REMEMBERING THE PAST SPORTS LEDGER June 2024 Read Free Online at www.TheSportsLedger.com Page 8 The
State Football Championship Games Move Out of Auburn and Tuscaloosa
Sideline Sports SOFTBALL SHOWCASE - The Jacksonville State University softball program will be a part of a star- studded lineup for the inaugural Rocket City Softball Showcase at Toyota Field in February 2025. Starting on Wednesday, February 19, there will be five straight days of college softball, which will be headlined on day one by the long-awaited rematch between Jax State and Women's College World Series participant Alabama. Joining the two powerhouse programs in Huntsville will be Louisiana Tech, James Madison, Miami (OH), ETSU, Auburn, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Additionally, North Alabama, as well as Alabama A&M and Division II Alabama-Huntsville will play a role in the Softball Showcase. Read more online at www.thesportsledger.com. KENTUCKY VS. PURDUE - The Kentucky Wildcats and the Purdue Boilermakers announced the formation of a home-and-home women’s basketball series over the next two seasons, which includes Kentucky playing Purdue at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana, on Dec. 14 and the Wildcats hosting the Boilermakers in 2025- 26. Kentucky trails Purdue in the all-time meetings, 0-2, in a series that began in 1999. TRANSFER QUARTERBACK - The University of Kentucky football program has added Gavin Wimsatt, a transfer quarterback from Rutgers University. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Wimsatt, a 6-foot-3, 225-pounder from Owensboro, Kentucky, is returning to his home state after playing three seasons with the Scarlet Knights. He also considered Kentucky out of Owensboro High School, where he was the Kentucky Class 5-A Player of the Year and an Elite 11 participant. He finished his high school career with 5,304 passing yards and 62 passing touchdowns. Wimsatt had a breakout season as a junior at Rutgers in 2023, passing for 1,735 yards and nine touchdowns versus eight interceptions in 13 starts at quarterback. He also rushed for 497 yards and 11 scores on 131 carries. He played 25 games and started 19 of those in three seasons with the Scarlet Knights, completing 212 of 455 passes for 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns against 17 interceptions. He has rushed for 628 yards and 11 scores on 180 carries as a true dual-threat quarterback. HONOR ROLL ATHLETES - Several Gadsden State Community College student-athletes and four athletic teams were honored by being named to the Alabama Community College Conference Spring 2024 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll for achieving a 3.0 GPA or higher in at least 12 hours of courses. "These student-athletes should be proud of themselves as they have balanced academics with practice and games,” said Dean Myrick, commissioner of the Alabama Community College Conference. "I am very proud of them, along with the faculty and staff at our amazing colleges for the work they do in preparing our student-athletes for life outside of athletics.” The student-athletes named to the Honor Roll include: Baseball : Aidan Bee of Clanton; Brendon Byrd of Gulf Shores; Nolan Daversa of Gurley; Jay Faulkner of Vestavia; Brandon Fears of Snellville, Ga.; Nick Ford of Canton, Ga.; Caleb Freeman of Attalla; Mason Freeman of Madison; Colston Fultz of Linden; Blake Hall of Hazel Green; Andrew Hardy of Pell City; Trent House of Phenix City; Andrew Hughes of Suwanee, Ga.; Hunter Humphries of Gadsden; Jonathon Isbell of Moody; Riley Jackson of Cullman; Charles Jones of Oneonta; Tyler Mays of Winfield; Chris McNeill of Chelsea; Cody Russell of Loganville, Ga.; Chase Saul of Pelham; Josh Smith of Conyers, Ga.; Mason Steele of Loganville, Ga.; Brant Stringer of Hartselle; Robert Templin of Troy; Walker Thomas of Chelsea; Luke Weems of Sardis; Colton Willmon of Helena. Men’s Basketball: Demarice Farrow of Valley; JaLynn Lacey of Brighton. Women’s Basketball: McKayla Bean of Gadsden; Lydia Crane of Fort Payne; Neely Damron of Huntsville; Kaitlyn Hill of Susan Moore; Laila Lowery of Birmingham; Sethanie Morgan of Georgia; Jaxson Sizemore of Glencoe; Victoria Winslett of Pell City. Men’s Cross Country: Travis Cooley of Lincoln; DeShaun Foster of Alexandria; Jonah Medders of Alexandria; Lane Self-Griffin of New Hope. Women’s Cross Country: Jordan Clark of Arab; Keira Johnson of Hokes Bluff; McKinley Kay of Glencoe; Gabrielle More of Trussville; Lacey Rich of Southside. Men’s Tennis Team: Samuel Arnold of Cedartown, Ga.; Bradley Bentley of Grant; John David Cunningham of Rome, Ga.; Elijah Lones of Hazel Green; Charles McInitre of Grant; Kamron Palacios of Cedartown, Ga.; Elisha Sims of Guntersville; Heath Stinson of Pell City; John Weaver of Guntersville. Volleyball: Kandyn Blankenship of Alexandria; Kaleigh Butler of Geraldine; Lauren Davis of New Market; Ella Garmany of Centre; Ziniah Hardy of Rainbow City; Macey Johnson of Huntsville; Sera Beth Potter of Ashville; Zoe Walker of Trussville. The Cardinal teams named to the Spring Commissioner’s Academic Team Honor Roll include Baseball, Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Tennis and Volleyball. “Excelling as a student-athlete is a significant accomplishment,” said Blake Lewis, Gadsden State’s athletic director. “The dedication, time and endurance required to succeed in both athletics and academics is immense. These students deserve high praise for their achievements. It has been an honor to watch them develop both on the field and in the classroom.”
