Sports Editor Wyatt Meyer examines how CCHS fall sports have fared thus far into the season.
Football
Clarke Central High School varsity quarterback Lucian Anderson III, a senior, evades a Cedar Shoals High School defender during the Gladiators’ 40-0 victory over their crosstown rivals. The Gladiators have lost four straight games since that Classic City Championship victory, but safety Michael Campbell, a senior, believes the team can turn it around. “I think there’s things defensively and offensively that we’ve wanted to clean up and I think we know our strengths. We know what we need to work on,” Campbell said. “(If) we keep digging, then we’ll hit gold.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
Last year’s record: (10-3)
Record thus far: (2-5)
Star Performers:
“Jaylon Stone has been dominant on the front, (Dailen Howard), (Kendrick Curry), there’s guys everywhere. Lucian (Anderson III), and there’s just guys everywhere all around the field. We’ve got a lot of weapons.”
– CCHS varsity safety and senior Michael Campbell
Outlook: “Obviously, (it’s) not the way we wanted to start off, but I think we’re at a place now where we know what to do moving forward. I think we have all the pieces, we just haven’t put them all together yet, but I think this week we will, and then hopefully we just get hot and go into the playoffs with a five game win streak.”
– CCHS varsity safety and senior Michael Campbell
Flag Football
The Clarke Central High School varsity flag football team poses in the New Gym during the ODYSSEY Media Group’s Fall Media Day on Sept. 17. Flag football has never been played in the Clarke County School district before, which poses a special challenge to the team. “(We) don’t have a baseline to go off of, (so) every day is a learning experience, even for the coaches,” head varsity flag football coach Cherrelle Pass said. “We don’t have a (star player) walking in that’s legitimately played flag football. That’s unique within itself.” Photo by Aza Khan
Last year’s record: N/A
Record thus far: (0 – 0)
Star Performers:
“(Freshman) Sadie (Miller), (sophomore) Temprince (Battle), and (sophomore) Kyra (Wade) have stood out (through) their commitment from this summer. We started doing workouts in May, all of June, and then into August and September, so a few of them got 100% of commitment, so that speaks volumes.”
– CCHS head varsity flag football coach Cherrelle Pass
Outlook: “I’m really ready because we’re the first ones to ever (play flag football) in the Clarke County School District and we know we’re gonna be the best.”
– CCHS flag football player and sophomore Kyra Wade
Football Cheerleading
Clarke Central High School varsity football cheerleader Zy’keria Stevens, a senior, poses in the New Gym during the ODYSSEY Media Group’s Fall Media Day on Sept. 17. As Stevens has assumed a leadership role on the cheerleading team, she has emphasized bonding and togetherness. “We try to maintain the sisterhood, make sure the bond is still there. One goal was if we had any issue, (we would) just try to clear everything so we would get in the group and everybody would take their time expressing their feelings and make sure there was no bad blood,” Stevens said. Photo by Aza Khan
Last year’s record: N/A
Record thus far: N/A
Star Performers:
“It’s been cool to see last year’s seniors leave and this year’s seniors step up and be captain. I knew a lot of the seniors last year and I know (the) seniors this year so it’s been cool to see them kind of bloom into their positions.”
– CCHS junior varsity cheerleader and sophomore Demi Thomas
Outlook:
“Once we all cheer, we’re one. We’re one team, one sound, but we’re two different squads, so when we have varsity and JV cheer, those are like our little sisters, so it feels like a big sisterhood moment. Everybody has a good time, regardless if we’re winning or losing because we’re there to support the (football) team.”
– CCHS varsity cheerleader and senior Zy’keria Stevens
Volleyball
The Clarke Central High School varsity volleyball team poses in the New Gym during the ODYSSEY Media Group’s Fall Media Day on Sept. 17. The team has endured a difficult beginning to the season, some of which middle hitter Makaney Burnette attributed to the team’s mentality. “I see a lot on the court that once we get down, we start to play against each other and not with each other, which is kind of difficult to get out of,” Burnette said. “When you’re in that mindset, it’s not easy to talk yourself out of it.” Photo by Aza Khan
Last year’s record: (9-18)
Record thus far: (4-24)
Star Performers:
“We have Pierce Alston and Ashley (Elizalde as our captains) and so the two of them have just (led) in such a quiet way. Ashley is more of a quiet leader (while) Pierce is a little bit more vocal, but they’re both very consistent, they’re kind and they extend grace.”
