THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD February 11, 2015 Page 9A Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] Indians sending three wrestlers to State Championships in Macon By Shawn Jarrard ponent. to grow up together in a different “There are times like that in Towns County Herald Rounding out the three State kind of family. life – sometimes you’re just not good Staff Writer advancers, Daulton Rogers at 170 “They’ve been part of the enough, and things don’t go like you pounds lost his first match, but wrestling family since they were want them to go,” said Coach Stow- Three Towns County wres- battled back to win the next two in sixth grade, so for the last seven ers. “You can either lay there and tlers are headed to the 2015 GHSA matches, securing his seat at the years, I’ve spent more time with whine about it, or you can get up and Class A State Championships at the State tournament. He won his final them during this time of the year dust yourself off and go on. That’s Macon Centreplex on Friday, Feb. match by forfeit, giving him a third than their parents have, and it’s hard just how life is sometimes.” 13, and Saturday, Feb. 14. place victory for the 170-pound to see them go,” said Coach Stowers. And both Collier and Davis Kaine Hoffman at 106 weight class. “They’ve become like family, their seem the type to do just that, to get pounds pinned his first two op- Aaron Collier, Kyle Davis families have become like family, up, dust off, and carry on into the ponents to guarantee a spot in the and Daniel Crowder wrestled hard, and it’s just hard sometimes to see futures they will soon be embracing championship round of the West finishing out their seasons with them go.” come graduation this spring. Sectional tournament. victories leading to the Sectional But that’s all a part of it, said “I hope that those two guys Hoffman lost his final match tournament. Russell Cox was un- Coach Stowers – some people move look back on their wrestling careers by decision against a wrestler from able to compete at Sectionals due to on, and some people go home. Re- with fond memories,” said Coach Commerce, but cemented a second a prior injury. Coach Stowers. “Thomas wrestled just didn’t happen for him. I hate gardless of the end result of a single Stowers. “They’ve done a lot of place victory in his weight class and “I’ve got mixed emotions,” great all day. He got beat by a de- it – I wish I could fix it for him, but tournament, these wrestlers have great things. Kyle was the first fi- a spot at the State Championships. said Head Coach Jeff Stowers. fending state champion in the semis I can’t. spent countless hours working to nalist in Towns County history, and Thomas Mitchell (pictured) “I’m incredibly happy for Kaine and was able to come back and get “Kyle’s in a tough weight perfect their craft. Aaron has won a ton of matches, at 113 pounds won his first match by and Daulton and Thomas. They third and position himself for a run class and wrestled well this morn- “That’s the one thing I think placed in state last year. They’ve fall on Saturday, but lost to his Trion have worked so hard to get to where next weekend. I’m really, really ing,” said Coach Stowers. “He got that you can say about our kids – done some great, great things. counterpart in his second match. In they’re at. Daulton overcame some happy for those guys.” to the semis and got beat by a kid they’re going to give you everything “And I hope their lasting order to advance to State competi- health issues this morning and was But Coach Stowers hates that that was a defending state placer they’ve got every time they step on memory of wrestling is not today. tion, he needed to win his third able to come back and get third in a his two seniors didn’t advance with from last year in the semis, and then the mat,” said Coach Stowers. “And The life lessons that they’ve learned match – which he did, pinning his really, really tough weight class. their teammates. dropped down to the console semis sometimes, it’s just not good enough. are far more valuable than any medal North Cobb Christian opponent. “Kaine wrestled out of his “Aaron has battled injury all and caught another one. It just hap- I think that’s one of the things I like they’ll ever get, and it’s been a plea- Mitchell was able to clench mind all day today, and did a great year, and just couldn’t get healthy,” pens