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PAGE 6B May 2026
Gadsden City Soccer Falls in 6A State Finals
SIDELINE SPORTS
BARTOW ARENA RENOVATIONS - The UAB Department of Athletics is set to begin a $15.4 million renovation on Bartow Arena. Construction is expected to be completed in October 2026, and Bartow Arena is anticipated to be fully functional for the 2026-27 basketball season In March 2026, UAB and Learfield announced an enhanced partnership with C Spire to include naming rights of Bartow Arena's new club area pending approval from the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees. The new club is one of four main components of the renovation project, which also includes an entrance lobby expansion, replacement of lower bowl retractable seating and concourse improvements, including updated lighting and restrooms. Bartow Arena is home to the UAB men's and women's basketball programs, as well as the volleyball program. Bartow serves as a multipurpose venue for numerous university, community and civic activities throughout the year. AUBURN TO HONOR ROD BRAMBLETT - Auburn athletics will dedicate the home radio booth at Plainsman Park to the late Rod Bramblett by officially naming it the Rod Bramblett Home Radio Booth. Bramblett, who passed away from injuries sustained in car accident on May 25, 2019, broadcasted Auburn baseball games from 1993 to the day of he and his wife Paula’s passing and served as the Voice of the Auburn Tigers from 2003-19. A native of Valley, Alabama, and 1988 graduate of Auburn, Bramblett’s broadcasting career was highlighted by being named the National Broadcaster of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 2013. He was also a three-time winner of the Alabama Sportscaster of the Year award (2006, 2010, 2013) as presented by the National Sports Media Association. OFFICIAL TRACK PARTNER - Talladega Superspeedway has announced that Airbnb is an official track partner for the 2027 NASCAR season. This first-of-its-kind partnership for Airbnb names the brand as the Official Lodging Partner of Talladega Superspeedway. Airbnb will be the Official Lodging Partner for five racetracks, including Darlington Raceway, Martinsville Speedway, and Talladega Superspeedway of NASCAR and Bristol Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway of Speedway Motorsports. During the 2027 NASCAR season, Airbnb listings will be displayed directly into the websites of Bristol Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Martinsville Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, and Talladega Superspeedway, giving fans a streamlined way to book accommodations close to the track. ALABAMA FOOTBALL COACH TO SPEAK TO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION - The Jackson County Chapter of the University of Alabama National Alumni Association will host its annual Roll Tide BBQ, featuring Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer, on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 5 p.m. at the Scottsboro Civic Center. Individual adult tickets are $50, and tickets for children under 12 are $25. Additionally, tickets for a table of eight guests can be purchased for $500. All tickets may be purchased by credit card, check or cash at the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce office at 111 E. Laurel St or by calling 256-259-5500. They must be ordered in advance, but can be paid for at the door. ATLANTA FALCONS TO PLAY IN MADRID - The National Football League has announced that the Cincinnati Bengals will play the Atlanta Falcons in the 2026 NFL Madrid Game on Sunday, Nov. 8 (Week 9). Hosted in partnership with the Comunidad de Madrid and City of Madrid, the game will be played at the Bernabéu Stadium – home to Real Madrid C.F. Kickoff will be 3:30 p.m. CET/ 9:30 a.m. ET Spain is an important market for the NFL globally with 11 million fans, and earlier this year the NFL announced a multi-year commitment to playing a regular season game at the Bernabéu from 2026. The Bengals vs. Falcons will air exclusively on NFL Network, as well as on local broadcast stations in Cincinnati and Atlanta. Fans can also stream the game across devices with NFL+, the league’s direct-to-consumer offering available through NFL digital properties. AUBURN AND BAYLOR KICKOFF SET FOR 2:30 CT - The 2026 Aflac Kickoff Game featuring Auburn and Baylor at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will begin at 2:30 pm CT on ABC. The Tigers are playing in Atlanta for the first time since 2018 and making their fourth appearance in the Aflac Kickoff Game (2012, 2015 and 2018). The contest will mark the sixth all-time meeting between Auburn and Baylor following the Tigers’ 38–24 victory in Waco on August 31, 2025. Auburn leads the series is 2-2-1, with AU winning the only neutral-site meeting in the 1954 Gator Bowl. AUBURN MEN'S BASKETBALL TO FACE WISCONSIN - The Auburn University men’s basketball team and the University of Wisconsin have announced a non- conference neutral site game on Saturday, Dec. 19 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The Tigers and Badgers will meet for just the second time with