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PAGE 6A October 2023 PAGE 2B July 2024
Guntersville Hoping For Return Trip To AHSAA State Playoffs
Sideline Sports AUBURN SET TO FACE DUKE - For the third time in program history, the Auburn men's basketball team will travel to Duke, but this time for a SEC-ACC Challenge matchup on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. This is the second year of the SEC-ACC Challenge as the Tigers defeated Virginia Tech, 74-57, last season at Neville Arena. Auburn previously played the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in 1975 and 1981. NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR - Cornerstone Christian Academy in Rainsville has named a new Athletic Director. Anthony Dupree will move into the position, which was recently held by Heather Harrison. ALABAMA SOFTBALL - Sophomore infielder Salen Hawkins will join the Alabama softball program, following an All-Region freshman season at Mississippi State. Hawkins started 52 games last year with the Bulldogs, batting .294 (40-for-136) with 22 runs scored and 26 RBIs, earning Third Team NFCA All-South Region honors. She was named SEC Freshman of the Week on March 12 after a 5-for-8 weekend with four RBIs in the series win over Ole Miss and her 11 multi-hit games over the season were the most for any Mississippi State freshman since 2018. She was a high school teammate of current Crimson Tide pitcher Jocelyn Briski at Desert Vista High School, earning All-Region and offensive MVP honors on their 2021 conference championship squad. Hawkins is the eighth newcomer slated to join #Team29 in the fall of 2024 alongside transfers, Emily Winstead (RHP – UNC Wilmington), Catelyn Riley (RHP – Ole Miss), Alexis Pupillo (UTIL – Northern Iowa) and freshmen Braya Hodges (P – Dothan, Ala.), Mari Hubbard (IF – Huntsville, Ala.), Kennedy Marceaux (IF – Kaplan, La.) and Audrey Vandagriff (OF – Bogart, Ga.). Alabama looks to return 11 players from its 2024 Women’s College World Series team. COLLEGE BASEBALL CLASSIC - Alabama will be one of four teams that make up the field at the 2025 Jacksonville College Baseball Classic from Feb. 21- 23. The Crimson Tide will be joined by Coastal Carolina, North Carolina State and Ohio State as part of a three- day tournament at 121 Financial Ballpark, home of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the Miami Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate. The weekend tournament will have two games per day with each team playing one game a day in a round- robin format over the three-day event.
Guntersville their only regular season loss last fall. The Wildcats hope this will not be the case this season, as Arab will visit Chorba- Lee Stadium on Sept. 20. Guntersville will stay at home the following two weeks. The Wildcats will host Grissom for a homecoming matchup on October 4, before taking on the Scottsboro Wildcats on October 11. A short road trip on October 18 to Marshall County rival Boaz will close out the Wildcats travel season. Guntersville will host Douglas on October 25 and close out the regular season against Marshall County Rival Albertville on November 1.
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger The Guntersville High School football program had one of the best seasons in history last fall, as Lance Reece's program finished with a 12-2 overall record and reached the Class 5A State Semifinals. The Wildcats only lost one regular season game last year, falling to Marshall County rival Arab 29-19. Guntersville cruised to a 31-7 victory over Springville in the opening round of the state playoffs. The Wildcats went on to pick up a 20-17 second round win over John Carroll and a 31-21 quarterfinal victory over Pleasant Grove. However, the team's impressive season came to
an end with a 35-14 state semifinal loss to Ramsey. Overall, the Wildcats closed out the 2023 regular season ranked No. 8 in Class 5A and the program has the potential to be a Top 10 team again this fall. However the task will not be easy, even with several talented players and more than 15 seniors set to return to the Wildcat's lineup. Although all of last year's graduates will be missed, one key spot that Guntersville will have to fill is on the offensive line. Last years' star lineman Royce Baucom has signed to play at Arkansas State. Baucom is currently listed as a 6'5" 310 lbs. Freshman on Red Wolves 2024 roster.
Guntersville should be able fill in all the gaps and be ready for the 2024 kickoff at Southside on August 23. Last year, the Wildcats defeated the Southside Panthers 14-10. Another early season key matchup will take place the following week, as the Wildcats are set to travel to Fort Payne on August 30. The first home game of the 2024 season will be on September 6 against Brewer. The Wildcats are set for a short road trip to Sardis the following week on September 13. One of the games that players, fans, and coaches have zeroed in on this fall, will be against Arab. The Knights handed
2024 Guntersville Coaching Staff
2024 Guntersville Wildcat Football Team
Guntersville Photos By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger 2024 Guntersville Senior Football Players and Cheerleaders
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