Oxford all-sports champ

Cleaning out the notebook: Jackets top County All-Sports standings; Saks rallies for Kilgore; Knop wins another tourney

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

As the biggest school in Calhoun County, Oxford has the biggest sports program. And now it can lay formal claim to being the best program in its own backyard.

For the second year in a row, the Yellow Jackets land atop the East Alabama Sports Today standings for the unofficial Calhoun County All-Sports Trophy.

Assigning points to their finishes in all the recognized Calhoun County Championships in the academic year, the Jackets topped the boys standings with 58.5 points, the girls standings with 63 points and 121.5 points overall.

Alexandria was second in the boys (43.5), Pleasant Valley second in the girls (60.5) and Alexandria second overall (97.5). Last year, Oxford edged Alexandria in boys, Jacksonville in girls and Alexandria overall.

The championships used in the compilation were cross country, volleyball, wrestling, basketball, tennis, track, golf, softball and baseball. Football was not included in the calculations because it does not declare a county champion.

The Jackets finished top three in all seven boys events, including a championship in baseball. The Lady Jackets won volleyball and finished second in basketball and softball.

Oxford beat Pleasant Valley in the volleyball title match and in the semifinals of basketball and softball (after PV knocked it into the losers bracket) for its margin in the girls race.

Oxford athletics director Larry Davidson told EA Sports Today in an interview last year the Yellow Jackets focus is on winning state championships. It can’t be overlooked, however, the value of being top dog within your circle of immediate peers.

Pleasant Valley principal and athletics director Mark Proper wasn’t disappointed with the results at all. It didn’t surprise him the school’s girls programs showed so well.

“You’re talking about a small 3A compared to a 6A; we’re very proud of that,” he said. “And especially when the majority of our area in all sports, boys and girls, is here within Calhoun County. The majority of our 3A region in all sports is right here within the county, so it’s a good indicator of how we’re doing comparing to the rest of the division.”

PRAYERS FOR ANDREW: The Saks football team was looking forward to the start of spring practice in a few weeks, but the Wildcats’ anticipation is muted these days as their thoughts turn toward the welfare of a fallen teammate.

Andrew Kilgore remains in the intensive care unit at UAB after being seriously injured in a car wreck near Ohatchee Tuesday. He suffered multiple fractures and will require several surgeries.

Teammates, classmates and friends gathered around the school’s flagpole Wednesday to express their support and prayers for the junior three-sport standout.

Kilgore has been a leader on the Wildcats’ football, baseball and wrestling teams. On the gridiron, he was starter on defense, a part-time receiver and long snapper. He was 40-7 as a wrestler this past season, finishing second in the County Championship at 140, third in the South Super Sectional and fourth at State.

His sports future is uncertain, but that’s hardly the focus at this time.

“Fortunately it is the end of the year and anything related to sports can be put on the back burner and everyone can focus on Andrew’s recovery,” Wildcats football coach Jonathan Miller said. “I hate it for Andrew because he is a great young man. He will definitely bounce back from this. He understands how to fight to overcome obstacles that are put in his path.”

Even during their time of concern, the Kilgores ask everyone to keep Jeffery Finley in their thoughts. Finley, who also plays football and wrestles for the Wildcats, was driving the car at the time of the accident. He was treated for his injuries and released and was soon at his teammates’ side.

“We are extremely touched by all the prayers, calls and texts we received from the community since this horrible accident,” Andrew’s mother Jennifer Brooks Kilgore said. “I think at one point we had close to 30 people in the ER waiting room. Coach Miller and Coach (Wes) Ginn, as well as their wives, have been in constant communication with us. We are very blessed and know that this situation could be much worse.”

WRESTLING WITH SUCCESS: Alexandria freshman state champion Christian Knop added to his impressive resume on the mat last week when he won his 182 weight class in a Freestyle/Greco-Roman Wrestling Tournament in Newnan, Ga., with four speedy pins.

Knop, undefeated in the high school season while becoming the Valley Cubs’ first wrestling state champion, won his matches in 0:34, 1:45, 1:38 and 0:20.

Two other Alexandria wrestlers, Aaron Whittaker (138) and Austin Erdman (113), who never wrestled the style before, finished second in Greco after going 0-2 in Freestyle. Whittaker, who told East Alabama Sports Today during the wrestling season, he was willing to put in whatever work necessary to be successful in his sport, upset a Georgia 5A state runnerup who pinned him earlier in the year during his run.

The tournament field contained 42 state champions from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina, and 11 national champs.

Knop has a full schedule this summer with events in six states. He is currently in a fundraising campaign to defray costs for a trip to a prestigious wrestling camp and tournament in Fargo, N.D.

2015-16 CALHOUN COUNTY ALL-SPORTS STANDINGS
BOYS
Oxford 58.5
Alexandria 43.5
White Plains 37
Piedmont 36
Pleasant Valley 35.5
Weaver 32
Anniston 30.5
Ohatchee 29.5
Jacksonville 23
Saks 22
Donoho 20
Wellborn 15
Sacred Heart 15
Faith Christian 14.5
Jax Christian 6

GIRLS
Oxford 63
Pleasant Valley 60.5
Alexandria 54
Saks 43
Jacksonville 41.5
White Plains 39
Ohatchee 36
Piedmont 35.5
Anniston 28.5
Donoho 22.5
Wellborn 18
Weaver 17
Jax Christian 12.5
Faith Christian 12.5
Sacred Heart 11.5

COMBINED
Oxford 121.5
Alexandria 97.5
Pleasant Valley 96
Whie Plains 76
Piedmont 71.5
Ohatchee 65.5
Saks 65
Jacksonville 64.5
Anniston 59
Weaver 49
Donoho 42.5
Wellborn 33
Faith Christian 27
Sacred Heart 26.5
Jax Christian 18.5

