Sports

Sophomore quarterback Hunter Hall launches a pass during Friday’s scrimmage loss to Lincoln County. Hall threw a touchdown pass to Darius Heard in the game. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sophomore quarterback Hunter Hall launches a pass during Friday’s scrimmage loss to Lincoln County. Hall threw a touchdown pass to Darius Heard in the game. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Pats ready to get season underway

Torin Smith
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Oglethorpe County is gearing up for its season opener against Social Circle at 7:30 p.m. Friday. “It’s a big game, a rematch, and they beat us three years in a row since I’ve been here,” senior receiver/defensive back Darius Heard said. “We’ve gotta get that get-back.
Photos of the members of the Oglethorpe County High School Sports Hall of Fame committee are displayed along a wall in the entry hall at OCHS. Eight more former athletes and coaches will be inducted this fall. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Photos of the members of the Oglethorpe County High School Sports Hall of Fame committee are displayed along a wall in the entry hall at OCHS. Eight more former athletes and coaches will be inducted this fall. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Eight to be inducted in OCHS Sports Hall of Fame

Echo Staff
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Eight former Oglethorpe County High School athletes and coaches will be inducted in the school’s sports hall of fame on Saturday, Oct 26. The year’s group includes Harold Benson, Nicole Bonner-Grant, George Gresham, Michael Goolsby, James Haynie, Craig Mathews, Nichole Raines and Latange Wise.
O’Maury Huggs runs for a first down in the spring game against East Jackson. Huggs will be part of a tandem of running backs that will include Jordan Johnson and Payton Prince for OCHS this fall. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

O’Maury Huggs runs for a first down in the spring game against East Jackson. Huggs will be part of a tandem of running backs that will include Jordan Johnson and Payton Prince for OCHS this fall. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Patriots plan to fill running back by committee

Jack Keys
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Oglethorpe County must replace one of its most decorated running backs in program history this season.  Jake Turner’s 1,318 rushing yards in 2023 set an OCHS single-season record and earned him the title of Region 5-A Division 1 Offensive Player of the Year.
Oglethorpe County Sydnie Henderson rounds a bend on her way to winning the girls region title with a time of 20:07 at Social Circle last fall. She returns for her senior season to lead a deep girls team. (Cassidy Hettesheimer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County Sydnie Henderson rounds a bend on her way to winning the girls region title with a time of 20:07 at Social Circle last fall. She returns for her senior season to lead a deep girls team. (Cassidy Hettesheimer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Henderson leads deep group of girls runners

Jack Keys
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Runners are acclimating to new leadership as Oglethorpe County cross country prepares for its upcoming season.  Jessica Ward will direct the program after previous head coach Melissa McGarity stepped down.
Oglethorpe County’s Reese Campbell pitches during a game last year, when what was a young softball team finished 2-20-1. She’s considered the Patriots’ ace this season. (Landen Todd/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County’s Reese Campbell pitches during a game last year, when what was a young softball team finished 2-20-1. She’s considered the Patriots’ ace this season. (Landen Todd/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS softball gears up for season opener

Jack Keys
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Oglethorpe County’s softball team is nearing its season opener on Aug. 1, with practice beginning this Monday. While a beginning to mandatory practices marks the official start of the season, girls have been attending optional summer sessions since June.

OCHS to hold basketball clinic

Echo Staff
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Oglethorpe County High School new basketball coach Carlos Strong will hold a youth basketball clinic on Saturday, July 27 at the OCHS gym. There are two sessions. The third-fifth grade coed clinic will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. The sixth-eighth grade boys clinic will be held from noon to 2:30 p.m.
Freshman Leanna Newton tips a pass over the net to score a point in a scrimmage against Rabun County Tuesday. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Freshman Leanna Newton tips a pass over the net to score a point in a scrimmage against Rabun County Tuesday. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Communication, chemistry keys for Harrison

Torin Smith
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Oglethorpe County’s volleyball team is gearing up for the season with new faces, new attitudes and a new region. Despite the departure of key seniors, coach Brianne Harrison said she thinks the Patriots will be just fine. They have been practicing twice a week during the summer.
OCHS receiver Darius Heard breaks away for yardage in a victory over Riverside Military last fall. Heard, who will be a senior this fall, and fellow starting receiver Jordan Johnson both return for the Patriots. (Liz Rymarev/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS receiver Darius Heard breaks away for yardage in a victory over Riverside Military last fall. Heard, who will be a senior this fall, and fellow starting receiver Jordan Johnson both return for the Patriots. (Liz Rymarev/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Football players, staff ready to start practice

Jack Keys
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
The Oglethorpe County football team’s season opener is less than a month away. Acclimation begins Monday, July 22, and practice with pads begins Monday, July 29 in preparation for the Aug. 16 home opener against Social Circle.

Austin takes over boys soccer program

Jack Keys
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
OCHS assistant boys soccer coach Josh Austin will take over head coaching duties in the spring. The move comes as a result of former head coach Erich Forschler stepping down from the position to focus solely on girls soccer, after coaching both teams this past year.
Bailey Wray will travel to Notre Dame to compete in the Senior Intermediate National Pageant Winner title this weekend. The recent OCHS graduate has twirled since she was six years old. (Submitted Photo)

Bailey Wray will travel to Notre Dame to compete in the Senior Intermediate National Pageant Winner title this weekend. The recent OCHS graduate has twirled since she was six years old. (Submitted Photo)

Twirlers take shot at national championship

Sarah Coyne
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Four of Polly Fleming’s students — Claire Kelly, Bailey Wray, Peyton Lewis and Mya Jewell — will compete at the National Baton Twirling Championships at Notre Dame on July 16-19 in South Bend, Indiana.  Wray, Lewis and Jewell are from Oglethorpe County; Kelly is from Jackson County.