NovemberTHE TOWNS 30, 2016 COUNTY THE TOWNSHERALD COUNTY November HERALD 30, 2016 Page 3B Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] Wrestling team looking good ahead of King of the Mountain By Shawn Jarrard Towns County Herald Staff Writer

This weekend, the King of the Mountains will be decided in a two-day tournament of cham- pions taking place Friday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3. The tournament will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, and wrestling will recommence at 9 a.m. on Saturday, both days taking place at the Towns County Recreation and Conference Center at Foster Park. “It’s set up to be a really tough tournament,” said Indi- ans Wrestling Head Coach Jeff Stowers. “We’ve got 28 teams, we’ve got four states represent- ed. We’ve got some big schools coming back. Blessed Trinity coming to the area, many fami- Melee in the Mountains, where dle school to high school.” said Coach Stowers. “Coming football injuries. didn’t get to come last year, and lies will be staying in and around they got a chance to show their This being the start of the out of football, the kids had a “So, coming out of foot- they’re coming back this year. Towns County, meaning that the might with a triple victory that season, Coach Stowers has been good football season. The win/ ball season, everybody’s rela- “Banks County is coming tournament will be bringing in evening at home. working his team hard to get loss record didn’t reflect it as tively healthy and relatively back this year, Savannah Coun- potentially thousands in tourist The Boys in Blue defeated them in shape for the rest of the much, but they were upbeat upbeat. I think everybody’s try Day is coming this year for dollars to the area. White County 41 to 30, Smoky season, especially to make those about the way that we competed happy to be on the mat, ev- the first time. Harris County is “I hope everybody comes Mountain 54 to 24 and Hiwassee weight classes where they might against some teams, and the erybody’s excited about what coming, a big AAAA school out out and supports our kids and Dam 66 to 18. have holes. way we played against some could be this season and where of South Georgia. Notre Dame supports our tournament,” said “Our older kids are pretty Of course, a lot of the teams that most people didn’t we’re at. We’re just trying to High School out of Tennessee’s Coach Stowers. “It’s a big deal. good – we’re probably as good kids who are wrestling now think we could play with. put the pieces of the puzzle coming. It’s a lot of people coming in as we’ve ever been,” said Coach just finished playing football, “Coming into wrestling together and see where they fit “So, we’ve got some qual- from out of town. They’re going Stowers. “We got lots of veteran and Coach Stowers, who is an season, the kids are upbeat. We best for us.” ity programs that are going to be to come spend their money, stay, kids back, and did some really assistant coach for the football were blessed and didn’t have Be sure to support the represented, and some outstand- and possibly come back later on good things. Our young kids, the team, likes what he’s seeing so many serious injuries during youth of the community by ing individual wrestlers that will and vacation.” new kids, are just really young far this season. football season. This time last attending the Towns County- be there. It ought to be a good The Indians recently held and really new. Some of those “The record, I don’t year, we had three starting hosted King of the Mountains two days of wrestling.” their first matches of the wres- kids did some really good things, think, reflected the positivity wrestlers that were out for more tournament this weekend. With so many schools tling season during the Nov. 18 too, but it’s a big step from mid- around the (football) program,” than half the season because of Shea Underwood is a member of State Champ Yellow Jackets in Year One

The TCHS Cross County team aren’t the only ones to return home as State Champions. Following Georgia Tech’s 28-27 victory over rival Georgia on Saturday, Underwood is a member of the State Champion Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket football team during his redshirt freshman season. With 8 wins, Tech will play in a bowl game that has yet to be determined. Photos taken by Todd Forrest prior to Miami v GT game on Oct. 1st. NASCAR 2016 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter BIFFLE QUITS ROUSH fixed on the looks and cha- nearing the magical age of Greg Biffle has turned risma of the stars instead of 40, NASCAR team owners in his driving helmet at the actual product." and marketing experts must after Thanks to the work find a new crop of stars who 14 seasons behind the wheel of mechanical masters and are willing to compete like of the No. 16 Ford. armies of engineers, the cars daredevils and then go off "I'm thankful to Jack have evolved into indestruc- script and act like cowboys if Roush for the opportunity to tible tanks that rarely crash the time is right. have driven his race cars for or even spin out. When I started going to all these years," said Biffle. A handful of mega team the NASCAR races in 1994, I "It's very rare in this sport to owners control the game at could catch a driver who was have been able to stay with every level while drivers just standing around, and get one team this many years, spend a large amount of their a quick interview. Not any and to have been as success- time as corporate spokesmen more. ful as we have been." who rarely rock the boat with If you want any type of Biffle announced his their comments or actions. real driver interaction, you departure after the last race "After eight weeks of have to go through the team's of the season at Homestead, tedious strategy and team P/R person. You have to ex- but at this time he is still a orders, drivers busted out plain what the purpose of the free agent, with no job on the in a big way over the final interview is for, how it will horizon. 