Oglethorpe County High School

Maurice Freeman enters his fourth season as head coach for Oglethorpe County High School's boys track and field team. Freeman, an Oglethorpe County native, ran at the University of Georgia in college. (Photo/Nicholas Eriksen)

Maurice Freeman enters his fourth season as head coach for Oglethorpe County High School's boys track and field team. Freeman, an Oglethorpe County native, ran at the University of Georgia in college. (Photo/Nicholas Eriksen)

Freeman hopes to push team to strong state finish this year

Nicholas Eriksen
Thursday, March 5, 2026
The Oglethorpe County boys track and field team won its fourth regional title in the past five seasons in 2025, sending 11 athletes to state.  None of them won a state title. The Patriots will aim higher in their fourth season under coach Maurice Freeman, an Oglethorpe County native.
Landon Howard (from left) Cole Faust, Caden Berggren and Ledger Coley compete in the agriculture mechanics event at the FFA Area 2 CDEs on Feb. 10. They finished in second and advanced to the state competition on March 20. (DAKOTA MEEKS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Landon Howard (from left) Cole Faust, Caden Berggren and Ledger Coley compete in the agriculture mechanics event at the FFA Area 2 CDEs on Feb. 10. They finished in second and advanced to the state competition on March 20. (DAKOTA MEEKS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Dellinger, other OCHS students shine in FFA

Dakota Meeks
Thursday, February 19, 2026
For OCHS senior Andee Dellinger, middle school FFA is where she discovered that her future would be grounded in teaching agriculture.
Jackson Tatum warms up in the bullpen before starting against Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics (GSIC) at TY Harris Field on Feb. 12. The Patriots won 10-0 behind Tatum, who struck out six in five innings. (Photo/Nicholas Eriksen)

Jackson Tatum warms up in the bullpen before starting against Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics (GSIC) at TY Harris Field on Feb. 12. The Patriots won 10-0 behind Tatum, who struck out six in five innings. (Photo/Nicholas Eriksen)

OCHS baseball searches for bounceback season

Nicholas Eriksen
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
The Oglethorpe County baseball team enters its third season under coach Mike Campbell with a hunger for success. With veteran leadership and a young core, Oglethorpe County wants to improve upon last year’s 8-22 record and seventh-place finish in Region 8-A Division I.
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).
The Governor's Honors Program nominees from Oglethorpe County High School include Maeve Haydock (from left), Riley Henderson, Eli Austin, Lilah Hall, Victor Ross and Kassie Mathews. Jeffrey Molina, Landon Howard and Bayleigh McElhannon are not pictured. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

The Governor's Honors Program nominees from Oglethorpe County High School include Maeve Haydock (from left), Riley Henderson, Eli Austin, Lilah Hall, Victor Ross and Kassie Mathews. Jeffrey Molina, Landon Howard and Bayleigh McElhannon are not pictured. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Nine OCHS students prepare for Governor’s Honors Program

Charlotte Cochran
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Oglethorpe County High School nominated nine students in six areas of study for the Governor’s Honors Program this year.  For Jennifer Yauck, a science instructional coach and gifted coordinator at OCHS, the varied nomination areas sets this group apart from previous years.
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.
Assistant Superintendent Kanya Cornish gives a presentation about Oglethorpe County’s College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) at the BOE meeting on Tuesday night. OCHS’ score jumped to 71.6 from 58.7. (Photo/Ansley Gavlak)

Assistant Superintendent Kanya Cornish gives a presentation about Oglethorpe County’s College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) at the BOE meeting on Tuesday night. OCHS’ score jumped to 71.6 from 58.7. (Photo/Ansley Gavlak)

Schools increase key performance scores in 2025

Ansley Gavlak
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Oglethorpe County High School demonstrated significant growth in 2025, as reflected in a rapid improvement in its College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), which increased from 58.7 to 71.6.