graduated. (Photo/ Avery Cameron)

Su Moo, a senior goalkeeper, works through a drill during Oglethorpe County soccer practice. The Patriots will look to replace Anna Adams, last year’s starter at keeper, who graduated. (Photo/ Avery Cameron)

Forschler focuses solely on girls team this spring

Avery Cameron
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Coaching both varsity soccer teams at Oglethorpe County was unstainable for Erich Forschler, so he decided to focus solely on the girls this season. “I had to pick one,” said Forschler, who coached both the girls and boys teams in 2024. “Last year, both teams got half of me. And no team got my best.
OCHS boys basketball coach Carlos Strong (left) and his coaching staff run drills at practice last month. This was the first season as coach of the Patriots for Strong, a former Cedar Shoals and UGA basketball star, who played in the NBA. (Avery Cameron/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS boys basketball coach Carlos Strong (left) and his coaching staff run drills at practice last month. This was the first season as coach of the Patriots for Strong, a former Cedar Shoals and UGA basketball star, who played in the NBA. (Avery Cameron/The Oglethorpe Echo)

From the NBA to OCHS: Strong's journey to coaching

Jack Keys
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Carlos Strong barreled toward the basket. With a defender in his path, most high school freshmen likely would have compromised for a contested layup or found an open pass, but not Strong. Cedar Shoals’ young star took flight for a dunk, receiving a violent smack from his challenger in the process.
Bryan Park's new two-sided batting cage features new netting, turf floors and LED lights. The cage is 1,800 square feet and cost $20,000. (Mitchell Stone/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Bryan Park's new two-sided batting cage features new netting, turf floors and LED lights. The cage is 1,800 square feet and cost $20,000. (Mitchell Stone/The Oglethorpe Echo)

New batting cage adds space

Mitchell Stone
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Little League baseball coach Daniel Anderson has found it difficult to find practice space at Bryan Park during inclement weather. With only one 10-year-old batting cage available, league officials knew it was time to expand, especially as Little League participation remains strong.
Ke’Mauri Brown (left) and his OCHS track teammates warm up during a practice last week. Brown hopes to PR in the long jump and help the Patriots reach state this spring. (Photo/Kayda Hammock)

Ke’Mauri Brown (left) and his OCHS track teammates warm up during a practice last week. Brown hopes to PR in the long jump and help the Patriots reach state this spring. (Photo/Kayda Hammock)

Track teams shoot for state this spring

Kayda Hammock
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Ke’Mauri Brown has new goals this year after advancing to the state track meet as a sophomore. “(I want to) really try to PR (personal record) in long jump and help the team out as much as I can this year,” Brown said.
Miles Mason became a four-time area champion last weekend and advanced to the Class A individual sectional tournament. He defeated Banks County’s Davion Knox in the final. (Donny Faust/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Miles Mason became a four-time area champion last weekend and advanced to the Class A individual sectional tournament. He defeated Banks County’s Davion Knox in the final. (Donny Faust/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Prep Roundup: Mason wins fourth area wrestling title to lead Patriots

News Staff
Friday, February 7, 2025
Oglethorpe County will send 10 wrestlers and one alternate to the Class A individual sectional tournament this weekend at Jeff Davis High School in Hazelhurst. Miles Mason and Paris Crowder won their weight classes at the individual area tournament last weekend to advance.
Oglethorpe County baseball players warm up during a recent practice. The Patriots will look to their pitching to lead them through Region 8-A Division I play this season. (AVERY CAMERON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Oglethorpe County baseball players warm up during a recent practice. The Patriots will look to their pitching to lead them through Region 8-A Division I play this season. (AVERY CAMERON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

OCHS baseball looks to improve in Campbell’s second season

Avery Cameron
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Oglethorpe County’s Mike Campbell said his team is focused heading into his second season as coach. This year’s team has a mix of experienced leaders and rising talent to try to improve upon last year’s 12-17 record and third-place finish in Region 5-A Division I.