like that sometimes.” the most about wrestling, is that it’s a sure for me to have the opportunity third place in his weight class after job, finished second, and really said Coach Stowers. “He kept Collier and Davis have had very humbling sport, because some- to coach them.” pinning his fourth and final op- pushed the Commerce kid,” said fighting and kept fighting, and it illustrious wrestling careers, and got times, you’re just not good enough. Indians’ JV complete season with win over Tallulah Region 8-A Tournament By Jerry Kendall play with Davenport scoring eight play opens on Wednesday Towns County Herald points on three deuces and two free Staff Writer throws and Pyrlik including a trey By Jerry Kendall will qualify for the Region 8-A among seven points as the Indians Towns County Herald Semi-Finals, also at Prince Av- The Towns County Indian rallied for a 42-39 victory. Staff Writer enue Christian on Friday, with JV’s Basketball Team completed Highlights included a field the girls game starting at 4 p.m. their season on a positive note last goal by Davenport at 1:20 giving Scheduling for this year’s and the boys at 5:30 p.m. Friday with a 42-39 home court the Indians a 38-37 lead and a Region 8-A Tournament has If victorious over George victory over another band of Indi- long deuce by Pyrlik giving them made it possible to inform many Walton on Wednesday, the Lady ans from Tallulah Falls. a 40-39 lead at thirty seconds with readers of the Towns County Indians will face the winner of a It was the Indians’ second Davenport clinching the win with Herald of the Lady Indians’ and Tuesday game between Lakev- win over Tallulah and just their two free throws at 3.6 seconds. Indians’ first appearances in the iew Academy, the top seed from second overall but with valuable Eight of 11 players seeing tournament. Sub-Region 8-A North, and the experience gained by a mixture of action entered the scoring column The Lady Indians, the winner of a play in game on promising players seeing limited for the Indians with Pyrlik leading third place team from Sub- Monday between Athens Acad- action down from the varsity and with an excellent shooting percent- Region 8-A North, will face emy and Tallulah Falls. others seeing just JV action this age for 13 points and followed by George Walton Academy, the If the Indians win on year. Davenport with 8, Barrett with 6, second place team from Sub- Wednesday, they will face the The Indians sprang out to a Berrong and Ledford with 4 each, Region 8-A South, at 7 p.m. winner of a Tuesday game 7-0 lead in less than two minutes at freshman Cason Shook with 3, on Wednesday, February 11 at between Hebron Christian, the start of the game with freshman and sophomore Kobe Denton and Prince Avenue Christian School the top seed from Sub-Region Cole Ledford providing four of the Colton Shook with 2 each. Seven in Oconee County, west of Ath- 8A North and the winner of a points but Tallulah rallied for a 12- different Indians contributed at ens on US Highway 78. Monday play in game between The Indians JV squad battles Tallulah Falls. Photo/Lowell Nicholson 11 lead after one quarter. least one assist with leaders being The Indians, who also Prince Avenue Christian and Jake Pyrlik, a junior in just goal as time expired. reducing the Tallulah lead to 33-27 Ledford with 4, Colton Shook with finished third in the sub-region, Tallulah Falls. his second year of basketball at The third quarter saw Tal- with a trey with 15 seconds show- 3, and Cason Shook with 2. will follow the Lady Indians Winners of the semi-final the high school level, scored six lulah build as much as a 33-24 lead ing on the clock. Other Indians seeing action game against Providence Chris- games on Friday will play at points in the second quarter and with highlights being freshman Pyrlik returned for just his but not mentioned above were tian, the second place team 7:00 and 8:30 on Saturday for sophomore Colton Shook gave the Evan Berrong giving the Indians second quarter of play and fresh- junior Kevin Reardon, sophomore from the south sub-region at the Region 8A Championship. Indians a 21-20 lead at intermission a 24-24 tie early in the quarter man Zach Davenport made his Andrew Rogers, and freshman 8:30 p.m.. There will be no third place with a drive to the basket for a field and sophomore Darringer Barrett only appearance in fourth quarter Chase