2014-15 CALHOUN COUNTY ALL-SPORTS STANDINGS
BOYS
Oxford 78.5
Alexandria 71
Piedmont 59
White Plains 58
Saks 56
Ohatchee 47.5
Jacksonville 44
Pleasant Valley 42.5
Weaver 35.5
Anniston 31
Donoho 28.5
Wellborn 26.5
Faith Christian 19.5
Sacred Heart 15
Jax Christian 8.5

GIRLS
Oxford 78.5
Jacksonville 71
Alexandria 65.5
White Plains 57
Ohatchee 54
Pleasant Valley 52.5
Anniston 39
Piedmont 36
Saks 35
Donoho 30.5
Wellborn 21.5
Weaver 20
Jax Christian 18.5
Faith Christian 13
Sacred Heart 8

COMBINED
Oxford 157
Alexandria 136.5
Jacksonville 115
White Plains 115
Ohatchee 101.5
Pleasant Valley 95
Piedmont 95
Saks 91
Anniston 70
Donoho 59
Weaver 55.5
Wellborn 48
Faith Christian 32.5
Jax Christian 27
Sacred Heart 23

GOLF
CLASS 4A SECTION 3 BOYS PAIRINGS
Monday at Silver Lakes

7:30 a.m. – Layton Bussey, White Plains; Stewart Miller, Oneonta; Paul Wynn, Cherokee County.
7:40 – Nathan Griffin, White Plains; Will Patrick, Oneonta; Caden Garrett, Cherokee County.
7:50 – Cameron McCareeth, White Plains; Colby Chaviers, Oneonta; Stone Alexander, Cherokee County.
8:00 – Colman Hayes, White Plains; Ty Hays, Oneonta; J.R. Young, Cherokee County.
8:10 – P.J. Sotelo, White Plains; Brody McGatha, Cherokee County.
8:20 – Jake Moore, Jacksonville; Cole Contris, Hokes Bluff; Skyler Langston, Crossville.
8:30 – Hunter Sanford, Jacksonville; Josh Jones, Hokes Bluff; Ben Wooten, Crossville.
8:40 – Braxton McFall, Jacksonville; Jeremy Black, Hokes Bluff; Colton Cox, Crossville.
8:50 – Casey Trull, Jacksonville; Matthews Jones, Hokes Bluff; Damien Hood, Crossville.
9:00 – Austin Goodwin, Jacksonville; Tucker Marsh, Hokes Bluff; Josh Davis, White Plains.
9:10 – Easton Jones, DAR; Kyle Cole, Sardis; Andrew Miller, White Plains.
9:20 – Riley Chandler, DAR; Clay Cole, Sardis; Eli Trip, J.B. Pennington
9:30 – Dawson Wright, DAR; Kaleb Morgan, Sardis; Jacob Hyatt, J.B. Pennington
9:40 – Tyler Troup, DAR; Daniel Rich, Sardis; Matt Johnson, North Jackson; Alex Pricket, DAR.

CLASS 4A-5A SECTION 3 GIRLS PAIRINGS
Tuesday at Chesley Oaks

7:45 a.m. – Layne Dyar, White Plains; Taylor Snow, Alexandria; Kiana Griffith, Etowah.
7:55 – Morgan Prickett, White Plains; Abby Stevens, Alexandria; Carly Campbell, Etowah.
8:05 – Hanna Dyar, White Plains; Allison Arenth, Alexandria; Miranda Nassik, Etowah.
8:15 – Lexee Cunningham, White Plains; Courtney Wright, Etowah; Jordan Pope, Saks.
8:35 – Dalys Mullican, Fairview; Emolee Milligan, Guntersville; Benyapa Thampibal-udom, Boaz.
8:45 – Maci Yeager, Fairview; Alyssa Bass, Guntersville; Morgan Allen, Boaz.
8:55 – Aladie Howse, Fairview; Alexis Smith, Guntersville; Madison Ray, Boaz.
9:05 – Ana Dahlke, Fairview; Josie Clay, Guntersville; Robyn Blakey, Leeds.
9:25 – Amber Bigelow, Hokes Bluff; Megan Reno, J.B. Pennington; Haley McElroy, West Blocton.
9:35 – Abagail Reeves, Hokes Bluff; Anna Rutherford, J.B. Pennington; Zena Roden, Sardis.
9:45 – Haley Stephens, Crossville; Ivy Roberts, Sardis; Taylor Loggins, West Blocton.
9:55 – Ary Rosario, White Plains; Valarie Yarbrough, Fairview; Katelyn Barnett, White Plains.
10:05 – Hope Bowen, Fairview; Hailey Tidwell, White Plains; Brileigh Roberts, Fairview.

CLASS 1A-2A SECTION 3 BOYS PAIRINGS
Tuesday at Silver Lakes

8 a.m. – Trevor McWilliams, Spring Garden; Austin Wade, Skyline; Holden Abernathy, Donoho.
8:10 – Chipper Shell, Spring Garden; Ryan Scarberry, Skyline; Buddy Ray, Donoho.
8:20 – Jacob Lecroy, Donoho; Chad Gray, Fyffe; Nicholas Sawyer, Cedar Bluff.
8:30 – Jack Svenson, Donoho; Mason Barber, Fyffe; Matt Wilson, Section.
8:40 – Ross Svenson, Donoho; E.B. Carroll, Fyffe; Colby Smith, Section.
8:50 – Robert Clausen, Donoho; Garrett Butts, Fyffe; Brett Shankles, Section.
9:00 – Harrison Hughston, Donoho; Eli Allen, Fyffe; Colby Shankles, Section.

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