– CCHS varsity volleyball coach Stacey Scott
Outlook:
“The beginning of the season was rough. We had to figure out how to work together as a team, (and) how to develop our own personal skills, because at least (for me), I don’t think my personal skills are where they need to be right now.”
– CCHS varsity libero and junior Sadie Eubanks
Boys Cross Country
Clarke Central High School cross country runner Ryan Marshall, a sophomore, poses in the New Gym during the ODYSSEY Media Group’s Fall Media Day on Sept. 17. The cross country team has consistently finished high in their meets this season, which Marshall believes is a product of the team’s unity. “There’s a really good team dynamic between all of the runners,” Marshall said. “Most people think of running as an individual sport, but in cross country, it really is a team thing. (We) are working together towards one goal and that’s a really big part of this sport.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
Last year’s record: 2 first place trophies
Record thus far: 2 first place trophies
Star Performers:
“Beck Wolf-Hardy and Max Carlson have pushed each other. Our returning sophomores and juniors are all really looking good, so Ryan Marshall and Luke Schliekelman are all really strong runners and we’ve got some new additions that are very promising.”
– CCHS head varsity cross country coach Erica Cascio
Outlook:
“We’re gonna probably try and go to state and then ideally we want to win regionals. I’m only a freshman, but what I’ve heard is that we’ve won the past two years. So if we win again, we tie Athens Academy for the highest consecutive (region) wins, so I think that’s the main goal for the varsity team.”
– CCHS boys varsity cross country runner and freshman Noah Kilpatrick
Girls Cross Country
The Clarke Central High School girls varsity cross country team huddles up before the Mountain Invitational at Unicoi State Park on Oct. 4. Girls varsity cross country runner Vivian Carabello, a sophomore, has assumed the role of team captain and wants to build trust within the team from her new role. “With the girls, it’s definitely a lot smaller.; the boys are a lot bigger. But for the girls, it teaches us to like you can’t count on six (or) seven. You might only have five runners, and you have to count on them and you all have to have trust in each other,” Carabello said. Photo courtesy of Vivian Carabello
Last year’s record: 0 first-place trophies
Record thus far: 0 first-place trophies
Star Performers:
“Brynlee Jenkins, who is a junior, and Ailynn Irwin, who is a freshman (have stood out). For Brynlee, (this is) her first year on the team and she may not be our #1 runner but she continues to run. (Despite) being sick and having a stressful year of school, she still comes each day to practice and as her captain I think it’s pretty remarkable. For Ailynn, she has adjusted to the high school varsity sport very well. She is a team player and always comes to practice with a good attitude and is an absolute joy to be teammates with.”
– CCHS girls varsity cross country runner and sophomore Vivian Carabello
Outlook:
“Well, last year we had a ton of seniors and they were fantastic. I think this year we’re trying to build up the team and not try to rely on the seniors, because, obviously, they’re not here anymore. (We’re) really counting on underclassmen to build this team. I mean, we love our upperclassmen, but we’re making sure that (we have a) solid base so we have them for years and years.”
– CCHS girls varsity cross country runner and sophomore Vivian Carabello
Softball
Clarke Central High School softball player Gabby Campbell, a freshman, stands in the batter’s box during the Gladiators’ 16-1 win over Cedar Shoals High School on Senior Night on Sept. 26. The Gladiators have played the season with only three upperclassmen, fielding a youthful side throughout the year. “We do have a very young team so there’s a lot of room to grow for the upcoming years,” Aubrey said. “I’m very excited about that as well.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
Last year’s record: (8-20)
Record thus far: (6-19)
Star Performers:
“Our star players have definitely been our shortstop Kaiden Bradford and our catcher Autumn Brooks. Autumn has definitely stepped up as a leader and, as a senior, she’s taught us.”
– CCHS varsity softball player and sophomore Peyton Aubrey
Outlook:
“There have been good and bad things about the season, of course. I definitely feel like as a team we have improved throughout the season, and obviously, there’s still a lot that we have to work on, but I’m still proud of the improvements that we have made.”
– CCHS varsity softball player and sophomore Peyton Aubrey
Story by Wyatt Meyer
Photos by Aza Khan
Photos by Lucas Donnelly
Packaged by Anna Shaikun
