Sports

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.
Jeff Roberts, a personal trainer at Cronic Fitness in Lexington and Hull and owner of Fit Evolution Training, cut his weight from 311 to 183 pounds in a year. He has about 20 clients at the two locations. (Submitted Photo)

Jeff Roberts, a personal trainer at Cronic Fitness in Lexington and Hull and owner of Fit Evolution Training, cut his weight from 311 to 183 pounds in a year. He has about 20 clients at the two locations. (Submitted Photo)

Personal trainer inspires others through his fitness journey

Ansley Gavlak and Cooper Huau
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Full-time personal trainer Jeff Roberts is using his own health journey to change the lives of others.
Berry’s Jake Turner runs for part of his career-high 120 yards against Rhodes College on Oct. 4. He finished his second season with 237 yards rushing and one touchdown. (Submitted Photo)

Berry’s Jake Turner runs for part of his career-high 120 yards against Rhodes College on Oct. 4. He finished his second season with 237 yards rushing and one touchdown. (Submitted Photo)

Former OCHS star finds role at Berry

Andy Mathis
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Jake Turner understood early that college football would demand a reset. A productive running back at Oglethorpe County High School, Turner graduated after piling up 1,318 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior in 2023.
Runners start the Winterville Snowflake 10K in 2023. This year’s race is the first of six in the Firefly Trail Race Series, which includes two races in Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Olivia Shapiro)

Runners start the Winterville Snowflake 10K in 2023. This year’s race is the first of six in the Firefly Trail Race Series, which includes two races in Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Olivia Shapiro)

Winterville Snowflake 10K first in six-race Firefly series

Ansley Gavlak
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Runners and walkers across Oglethorpe County will ring in the new year with the return of the seventh annual Firefly Trail Race Series, a six-race lineup designed to bring the community together and raise awareness of the Firefly Trail.