Sports

Deborah Torras and Frank Martinez try to get their cocker spaniels Anya (from left), Ralphie, Ryder and Elwood to cooperate at their home at Bright Penny Acres. All of the dogs have at least one championship. (Armani Kardar/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Deborah Torras and Frank Martinez try to get their cocker spaniels Anya (from left), Ralphie, Ryder and Elwood to cooperate at their home at Bright Penny Acres. All of the dogs have at least one championship. (Armani Kardar/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Unleashed: Couple’s cocker spaniels are champion hunters

Armani Kardar
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
There’s a family of champions on a quiet, 89-acre property in Lexington.    Bright Penny Acres is home to Frank Martinez, Deborah Torras and four cocker spaniels that compete in the American Kennel Club.
Oglethorpe County Recreation Department participation numbers have risen during the past several years. (Mackenzie Tanner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County Recreation Department participation numbers have risen during the past several years. (Mackenzie Tanner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Rec department outgrows its facilities

Mackenzie Tanner
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Despite the new gym opening in January, Oglethorpe County appears to be outgrowing its recreation department facilities.   Registration numbers for football, basketball, soccer and baseball increased by 24% in just one year.
Maddie Williams (right) scored two goals in Oglethorpe County’s 10-0 victory over Glenn Hills to wrap up an undefeated region schedule. (Ralph Maxwell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Maddie Williams (right) scored two goals in Oglethorpe County’s 10-0 victory over Glenn Hills to wrap up an undefeated region schedule. (Ralph Maxwell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Prep Roundup: Fleming leads boys track team to win

News Staff
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Michael Fleming won the long jump and the 110-meter hurdles, and was second in the triple jump to lead the Oglethorpe County boys track team to the McDonald’s Apalachee Invitational title on Saturday.
Kenzie Henderson set her personal best with a high jump of 5 feet, 7 inches at the Loch Johnson Relays on Saturday. Submitted photo

Kenzie Henderson set her personal best with a high jump of 5 feet, 7 inches at the Loch Johnson Relays on Saturday. Submitted photo

Sports Roundup: Baseball team improves to 4-0 in Region 4-AA play

News Staff
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Blane McFarland was the winning pitcher and Henry Johnson homered to lead Oglethorpe County to a 6-3 victory over Jefferson County on Tuesday night to remain undefeated in Region 4-AA.
Ellie Cabaniss' senior banner is attached to the back of the bleachers at OCHS stadium. She has been home schooled, but is taking one class at OCHS while also dual enrolled at UGA. Submitted photo

Ellie Cabaniss' senior banner is attached to the back of the bleachers at OCHS stadium. She has been home schooled, but is taking one class at OCHS while also dual enrolled at UGA. Submitted photo

Cabaniss leads girls soccer team to success

Meredith Boyd
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Mary Kate Shealy hadn’t seen Ellie Cabaniss in action before this soccer season.   Cabaniss attends a private hybrid home school in Loganville, but is enrolled in one class at Oglethorpe County High School, which allowed her to play soccer this spring, thanks to a law passed in July 2021.
Luke McGarity said his favorite sport is golf, but he also plays basketball, and competes for the track and field and cross country teams at OCHS. (File/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Luke McGarity said his favorite sport is golf, but he also plays basketball, and competes for the track and field and cross country teams at OCHS. (File/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Q&A: Competitiveness, teammates dive McGarity to letter in four sports

Meredith Boyd
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Luke McGarity has played sports since he was young, but he refers to his teammates and family as the inspiration for his love of athletics. A junior at Oglethorpe County High School, he’s lettered in four sports: basketball, cross country, golf and track.
Kenzie Henderson leaps over the bar to set a school and region record of 5 feet, 6 inches in the high jump at the season-opening meet on March 3. (Submitted Photo)

Kenzie Henderson leaps over the bar to set a school and region record of 5 feet, 6 inches in the high jump at the season-opening meet on March 3. (Submitted Photo)

Henderson soars in first track meet

News Staff
Thursday, March 10, 2022
The Oglethorpe County girls track team, the defending Class AA state champion, rolled in its season-opening meet.   Propelled by Kenzie Henderson’s state-best high jump (5 feet, 6 inches), the Lady Patriots scored 152 points to win the George Walton Invitational on March 3.
Denim Goddard (from left), Kenzie Henderson and McKenzie Freeman formed a strong core for coach Brianna Dickens (right) this season. (Kaylah House/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

Denim Goddard (from left), Kenzie Henderson and McKenzie Freeman formed a strong core for coach Brianna Dickens (right) this season. (Kaylah House/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

State playoffs part of growth process for Lady Patriots

Kaylah House
Thursday, March 3, 2022
The Oglethorpe County girls basketball team has undergone a fast transformation.   The Lady Patriots won two games just two years ago.   They finished over .500 last year.   And this year, they reached the state tournament for the first time in 18 seasons.