Towns County Sports
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FebruaryTHE TOWNS 17, 2021 COUNTY THE TOWNS HERALD COUNTY February HERALD 17, 2021 Page 3B Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports ooolgofk[gmflq`]jYd\f]lÛÝÛ<¤eYadÛl[`]jYd\³oaf\klj]Yef]l Wrestling: TCHS qualifies two for State Huffman and Donaldson take 3rd at Lake Seminole By Todd Forrest Towns County Herald Sports Editor Towns County seniors Gar- rett Oakes and Conner King quali- fied for last week’s Class A State Wrestling Championships with a pair of runner-up finishes at the Area 8 Tournament in Commerce earlier this month. In the 220-pound division, King earned a first-round bye before pinning Taylor Gordon of Loganville Christian to punch his ticket to the Area finals. In the title bout, King suf- fered a pinfall defeat to Com- merce senior Eliah Burns. Competing at 120 pounds, Oakes received a bye into the finals, where he fell to Commerce senior Dawson Legg via pinfall. Other Indians on the mat at L-R: Garrett Oakes and Conner King on medal stand. Photo/submitted The Chatuge Anglers, River Huffman and Miles Donaldson, won 3rd Place at their last Bass Tournament Area were 170-pound sophomore During last week’s State an end after dropping a 9-1 deci- on February 6 on Lake Seminole. Both boys want to say thank you for the support of the community and Chance Schmeltz, who placed tourney, Oakes picked up three sion to Irwin County’s Jordan the Towns County Herald! T(Feb17,F3)SH fourth after suffering a pinfall to wins to finish with a 3-2 record. Dunlap. Washington Wilkes’ Kenvonta In the opening round, he pinned King scored a first-round Jones in the third-place bout. Drew Robinson of Landmark pinfall over Bowdon’s Chris NASCAR 2021 Freshmen Ian Arrowood Christian before suffering a pinfall Solis-Gonzalez, but suffered a loss By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter (145), Andrew Brinson (195), at the hands of Mt. Pisgah’s Brady to Wesleyan’s Eric Berry in the Zion Calhoun (152) and Stone Nardella. Oakes responded with second bout. During the consols, McDowell stuns with Daytona 500 win Chauncey (160) each fell one vic- pins over Strong Rock Christian’s King was pinned by Irwin’s Travis tory short of competing for third Jake McDougal and Darlington’s Cockfield, despite trailing only Michael McDowell’s first place and a trip to State. 2-1 at the time. NASCAR Cup Series win was a big Ross Tidwell. His day came to one. He led only one lap in Sunday’s Daytona 500, but that was the last and final one. He avoided a collision Kennedi Henson joins 1,000-point club between Team Penske teammates By Jerry Kendall Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski Towns County Herald during the final-lap for his first win Staff Writer after 357 winless starts. “I can’t believe it,” McDow- It is not often that three ell said. “I’ve got to thank God. So momentous statistical accom- many years of just grinding it out, plishments occur at any school hoping for an opportunity like this. but especially a very small school I’ve got to thank (team owner) Bob Jenkins for giving me this opportu- within just three weeks. nity. I’m so thankful. But this is just what has “What a great way to get a McDowell stuns with Daytona win. happened at Towns County High first victory—in the Daytona 500!” School with Kolby Moss passing It appeared as if Logano was the verifiable career scoring record going to win on the last lap. How- for his Indians team at Copper ever, he and teammate Brad Kesel- Basin on January 18, Vanessa owski collided in turn-3, leading to Floyd reaching the 1,000 career a multi-car pileup. McDowell was points total in a home game against able to avoid the spinning cars, and Rabun County on January 30, and was in first place when the caution Kennedi Henson reaching 1,000 flag came out following the crash on points on January 8 at Greene Lap 200, edging out Chase Elliott. County. “I saw the lights come on This is such a remarkable (for the caution), and I knew it was achievement for Henson in provid- Kennedi Henson secures a loose ball during her first game back over right then,” Elliott said. “We from injury - an OT win at Union in November. Photo/Todd Forrest had a fast car. We weren’t as good ing evidence of her perseverance as I thought we were on Thursday and dedication as most high school prior excellence on both the soft- 2018 school year. (in the Duel 150-mile qualifying Big wreck on Lap 14. athletes do not face the trauma ball field the basketball court. And your reporter has been race). I