Sports

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy A number of local athletes medaled at the Gadsden City Kickoff track and field meet on March 4 at GCHS. The host Titans and Sardis both earned eight gold medals. The GCHS girls and Sardis boys each had six first-place showings. The top individual gold medal earner was Sardis’

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy Southside and Hokes Bluff opened the Etowah County Schools baseball tournament on Thursday, Feb. 4, with victories at West End. The Panthers defeated Gaston, 20-1, followed by a 3-1 win over Sardis. For Southside, Drew McBurnettt had three hits and four RBI; Michael Rich, Jr., had three hits and

By Marty Dixon/Staff Correspondent It has been quite a while since my last column. Since the last time we got together, I’ve suffered through a stomach virus and COVID-19, so my number of trips out on the water have been limited, to say the least. The cold weather and rain have not helped much since

Staff photo by C Chris McCarthy By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Southside’s search for a head football coach ended last Tuesday (March 2) in Gadsden. Miles Holcomb was hired as the school’s 28th football coach at the Etowah County Schools Board of Education meeting last. Holcomb (pictured above) replaces Gary Nelson, who resigned earlier this year after

Photo by Chris McCarthy/Messenger By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Derrick Sewell is back in town. The former Gaston High School head baseball coach and assistant football coach was hired as West End head football coach at the Etowah County Schools Board of Education meeting last Tuesday (March 2) in Gadsden. Sewell spent the past three seasons as

Photo: Westbrook Christian senior Jackson Bowman (seated at center) signed a golf scholarship with Birmingham Southern College on Feb. 24. Pictured with Jackson are dad Jay and mom Jennifer.   By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Jackson Bowman’s future is set for the next four years. On February 24, the Westbrook Christian senior signed a letter of intent to

Photo: Four Southside High School seniors signed college scholarships on February 17. Pictured from left: Will Warwick (Lindsay Wilson College, football), Garrett Orr (Faulkner University, football), Michael Rich (Murray State, football) and Jennifer Clontz (Martin Methodist, bowling). (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Four Southside High School seniors signed college scholarships on February 17. Will Warwick

Submitted photo  By Cole Frederick/Staff Correspondent Southside High senior Jacob Dease captured his third individual state championship on Saturday (Feb. 20) at the Class 5A/6A state wrestling tournament in Huntsville. Dease defeated Jasper’s Manley Havis in the championship match of the 132-pound division, and their match was tabbed as the best match of the entire

Photo: Coosa Christian’s Chloe Davidson (3) blocks the shot attempt of Decatur Heritage’s Elizabeth Wilson during the Lady Conquerors’ 71-42 loss in the Class 1A Northeast Regional Tournament semifinals last Saturday (Feb. 20) in Gadsden. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Coming into the Northeast Regional semifinals, the Coosa Christian girls basketball team had not lost

Photo courtesy of JSU 2017 Hokes Bluff High School graduate and Jacksonville State University senior Tylynn Register closed out JSU’s 2021 indoor track and field season in historic fashion. At the Bulldog Open this past weekend at Samford University in Birmingham, Register set a new school record in the 60-meter hurdles event. Her fourth-place time

Submitted photo  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The 2003 Ashville High baseball team’s 18-year run as the school’s reigning state champion ended last Saturday (Feb. 13) in Montgomery. Sparked by solid performances in the preliminary, consolation and semifinal rounds, the Bulldogs capped their season with the Class1A/4A state championship at Garrett Coliseum. Ashville finished with 174 points,

Photo: Coosa Christian’s Bella Millirons (left) protects the ball from Appalachian’s Ella Cleveland during the Lady Conquerors’ 64-43 victory in the Class 1A subregional playoffs last Monday (Feb. 22) in Gadsden. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor For the first time in four years, the Coosa Christian girls basketball team will participate in the Northeast Regional

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The six Etowah County Schools head football coaches recently released the All-County football team for the 2020 season. Southside High senior Michael Rich, Jr., (pictured above) was selected as the team’s Overall MVP. Rich, who committed to Murray State last fall, was 140 of 238 in

Photo: Etowah High’s Ollie Finch (15) and Steven Jones (23) battle Cherokee County’s Naz Diamond for a rebound during the Blue Devils’ 75-52 victory in the Class 4A Area 10 Tournament semifinals in boys basketball last Wednesday (Feb. 10). (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor James Graves could not have asked for better timing for his

Photo: Ashville High School senior Meghan McCarthy recently signed a letter of intent to run cross country at the University of North Alabama in Florence. Pictured, sitting from left: Meghan’s sister Kathleen, Meghan, Meghan’s mom Kristi. Standing, from left: Meghan’s dad Chris, AHS cross country coach Michele Rogers, AHS athletic director Shea Monroe. (Courtesy of

Photo: Coosa Christian’s Chloe Davidson (left) moves against Faith Christian’s Erin McVeigh during the Lady Conquerors’ 62-46 victory in the semifinals of the Class 1A, Area 10 Tournament in girls basketball last Tuesday (Feb. 9) in Gadsden. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Scoring only four points in the fourth quarter might be an issue for most

