OPELIKA —
The Opelika High School girls’ and boys’ tennis teams closed out the regular season schedule with loses to Trinity. The girls lost 0-9 and the boys lost 2-7. The two wins were from Drue Gagliano won his match in three sets (5-7, 7-5 and 10-8) and the doubles team of Jake Walters and Jake Patel won in straight sets (7-5 and 6-2).
The OHS girls tennis eam roster : Emily Bearden , Emma Brown, Sarah Bush, Lila Cook, Maddie Hankins, Addison Kemp, Lucinda Long, Avery Massey, Mailan McTier, Mary Cara Montel, Presley Mullins , Mamie Nicholson, Martha Pugh, Shirley Pugh, Karlie Smith, Joanne Smith T and Vera Smith T.
Boys team roster: Will Fuller, Drue Gagliano, Roman Gagliano, Gavin McGlade, Connor Mullins, Devam Patel, Jake Walters and Jacob Wood.
TRACK AND FIELD
Opelika’s Track and Field team participated in the “JD Evilsizer Panther Invitation”, last weekend at Smiths Station High School. The individual results are below:
GIRLS ATHLETE
PLACE SECTION RESULTS
100 METER DASH
12.63 — Haley Sanders — 2nd
13.46 — Tyra Pitts — 9th
13.61 Shaniyah Little — 15th
200 METER DASH
27.71 — Indiana Holloway — 9th
27.94 — Tyra Pitts — 11th
28.10 — Shaniyah Little — 12th
28.74 — Haley Sanders — 17th
400 METER DASH
1:02.39 — Indiana Holloway — 3rd
1:07.05 — Makiah Paschal — 10th
1:11.65 — Lathan Rogers — 15th
800 METER RUN
2:37.96 SB — Breckin Gould — 6th
2:38.77 SB — Paola Torres — 7th
2:44.14 — Margaret Bice — 8th
2:51.08 SB — Violett Alcorn — 14th
1600 METER RUN
5:40.82 SB — Breckin Gould — 3rd
5:58.17— Paola Torres — 7th
7:00.37 SB — Taylar Thomas — 17th
7:34.37 SB — Ellie Kendrick — 21st
100 METER HURDLES
18.32 — Niya Walton — 5th
18.97 — Cadence William s— 7th
19.49 — Aryel Crittenden— 8th
19.94 — Dasja Kier 11th
300 METER HURDLES
58.28 — Dasja Kier — 12th
58.32 — Cadence Williams — 13th
59.24 — Violett Alcorn — 14th
1:01.73 — Aryel Crittenden — 15th
HIGH JUMP
4-8 — Haley Sanders — 6th
4-6 —De’leah Huntly — 8th
4-6 — Kele Ferrell — 9th
4-4 — Kimora Rowell — 10th
LONG JUMP
14-10.5 — Morgan Watts — 4th
14-3 — Kyndall Brundidge — 7th
12-10.5 — Kimora Rowell — 10th
12-6 — Kele Ferrell — 11th
TRIPLE JUMP
34-5 — Niya WaltoN —1st
32-8 — Morgan Watts — 4th
31-1 — Kimora Rowell — 8th
POLE VAULT
7-6 — Sabrina Jeri Hansen — 2nd
DISCUS
82-4 — Trinity Rooks — 3rd
74-4 — Cherdi Daniels — 5th
74-1 — Kasman Moss — 6th
64-1 — Ashleigh Pitts — 12th
JAVELIN
90-2 — Emma McSpadden — 5th
71-0 — Lizavia Edwards — 10th
68-0 — Kasman Moss — 11th
64-2 — Morgan Watts — 12th
SHOT PUT
32-0.5 — Cherdi Daniels — 1st
29-8 — Ashanti Thomas — 5th
24-2.25 — Trinity Rooks — 13th
24-2.25 — Kasman Moss — 13th
BOYS ATHLETE PLACE SECTION RESULTS
100 METER DASH
11.49 — Qualik Harry — 9th
11.64 — Bailey Williams — 14th
11.73 — Jakori Thornton — 16th
11.88 — Charles Hodge — 20th
200 METER DASH
23.67 —Theo Hubbard — 8th
23.70 — Qualik Harry — 9th
23.72 — Bailey Williams — 10th
24.68 — Davian Jones — 23rd
400 METER DASH
52.51 — Kaden Cooper — 2nd
54.03 — Sam Washburn — 7th
55.41 — Brennan Reese-Williams — 14th
800 METER RUN
2:11.02 — Kyrian Moss —6th
2:23.09 — Sam Washburn — 16th
2:23.14 —Charles Brewer — 17th
2:34.07 — Michael Hart — 28th
1600 METER RUN
4:45.97 — Charles Brewer — 3rd
5:10.56 — Michael Hart — 11th
5:34.51 — Zane Sexton — 19th
5:41.66 — Zalen Shaw — 21st
3200 METER RUN
11:58.21 SB Zane Sexton 11th
13:01.89 Patrick Seymore 14th
110 METER HURDLES
15.25 — Tykell Thomas — 1st
16.38 — Theo Hubbard — 2nd
300 METER HURDLES
43.52 — Tykell Thomas — 2nd
45.96 — Theo Hubbard — 4th
48.17 — Jackion Drake — 10th
HIGH JUMP
5-2 — Jaxon Freeman — 7th
LONG JUMP
19-2.25 — Kaden Cooper — 4th
17-2.5 — Davian Jones —8th
17-2 —Kylin Fears — 9th
16-2.5 — Charles Hodge —13th
TRIPLE JUMP
42-2 — Kaden Cooper — 3rd
38-5 — Kylin Fears —6th
37-3 — Davian Jones —8th
36-10.5 —Jackion Drake —9th
POLE VAULT
12-0 — Ben Royal — 1st
10-6 — Dontarius Alvis — 4th
8-6 — William Garner —6th
DISCUS
132-0 — Mikeil Heard — 2nd
125-2 — Ajaden Parham — 3rd
95-6 — Anthony Edwards — 7th
JAVELIN
127-5 — Anthony Edwards — 5th
125-11 — William Garner — 6th
114-4.5 —Marquavian Johnson — 9th
85-2 — Brenton Williams — 18th
SHOT PUT