Wisconsin winning the only matchup in a neutral site contest on Nov. 25, 2006, in South Pardre Island, Texas. Led by Greg Gard who just completed his 11th year in Madison, Wisconsin finished the 2025-26 season at 24-11 overall and ended the season ranked No. 25 in both the AP and Coaches Top 25. The Badgers lost to High Point in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Auburn returns two of the most experienced guards in college basketball in Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton and has added an extremely talented portal class under the direction of second year head coach Steven Pearl. KANSAS WINS BIG 12 REGULAR SEASON BASEBALL TITLE - Kansas clinched its first Big 12 regular season title in program history with its 7-6 win over BYU. The Jayhawks have now won 39 games this season with 22 of those coming in Conference tilts. KU has won at least 39 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1993-94, only the second time in program history. Kansas is one of four teams nationally to have multiple double-digit winning streaks this season. The 22 Conference victories is a program record, surpassing the Jayhawks previous high from the 2025 season (20). The Jayhawks have secured the top overall seed for the 2026 Big 12 Baseball Tournament presented by Allstate. The top 12 teams in the regular season standings will advance to the 2026 Big 12 Baseball Tournament presented by Allstate at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona, starting on Tuesday, May 19 and running through Saturday, May 23. CRIMSON TIDE FOOTBALL SERIES CANCELED - Alabama football’s home- and-home football series with Oklahoma State has been officially canceled. The Crimson Tide and Cowboys mutually agreed to cancel their home-and-home series, which was set to begin in Stillwater in 2028 with OSU traveling to Tuscaloosa in 2029. VANDERBILT TRANSFER SIGNS WITH AUBURN - George Kimble III, a talented combo guard who spent last season at Vanderbilt University, has officially signed with the Auburn men’s basketball program for the 2026-27 season. Kimble III missed last year due to a knee injury he suffered at the end of the 2024-25 season while playing at Eastern Kentucky. Prior to the injury, Kimble III was averaging 18.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists for EKU in 25 games played. A native of Tampa, Fla., and cousin of Olympic track star Justin Gatlin, Kimble III began his career at Division II Eckerd College where he earned Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year honors after averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game. Kimble III adds a dynamic scorer to a backcourt led by veteran returners Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton. “George brings a strong work ethic, toughness, and fearlessness to our backcourt," said Auburn Head Basketball Coach Steven Pearl. "We take pride in our defensive intensity, and one of the traits that stood out most about George is his ability to disrupt opponents—ranking sixth in the nation in steals two seasons ago while playing just 25 games.” Auburn's 2026-27 men's basketball signees include: • Narcisse Ngoy – C – 7’0’’ – France • Bukky Oboye – F/C – 7’1’’ – Houston Texas/Santa Clara • Adam Olsen – G/F – 6’8’’ – Surrey, B.C., Canada/South Alabama • Owen Freeman – F – 6’10’’ – Moline, Ill./Iowa/Creighton • Thomas Dowd – F – 6’8’’ – Dothan, Ala./Troy • George Kimble III – G – 6’2’’ – Tampa, Fla./Eckerd/EKU/Vanderbilt • Caleb Williams – G – 6’5’’ – Tampa, Fla. (incoming freshman)
The Gadsden City Boy's Soccer program fell to Briarwood Christian in Double Overtime in the championship game of the AHSAA Class 6A State Tournament. To reach the state finals, Gadsden City defeated Homewood 2-1 in the semifinals. The Titans were playing in the program's first state soccer finals in school history. Pictured to the right is Gadsden City midfielder Isaac Lopez.
AHSAA Photo
Guntersville Falls In State Finals Guntersville’s Ella Willis (No. 8) moves past a John Carroll defender on the way to one of her two goals in the Lady Wildcats 3-0 state semifinal victory. With the win over John Carroll, Guntersville advanced to the Class 5A girls’ state finals. However, the program's soccer season ended with a 1-0 loss to Indian Springs in the State Championship game. The Lady Wildcats were seeking their first state crown since 2016. AHSAA Photo
AHSAA 2026 Decathlon Top Five Spain Park High School’s James David Thompson claimed the 2026 AHSAA State Decathlon championship. The 2026 Top Five finishers include: (from left) No. 5 Rashad Jones of Foley; No 4. Brody Garrett of Jasper; No 3. Asa Sutter of West Point; No 2. Nic Fallin of Fairview; and No. 1. James David Thompson of Spain Park. AHSAA Photo
AHSAA 2026 Heptathlon Top Five Katharine Lee of Auburn won the 2026 Girls’ Heptathlon state title. The 2026 Top Five finishers include: (from left) No 4. (tie) Brianna Stephens of Lee-Huntsville; No 4. (tie) Eva Jeffery of Huntsville; No. 3. Lydie Varnadore of Fort Payne; No 2. Amiah Matone, of Saraland and No 1. Katherine Lee of Auburn. AHSAA Photo
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