Photo: The Ashville High girls 4×800-relay team of Callie Stewart, Meghan McCarthy, Kathleen McCarthy and Emma Drinkard (pictured, clockwise, from left) display their bronze medals after finishing third at the Class 4A/5A AHSAA state indoor track and field meet on Feb. 5 in Birmingham. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy/Publisher/Editor After not competing for almost two

Photo: Westbrook Christian senior Hall Boulware (center) signed a football scholarship with Troy University on Feb. 10 in Rainbow City. Pictured with Hall is dad Thomas and mom Susie. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor On February 10 in Rainbow City, Westbrook Christian senior Hall Boulware received the ultimate compliment for a high school student-athlete. “This

Photo: Hokes Bluff High soccer coach John Gibbs addresses his team following a recent practice. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor After several years of planning, fundraising and field clearing, Hokes Bluff High School will finally field boys and girls varsity soccer teams this spring. According to head coach John Gibbs, the boys’ roster includes 26

Girls Class 7A 1. Hoover 2. Vestavia Hills 3. Hewitt-Trussville 4. Foley 5. Spain Park 6. Auburn 7. Sparkman 8. Austin 9. Fairhope 10. Theodore Class 6A 1. Hazel Green 2. McGill-Toolen Catholic 3. Hartselle 4. Eufaula 5. Athens 6. Mortimer Jordan 7. Northridge 8. Buckhorn 9. Chelsea 10. Madison Academy Class 5A 1. Central-Tuscaloosa

Photo: Etowah High’s Kynzlon Gibbs (left) and Mallorie Humphrey display their all-state plaques following the Lady Blue Devils’ loss in the semifinals of the Class 1A/5A girls’ state bowling tournament on January 28 at Oak Mountain Lanes in Pelham. (Submitted photo) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Etowah High girls bowling team raised some eyebrows last week

Photo: Southside High’s Cora Lee Clontz (left) and Jessica Clontz display their all-state medals following the Lady Panthers loss in the quarterfinal round of the Class 6A/7A girls state bowling tournament on Jan. 29 in Pelham. (Submitted photo) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor For the first time in five years, the Southside High girls bowling team did

Photo: Southside High’s Luke Holcombe (pictured at center) competes in the 1600-meter run event during the Last Chance Invitational indoor track and field meet on January 29 at the Birmingham CrossPlex. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  Five Gadsden City student-athletes medaled and several other local runners posted top 10 performances at the Last Chance Invitational indoor track and

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy Released January 28 GIRLS Class 7A 1. Hoover 2. Vestavia Hills 3. Hewitt-Trussville 4. Foley 5. Spain Park 6. Auburn 7. Theodore 8. Sparkman 9. Austin 10. Baker Class 6A 1. Hazel Green 2. Eufaula 3. McGill-Toolen 4. Hartselle 5. Athens 6. Buckhorn 7. Northridge 8. Mortimer Jordan 9.

The Etowah and Southside girls bowling teams both finished runner at the AHSAA North Region Bowling Tournament last week at Vestavia Bowl. Both teams will compete in the state tournament this week at Oak Mountain Lanes in Pelham. On Thursday (Jan. 28), North No. 2 seed Etowah faces South No. 3 seed Houston Academy in

Photo: Ashville High’s Nick Spears (top) competes against Cleburne County’s Ronin Brower in the 136-pound match during the Class 1A/4A Wrestling Duals Tournament championship match last Friday (Jan. 22) in Birmingham. (Courtesy of Sera Beth Potter) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Ashville High came up just short in capturing its first-ever AHSAA Wrestling Duals Tournament championship last

Photo: West End’s Isaiah Roberson (11) drives to the basket as Southside’s Hunter Sitz looks on during the Panthers’ 53-36 victory in the Etowah County Schools Basketball Tournament boys championship last Friday (Jan. 22) at Glencoe. (Photo by Alex Chaney) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor For Southside High boys head basketball coach Chad Holderfield, winning a second

Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Kyleigh Blackwell drives against Southside’s Kynsey Marble during the Lady Eagles’ 53-46 victory in the Etowah County Schools Tournament girl championship game last Friday (Jan. 22) at Glencoe. (Courtesy of Alex Chaney) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Hokes Bluff girls basketball coach Evan Talbot used one word to describe the reason behind his team’s

Photo: Sardis’ Lily Underwood (3) grabs a rebound in front of Southside’s Sydney Yancey during the Lady Panthers’ 42-33 victory in the Etowah County Schools Basketball Tournament girls semifinals on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at Glencoe High School. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor In a tight and physical game against Sardis in the Etowah County Schools

Photo: Southside’s Taylor Carr (12) goes in for a layup as Sardis’ Dylan Holcomb looks on during the Panthers’ 62-29 win in the Etowah County Schools Basketball Tournament boys semifinals on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at Glencoe High School. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Southside made short work of Sardis in the Etowah County Schools Basketball