42-9.5 — Mikeil Heard —1st
41-6.25 — Marquavian Johnson — 2nd
37-4.5 — Anthony Edwards — 8th
33-5.25 — William Garner — 12th
SOCCER
Opelika hosted rival Auburn last Friday at the W. James Samford Soccer Complex at the SportsPlex in the annual “Soccer for a Cure” games. The two schools raised close to $3,500 each for East Alabama Medical Cancer Center, selling t-shirts, donations and the use of a portion of the gate receipts.
On the field, Auburn swept Opelika in the two varsity games, girls winning 4-0 and boys, 3-2. The OHS boys played the Tigers toe-to-toe before losing a close match. Auburn scored the first goal but Opelika’s Dexter Graham scored a goal with an assist from Said Rujuana. AHS took a 2-1 lead, only to have Moe Forbes score the second Dog goal for a 2-2 tie. The Tigers scored the game winner late in the game.
SOFTBALL
The Lady Bulldog Softball team (10-12-1 or 12-12-1 if you count the 2-varsity wins over SSHS Junior Varsity team) beat Dadeville 14-10 behind McKay Yountz’s grandslam in the bottom of the 7th-inning.
OHS scored 14-runs on 14-hits, including 4 from Yountz, 3-hits from Lyles, 2 from Jones and Thomas along with hits from Lee and Stringer.
Opelika started Jones in the circle but was relieved in the first inning by Stringer. Yountz pitched the last 5-innings, allwing 1-hit , no earned runs while striking out 7-Tiger batters to earn the win.
BASEBALL
The Opelika Bulldog Baseball team (16-8) beat area foe Eufaula twice last week, 11-1 and 7-5, improving their area record to 4-0 with two area games against Valley this week.
In game one, EHS scored its only run in the game in the top of the first inning. OHS pitcher JT McArdle earned the win, pitching six innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out four Tiger batters. Offensively, the Dogs were led by Harrison Long’s three hits, and two hits from “Tommy” Taylor Fields and Brooks Bryan. Paul Goodman, Bryce Speakman and Kidylian Ligon added hits. One of Bryan’s hits was a home run.
Opelika beat Eufaula, 7-5, last Thursday at EHS in the second area game. Speakman led OHS at the plate with three hits, followed by two hits from Fields.. Harris, Long, Goodman and JD Chase each added a hit apiece.
Luke Murray earned the win in relief, pitching the final three innings while allowing one earned run on two hits.
Opelika played Valley but the results were not available at press time.
MIRACLE FIELD / UNITY 5K VOLUNTEERS
The 2022 Billy Hitchcock Miracle League started three weeks ago. The following OHS athletes volunteered as “BUDDIES” during the games: Ahmad Butler, Jake Smith and Isaiah Tolbert.
KD Sewell, Tre Coleman, Tristan Hart and Roman Gagliano assisted the race organizers at the annual Unity 5K Stampede held at the Opelika Sportsplex. All of these young men should be applauded for volunteering their time to help two important functions.
THOUGHTS-DR FARRELL SEYMORE OHS SUPERINTENDENT
Current OHS principal, Dr. Farrell Seymore, was named new Opelika City Schools superintendent last week. Seymore started in the Opelika School System as a teacher at Opelika Middle School. Seymore advanced to OMS principal and was promoted to be principal at OHS.
I am proud that Seymore was named OCS superintendent. He is a Christian, family man and chose Opelika to live and raise his family after finishing college. Seymore has had opportunities to accept similar jobs outside of Opelika but turned those down to remain a Bulldog. Seymore brings a wealth of leadership skills and knowledge of the OCS system. I believe he will be approachable and willing to listen to parents and members of the Opelika community. Let’s face it, the head of Opelika School System is an important position and is a big responsibility … Seymore is the right man for the job! Seymore must hire several key positions quickly. A new OHS principal, band director and assistant superintendent are needed. Current Assistant Superintendent Ken Burton announced his retirement along with current band director Neil Sasser. Congrats Dr Farrell Seymore.
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 Youth Baseball state director.