The
Alabama
principal Heath Harmon has been named the sixth Executive Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Association. Harmon, age 49, will be taking over his new role as Executive Director officially in early July. He is replacing Alvin Briggs,who announced his plans to retire earlier this spring. “Mr. Heath Harmon is currently the principal at Oxford High School. He is a lifelong resident of Alabama and has previously served as a high school English and History teacher, assistant principal, and coach of multiple sports," said AHSAA Central Board President Mike Welsh. “Mr. Harmon was head football coach at four of our member schools prior to entering the field of educational administration. He has proven to be an effective leader, and we are confident of his ability, excited about his enthusiasm, and look forward to working with him to lead our association into the future.” Harmon, who graduated from Munford High School in Talladega County, becomes just the sixth person to hold this position full time in AHSAA history. University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium from the Super 7 High School State Football Championships host site rotation. The action became necessary due to the new expanded College Football Playoff plan that could require both schools to host playoff games in the future which would conflict with the AHSAA’s annual Super 7 football championships. Protective Stadium in Birmingham will remain in the AHSAA Super 7 host rotation, and the AHSAA is continuing to study other rotation options. Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said their communities have enjoyed hosting the Super High Athletic Association (AHSAA), in coordination with the cities of Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Opelika, have agreed to remove The University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium and Auburn School
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa
7 and understand the positive impact the games have had on their cities as well as the lasting experiences and memories that have been afforded the state’s high school student- Championships athletes, their schools, and communities at the same time.
The cities’ leaders agreed that participating in the Super 7 Championships taught them much about the AHSAA’s education-based athletic experience. “The Super 7 exposes our state to the best of Alabama,” Anders said. Outgoing AHSAA Executive Director Alvin
Briggs said the AHSAA is indebted to its Super 7 partners. “Having two of the nation’s biggest rivals come together with their cities to provide the opportunity of a lifetime for our member schools is priceless and we can’t thank them enough," commented Briggs. College World Series By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger The 2024 College Baseball World Series was set for June 14-23 in Omaha Nebraska. Four of the eight teams competing this year are from the SEC. They are: Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Florida. The other four teams are FSU, NC State, Virginia and North Carolina. Virginia fell to North Carolina 3-2 in the opening game on June 14, and Tennessee rallied late to defeat Florida State 12-11. Kentucky defeated NC State 5-4, and Texas A&M earned a 3-2 victory over Florida June 15. Additional results from the World Series were not available at press time. The Women's College Softball World Series was held on May 30 through June 6, 2024 in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Sooners defeated Texas in the events championship game to claim the program's fourth consecutive softball crown. Joining Oklahoma at and Texas at the event were: UCLA, Duke, Stanford, Florida, Oklahoma State, and Alabama.
Heath Harmon Named AHSAA Executive Director Oxford High School
Submitted Photo
Heath Harmon
Cliff Harper was the first hired by the CBOC in 1948 and served until 1966. Herman L. “Bubba” Scott served in the position from 1966-1991. Dan Washburn then served from 1991-2007. Steve Savarese replaced Washburn in 2007 and has remained in the position for 15 years until retiring in 2021. Alvin Briggs has been the executive director since 2021. “I am truly blessed to be standing here,” Harmon said “Without the support of my wife Holley and my two children, I wouldn’t be able to do the work that I do." Harmon is a school leader known for his strong character and faith. He has been an educator for 27 years – serving as a teacher, coach, athletic director,
instructional partner, and currently as principal at Oxford High School. Those who know him best describe Harmon and his wife Holley, a graduate of Gaston High School in Etowah County, as believers in Faith, Family, and Community. She too is an educator and school administrator. Harmon holds a B.S. in Secondary Education, English and history from Jacksonville State University, and a M.A. in Secondary Education, English and Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama, an Educational Specialist degree from the University of Alabama. He is also a graduate of the 2023 Alabama Superintendents Leadership Academy.
The University of Alabama softball program recently held a girls summer skills camp. Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
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