On the Mark
By D. Mark Mitchell

Opelika High School held a signing ceremony for football and basketball student-athletes on Wednesday morning inside the football building.

The following OHS students signed football scholarships: Anthony Martin, TreVon Moore, Tori Roberts, Ty Robinson, Eric Thomas, Ja’Kai Stephens and Eric Watts.

Two Opelika seniors signed basketball scholarships: Kaitlyn Bryant and LaDajah Hughley.

Congratulations to all student-athletes signing scholarships! (Look forward to pictures of all the signees in next week’s issue of the Observer.)

OHS INDOOR “LAST CHANCE MEET”

Opelika’s Indoor Track Team participated in the “Last Chance Meet” at Birmingham’s Crossplex last Saturday. This is the last meet prior to the AHSAA State Meet on Saturday, Feb. 5 at the Crossplex in Birmingham.

OHS placed several runners in the top 5 in their respective events. The following is the top 5 finishers with the events listed.

Watts, 1st in long jump, 2nd in the 60-meter hurdles.

Kaden Cooper, 1st in triple jump.

Jarrell Stinson, 2nd in the 60-meter dash.

Dalen Tolbert, 2nd in the 400 meters, 4th in 60-meter dash.

Caleb Phillips, 2nd in high jump.

Lajaden Tolbert, 2nd in shot put.

Justin Shorter, 3rd in the 60-meter dash.

Dontarius Alvis, 3rd in pole vault.

Chesser Brewer, 4th in the 3,200 meters.

Tykell Thomas, 4th in the 60-meter hurdles.

Davian Jones, 4th in high jump.

Benjamin Royal, 4th in pole vault.

BASKETETBALL UPDATE

The OHS girls and boys basketball teams played two area games last week.

Opelika’s Lady Bulldogs (10-8) split games, beating Valley and losing to Eufaula. Head Girls Coach Devin Booth was hoping her team would sweep the two area games and tie Eufaula for the area regular season championship. Instead, Eufaula slipped by OHS, 55-51, to capture the area title.

Opelika’s Kaitlyn Bryant scored a game-high 16 points. Teammates LaDajah Hughley and Ashanti Thomas added 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Opelika blew out Valley 69-21 on Friday night, claiming second place in the area. Erica Matthew scored 16 points, Hughley added 12 points and Thomas scored 11 points.

The OHS Varsity Boys team lost its last area game of the regular season, 76-69, to the Valley Rams. The Bulldogs were led by Grady Bynum’s 19 points. Brandon Howard followed with 15 points, while Caleb Phillips and Ja Carr scored 10 apiece.

Both the Bulldog teams will end the regular season on Friday against Auburn High inside the Mainstream gym. The girls tip off at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow. Fans can listen to the AHS vs. OHS girls and boys basketball games, presented by the Orthopaedic Clinic on FOX Sports the Game 910-am. Airtime is 5:45 p.m.

WRESTLING

The Opelika High Wrestling team (10-12) hosted Reeltown and Prattville last week in the Mainstreet gym. The lone Bulldog senior, Adam Phillips, was honored prior to the start of wrestling (flip to B8 to see photos). OHS swept the two matches, beating Prattville 60-12, and Reeltown 69-0.

Top performers were 2-0 for the night: Jack Pritchard (195 lbs.), Brayden Wilson (120 lbs.), Keon Brazier (152 lbs.), Derrick Hoyett (106 lbs.), Ari Brogden (183 lbs.) and Logan Sheridan (145 lbs.).

Opelika travels to Auburn Thursday to wrestle Homewood, Russell County and Auburn High.

AHSAA, CENTRAL HIGH (PC) MOURNS THE DEATH OF WAYNE TRAWICK

Tuesday morning, I received a phone call from coach Ron Nelson (former baseball and football coach at Central High). Coach Nelson informed me coach Wayne Trawick had passed away. Coach Trawick guided the Red Devil football program for 25 years, winning 185 games and the school’s first State Football Championship in 1993. Phenix City named the football field Wayne Trawick Field several years ago.

Coach Trawick is one of the “Old School Coaches” and was successful at one school for 25 years. Trawick’s overall coaching record was 285-139-11.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 5, at noon EST on Wayne Trawick Field in Garrett Stadium.

DR. PAM FOURTENBARY NAMED OCS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

Opelika City Schools named Dr. Pam Fourtenbary the new assistant superintendent. Fourtenbary is currently the principal at West Forrest School. The OCS Board of Education will finalize the hire during its board meeting on Feb. 9. Pam and her husband Bobby have two children, Kyle and Kayla. Both graduated from OHS.

Congratulations Dr. Pam!

ON THE MARK

I have learned we may have some new high school football coaches in East Alabama. Look for these coaches to make his announcement after signing day, Wednesday. The two head coaches are proven winners and will be making moves to better themselves. Stay tuned to ‘ON THE MARK” radio show, 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays, on FOX Sports the Game 910-1310; Jeff Sasser and I will keep you updated on this and other local sports.