Page 9 THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD May 6, 2015 May 6, 2015 THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD Page 9 Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] Towns County High School honors its athletes at sports banquet By Shawn Jarrard a blessing Donnie Jarrard is to has gone on, and I am losing over for tennis and football back to sweet, recounting how Towns fully navigated her girls to a third Towns County Herald our school. We are fortunate, we half of my squad because they’re back. County Wrestling won its 120th straight State Championship, and Staff Writer have the best SRO in the state. seniors this year, and without cry- “Hi, I’m Billy Barnhart, match this year, and the leaps and her boys to a first ever Runner- I’ll miss you.” ing, I’m going to say I’m going to and I am the head girls tennis bounds the program has grown Up victory at State, emotionally Towns County High Ken Edwards, a local miss them.” coach,” said Coach Barnhart, by, considering it didn’t win any congratulated her kids on a job School held its annual Athletic leader in the church community The sentiment remained drawing laughter from the packed matches during its first four years well done. Banquet at the Towns County and vocal supporter of the school much the same with other coach- room. as a program. “One great thing that we Recreation and Conference Cen- system’s sports programs, led the es, and for many, dry eyes were After Principal Gibson “We finished third in the need to – and every coach has said ter on Tuesday, April 28. invocation for the evening. hard to come by. offered him that tennis coaching area duals this year,” said Coach this, and we’re going to reiterate it The event gave administra- Following the barbeque Coach Brett Keller rec- job, he told Coach Barnhart not Stowers. “We had the chance to – this night is about the athletes,” tors, coaches, parents and players dinner, the head coaches for ognized his boys and girls golf to worry, that it wouldn’t cause challenge for a true second and said Indians Baseball head Coach a chance to congratulate student each sport announced special teams, both of which have per- him any stress – a few boys, a few came up just short for the first Shannon Floyd. “Not only are athletes for their accomplish- recognitions for each member of formed remarkably well this girls, and that’s all there would time qualifying for state duals. they athletes, but they are first and ments throughout the 2014-2015 each team, and awarded special season, with both the girls and be to it. Finished in the Top 10 in the state foremost student athletes. school year. Coach’s Awards to outstanding boys teams headed for state after “That caused me more for the second year in a row as a “It’s a privilege in the Principal Jonathan Gibson student athletes. the boys earned a spot earlier this stress than 20 years of coaching team. Things are looking up for classroom, it’s a privilege on the opened the event, giving special Vice Principal Erica week at Sectionals. football,” said Coach Barnhart. Towns County Wrestling, and we field, it’s a privilege in the halls. thanks to Towns County Sole Chastain opened up for the Coach Brandon Rowland He bragged on his girls and are extremely excited about it.” I’m going to quote Coach Row- Commissioner Bill Kendall for coaches, welcoming those pres- spoke volumes about his softball the leadership of senior Carly Coach Jim Melton took land, this is one of the greatest his accommodations to the school ent, and Basketball and Football team, and how his ladies had Gilfilian. the time to comment on many jobs in the world, if not the great- over the year, as well as to the Cheerleading Head Coach Rachel the winningest season in school For football, Coach Barn- of his Indian and Lady Indian est job in the world, and I know system’s School Resource Officer Pietz kicked off the event. history. hart thanked many, including basketball players, and even it’s exactly where God would Donnie Jarrard. “I have really enjoyed Soccer coaches Tucker God and his wife, as well as his recognized some eighth-grade have me.” “This individual is hard working with all these girls this Blackmon and Michael Huwe assistant coaches Huwe and Josh Lady Indians who played up on Coach Floyd called his working, selfless, Christ-cen- year,” said Coach Pietz. “I ap- congratulated their girls and boys, Rider, and commended his stu- the JV team in conjunction with baseball team up all at once, and tered, caring, humble, passionate, preciate each of you parents speaking on the virtues of nearly dent athletes for their hard work middle school girls head coach as every other student athlete did serving – I could go on and on, for lending them to me for the every player. and dedication to the sport. Shannon Floyd. that night, his Indians smiled and and many of you could as well,” seasons. They have grown and Coach Billy Barnhart Wrestling Head Coach Jeff Cross Country Head Coach received their recognition with said Principal Gibson. “What gotten much better as the year pulled double duty, presenting Stowers kept things short and Jeannie Ledford, who success- humility and grace. NASCAR 2015 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter It’s all Earnhardt at Talladega TALLADEGA, Ala.—The “GoDaddy has been a great fans at Talladega received the best partner for us and for the sport possible news last Sunday after- overall,” said Tony Stewart, SHR noon. Their favorite driver was co-owner. “There’s a lot of season back in victory lane. left on the calendar and it would Talladega has been known be great to go out with a win ... as Earnhardt Country for over 25 that would really put the excla- years. First, it was Dale Sr. they mation point on what has been a cheered on, and when Junior start- hugely successful relationship.” ed his career, they adopted him. The big question is what “That’s why I’ve been type company will want to step coming here for over 20-years up and sponsor Patrick. While she said James Long, a fan from near- would like to stay in her present by Anniston, Alabama. “That boy situation with Stewart Haas Rac- drives just like his daddy. They ing, that might not be possible. are two of the best drivers we’ve A new sponsor might want ever had.” her with a different team. If a When Earnhardt gained company is going to shell out at the lead for the first time during least $20-million, then they are lap 12 of the 188-lap Sprint Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Greg Ives celebrate Earnhardt’s going to make the final decision race, all the fans were on their feet Talladega win as to which team she races for. Danica Patrick might not cheering and waving flags. ished 31st. five starts. be setting the track on fire, but “You know when the crowd Michael Waltrip, who is “It was cool to win this she is a very noticeable racing goes wild like that Earnhardt has running a limited Sprint Cup thing, but it was just having the personality, and that is what big- taken over,” said one of Ryan schedule in the No. 55, saw his right people behind you, making time sponsors look for in a driver. Newman’s crewmembers. chances of winning go south when the right moves, making the right I think she will find a sponsor, but Earnhardt, who led 6 times he ran into a spinning Brian Scott block and getting that clean air. it might mean a team change. for 67 laps gained the lead for the during lap 19. Then it’s all in the mirror,” Lo- Meanwhile Erik Jones will last time after a round of pit stops The big wreck, involving gano said. fill in for Kyle Busch in the No. 18 on lap 162, and led for the remain- 15 cars occurred on lap 47. Some Brian Scott finished Joe Gibbs Toyota in the Sprint Cup ing 26 laps. There was a series of of the drivers included, Kyle .130-seconds behind Logano. Series starting at Kansas Speed- cars that wrecked on the final lap, Larson, Trevor Bayne, Landon Austin Dillon, J. J. Yeley, Joey way on May 9. This will mark but it did not affect the leaders, Cassill, David Ragan, Greg Biffle, Gase, Chris Buescher, Elliott Sa- the 18-year-old Byron, Michigan and the race ended under green. Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano, Clint dler, Ty Dillon, Regan Smith, and native’s first official Sprint Cup “Boys, we’ll celebrate to- Bowyer, Michael Annett, Kevin Aric Almirola were the remaining Series start. night,” Earnhardt said. “I haven’t Harvick, and Danica Patrick. top-10 finishers. “I’m pretty excited and won here in a long time and I’m The right front brake ro- About a third of the way grateful for the opportunity to very emotional right now. There tor broke on Austin Dillon’s No. into the race, there was an eight- drive the No. 18 and make my were a lot of people that helped 3 as he was entering pit road. The car accident near the entrance to debut for Joe Gibbs Racing,” said me get here and I really appreci- hot fluid ignited, causing Dillon pit road.