Entries by Chris Bridges

To say it hasn’t always been easy for the Apalachee High School Lady Wildcats would be an understatement.

The team has never been to the state tournament in program history and its 13-12 record a season ago is also a program best. However, things may be beginning to turn in 2011-2012. The Lady Wildcats were 3-0 going into this week and despite some early-season injuries he’s had to deal with on his team, coach Michael Parks has the team playing well.

Parks is not the only coach in program history but he’s spent several seasons now building a foundation. With the majority of his roster back this season, it appears all those seasons of struggling may be about to pay dividends. [Full Story »] 

The Apalachee High School boys basketball has already matched its win total from a season ago.

The Wildcats (1-0) held off visiting East Jackson 61-51 Tuesday night as they ushered in the 2011-2012 season. A 13-point effort from junior Ronald Pettis helped lead the way.

For coach Kevin Morris, the win showed how his team has advanced since a season ago. [Full Story »] 

Barring something unlikely, LSU and Alabama are going to play for the “national title” in major college football.

The “experts” are saying even if LSU loses to Georgia in the SEC title game that the Tigers will still be in the national championship contest. Say what? LSU could not even be champion of its own conference and still play for it all?

And let’s not forget Alabama. The Crimson Tide, despite it’s loyal and at times looney fan base, is not even champion of its half of the conference and yet they are set to play for it all. [Full Story »] 

Last season was not a memorable one by any stretch of the imagination for the Apalachee High School boys basketball team and coach Kevin Morris.

The team posted just one victory and the memory of that most recent season remains burned into Morris’ mind. The AHS coach has experienced the highs and lows of the profession. While a Final Four trip was recorded a few seasons ago, the 2010-2011 campaign bothered Morris on many fronts.

First, no coach enjoys seasons like that. You can keep all the talk of how it helped build character and how it tested the makeup of the squad. Morris, like all coaches, wants to see his players succeed and enjoy the thrills of victory, not the agonies of defeat. [Full Story »] 

New Winder-Barrow High School wrestling coach Jason Austin believes there is potential for the Mat Bulldoggs this season.

Austin, who takes over for former coach Chad Horne, has been working with approximately 30 wrestlers. Practice began back on Oct. 31 and Austin joined soon after once his football coaching duties were complete for the season.

A former Mat Bulldogg himself, Austin has clear goals for the program. [Full Story »]