Williams. Winners of these games games this year on Saturday. NASCAR 2015 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter Let’s get ready to go racing It’s been a long winter, but 2016 will take over Jeff Gordon’s the 2015 racing season is right vacated ride in the No. 24 Hendrick around the corner. The first race of Chevrolet. His racing career is set. the season, the Sprint Unlimited How did he do it? will be held Sat., Feb. 14 at 8:15 Was his rise to stardom re- pm on FOX. Qualifying for the top- ally that spectacular, or was every two spots of the Daytona 500 will stage planned? be held on Sun., Feb. 15, and can Remember Chase, whose also be viewed on FOX, beginning real name is William Clyde Elliott at 1:00. II, is the son of 1988 NASCAR NASCAR announced that Winston Cup champion and Hall of the season-opening 75-lap Sprint Famer Bill Elliott. Chase Elliott at Charlotte’s Unlimited, will be split into two In January 2013, it was an- Fan Appreciation Day, Jan. 31, segments. A competition caution at nounced that Elliott would compete 2015. lap 25 will separate the segments in in five ARCA Racing Series and Did he come by his talents the non-points event. New this year, nine NASCAR Camping World through hard work and hands-on select fans will be paired with each Truck Series events for Hendrick experience, or was much of what he crew chief for a random drawing to Motorsports during the 2013 racing acquired ready made for him? determine starting and pit road posi- season, driving in the latter series To say he is not a good driver tions. The drawings will take place using trucks prepared by Turner wouldn’t be fair. He is a good driver. on Friday, Feb. 13 beginning at 3:30 Scott Motorsports. On June 8, 2013, But I‘ve seen and known dozens of pm. Elliott became the youngest winner drivers racing late models, Trucks, The field of 25 NASCAR in ARCA history following his Po- and Nationwide cars that have just Sprint Cup Series drivers will in- cono Raceway victory. In qualify- as much talent as he does, but never clude 2014 pole winners, former ing for the UNOH 200 Truck race made it out of their hometown be- Sprint Unlimited race winners and at Bristol Motor Speedway, Elliott cause of money. Daytona 500 pole winners who won his first career NASCAR pole There are several ARCA Se- competed full time in 2014, and all position with a lap speed of 125.183 ries drivers that barely make it from 16 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint miles per hour, and became the race to race. Unlike the Elliott fam- Cup drivers from 2014. If an eligible youngest pole-sitter in Truck Series ily, their family and friends don’t driver does not enter the race, the history. Elliott would win his first have the financial means to support open position will be filled based on race at Canadian Tire Motorsport them or provide them with decent 2014 Championship driver points. Park, in the first road course truck racing equipment. They continue to The first five provisional race outside the US; he was at the struggle with what they are able to drivers, respectively, are Clint Bow- time the youngest winner in Truck afford. For most it means their rac- yer, Paul Menard, Marcos Ambrose, Series history, at the age of 17 years, ing talents will never be allowed to Casey Mears, and Ricky Stenhouse 9 months, and 4 days. develop. Jr. In January 2014, it was an- But wait, in America every- AJ Allmendinger, driver of nounced that Elliott would be com- one has the same opportunity. the No. 47 will not compete in the peting full-time in the Nationwide Right? Sprint Unlimited because his team Series in 2014, driving the No. 9 No, wrong. was unable to find sponsorship for Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, with Chase Elliott is a great exam- the exhibition event. JTG Daugh- sponsorship from NAPA Auto Parts. ple of what happens when a young erty Racing co-owner Tad Ge- On April 4, 2014, Elliott won the kid has everything he needs to de- schickter told MotorsportsTalk that O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas velop his talent and skills. Elliott NASCAR’s late decision to include Motor Speedway, holding Kevin had the encouragement, training and N(Feb11,A6)CA all 16 Chase drivers in the Sprint Harvick and Kyle Busch off after money to pursue his dreams. Unlimited left his organization with taking the lead with 16 laps to