It’s hard to believe another year has slipped by.
Within a few days 2011 will be in the rear-view mirror. It seems like only yesterday we were ringing in the new year with plenty of hopes and dreams. Now it’s all but behind us as we look to what 2012 will bring.
Before we completely leave 2011 behind, it’s worth looking back on some things the past 12 months offered us on the local sports front. While impossible to recap every single event that took place, some of the noteworthy occurances included:
•The Winder-Barrow High School baseball team advanced to the state playoffs once again. Coach Brian Smith has built a solid program with the Diamond Doggs. Look for that success to continue this upcoming season.
•The Winder-Barrow High School football team is now in the midst of the the second-longest losing streak in the state behind only Meadowcreek High School of Gwinnett County. The 2012 season will be vital for the Bulldoggs. Patience is a virtue, but many supporters are losing it. Improvements are being made, but it takes someone with a keen sense of football to be able to see it. The losing streak should end next fall, maybe even as early as week one.
•The Apalachee High School football team missed the state playoffs for the second year in a row. The Wildcats were hurt by some early-season close losses. Despite playing well in the second half of the 2011 campaign, AHS was not able to overcome an 0-4 start. Several key players will return in 2012 and a return to the postseason is certainly possible.
•The Apalachee High School baseball program continues to make positive strides under the direction of coach Mike Cavey. Look for the Wildcats to make some noise in the battle for the postseason this spring in the always tough Region 8-AAAA.
•Jennifer Blevins continues to work wonders with the Winder-Barrow High School swim team as athletes constantly set personal and school records.
•Athletes from Winder-Barrow and Apalachee once again qualified for the state track meet last spring.
•The Winder-Barrow High School Lady Bulldoggs and Apalachee High School Lady Wildcats are off to strong starts on the basketball courts in the first half of the new seasons. Both teams are setting their sights on the state tournament this season. Michael Parks coaches the Lady Wildcats while Brandon Thomas coaches the Lady Bulldoggs.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. Send comments about this column to cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
