Beth Welch
In The Game High School Sports Magazine
Columbus Valley Edition
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Winter is just about to give way to spring and that means the winter sports are nearing the end of their seasons with playoffs or championships in sight. A few spring sports are beginning to show signs of life, too. In this issue of In The Game High School Sports Magazine, we have a great variety of stories and events that showcase what is happening in this area in high school sports.
Our cover feature highlights a local athletic organization. The Columbus Hurricanes are well-known in this area for producing strong swim athletes. The cover photo shows eight of Coach Michael Stewart’s best high school swimmers. Look for other photos and bios on these athletes inside.
Speaking of the best athletes, the first Columbus Valley Athletic Awards Banquet was held in January. Sixty athletes from area schools were honored as the best in their sport. Photos of the fall sport winners and other pictures from the banquet are featured in this issue. Winter and spring sport athletes will be honored in other banquets to follow later this school year.
Basketball is still going strong and soccer season will crank up pretty quickly so we have a Player Spotlight athlete for each of those sports. Stephanie Kolwicz of Northside High School has gained quite a reputation as a soccer player both locally and beyond. Kolwicz is a force to be reckoned with on the soccer field and enjoys every minute of it! Shaw High School’s Deionte Corprew returns to ITG in another sport from when he was first featured as a Rising Star a few years back. Basketball is his game now and he is looking like he will be an athlete at the next level, too.
Other regular features in this issue include Harris County High School’s Lauren Billet as our Academic Athlete. Billet has learned the hard way that academics can’t be ignored, especially for an athlete. Billet’s outgoing personality and athletic talent make her a vital part of the Lady Tiger’s basketball team. Freshman Focus Prather Hudson of Brookstone School is preparing for his first year of high school baseball and Rising Star Kendra Henthorn is winding down one sport in order to begin another. Don’t miss all of their interesting stories inside.
Can’t have athletes without coaches but Larry Morgan of Columbus High School will soon leave that job to others when he retires from coaching wrestling. ITG managed to get one last interview before he packs up his coaching gear for our Coach’s Corner feature.
Also in this issue Merri Sherman of the Columbus Sports Council took time to answer 10 Questions about her organization and what will be on tap for this new year. In addition, Glenwood School’s baseball program is the focus of our Sports Zone. Hint: this year’s team is more than just a group of players who think only about baseball.
Our roving photographer, Chris Hood, has once again located sports fans throughout the valley area and captured them in action for our In The Stands feature. Be sure to check it out. You might see a familiar face or even your own.
Out with the old and in with the new! 2012 has arrived thus closing the books on fall athletics and bringing winter sports to life.
Fall sports ended on a high note, however, with several area football teams experiencing great seasons. Last month Sportsvisions and In The Game Magazine held the 3rd Annual Columbus Valley Area High School Football Awards Luncheon to honor some of the best football players on local teams. Sponsors for the event included AFLAC, Mediacom, Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A, Hilton Garden Inn, Hughston Clinic, J. Smith Lanier & Co., and Pope, McGlamry, Kilpatrick, Morrison and Norwood, P.C. The event recognized 23 area high school football coaches and two players, offense and defense, from each school. Special awards were also presented during the banquet. Among the speakers for the event was University of Georgia Head Football Coach Mark Richt. Take a moment to view the banquet photos in this issue.
Basketball takes center court this time of year. ITG has several outstanding basketball athletes featured in this January edition. Midland Middle School’s Tre’Vione Sudberry is our Rising Star feature. He moved onto the courts for basketball right after football season. There is a really good reason why this young man loves the game. Don’t miss his story.
Also taking to the courts is Elizabeth Perdue of Glenwood School. Perdue is following in the footsteps of her mother as an athlete at Glenwood. Our Freshman Focus is a ninth grade student with quite a future ahead of her.
Our Coach’s Corner feature for January is Joe Harmon of Grace Christian School. Joe has been a successful basketball coach for many years. Check out his interesting story of how this part-time coach views his job as a ministry.
Gracing the cover is Carver’s Ariel Butts. Standing 6’3” in her stocking feet, Butts is a force to reckon with on the basketball court. Committed to Rutgers University in the fall, the senior has created quite a reputation for herself over the years. She is very deserving of our Player Spotlight feature this month.
Our Academic Athlete in this issue is swimming against the current both literally and figuratively as his sport is not as traditional as other winter sports. Bryndon Clarke is a senior at Shaw High School who got his love for water sports from his grandfather.
Two special features are included inside. One story highlights a winter sport that almost appears to be a well-kept secret. For several years a high school hockey league has been in residence in Columbus and now has found a permanent home in the new Columbus Ice Rink. ITG had a chance to talk with the coach and get a glimpse into this fast-paced and growing phenomenon in this area.
The second story focuses on a family of five sisters who all participate in sports at Marion County High School and will be members of the school’s track team in a few weeks. These young ladies not only excel in sports but also are stellar students in the classroom.
While making your list of resolutions for the New Year, be sure and include a plan to take in a few high school sporting events in 2012. It’s always good to be in the game!
Happy New Year!