65 laps at Phoenix," contin- be used, and what type ques- Whether he lands with ued Gregory. "There were tions will be asked. a top notch organization, or a hang-on-and-hope moments Greg Biffle and car owner in 2016 Nowadays, driver con- mediocre one, the Vancouver, of side-by-side action, risky versations are like their rac- Washington native shouldn't an intense passion for . BACK DRIVING model cars at non-NASCAR charges to the front and even ing. It is all polished up and have too many financial wor- For almost two decades Greg Jr. plans sanctioned tracks, because a costly highlight-reel crash politically correct. ries, because his net worth is has given us an opportunity to be back in a race car soon. NASCAR prohibits their involving Chase contender But in all fairness to listed at over $50-million. to run up front and compete He said last week he will be drivers from practicing at to close the today's drivers, they are more "We've had an incred- for wins. practicing in a late model car NASCAR tracks in the cars melodrama. complex and more intelligent, ible run and I am so appre- "Greg exemplifies in preparation for his return they drive in a regular NA- "Those sort of must-see than they are given credit for. ciative for the opportunity to what every owner hopes for to full-time Cup racing at SCAR series. moments are what NASCAR They have to be that way in be a part of Roush Fenway," in a driver and I'm extremely Daytona in February. IS RACING TOO CALM officials had in mind whey order to survive in the sport. he continued. "I'm extremely thankful for having him as "We're going to go test- Allen Gregory of the created the Chase. NASCAR racing is proud of everything we have part of our organization. I ing this off season," he said. Bristol Herald Courier said Meanwhile, the more like a business than a been able to accomplish over know that Greg and I will "Obviously I need to get in NASCAR needs to change "Throwback" episodes on sport. First, a wannabe driv- the last 19 years - both on and maintain a strong friendship a race car. I'd love to get in their game plan to include NBCSN and the throwback er must present himself as off the track. I've enjoyed ev- and I look forward to leaning a car and go run a little bit some form of racing endeav- weekends for the Southern a business person. If he can ery minute. I'm excited about on him on occasion as we somewhere just to shake the ors from the past. 500 at come across in a manner that the next chapter of my life, continue to work on improv- rust off and get some confi- "In the formative days have been big hits with older will entice a multi-million- and I look forward to explor- ing our performance." dence. of the sport, the allure of fans who yearn for the days dollar sponsor, then he usu- ing other opportunities - par- Biffle is one of only 17 "I can do the basics be- included when paint schemes were ally becomes a driver. ticularly in radio and televi- drivers to make 500 consec- fore we ever go to Daytona. high speeds, daredevils and unique, the racing was un- With the current busi- sion - both inside and outside utive Sprint Cup starts, and We'll go do that sometime danger," said Gregory. "Ba- predictable and the drivers ness model that NASCAR of NASCAR." has started 835 NASCAR this off season. sically anything could hap- were cowboys who were not has in place, a driver does He won two Truck Se- races. "We have to squeeze it pen on the dusty short tracks surrounded by media han- not need the fierceness of a ries championships (1998 "As much as the tro- in there somewhere because and new superspeedways. dlers." , the daring of and 2000), before moving phies and championships, I'm getting married and have "In rural areas such as When a Dale Earnhardt Sr., or the to the Xfinity Series in 2001 I will cherish the memories my honeymoon, and I have Southwest Virginia, families rode out of Homestead af- charisma of a . and winning Rookie of the and the relationships forged to certainly devote proper would take long Sunday af- ter the last race of 2016, the All he needs is a facade Year. In 2002, he won the during our run," added Biffle. time to (fiancée) Amy (Rei- ternoon drives into the coun- sport lost yet another maver- that the public corporations series championship. Roush "We had some great teams, mann). try just to listen to Barney ick who appealed to both tra- gobble up. Driving skills are moved him up to the Sprint fast race cars and some real- "But it'll be no prob- Hall and the Motor Racing ditional and millennial fans. secondary. Cup Series in 2003, where he ly outstanding partners over lem. All signs point to us be- Network crew describe the If doesn't take a genius NASCAR will contin- has remained. the past two decades. I'll al- ing in the car for Daytona." beating, banging and wreck- to know that the absence of ue to provide exciting racing "I don't have the words ways be thankful to everyone Earnhardt was side- ing. the iconic Dale Earnhardt Jr. moments, but it's no longer to say what Greg has meant that gave us the opportunity lined by a concussion and "As NASCAR moved has played a part in the lack- about the sport, it's about to this organization," said to go out and accomplish the missed the last 18 Cup rac- into the television age, driv- luster television ratings dur- which team has the most team owner Jack Roush. "He milestones that we have been es. ers became the attraction. ing this year's Chase. success at finding big dollar is a true racer who has always able to." He will only be al- Much like modern country With many current sponsors. exhibited a will to win and EARNHARDT TO START lowed to practice in late music, folks became trans- drivers now either past or