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Sports

OHS football team already training for 2012- 2013 year

The OHS athletic season has come to an end for the 2011-12 school year, except for the spring football game tonight in Eufaula.

Coach Brian Blackmon is  starting his fourth season as OHS head coach. The Dawgs have 90 players who have made it through spring practice that comes to an end tonight in Eufaula at 6 p.m. with a spring game. The Bulldogs will be looking for several players to fill positions vacated by players who graduated or were moved to a different position.

The quarterback position is open because Calvin Bryant has been moved to running back to help that position and try to create some depth. Freshman Mathew Christian and Sophomore B.J. White are battling for the quarterback spot. Both are young and have no varsity game experience but are great athletes who are smart and capable of leading the team.

The offensive line has a chance to be the biggest OHS line we have seen in many seasons. Most of these guys are young but able to make a difference. Wide receiver and tight end are two positions that will have some experience. Look for OHS to run a fast paced offense early to try and see how the young players respond to live football.

The defensive side of the ball will be a normal Opelika defense. The D-linemen will anchor the “D.” These guys have the size and quickness to cause trouble for the opposing team. The linebackers and secondary should be aggressive and fast to to the football.

The coaches will use the game tonight to see how the players respond in a game setting. There could be changes made after the coaches break down the tape of the game. Special teams have not received much work this spring due to the limited number of practice days (only 10), which includes tonight’s game.

The football team will work out with weights and conditioning during early summer.

You can hear the broadcast of the game tonight at 5:30 p.m. on Mix 96.7 FM. I will not be able to make the trip, but you can hear Tyler Pigg and Jeff Sasser broadcast the game.

Athletic Camps

If you are interested in baseball or girls’ basketball, you can register for their respective camps at Opelika High School. Coach Devin Booth will run the girls’ basketball camp while coach Scott Sullivan will run the baseball camp. The baseball camp starts the last day of May while the basketball camp starts in June. You can call the main office at OHS for more information at (334) 745-9715.

Summer Baseball and Softball

The Opelika Dixie baseball and softball leagues as well as the Miracle League have all begun. Please look for a special 64-page section in the “Opelika Observer” next week.

This insert will have every team picture and the names of the kids and the sponsors of the teams for all of the leagues. This is just the latest in the Opelika Observer’s excellent coverage of these leagues.

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OHS soccer players reach goals


 

At the recent OHS soccer banquet, all three team coaches announced awards. Last week, we ran short of space to recognize award winners, so this week, we’ll recognize them here.

Boys varsity coach Chad Smith made the following awards: Bulldawg Team Spirit Award, Steven Alvarado (1)*; Defensive Player of the Year, Brennan Van Meter (2); Offensive Player of the Year, Sandro Cruz (3); Most Valuable Player, Vixay Mouangchan (4); and Outstanding Leadership Award, Koty Tyson (5) and Steven Alvarado. Tyson and Van Meter have been awarded scholarships to play at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

The girls varsity was awarded letters for the first time as this was their first varsity season, after two years playing at the junior varsity level. Five ninth graders started for this team as it achieved a 4-11 record in their first year of varsity competition.

They graduate two seniors, Nicole Davis (6) and Shelley Campbell (7). Coach Andrew Thigpen (8) made these awards: Bulldawg Team Spirit Award, Kimberly Kiger (9); Defensive Player of the Year, Lexie Souphanthong (10); Offensive Player of the Year, Savannah Jacobs (picture not available); and Most Valuable Player, Nicole Davis.

Coach Chip Elmer (11), boys junior varsity, also made awards: Bulldawg Team Spirit Award, Will McDonough (not pictured); Defensive Player of the Year, Luis Alcantara (12); Offensive Player of the Year, Betts Waller (13); and Most Valuable Player, Oliver Strickland (14). *The numbers 1-14 refer to the pictures above.

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Opelika baseball summer camp for kids

Track

The Opelika girls and boys track teams participated in the sectional track meet last weekend, both earning trips to the state meet in Gulf Shores.

The OHS girls team finished second with 133 points.

Sophomore Emma Garner won three events and was named MVP of the entire meet.

Garner won the 800-meter-race at 2:18.93, 1600-meter-race at 5:18.43 and the 3200-meter-race at 12:03.70.

Anissa Lewis won the 100-meter-dash in 12:17 and the 200-meter-dash with a time of 25:38.

Jakayla Hand won the long jump, placed second in the triple jump and fourth in the 200-meter-dash.

Breonna Lockhart was fifth in the 300-meter-hurdles.

Briahnna Mathews was fifth in the 400-meter-run.

Kamala Thomas was second in the high jump and fifth while Kala Spinks was fifth.

Ashley Alvis finished second in the shot and discus throw.

Torretta Hughley placed fifth in the javelin.

The OHS boys finished third, close behind Auburn and Smiths Station.

Senior Cordaryl Whitehead won the 1600 and 3200-meter-run and finished fifth in the 800 meters.

Cortez Vaughn finished second in the 110 hurdles.

Vashaun Landers won the 300 hurdles.

The 4x400 meter relay team of Vashaun Landers, Jocari Luckey, Taylor Braden and Thomas Hill finished third.

The 4x800 meter relay team of Cordary Whitehead, James Ray Thrash, Shakiel Parker and Kane Barrett finished second.

Tony Phillpot won the Shot Put, Deafrini Sexton finished second and Darian Jackson finished third.

Tony Phiipot won the discus throw.

The girls and boys track teams will travel to Gulf Shores this weekend for the 6A State Meet.

 

Softball

The Opelika Lady Bulldog softball team is playing in the Area tournament today in Phenix City.

If OHS finishes in the top two, they will advance to the regional playoffs next Friday.

Golf

The OHS girls golf team qualified for the sub-state golf tournament.

