Sports

Before games on Friday nights, the Oglethorpe County football team congregates in the school’s cafeteria for a pregame meal donated by a local sponsor. Local churches have played the biggest role in meal donations, OCHS coach Mike Holland said. (JACK KEYS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Before games on Friday nights, the Oglethorpe County football team congregates in the school’s cafeteria for a pregame meal donated by a local sponsor. Local churches have played the biggest role in meal donations, OCHS coach Mike Holland said. (JACK KEYS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Churches, others boost Pats with pregame meals

 Starting at 3:30 p.m. on football gamedays, the Oglethorpe County High School cafeteria is filled with teenagers breaking bread and enjoying each other’s company.  For winless Oglethorpe County, the football season hasn’t exactly gone to plan.
Sydnie Henderson finished 11th with a time of 20:21 at the North Oconee Invitational on Oct. 19. Cory Tillman, who finished in 18:46, had the top time among the OCHS boys. (STEVE COLQUITT/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Sydnie Henderson finished 11th with a time of 20:21 at the North Oconee Invitational on Oct. 19. Cory Tillman, who finished in 18:46, had the top time among the OCHS boys. (STEVE COLQUITT/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Prep Roundup: Volleyball team advances to Elite Eight

Oglethorpe County volleyball coach Brianne Harrison said she’s “99% sure” this year’s volleyball team has advanced farther than any other team in program history.
Members of last year’s esports club practice their skills in the computer science lab. The computers, dual monitors, keyboards and computer mice were paid for by grant funding and also allow for a game design class. (Submitted Photo/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Members of last year’s esports club practice their skills in the computer science lab. The computers, dual monitors, keyboards and computer mice were paid for by grant funding and also allow for a game design class. (Submitted Photo/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Esports goes from club to GHSA sport at OCHS

 Epic battles, magical abilities, entrenched rivals and covert alliances can all be found at Oglethorpe County High School — in digital form, of course.
OCHS junior Elizabeth Cook is the Area 8-A player of the year. Teammates Kenzie Henderson and Sofia Horsley are on the first team and Brianne Harrison is the area coach of the year. (Submitted Photo)

OCHS junior Elizabeth Cook is the Area 8-A player of the year. Teammates Kenzie Henderson and Sofia Horsley are on the first team and Brianne Harrison is the area coach of the year. (Submitted Photo)

Prep Roundup: Cook selected area player of year

 Oglethorpe County’s Elizabeth Cook was selected as the Area 8-A player of the year on Saturday. Cook, a junior, led the Patriots to a third-place finish in the area tournament. The Patriots were to host Haralson County at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the Class A state tournament.
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved a $22,300 multi-purpose batting cage for the Oglethorpe County High School at their September meeting.

The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved a $22,300 multi-purpose batting cage for the Oglethorpe County High School at their September meeting.

Programs look forward to new batting cage

 Principal Bill Sampson said the construction of a multi-purpose batting cage at Oglethorpe County High School is "part of a big vision."  “We want to do everything we can and put everything we can into it so that we have a good product — a product we can be proud of,” he said.

Prep Roundup: Volleyball team hosts Commerce in tourney

 The Oglethorpe County volleyball team will host Commerce at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the second round of the Area 8-A tournament. The Patriots finished the regular season at 17-6 and 9-1 in the area, losing only to Providence Christian on Oct. 3.
Payton Prince runs for yardage during Oglethorpe County's game against Elbert County on Sept. 20. Prince has been one of the key players in the Patriots’ running attack this year. (MCCAIN BRACEWELL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Payton Prince runs for yardage during Oglethorpe County's game against Elbert County on Sept. 20. Prince has been one of the key players in the Patriots’ running attack this year. (MCCAIN BRACEWELL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Patriots face tough road for first victory

 With six games in the rearview and four left to play, Oglethorpe County is still searching for its first win of the season. The Patriots will travel to 10th-ranked (Class A Division 1) Rabun County on Friday hoping to avoid their first 0-7 start since 2018.
OCHS seniors Samantha Amos (left) and Sofia Horsley (right) encourage each other after the Patriots scored a point in a scrimmage against Rabun County this summer. OCHS seeks to win its second consecutive area championship this fall. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo File)

OCHS seniors Samantha Amos (left) and Sofia Horsley (right) encourage each other after the Patriots scored a point in a scrimmage against Rabun County this summer. OCHS seeks to win its second consecutive area championship this fall. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo File)

Strong connection leads to volleyball team’s win streak

 Coach Brianne Harrison’s mindset is that “you learn a lot from losing,” but the Oglethorpe County volleyball team has been doing quite the opposite.  The reigning area champions are on a seven-match win streak and plan to keep the momentum going into the state playoffs.
The Oglethorpe County Rec League 7u football team won its first game of the season, defeating Walnut Grove 14-0 on Sept. 21. (Submitted Photo)

The Oglethorpe County Rec League 7u football team won its first game of the season, defeating Walnut Grove 14-0 on Sept. 21. (Submitted Photo)

Prep Roundup: Pats work on basics this week

 Oglethorpe County football coach Mike Holland said the Patriots are using the off week to work on fundamentals and get healthy to prepare for the remainder of the season. OCHS is coming off a 47-27 loss at Athens Academy on Saturday. The game was moved from Friday because of weather.
The Oglethorpe County Middle School volleyball team won its league title for the second consecutive year. The team members include (back, from left): assistant coach Katie Edwards, Kaylee Wade, Sophie Nash, Caroline Caldwell, Naomi McPeake, Kiley Paul, Armonie Gresham, Emilee Anglin, Alexis Flemming, Riley Ossick and head coach Alicia Kirk; (from, from left): Addisyn Kirk, Ana Vu, Alyza Knight and Edee Fortson. (Submitted Photo)

The Oglethorpe County Middle School volleyball team won its league title for the second consecutive year. The team members include (back, from left): assistant coach Katie Edwards, Kaylee Wade, Sophie Nash, Caroline Caldwell, Naomi McPeake, Kiley Paul, Armonie Gresham, Emilee Anglin, Alexis Flemming, Riley Ossick and head coach Alicia Kirk; (from, from left): Addisyn Kirk, Ana Vu, Alyza Knight and Edee Fortson. (Submitted Photo)

Prep Roundup: OCMS volleyball team repeats as league champs

 The Oglethorpe County Middle School volleyball team defeated Lake Oconee Academy, Loganville Christian Academy and Prince Avenue Christian to win the Athens Area Middle School volleyball league for the second consecutive year last Saturday.