Sports

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.
Freshman Jayden Ford catches the ball to ensure an out in Oglethorpe County’s game against Commerce softball game on Sept. 17. The Patriots have 12 wins this year, after finishing 2-20-1 in 2023. (Audrey Pfitzner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Freshman Jayden Ford catches the ball to ensure an out in Oglethorpe County’s game against Commerce softball game on Sept. 17. The Patriots have 12 wins this year, after finishing 2-20-1 in 2023. (Audrey Pfitzner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS softball team credits mantra for winning season

The Oglethorpe County softball team is having a bounce-back season, starting the year with a 12-8 record, thanks to a team mantra.  “Be Dory. Forget it,” said Reese Campbell, a junior pitcher. “If you make an error, just let it go.”
Elizabeth Cook serves in Oglethorpe County’s victory over Commerce on Sept. 12. The Patriots remained undefeated in Area 8-A Division I with victories over Lake Oconee Academy and Greene County on Tuesday night. (TY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Elizabeth Cook serves in Oglethorpe County’s victory over Commerce on Sept. 12. The Patriots remained undefeated in Area 8-A Division I with victories over Lake Oconee Academy and Greene County on Tuesday night. (TY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Prep Roundup: Patriots host Elbert for homecoming

The Oglethorpe County football team will try to earn its first win of the season when it plays Elbert County for homecoming at 7:30 p.m. Friday. It also is the first Region 8-A Division I game of the season for the Patriots, who are 0-4 and were off last week.
Cory Tillman and his father Glenn Tillman pose after finishing the 20th annual Restoration Labor Day 5K. Cory was first overall and Glenn finished sixth, first in his age group (40-49). (Submitted Photo)

Cory Tillman and his father Glenn Tillman pose after finishing the 20th annual Restoration Labor Day 5K. Cory was first overall and Glenn finished sixth, first in his age group (40-49). (Submitted Photo)

Father, son bond on daily runs

As Cory and Glenn Tillman each crossed the finish line at this year’s 20th Restoration Labor Day 5K, one became a champion — and the other wasn’t far behind, although the pair laughed about the father being unable to see his son.
OCHS volleyball’s Kenzie Henderson soars above the net in a match last week at North Oconee. The Patriots are off to a 2-0 start in Area 8-A. (TY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

OCHS volleyball’s Kenzie Henderson soars above the net in a match last week at North Oconee. The Patriots are off to a 2-0 start in Area 8-A. (TY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Prep Roundup: Campbell leads softball team to two victories

Reese Campbell was key in the Oglethorpe County softball team’s two victories last week. She was the winning pitcher, and had two hits and three RBIs to lead the OCHS softball team to a 12-10 victory over Washington-Wilkes on Sept. 4.
Players on the OCMS football team line up against each other at practice on Thursday, Sept. 5. The team has a record of 5-0 this season. (Audrey Pfitzner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Players on the OCMS football team line up against each other at practice on Thursday, Sept. 5. The team has a record of 5-0 this season. (Audrey Pfitzner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCMS football on a roll with 5-0 start

The Oglethorpe County Middle School football team is on a win streak, one more than a decade in the making. Before head coach Steve Irwin moved from Oglethorpe County High School to OCMS, the middle school team hadn’t won a game in three years. They hadn’t had an undefeated season since 2012.
OCHS football announcer and Mt. Pleasant Community Church Pastor Levi Taylor calls the game between Oglethorpe County and Washington-Wilkes on Aug. 30. Taylor has been the PA announcer for the football program for eight years. (Saylor Williams/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS football announcer and Mt. Pleasant Community Church Pastor Levi Taylor calls the game between Oglethorpe County and Washington-Wilkes on Aug. 30. Taylor has been the PA announcer for the football program for eight years. (Saylor Williams/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Taylor finds his voice behind the microphone

Oglethorpe County Superintendent Beverley Levine never forgot the moment a young Levi Taylor expressed his desire to be the next Larry Munson.  Years later, the Oglethorpe County Patriots found themselves in need of a football announcer.
Oglethorpe County defenders wrap up a Washington-Wilkes runner during the Tigers’ 20-17 victory over the Patriots. The Tigers won on a last-second field goal attempt.

Oglethorpe County defenders wrap up a Washington-Wilkes runner during the Tigers’ 20-17 victory over the Patriots. The Tigers won on a last-second field goal attempt.

Prep Roundup: Last-second field goal drops Patriots to 0-3

Washington-Wilkes kicked a 24-yard field goal on the last play of the game to defeat Oglethorpe County 20-17 at Patriot Stadium Friday night. The Patriots, who led 17-10 with 5:43 remaining in the game, fell to 0-3 heading into a game at Laney in Augusta at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Oglethorpe County’s Justin Jackson (5) tries to stop East Hall quarterback Jamarcus Harrison (1) in the Vikings’ 40-7 win over the Patriots last Friday in Gainesville. Harrison threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns. (AMANDA LOGGINS/THE GAINESVILLE TIMES)

Oglethorpe County’s Justin Jackson (5) tries to stop East Hall quarterback Jamarcus Harrison (1) in the Vikings’ 40-7 win over the Patriots last Friday in Gainesville. Harrison threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns. (AMANDA LOGGINS/THE GAINESVILLE TIMES)

Prep Roundup: OCHS hosts Wilkes in search of first win

Staff ReportThe Oglethorpe County football team looks for its first victory of the season when it hosts Washington-Wilkes at 7:30 p.m. Friday.The Patriots are 0-2 after a 40-7 loss at East Hall on Aug. 23.