Prep athletics are entering the final weeks of the school year and the state tournaments in soccer, lacrosse and baseball are nearing completion or have already crowned champions. The boys state track meet finished up last week, as well.
STATE CHAMPIONS CROWNED …
Milton won both the boys and girls Class 5A state lacrosse championships. The girls’ championship was particularly special because it was the fifth state title in the last six years for the team. The Lady Eagles were also in the finals last year, but lost to Chattahoochee. This year, they were able to pull it out by defeating Lassiter, 14-4. The game was never in doubt, as Milton jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never led by less than four goals. Senior midfielder Marissa Hardy and freshman midfielder Lydia Cassada combined for eight of the 14 goals. Senior midfielder/attacker Allie Ware added three goals.
Lassiter was also the opponent in the boys’ game. The Eagles trailed only once in the game and that was 1-0 in the first quarter. Senior Keith Tenuto and sophomore Ben Aycock netted three goals apiece in the 13-5 win. It was the first state championship for the Eagles boys team.
Westminster won the boys and girls state titles in Class A-4A. The boys had a tough time beating Lovett, but were able to come out with a 10-9 victory. The game was tied 9-9 in the final quarter when senior captain Bennett Gillogly scored the game-winning goal with 4:37 remaining in the game. It was Gillogly’s third goal of the game and it gave the Wildcats their third state championship since 2003. The girls’ game turned out to be much easier, as they blew away West Forsyth, 22-9. Senior Mary Beth Bird scored a team-high five goals. It was the third state championship for the Lady Wildcat program.
REYNOLDS SETS RECORD …
Maalik Reynolds of Westminster set a state record by jumping 7-2 in the high jump at the GHSA state track meet. The first-place jump was a full eight inches higher than the second place finisher. It was the second year in a row that Reynolds took the individual state title in the high jump. He cleared 6-11 last year on the Wildcats state championship team. This year the team finished second overall at the meet with 35 points, six points behind Jefferson. The 6-7 senior is headed to the University of Pennsylvania next year where he will also play basketball.
DISAPPOINTMENT ON THE DIAMOND …
There are many times in sports when expectation is not met with accomplishment. For the 2010 Roswell and Milton teams, expectations were high, but their performance was disappointing. At the beginning of the season, Roswell was the No. 1-ranked team in the state by the coaches and media and they were also ranked nationally. They started 12-0, yet stumbled to a 17-8 record and out of the playoffs. Milton seized on the misfortune of their rival and won the region championship, only to see their season dissolve in a playoff series sweep at the hands of North Gwinnett.
One coach who was disappointed, but not dismayed was Westlake’s Glendale D. Belcher. They lost in the first round to Northside, Warner Robins, but for the first-year head coach it was still a great accomplishment.
"It was disappointing to lose in the first round. Our players worked very hard this season to get in the playoffs," said Belcher.
His team snuck into the playoffs by shutting out Creekside two games in a row, 6-0 and 5-0 in a mini-playoff.
"We had a very good season. All of the coaches are proud of the hard work," added Belcher. Baseball is not one of the top sports at Westlake, but making the playoffs could be a stepping stone for the program. "We plan on being back at the state playoffs next year and hope to advance too," Belcher concluded.
STAYIN’ ALIVE …
This week Lovett will try to advance past the third round of the Class 2A playoffs against Appling County. The Lions have yet to drop a game in the playoffs, sweeping by both their first two opponents. Blessed Trinity is also in the Class 2A third round and will face Pierce County. Holy Innocents’ remains the last county team in the Class A playoffs and they will play Brookstone for a chance to go to the final four.
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