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PAGE 5A August 2023
Tj Worthy one of several returning players for Gadsden City football
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger One of the best running backs in Class 6A football for the 2023 season will be Gadsden City’s Tj Worthy. Last fall, Worthy helped Gadsden City roll up 317 points on offense. The Titans closed out the regular season with four straight wins, that included a trip to the second round of the state playoffs, and a 7-5 record. Gadsden opened
Titans concluded the season with a 37-6 second round loss to Mountain Brook. As a sophomore last year, Worthy made several outstanding runs. The standout junior will be one of the key players returning for Gadsden City this year. Fifth year head coach Ali Smith said that Gadsden City also has “a lot of skill guys returning on offense.” The program also has at least four returning defensive starters. “We’re excited,” added Smith about the season.
Gadsden City will be competing in Class 6A Region 8, and the Titans are set to kick off the 2023 season on Friday, August 25 against Carver Montgomery at Titan Stadium. “I think that’s a great measuring stick,” said Smith about the season opener. “We like to play different type teams, with different styles.” Playing tough non- region teams should help the Titans as the season progresses into Region competition and into any
postseason Playoff games. The non-region games include Hewitt Trussville, Hartselle, Hillcrest Tuscaloosa, and Calera. Smith added that week three is when games start to really matter, because that is the first Region game of the season. The Titans open Region action at Buckhorn on Friday, September 8. Other Class 6A Region 8 opponents for the 2023 season include: Fort Payne, Hazel Green, Mae Jemison, and Lee – Huntsville.
post season play last year with a 41-24 victory over Cullman. However, the Sardis under new leadership
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Gadsden City Head Coach Ali Smith
Ashville High School recently named Kirakias Shepard as the program’s head football coach for the 2023 season. Shepard had the opportunity to join his neighboring coaches at the 2023 Etowah County Media Day, where he noted that he was still trying to get to know all the players. He said Ashville has 30 players on the 2023 roster and hopes he can double that number in the future. Shepard added the program is already getting in better physical condition, but that he still must get his players “into football shape.” Hopefully, the new coach can achieve that goal in time for the 2023 season opener, which is set for Thursday, August 24 at St. Clair County. Ashville adds new coach Under his leadership, Sylvania made it to the Class 3A high school playoffs in 2018 and 2019. The Rams also made Sweet 16 appearances in 2019 and 2021. Sylvania was also the DeKalb County Champion in 2021. In June 2021, Clark accepted the position of softball coach at Sylvania High. During his first season, the softball team was the area runner-up and made it to the regional tournament for the first time since 2014. In the 2023 season, the softball team was runners- up in DeKalb County and 3A Area 14. They also made it to the Sweet 16 during the 2023 season, making it the most successful season in the last decade. Clark earned a master’s degree in Physical Education at the University of West Alabama and a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from JSU. He is a 2012 graduate of Plainview High School in Rainsville. Clark’s official date as a Gadsden State employee was Aug. 1. He will couple his coaching duties with teaching P.E. courses at the College. “I’ve had a great experience so far at Gadsden State,” he said. “Everyone in the Athletic Department is on board for the new softball program. They are all very supportive. I really appreciate the chance to have this job.”
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger The Sardis football program will be under new leadership this fall, as B.J. Brooks has been hired as the Lions head coach. “It’s been a good summer,” said Brooks about his first few months at Sardis. During the off season, the program renovated the locker rooms, worked to increase the number of participants, and added a new look to the football helmets. When asked about the redesigned helmet, Brooks commented that being a good person, playing well and doing things the right way, are more important than looks. “It’s all about doing what’s best for these kids,” said Brooks. “It’s my job to make sure they’re prepared.”
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
“I am not worried about any other team. I am worried about my team,” he added. Some of the Sardis players said at the recent Etowah County media day,
that Coach Brooks has brought more discipline and more energy to the program. In addition to energy and discipline, Brooks wants his players to be successful and believes that
faith is a key component to that. “The Lord is Awesome,” said Brooks. “I have full trust in him that he is going to put me exactly where he wants me to be.”
“I’m on team Jesus, always,” added Brooks. The Lions will be competing in Class 5A Region 7 and Sardis will open the 2023 season on August 25 at DAR.
Clark looks forward to coaching at GSCC Ryan Clark has spent
GADSDEN STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
his career as a high school coach and teacher. Now, as the new head softball coach at Gadsden State Community College, he is excited about advancing to the collegiate level. “I’ve known since high school that I wanted to make a career out of sports,” he said. “I have enjoyed working as a high school coach but I’m grateful to have this opportunity to move up. It’s a big step.” On July 28, Gadsden State announced that the former baseball and softball coach at Sylvania High School would take the lead in starting the College’s new softball program. Gadsden State discontinued the program in 2016 and announced in 2022 that the program would be reinstated along with baseball. “Softball is gaining momentum in popularity across the country,” Clark said. “Softball belongs at Gadsden State. It adds value to the Athletic Department and adds to the student life offered at Gadsden State. I’m happy to be a part of bringing back the softball program.” Clark said he is going to spend the year recruiting players from the Classes of 2024 and 2025. “We are going to have to order equipment, uniforms and other things that are required of a softball team, but my main focus will be recruiting,” he said. “We have a lot of talent in Etowah and the surrounding counties.”
Coach Ryan Clark
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He said the team will start practicing in the fall of 2024 and will take the field during the Spring 2025 season. Their home field is located in the new Gadsden Sports Park behind Gadsden State’s Campus. “I’m looking for players who have the ability to perform at the collegiate level, but who also have good character,” he said. “They have to know how to positively carry themselves on and off the field. It’s important how they treat the game and how they treat others.” Clark’s experience with softball goes back to 2012, when he worked with infielders and catchers on the softball team at Snead State Community College. In 2014, he became a student assistant at Jacksonville State University, where he worked with the pitchers on the Gamecocks softball team and kept game statistics. From 2017 to 2021, Clark took the head baseball coaching position at Sylvania High, where he also taught physical education and driver’s education.
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