Sports

The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

OCHS runners win 5-A

Luke McGarity and Sydnie Henderson won the Region 5-A Division I individual cross country titles to lead Oglethorpe County to the boys and girls team championships on Tuesday.   McGarity won his third individual championship with a time of 17:35 and Henderson finished in 20:43.
Wesley McDonald takes in a football game earlier this season on his way to running his consecutive games streak to 34 years. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Wesley McDonald takes in a football game earlier this season on his way to running his consecutive games streak to 34 years. (Photo/Jack Casey)

McDonald’s consecutive games streak at 34 years

Wesley McDonald, a born-and-raised Oglethorpe County resident from Smithonia, hasn’t missed an Oglethorpe County High School football game — home or away — since 1988.   “I just love high school football and the adversity that the kids have to go through,” McDonald said.
Lesley Ramirez (from left), Elin Turner, Sydnie Henderson, Lizzie  Wadsworth, Hannah Hemingway, Mylee Nimmons, Sarah Taft  and Harper Palmer led the Oglethorpe County girls cross country team to a win at the Kent Kramer Cross Country Classic. (Submitted Photo)

Lesley Ramirez (from left), Elin Turner, Sydnie Henderson, Lizzie Wadsworth, Hannah Hemingway, Mylee Nimmons, Sarah Taft and Harper Palmer led the Oglethorpe County girls cross country team to a win at the Kent Kramer Cross Country Classic. (Submitted Photo)

Sports roundup: Henderson leads cross country win and more

Four Oglethorpe County runners finished among the top 11 to lead the Lady Patriots to victory at the Kent Kramer Cross Country Classic at Athens Christian School on Oct. 13.   OCHS finished with 51 points, ahead of second-place Morgan County with 90 points.
Quarterback Will Sampson (left) and lineman KB Bonds have led Oglethorpe County to a 5-2 record heading into the Region 5-A Division I opener against No. 1 Prince Avenue Christian School on Friday. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Quarterback Will Sampson (left) and lineman KB Bonds have led Oglethorpe County to a 5-2 record heading into the Region 5-A Division I opener against No. 1 Prince Avenue Christian School on Friday. (Photo/Jack Casey)

Patriots confident to open region at Prince Avenue

Head coach Mike Holland has attempted to create a winning mentality for his Oglethorpe County football team, conditioning his players to expect a victory every week.
Oglethorpe County’s Tania Latimore is fired up in the third set of the area title match last Thursday. The Patriots captured their first area title with a 3-0 win over Aquinas. (Photo/Maggie Ruland)

Oglethorpe County’s Tania Latimore is fired up in the third set of the area title match last Thursday. The Patriots captured their first area title with a 3-0 win over Aquinas. (Photo/Maggie Ruland)

Patriots capture first area championship

  The Oglethorpe County volleyball team had a heated final set against Aquinas. On the verge of heading into a fourth set, the Lady Patriots trailed 25-24.   The Lady Patriots called a timeout in an effort to take a breath and remain calm.
As a track star, Michael Fleming won the Class AA state title in the 110-meter hurdles last spring after recovering from a torn meniscus. (Photo/Kyle Soto)

As a track star, Michael Fleming won the Class AA state title in the 110-meter hurdles last spring after recovering from a torn meniscus. (Photo/Kyle Soto)

Fleming achieves new heights after meniscus recovery

Michael Fleming has an impressive athletic resume.    The wide receiver and defensive back is flourishing his senior season with three picks and two blocked field goals. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown — for the first time since middle school — in last week’s loss to Athens Christian.

Volleyball hosts area title

Madi Kelley had nine aces, seven digs and six kills to lead the Oglethorpe County volleyball team to a 3-0 victory over Social Circle on Tuesday and into the area championship match.
Members of the Oglethorpe County football team sprint onto the field prior to their game against Seckinger on Sept. 29. The Patriots defeated the Jaguars 35-0 to improve to 5-1 this season. (Jack Casey/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Members of the Oglethorpe County football team sprint onto the field prior to their game against Seckinger on Sept. 29. The Patriots defeated the Jaguars 35-0 to improve to 5-1 this season. (Jack Casey/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Patriots defeat Seckinger 35-0

The Patriots defeated the Jaguars 35-0 on Sept. 29 to improve to 5-1 this season.  
Lizzie Wadsworth (left) and Sydnie Henderson are the top two runners on OCHS's girls cross country team. (De Turner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Lizzie Wadsworth (left) and Sydnie Henderson are the top two runners on OCHS's girls cross country team. (De Turner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sister act powers Pats top runners

As younger siblings often do, Lizzie Wadsworth followed in her older sister’s footsteps by joining the middle school cross country team. The duo stuck together through high school until big sister Katie’s graduation, leaving Lizzie as the only upperclassman.
Oglethorpe County’s Jake Turner brushes off Lake Oconee Academy’s Cameron Kelley on his way to rushing for 113 yards on only 13 carries in the Patriots’ 42-0 victory earlier this month. (Alyssa Ginn/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County’s Jake Turner brushes off Lake Oconee Academy’s Cameron Kelley on his way to rushing for 113 yards on only 13 carries in the Patriots’ 42-0 victory earlier this month. (Alyssa Ginn/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Rushing ahead: Turner turns carries into yards

Oglethorpe County junior running back Jake Turner began his football career in eighth grade, looking up to the University of Georgia’s Sony Michel and hoping to have the same kind of success.   Turner is on his way in his second year as a starter.