Local Sports In Full Swing – Play Action Sports

By: Tim Lambert
Local athletes have begun their seasons since our last report, including football, volleyball and cross country. Youth fall soccer got off to a great start at the Sportsplex as well, with over 500 kids taking part, the largest turnout ever for Opening Day. The Athens Boys and Girls Football Association also had a successful jamboree to kick off their season with former Alabama players Kenneth Darby and Ahmad Childress in attendance to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.

Congratulations also go out to Emma Tarokh, who was recently selected as Youth Female Athlete of the Year by the Alabama Sports Festival Foundation. The award is based on sportsmanship, effort, attitude, overall athletic achievements, motivation and special attributes. The Athens Intermediate 5th grader and her teammates on the U12 Huntsville Futbol Club had participated in the Alabama State Games in June.

School sports summary:

Ardmore
Tiger pitcher Bill Williams announced his commitment to play for Mississippi State. The junior picked the Bulldogs over Alabama, Murray State, and MTSU. On the football field, Ardmore won their annual rivalry game with Elkmont 15-7, but lost their first regional game against Brooks 48-0.

Athens Bible School
The Lady Trojans began ranked at #4 in Class 1A in preseason polls and made a trip to Orlando for the KSA Fall Classic tournament at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports to play teams from New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, Texas, Florida, and New York. Since their return, the Lady Trojans have notched victories against Athens, Clements and West Limestone
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Athens
Athens’ football team had a promising 35-7 preseason win over longtime foe Russellville. The Golden Eagles’ regular season, however, took a downward turn with respective 48-11 and 35-7 losses to Sparkman and Hartselle. The volleyball team posted wins over West Limestone, Lindsay Lane, and Clements.

Clements
The Colts opened their football season with a 14-7 win over Danville–the first opening game victory since 2008. Regional play opened with a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to Colbert Heights. The Lady Colts recorded volleyball wins over Russellville and West Limestone.

East Limestone
The Indians took on Fairview in a preseason football contest and emerged with a 24-14 win. A cross-county game with West Limestone resulted in a close 21-19 victory. Mae Jemison dealt East their first loss, 35-0 in region play. The Lady Indians volleyball started out ranked fifth on the Class 5A preseason rankings and have defeated Elkmont and Brooks so far.

Elkmont
The Red Devils are struggling in their first season under Duane Wales; losses came at the hands of Addison (40-20), Ardmore (15-7) and Lexington (47-15). Early volleyball results include a win against Lauderdale County.

James Clemens
The Jets started out their year with a 27-7 preseason win over Decatur, followed by a weather-postponed 26-14 victory against Gardendale. The “Battle of Madison” with Bob Jones ended in a 40-14 loss, dropping their record to 0-6 versus the Patriots. The girls’ cross-country team won their 4A-7A division at the Brooks Invitational while the boys finished third and the JV boys were second. Volleyball wins thus far have come against Madison County, Arnold, Houston, Grissom, Spain Park, Sparkman, Hazel Green, Geraldine, Danville, South Warren, and Mountain Brook.

Lindsay Lane
The JV Lions cross-country team ran to a third place in the 1A-3A division at the Brooks Invitational. Wins on the volleyball court have come over Athens Bible, Clements and West Limestone.

Tanner
The Rattlers are 2-1 so far under new head football coach Maurice Belser, defeating West Limestone 32-20, in their opener, losing to Mae Jemison 45-0 and bouncing back in their regional opener with West End 28-10.

West Limestone
The football team started their season falling to Tanner (32-20) and East Limestone (21-19). Region play began with a 27-3 victory at Priceville. The Lady Wildcats cross country team won the small schools division at the Pepsi Challenge and followed that up with another victory at the Chickasaw Trails meet in Oakville.

Announcements:
James Clemens youth cheer camp will be September 16 from 8 a.m. till noon in the gym. Cost is $35. Participants will cheer at a James Clemens football game. For more information, go to the James Clemens sports page at www.jamesclemensathletics.com

The Huntsville Lacrosse Association has youth programs starting up on September 17. For more information on upcoming events, go online to www.huntsvillelax.org.
Fall archery registration is going on at the Athens Rec Center until September 30. Call 233-8740.
By : Tim Lambert
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