The girls will play next week in Auburn at Moores Mill golf course.

Football

Coach Brian Blackmon and his staff started his fourth spring training as head coach at OHS.

There are 96 players participating in the spring.

The team has 15 days to practice 10 days.

The Dawgs will travel to Eufaula on Friday May 18, for a scrimmage.

 

SoccerFirst year soccer head coach Chad Smith’s team qualified for the state playoffs.

The Dawgs were beaten by number one, AHS, 6-0 to end their season.

 

Opelika Baseball Camp for Kids

Opelika head baseball coach Scott Sullivan and Sports Academy are hosting the first annual “Opelika Summer Baseball Camp” from May 29 through June 1 from 8 a.m. until noon for kids ages 7-12 years old.

The cost is $100 per camper and the camp has 75 spots.

The camp will offer a positive, safe, fun and educational environment for young players to enhance their baseball skills through the knowledge of the staff.

You can pre-register by May 25 with a $50 deposit.

Send a check to: OHS Attention Coach Scott Sullivan 1700 Lafayette Pkwy, Opelika, AL 36801

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OHS welcomes back John Wadsworth as basketball coach

by D. Mark Mitchell

Sports Editor

 

Opelika Athletic Director Brian Blackmon has announced the hiring of John Wadsworth as the new head basketball coach at OHS.

That’s right!

John Wadsworth, the former coach who resigned last year before the season started.

There is more to the story than you think.

Coach Wadsworth resigned as head coach of the boys basketball team a week before the first game because of a very difficult reason: Wadsworth’s mother, who lives over seven hours away in North Carolina, was diagnosed with stage four Melanoma Cancer.

Mrs. Wadsworth was going to have to go through several surgeries and various treatments.

At the time, coach Wadsworth decided the best thing he could do — for the team and his mother — was to step down as head coach. This was a difficult decision.

His wife, Danielle, supported Wadsworth and wanted him to try and coach the team, but John felt he had to step down to be with his mother during that time. He felt his team would not have gotten the coaching they deserved from him if he left during the middle of the season to be with his mother.

Assistant coach Bryan Moore took over the team as interim head coach and did a great job. The school opened the position for applications a month ago and several coaches, including John Wadsworth, applied for the job. OHS principal Dr. Ferrell Seymore, Athletic Director Brian Blackmon and former head coach Tony Hoyett interviewed several applicants, including Wadsworth. The interviewers believed the best decision was to re-hire the known quality, Wadsworth, and let him continue the job he had begun five years ago.

Wadsworth won nearly 80 games in his four years as head coach, taking his teams to three straight state playoffs, including a trip to the Elite 8, where we lost in double overtime for a trip to the final four.

Coach Wadsworth wants to thank the entire Opelika City School system, Dr. Neighbors,  Dr. Seymore, coach Blackmon and many others who supported him during this tough time. His mother has completed her surgeries and several follow-up treatments and is now much, much improved.

“I am stunned and happy to be named the head basketball at Opelika ... again. I am blessed to have a great wife and three wonderful children along with my family at OHS. I will get to work quickly to get the program going in the same direction we were heading. I am proud to be an Opelika Bulldog,” said Wadsworth after being named  head coach.

I am so proud John Wadsworth is our head basketball coach again. He was doing a great job when he had to step down. Having known John for six years, he was devastated when he resigned, but felt it was the right thing for everybody. Wadsworth is a class-act and represents what Opelika High School is all about.

Congratulations, Coach ... and welcome back!

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OHS softball headed to Area tournament next week

Opelika High School Athletics

The Opelika City School system was out on spring break last week, so it was a slow week for most sports.

The girls’ tennis team is headed to the state after winning the sectional with a 9-0 record. The boys team also advanced to the state after finishing second in the sectional meet. Coach Erik Speakman coaches both teams.

Congratulations and good luck to both of these teams!

The OHS softball team finished their regular season last night. The seniors were recognized by coach Brown prior to the game. The Lady Bulldogs will participate in the Area tournament next week. The top two teams in this tournament will advance to the State tournament in Gulf Shores.

The track teams are preparing for the Section meet in Smiths Station next week. Both teams have a good chance of winning their sectional meet. Several athletes have a chance to advance to the State meet.

 

Basketball

OHS will soon fill the head basketball coaching position. Athletic Director Brian Blackmon and OHS principal Dr. Ferrell Seymore have interviewed several applicants.

Opelika supporter and Booster Club member Ronnie Ware participated in the interviews. Look for the new coach to be named in a few weeks. Whoever he is, the new coach will inherit a winning program with several good athletes. Former coach John Wadsworth did a great job with our basketball program.

 

Opelika All-Sports Booster Club

The Opelika All-Sports Booster club is now recruiting sponsors to join the corporate sponsor program. The program provides several thousand dollars every year. This money is used to help all OHS sports including cheerleaders and the cheer competition team.

The corporate sponsor program features three different plans costing $500, $700 and $1,250. Each plan offers tickets and ads in the football program, reserved parking passes for football games, passes to every sporting event in the school system and the sponsors will be announced over the public address system at each home football game. The amount of tickets, size of ad and number of passes increases with the dollar amount.

Sponsors receive some of the best seats at Bulldog Stadium. The sponsors will keep the same reserved seats each year unless they choose to move to better seats.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please call the high school at (334) 745-9715 and leave your information, or call me, D. Mark, at (334) 319-0467 or email me at www.kickerfm.com

 

A Personal Thank You

I want to thank Dr. Lee Roberson, Dr. George Purves, Dr. John Mitchell, Dr. Kevin Jackson, the nurses and staff at EAMC for taking such good care of my dad, John L. Mitchell, before, during and after his heart surgery this week. The entire staff has been great to our family!

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