thought we did a really good Cindric in overtime time after tak- lowed by Joey Logano, Tyler Red- of having even one major knee While providing stardom as both a aware for decades as a dedicated job of executing today, staying out ing over second place from Harrison dick and William Byron. surgery, or other serious injuries pitcher and hitter but restricted by follower of Towns County bas- of trouble. Burton, the third-place finisher. The Clash was a non-points for that matter, but especially not the knee injuries at TCHS, perhaps ketball and hearing of legendary “That’s not something I’ve Jeb Burton ran fourth, fol- race. twice in barely more than three her most memorable moment in status from those who saw him done a very good job of here in this lowed by AJ Allmendinger, Bran- Racing Joke: Four expect- years. That is true for Henson, softball was hitting a home run play for Kennedi’s grandfather, race, so I’m glad we could at least don Brown, Myatt Snider, Brandon ant fathers were in a hospital wait- however, as she tore the ACL in over the fence on the high school Edwin Berrong He was said to finish this race and have something Gdovic, Daniel Hemric and Jason ing room while their wives were in her left knee in just the eleventh softball field as a seventh grade have been a basketball player to build on for when we come back White. labor. The nurse arrived and proudly game of her freshman year and Towns County middle school with shooting, passing, and ball and try to do better.” RHODES GETS announced to the first man that he then tore it again in the nineteenth player. handling skills far ahead of what Austin Dillon ran third, fol- DAYTONA TRUCK WIN was the father of twins. game of her junior season of As for basketball, her scor- was typical during his 1941 TCHS lowed by Kevin Harvick. Ben Rhodes won Friday “What a coincidence,” he ing the previously mentioned 143 senior season and beyond. Fifth-place finisher Denny night’s Truck Series race at Day- said. “ I work for the Twins baseball basketball. team.” Not only did she have long points for a 13.0 points per game Although currently hidden Hamlin fell short in his attempt tona. to win a record third straight Day- “This is so special the big- Later the nurse returned and periods of rehabilitation after average in just her first eleven among large amounts of sports congratulated the second father on games brought anticipation to information hoarded by your re- tona 500. Hamlin won the first two gest win of my career,” Rhodes surgery but anxiety in returning stages but lost the lead during the said. “I can’t even believe this. As the birth of his triplets. to sports activity as a star softball this reporter and other observers porter, it is recalled that a Towns final cycle of green-flag pit stops. a driver, you’re always asked about “Wow, that’s incredible,” he player in addition to basketball of likelihood of her approaching County Herald article reported He took the lead in the second stage what your biggest accomplishment said. “ I work for the 3 M Corpora- stardom with no doubt thoughts of as many as 2,000 points for her that Edwin had scored just under after a cycle of green-flag pit stops is. This is it. This is hands-down it. tion.” potential reinjury which did occur career. Although the injuries pre- or just over 300 points during his and held it through the fifth caution This is the place to be. I can’t even An hour later the nurse re- a bit over two years after the first vented this achievement, Kennedi senior season at TCHS with the of the race, which waved when Joe believe it.” turned to congratulate the third man injury. Some observers speculated and her family and many fans can next highest scorer being below Gibbs Racing teammate Christo- Jordan Anderson, Cory Rop- on the birth of quadruplets. that she might not return to sports be thankful that the Covid crisis 100 points during an era of much pher Bell cut a left rear tire and spun er, Ryan Truex, Carson Hocevar, Stunned, he could barely re- activity following the second did not bring this season to an early smaller numbers of points being into the Chevrolet of Ricky Sten- Sheldon Creed, John Nemechek, ply. “I don’t believe it. I work for the injury but those thoughts did not end and prevent the achievements scored at the high school level. house Jr. Codie Rohrbaugh, Chandler Smith Four Seasons Hotel.” fit the determination of Kennedi that she and classmates Van- In addition to his high At that point, Hamlin had and Drew Dollar were the remain- After this, everyone turned Henson.