Sports

Michael Holland is back as the co-head coach of the OCHS girls track and field team. He'll continue to share coaching duties with Brianna Dickens. (Kayda Hammock/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Michael Holland is back as the co-head coach of the OCHS girls track and field team. He'll continue to share coaching duties with Brianna Dickens. (Kayda Hammock/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS eyes success after subpar season

Grant Turnage
Thursday, February 12, 2026
One year ago, the Oglethorpe County girls track team saw its streak of podium finishes snapped with a ninth-place result at the state meet. For a program that secured three Class A and AA titles between 2021 and ’24, the uncharacteristic slide served as a wake-up call.

Prep roundup: OCHS wrestlers advance to area meet

News Staff
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Nine Oglethorpe County wrestlers qualified for sectionals by placing in the top four of their weight classes at the area tournament at Commerce on Friday.  Walker Compton, Andrew Goller, Luke Holbrooks, Keyvon Gresham, Kendon Brown and Tanner Mckie finished second in their weight classes.
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.”