Changes Announced For Some Local Schools For Next Year; Winter Sports Hit Their Stride

By: Tim Lambert

As they do every two years, the Alabama High School Athletic Association presented their fall sports reclassifications for the 2020-21 school year. In past years, the AHSAA had used attendance numbers from 10th through 12th grades of each school to determine how to classify each school; however, this year, the decision was made to use 9th through 11th grade numbers. The only local schools seeing classification changes were Elkmont (Class 4A to Class 3A) and Athens Bible School (Class 1A volleyball to Class 2A). Region/area changes included Athens High (Region 7 to Region 8 in football, Area 15 to Area 16 in volleyball) and Tanner (Area 16 to Area 14 in volleyball).

Scoring milestones were recently achieved by county basketball players Jireh Rogers (East Limestone) and Madison Lewis and Chesney Widner (Ardmore). Rogers got to the 2,500 point mark while Lewis and Widner both reached 1,000 points.

More local athletes also signed scholarships to continue their athletic careers: James Clemens’ Logan Morris (Alabama-baseball), Zach Taylor (UAB-football), Jim Roberts (Martin Methodist-bowling), and Brandon Evans (Montevallo-lacrosse); Athens High’s Dylan Johnson (UAH-baseball), Alaina Taylor (UAH-basketball), and Tucker Reed (UT Martin-baseball); East Limestone’s Olivia Crouch (Calhoun-softball) and Hannah Riddle (Columbia State-softball) and Elkmont’s Haven Kirby (UNA-softball).

>p>James Clemens football coach Wade Waldrop was selected as the Class 7A Coach of the Year by the Alabama Football Coaches Association. The Jets finished the season at 9-3 overall, making it to the second round of the playoffs where they lost to Hoover 23-20 in overtime.

Local highlights since our last column:

Ardmore

Varsity basketball teams swept Clements, the boys defeated Priceville and Madison County, and the girls stopped Elkmont and Lindsay Lane.

Athens Bible

Both varsity basketball teams posted wins over Cherokee and Woodville. The ABS boys topped Oakwood Academy; the Lady Trojans turned back Whitesburg Christian.

Athens High

Basketball teams swept James Clemens and Decatur, the boys defeated Phil Campbell and Southside Gadsden at the Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Bash, while the Lady Golden Eagles recorded victories over Brewer and Mortimer Jordan in the Encore Classic. More girls’ wins came over Grissom, Hartselle, and Russellville. At the sectional swim and dive meet, Connor Hill was first in the 100-yard butterfly and breaststroke and Troy Young took the 500-yard freestyle.

Clements

Both boys and girls basketball teams got wins over East Lawrence. The Lady Colts also beat Elkmont.

East Limestone

Boys and girls teams had sweeps of Clements, Elkmont, Ardmore, Madison County, Tanner, and Bob Jones. The Indians turned back Sparkman, James Clemens, and Madison Academy; the East girls topped Red Bay.

Elkmont

Boys’ victories came against Danville, Clements, Lexington, Ardmore, and Tanner; the Lady Red Devils beat Westminster.

James Clemens

At the swim and dive sectionals, James Clemens posted first places in the men’s and women’s 200-yard medley relays and freestyle relays, Lusiana Levan won the intermediate medley, Ashley Ahrens and Alec Benzek were first in the one-meter diving, and Beau Broussard won the 100-yard backstroke. At the state swim and dive meet, the James Clemens girls finished eighth in 6A-7A, with the Jets placing tenth as a team. Individually, Beau Broussard came in second in the 100-yard backstroke. James Clemens’ boys put up overtime basketball wins against Sumter Central and Athens; the Lady Jets defeated Deshler and Grissom.

Lindsay Lane

Lindsay Lane’s boys defeated Clements, Whitesburg Christian, Ardmore, and New Hope. Sweeps came against R.A. Hubbard and ABS.

Tanner

Both Rattler teams beat Clements and Colbert County. The boys have victories against Hatton; the Tanner girls topped Brook, Sheffield, and Elkmont.

West Limestone

West Limestone’s boys defeated Lexington, Vinemont, Lauderdale County, and Brooks; the Lady Wildcats turned back Decatur.
By: Tim Lambert
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