Photos by Robert Noles
Top, Opelika High School athletes particpated in National Signing Day. From left to right, front row: Charlie Benton-Butler Community College, James Moss-Miles College, Jacorious Johnson-Butler Community College. Back row: Tanner Blatt-Troy University, Zo Bridges-Troy University, Courtney Allen-Mississippi College, Ryan Carlisle-Hampton University, and Kyle Fourtenbary-Western Kentucky University. Middle, the Opelika High School basketball seniors, from left to right, Kingston Frazier, Kyle Fourtenbary, Christian Torbert, Coach John Wadsworth, James Moss, Jesse Baker and Charlie Benton.
By D. Mark Mitchell
sports columnist
This week, seven football players and one track athlete signed scholarships to continue their education and play sports at the college level.
These athletes and the schools they will be attending are:
Courtney Allen- Mississippi College
Charlie Benton- Butler Community College (Kansas)
Tanner Blatt- Troy University
Zoe Bridges- Troy University
Kyle Fourtenbary -Western Kentucky
Jacarious Wright – Butler Community College (Kansas)
James “Spider Hands” Moss- Miles College (Tuscaloosa)
Nate Huggins (track) – Clemson.
I applaud each of these young men. It is a true honor to earn a scholarship, athletic or academic. These eight student/athletes now have an opportunity to get a college degree while playing a sport they excel in.
2016 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Carver, Columbus Aug. 19 (home)
Auburn, Aug. 26 (away)
Carver, Montgomery, Sept. 2 (away)
Chilton County, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. (home)
Benjamin Russell, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. (home)
Central, Phenix City Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. (home)
Helena, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. (away)
Chelsea, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. (home)
Wetumpka, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. (away)
Pelham, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. (away)
INDOOR TRACK
The Opelika indoor track team will participate in the AHSAA Indoor State Track Meet. The Dawgs are favored to win the 6A state title.
Nate Huggins and Ben Garner will lead the charge for OHS.
BASKETBALL
The Opelika girls and boys basketball teams ended the regular season in Beauregard last night. The scores were not available at press time.
The Lady Dawgs will Host their Area tournament February 11 and 13 in the Opelika Sports Arena. Coach Booth guided her team to a third straight Area regular season championship, going 6-0 in Area play.
The boys will play their Area tournament at the Russell County High School gym. The Dawgs finished second in their Area.
Both teams must win the first game of their Area tournaments to advance to the AHSAA playoffs.
TENNIS
The OHS girls and boys tennis teams lost their opening matches of the season.
The girls team consists of Sam Herring, Emma Grace Scullen, Emme Levins, Sara Hollis Smith T, Taylor Watson and Mary Bentley Barfield.
The boys team is made up of Kevin Lazenby, Andrew Bizilia, Scot Carpenter, Conner Pruitt, Henry Smith T, Andre Gross and Jack Slay.
WRESTLING
The OHS wrestling team will compete in the section meet this weekend. The team finished its regular season with a15 record.
Both the team and individuals can qualify for state meet.
I will have the results in next week’s column.
D.Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.