go. It reminds me of a song by little time to find a sponsor. On April 11, 2014, Elliott won the country music singer, Merle Hag- “It was nowhere on our radar VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 gard, “Drinkin’ Free Bubble Up and until they changed the rules on it,” at Darlington Raceway by passing Eating Rainbow Stew.” It goes like Bowling league scores Geschickter said. “If we had won Elliott Sadler on the last lap after this: Monday Night Men: 206, Del Neiffer 210, Ron Tony Lynch 213, 247, a pole during the season and knew restarting sixth with two laps to go. “One of these days when the Ernest Rice 207, Richard Wingate 204, Dewey Al- Ray Everett 201, DJ De- we were in it, I’m sure we would Elliott won the EnjoyIllinois.com air clears up, And the sun comes Tanner 254, Joe Teague len 202, Ken Thigpen 205, Joseph 204, 208, Doug have been well prepared for it. We 300 at Chicagoland Speedway after shining through. We’ll all be drink- appreciate being grandfathered in, holding off Trevor Bayne. At Phoe- ing free bubble-up, An eatin’ that 202, 201, Derick Rice 204, Mike Newsome 234. Roberts 232, John Moore but, obviously, have to manage our nix, Elliott clinched the Nation- rainbow stew with a silver spoon.” 246, DJ DeJoseph 204, Thursday Night Fun 214, 213, Zach Moore 222, resources to deliver the best year- wide Series championship with a For most young drivers the 211, Brett Hogsed 254, League: Mike Davis 206, 244, Tim Moore 226, 231, end points finish we can for our 53-point lead over teammate Regan air will never clear up enough for 233, Michael Whitehead 245, 236, Larry Canaan Daniel Brown 221, 263, sponsors.” Smith, becoming the first rookie and them to follow their racing goals 210, Kirk Bass 212, Taz 237, 200, Jim McCreary Jerry Thomas 236, 214, Geschickter said he’s not youngest driver to win a NASCAR and dreams. Matetzcshk 210, 258, 222, 248, 211, Jay Burrell 210, Tim McVay 226, Kirk Bass worried about missing additional national series title. But for a lucky few like 708 Series BJ Gilbert 212, 202, 223, Bill Cox 203, 210, Bonnell thomas 212, track time at Daytona by skipping On January 29, 2015, Hen- Chase Elliott who are born with a Steve Brandt 207, Ray Ev- Jason Swanson 203, 224, 211, Bill Smith 205, Jordan the race, because they are part of drick Motorsports announced El- silver spoon, their sky will always an alliance with Richard Childress liott will make his Sprint Cup Series remain blue. erett 208, 205, Jeb Plott Taz Matetzschk 213, 214, Moore 225. Racing. debut in 2015, running in five races That’s just the hard facts of 217, 222, 236, Jason Swan- Johnathan Everett 238, The following week there at Martinsville, Richmond, Char- life and NASCAR racing. son 234, Bill Cox 211, Jim will be a full card of Camping lotte, Indianapolis, and Darlington. Racing Trivia Question: McCreary 204, 205. Baseball registration at Rec Center World, Xfinity, and Sprint Cup races The team also announced that he Who won the 2014 Daytona 500? Monday Night La- The Towns County County Recreation Center. culminating with the Daytona 500 will take over Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Last Week’s Question: dies: Inez Bergstrom 191, Recreation Dept. is having on Sunday, Feb. 22. Our hours of operation are starting in 2016. How many Cup wins did Richard Peggy Kidder 204, Susan- registration for softball and Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. RAINBOW STEW FOR CHASE Forbes Magazine list’s the Petty have during his career? An- na White 200. ELLIOTT net worth of the 18-year-old at baseball for boys and girls till 8 p.m. and Saturday from swer. 200, the most of any driver. Hazel Farmer Senior ages 8 thru 14 beginning Chase Elliott’s rise to the top $2-million. You may contact the Rac- 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. If you have of NASCAR’s racing ladder has Quite an accomplishment for ing Reporter at: www.hodges@ League: Ernest Rice 202, February 9, 2015 thru Feb- any questions please call the ruary 21, 2015. The fee for been phenomenal. He started off anyone by any means. race500.com. NT(FEB11,C1)AC Bart Rodgers 216, Mel Recreation Department at in the Truck series; after one year But is this young man really White 212, Bruce Burnett registration is $45. Sign-ups 706-896-2600. T(Feb11,F1)SH moved to the Xfinity series, and in such a heroic driver. are held at the new Towns