OPELIKA —
Opelika High School’s cross country team participated in the 7A State Cross Country Meet last weekend at Jessie Owen Park in Oakville, Alabama.
Brantley Turnham finished 14th in Class 7A, and was Opelika’s top finisher with a 5k time of 16:04.7. See the results below.
GIRLS’ 5000 METER RUN
20:59.40 – Paola Torres – 60th
21:30.76 – Violett Alcorn – 90th
21:40.87 – Caroline Couey – 98th
BOYS’ 5000 METER RUN
16:04.73 – Brantley Turnham – 14th
16:36.03 – Chas Brewer – 38th
17:51.86 – Michael Hart – 99th
18:21.97 – Trey White – 120th
18:39.44 – Zalen Shaw – 129th
19:15.60 – Zane Sexton – 151st
19:18.85 – Amari Bynum – 153rd
19:35.53 – Burch Harris – 157th
19:43.76 – Ben Bell – 158th
20:11.91 – Murphy Williams – 166th
AHSAA/AISA FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) and the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) are both in the second round of the high school football playoffs.
The AISA is in the semi-final round of its playoffs. Lee-Scott Academy (LSA) hosts Valiant Cross Thursday at Judd-Scott field on the LSA campus. Glenwood hosts Morgan Academy on the Gators’ campus. The Warriors and Gators were off last week, thanks to winning the region championship and finishing No. 2 in the region, respectively.
The AHSAA are playing second round playoff games this week. Locally, the following teams are alive: Class 1A Loachapoka (9-1) travels to play Millry (10-1), Class 3A Dadeville (10-0) hosts Thomasville (8-3), Class 4A Beauregard (10-1) plays UMS-Wright (11-0) in Mobile, Auburn (10-1) hosts Dothan (8-3) and Central (9-2) hosts Enterprise (8-3).
The Super 7 Championship will be held at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium (Nov. 30, Dec. 1-2). The Super 7 starts with the Flag Football Championship game at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 30.
This will be the seventh AHSAA football championship hosted by the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, Auburn University, AO Tourism and the cities of Auburn and Opelika.
AHSAA HALL OF FAME, CLASS 2022-23
The AHSAA Sports Hall of Fame committee selected 13 people to be inducted in the AHSAA Hall of Fame. Football coaches were: Paul Benefield, David Powell, Mike Robertson and Trent Taylor. Basketball coaches were: Tim Miller, Homer Davis, Ronald Jackson, Jack Steele and Lafayette’s John T. Woody. Administrators were: Steve Giddens and Charlie McCaleb. The old timers’ division included: William “Earl” Griffen and Mathew Jones.
Woody was the longtime boys’ basketball coach at Lafayette High School. Woody won 14 area titles, made five Elite 8 appearances, eight regional appearances and three trips to the state finals, winning two state championships (1980, 2002). Woody finished with 435 wins and saw Lafayette High School rename its basketball court after him as “John T. Woody Court.”
Congrats to coach John T. Woody!
The class will be formally inducted in the AHSAA Sports Hall of Fame in March of 2023.
OHS BASKETBALL
Opelika High girls’ basketball teams opened the season this week. The girls played Eufaula on the road but the results were not available at press time. The Lady Dogs play in the St. James Tournament Friday and Saturday.
The OHS boys open the season next Friday (Nov. 18) at Enterprise. The home opener for both teams will be Dec. 2 against Russell County.
CITY OF OPELIKA UPGRADES ATHLETIC FACILITIES
Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller committed to upgrade sporting facilities in his last term. The softball fields at West Ridge are turfed and ready to use. Fuller appeared on my radio show, “On the Mark” to talk about the upgrades.
“We are going to re-do the pool at Covington Recreation Center, build a new outdoor competition pool at the Sportsplex, complete the turf fields at Floral Park, including renovations to the property, renovating Denson Recreation Center, the playground at West Ridge and turfing the remaining baseball fields at West Ridge,” Fuller said. “When completed, Opelika will have some of the best recreation facilities in Alabama.”
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 910-1310, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.