School sports

Life will be different for Tim and Penni Stoudenmire after he retires from coaching this spring. He’s coached wrestling and track at three schools for the past 29 years, winning three state championships at Oglethorpe County High School. (Samuel Higgs/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Life will be different for Tim and Penni Stoudenmire after he retires from coaching this spring. He’s coached wrestling and track at three schools for the past 29 years, winning three state championships at Oglethorpe County High School. (Samuel Higgs/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Stoudenmire will leave lasting legacy

Hank Tatum and Samuel Higgs
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
When Tim Stoudenmire retires from coaching this spring, there will be a noticeable absence in the Oglethorpe County athletic department and around the area.   “This area is losing a giant,” said Philip Walter, Stoudenmire’s former assistant wrestling coach at Clarke Central.

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Prep Roundup: Wrestlers finish sixth at state duals

News Staff
Thursday, January 25, 2024
  The Oglethorpe County wrestling team finished sixth at the Class A State meet last weekend at Heard County. The Patriots defeated McIntosh County Academy in the first round, but lost to Mount Pisgah 41-33 to drop to the consolation bracket.
Oglethorpe County’s Quentin Nash tracks down Riverside Military Academy’s Jacques Chiller in the Patriots’ 57-0 homecoming victory on Friday night. OCHS had eight tackles for loss, two safeties and an interception. (NATHALEE SIMONEAU/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Oglethorpe County’s Quentin Nash tracks down Riverside Military Academy’s Jacques Chiller in the Patriots’ 57-0 homecoming victory on Friday night. OCHS had eight tackles for loss, two safeties and an interception. (NATHALEE SIMONEAU/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Unusual defense shines in shutout

Lauren Hill and Trevyn Gray
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Oglethorpe County’s defense might look a bit peculiar, but it’s by design.    The Patriots run a 3-3 defense, which isn’t conventional. But using that scheme, the defense shut out Riverside Military Academy 57-0 in Friday night’s homecoming game to improve to 2-3 this season.
Junior Carlee Gibson waits on a pitch during Oglethorpe County’s 7-5 loss to Lincoln County on Saturday. The Patriots came back with a 13-1 win over Putnam County as Gibson got the win with five strikeouts and allowing only four hits. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Junior Carlee Gibson waits on a pitch during Oglethorpe County’s 7-5 loss to Lincoln County on Saturday. The Patriots came back with a 13-1 win over Putnam County as Gibson got the win with five strikeouts and allowing only four hits. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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OCHS softball struggles early

Owen Warden
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
The start of the softball season hasn’t been ideal for Oglethorpe County.   The Patriots were 2-6 through Tuesday, with several losses being blowouts. Their defense has struggled, likely due to a large number of new starters.
Quarterback Jayden Wallace delivers the ball to a teammate in Oglethorpe County’s season-opening 14-7 loss to East Jackson on Friday. He threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Darius Heard in his first start at quarterback. (DONNY FAUST/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Quarterback Jayden Wallace delivers the ball to a teammate in Oglethorpe County’s season-opening 14-7 loss to East Jackson on Friday. He threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Darius Heard in his first start at quarterback. (DONNY FAUST/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Patriots set for home opener

Owen Warden
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Oglethorpe County will head into this week’s home opener against Banks County with a goal to correct the mistakes that led to a season-opening loss.   The Patriots fell to East Jackson 14-7 last Friday night.
OCHS sophomore Elizabeth Cook serves during practice earlier this season. Cook had five kills in victories over Prince Avenue Christian School and George Walton on Tuesday. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

OCHS sophomore Elizabeth Cook serves during practice earlier this season. Cook had five kills in victories over Prince Avenue Christian School and George Walton on Tuesday. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Volleyball team off to 9-2 start

News Staff
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Staff Report Kenzie Henderson had nine kills and Sofia Horsley had nine aces to lead the Oglethorpe County volleyball team to a three-set victory over Prince Avenue Christian School and a two-set win over George Walton on Tuesday.
Brianne Harrison leads practice earlier this week in her first season as Oglethorpe County’s volleyball coach. She previously coached at the middle school. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Brianne Harrison leads practice earlier this week in her first season as Oglethorpe County’s volleyball coach. She previously coached at the middle school. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Harrison eager to start first season as volleyball coach

Owen Warden
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Oglethorpe County volleyball has entered a new era.   And new coach Brianne Harrison has already found her starting six: Seniors Madi Kelley and Avery Kort, juniors Sofia Horsley and Kenzie Henderson, and sophomores Elizabeth Cook and Aryana Knight.
The Oglethorpe County football team lines up to run a play during practice on Monday morning. The Patriots can begin practicing in pads on July 31. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

The Oglethorpe County football team lines up to run a play during practice on Monday morning. The Patriots can begin practicing in pads on July 31. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Preseason Preparation

News Staff
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
The track at Oglethorpe County High School, which had bubbled and ripped in places, has been removed and will be replaced. The track was under warranty, which means the replacement track won’t cost the school system. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

The track at Oglethorpe County High School, which had bubbled and ripped in places, has been removed and will be replaced. The track was under warranty, which means the replacement track won’t cost the school system. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

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Track replacement underway at OCHS

Owen Warden
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
The Oglethorpe County High School track is getting a facelift.   Repairs have started on the track, which had cracked, formed holes and had bubbled up in places, making it impossible to use several lanes for practice and meets.
The Oglethorpe County Junior League All-Stars lost in the district championship game on Monday night. Toccoa defeated them 13-2. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

The Oglethorpe County Junior League All-Stars lost in the district championship game on Monday night. Toccoa defeated them 13-2. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

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Junior All-Stars are second in tourney

News Staff
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Toccoa defeated the Oglethorpe County Junior League All-Stars 13-2 in the district championship game on Monday night.