Sports

A chart showing Oglethorpe County High School's updated February athletics schedule. (Graph/Nicholas Eriksen)

A chart showing Oglethorpe County High School's updated February athletics schedule. (Graph/Nicholas Eriksen)

Girls wrestlers bear brunt of weather issues

Nicholas Eriksen
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
The winter weather has played havoc with Oglethorpe County athletic schedules, especially girls wrestling, which faces two tournaments in three days. The girls wrestling team was scheduled to compete at the area traditional tournament at Locust Grove on Wednesday (after The Echo’s deadline).
Oglethorpe County Middle School head wrestling coach Cory Collins squats down during a practice at the Oglethorpe County High School gymnasium. Above him, a famous quote from wrestling icon Dan Gable defines the aggressive, competitive mindset of the program. (Photo/Grant Turnage)

Oglethorpe County Middle School head wrestling coach Cory Collins squats down during a practice at the Oglethorpe County High School gymnasium. Above him, a famous quote from wrestling icon Dan Gable defines the aggressive, competitive mindset of the program. (Photo/Grant Turnage)

OCMS ‘blessed’ to have Collins

Grant Turnage
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Steve Mason had a deal with Cory Collins, who was coaching at Emmanuel University at the time. “I always told him, ‘If you ever want to leave Emmanuel, we’d love to get you over here,’” said Mason, the wrestling coach at Oglethorpe County High School. “I really didn’t think it would happen.

Compton, Mckie spark wrestlers to third place

News Staff
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Walker Compton, a freshman, and Tanner Mckie, a senior, led the Oglethorpe County wrestling team to a third-place finish at the Campbell Spartan Duals on Saturday.  Compton and Mckie were both undefeated as the Patriots defeated Blessed Trinity 56-11, Wheeler 66-0 and Johns Creek 33-29.
Maurice Freeman (left) is returning as the OCHS boys track and field coach this season. The spring sports teams began practice earlier this week. (Photo/Hank Tatum)

Maurice Freeman (left) is returning as the OCHS boys track and field coach this season. The spring sports teams began practice earlier this week. (Photo/Hank Tatum)

OCHS coaches prepare teams for start of new year

Andy Mathis
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Oglethorpe County High School’s spring sports teams began practice on Monday and will take the field later this month. Soccer, track and field, baseball and golf will open with a heavy focus on preparation and early-season development.
Former OCHS standout lineman KB Bonds signed with South Carolina State last week, transferring from Division II Shorter University, where he played three seasons. Bonds had 26 tackles for Shorter last fall. (Submitted Photo)

Former OCHS standout lineman KB Bonds signed with South Carolina State last week, transferring from Division II Shorter University, where he played three seasons. Bonds had 26 tackles for Shorter last fall. (Submitted Photo)

Bonds signs to play senior season at South Carolina State

Andy Mathis
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
KB Bonds’ journey from Oglethorpe County to playing Division I football came with detours, not shortcuts.
Oglethorpe County High School 2026 football schedule.

Oglethorpe County High School 2026 football schedule.

Familiar teams on football team’s schedule this fall

News Staff
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Home games against Washington-Wilkes, Putnam County, Providence Christian, Rabun County and Prince Avenue Christian highlight the Oglethorpe County football schedule next fall. The schedule, which is still being finalized, will also feature Region 8-AA games at Commerce and Athens Academy.
Damien Suarez (left) works on drills with teammate Logan Bruce during the boys wrestling team’s practice on Monday. Suarez is 19-15 at 120 pounds in just his second year wrestling. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Damien Suarez (left) works on drills with teammate Logan Bruce during the boys wrestling team’s practice on Monday. Suarez is 19-15 at 120 pounds in just his second year wrestling. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Suarez emerges in his second year as wrestler

Andy Mathis
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Damien Suarez didn’t carry the résumé most high school wrestlers have when he walked into the wrestling room at Oglethorpe County High School last season. He had curiosity. “I’ve had a lot of friends who wrestled, and I’d seen the sport a lot online,” Suarez said. “It just looked really fun.
Members of the Oglethorpe County girls wrestling team include (from left): Mary Jane Miller, Victoria Miller, Akira Owens and Lannah Scarborough; (front, from left): McKinley Grimes, Emily Wisham, Lexi Bruce, Emily Gregory and Brooklyn Myers; (back, from left): Alondra Varges, Liz Campbell, Armonie Gresham, Alyson Woods and coach Josh Austin. (Submitted Photo)

Members of the Oglethorpe County girls wrestling team include (from left): Mary Jane Miller, Victoria Miller, Akira Owens and Lannah Scarborough; (front, from left): McKinley Grimes, Emily Wisham, Lexi Bruce, Emily Gregory and Brooklyn Myers; (back, from left): Alondra Varges, Liz Campbell, Armonie Gresham, Alyson Woods and coach Josh Austin. (Submitted Photo)

OCHS girls wrestlers shine at area duals

News Staff
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Emily Gregory, Akira Owens and Alyson Woods each went 2-0 to lead the Oglethorpe County girls wrestling team to second place at the Area 3 Division II duals. The Patriots advanced to the state duals preliminary at Lumpkin County on Wednesday, after The Echo’s deadline this week.
The 8u cheer squad brought home multiple first-place victories in their competitions. (Submitted Photo)

The 8u cheer squad brought home multiple first-place victories in their competitions. (Submitted Photo)

Sports overlap, never end for rec department

Andy Mathis
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
The Oglethorpe County Recreation Department concluded a busy fall sports season and is transitioning to winter programming as registration begins for spring sports. White said approximately 600 children participated in fall sports, a total consistent with recent years.