Spartan Spam- 5-4-05

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Barney Atwater" <bsatwater@hotmail.com>
Date:  Wed, 04 May 2005 11:43:05 -0400

>>>SPARTAN BOOSTER #256
>>>MAY 4, 2005
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>>Sports calendar

>Today! Wednesday, May 4
4:00pm Varsity girls tennis: Lovett girls at GACS; second round of State AA
Tournament; GACS courts
5:00pm Varsity baseball: Lumpkin County at GACS; GACS’ Hester Field
7:00pm Varsity boys soccer: Cross Keys at GACS; second round of State AA/A
Tourney; GACS field

>Thursday, May 5
Varsity girls track & field: Class AA State Meet; Albany GA [link to
schedule below]
5:00pm Varsity baseball: GACS at Union County; Blairsville GA
5:00pm JV baseball: Holy Innocents' JV at GACS

>Friday, May 6
6:30pm Varsity girls soccer: GACS at Lovett; third round of State Tournament
Varsity girls track & field: Class AA State Meet; Albany GA  [link to
schedule below]

>Saturday, May 7
Varsity girls track & field: Class AA State Meet; Albany GA [link to
schedule below]
Tentative: Varsity boys soccer; third round of State AA/A Tournament

Directions to all sports’ AWAY games are at this GACS website:
http://gacs.pvt.k12.ga.us/Dream%20Weaver%20Webs/Athletic%20Director/Opponent%20Direction%20Template.dwt
________________________________________________________

>>BASEBALL

>Spartans can clinch state playoff spot today at home
By Larry Hartstein, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

After four straight region titles, Greater Atlanta Christian started 2-4 in
region play this season. It looked like the Spartans might not even make the
playoffs.

But programs with strong tradition — GAC has made six straight postseason
appearances — have a way of righting themselves. The Spartans ran their
Region 8-AA record to 10-6 with a huge win over Dawson County Monday, and
they can clinch the region's final playoff spot by winning one of their last
two games.

They host Lumpkin County today and then visit Union County tomorrow.

Coach Cliff Shelton credited a stout defense led by second baseman Andrew
Brush, shortstop Jeff Ordner and third baseman David Shida.

"I never thought this team would be able to play defense as well as they
have," Shelton said. "All three of those infielders are playing way, way
above what I thought they could. They work really hard, take a lot of pride
in it."

Pitchers Jason Cunningham, Landon Bennett and Daniel Kytle "don't blow
people away, but they keep you in games and that's all you can ever ask
for," Shelton added.

And in the pivotal 10-2 win over Dawson, now one game behind GAC, the
offense broke out. Scott Fambrough drove in four runs and Lee Chapple had a
home run and three RBIs. Cunningham went six innings for the win.

Buford, Wesleyan and Providence, which have clinched playoff berths, will
vie for the region crown this week. [edited for content]

>>GOLF

Coach Tim Vick reports:
Tomorrow Katie Tufts, Rebekah Osteen, Lisa Licata and Kim Moore will
practice for the Girls' State Tournament at Hard Labor Creek State Park in
Rutledge GA. This is a practice round for State on Monday, May 9, on the
same course.

The boys' golf team heads south to Vidalia's Rocky Creek Golf Club for the
May 9th Class AA State Tournament after winning the region championship last
week. Blake Joiner, Chris Gilbert, David Thompson, Ben Hailey, Patrick
Howard, and Pavle Potparic will be making the trip.

>>SOCCER

>Playoffs soccer tonight at home! Spartans vs. Cross Keys

>Coach Troy Bendickson reports:
Congratulations to the Lady Spartan soccer team for their exciting 1-0
defeat of
7th ranked Paideia yesterday.  Jennifer Johnson scored the only goal, which
was
assisted by Sarah Gwyn.  The defense, which consisted of Julio Stephens,
Kristin
Crute, Kristin Frederickson, Britney Harper, & Gillian Potts in goal, played
incredibly.  The ladies will be in action again this Friday night against
the #1
team in the state, Lovett at their place.  Please come out and support your
Lady
Spartans.  The time will be announced once we know.

>Coach Thom Jacquet reports:
The boy's varsity soccer team will play Cross Keys tonight up on the hill at
7:00 in the second round of the state tournament.  This promises to be an
exciting game, so come out and support the Spartans!

>GAC girls 1, Paideia 0
ATLANTA — Jennifer Johnson scored on an assist from Sarah Gwyn to give
Greater Atlanta Christian a 1-0 win over Paideia in the second round of the
Class AA/A state playoffs on Tuesday. The goal was the 33rd of the season
for Johnson, an Auburn signee, and the 99th of her high school career.
Keeper Gillian Potts led the defense with seven saves while the Spartans
(12-5-2) also received solid games from sweeper Julio Stephens and backs
Britney Harper and Kristin Crute. Stopper Kristin Frederickson also helped
hold Paideia scoreless.
The next opponent for GAC in the quarterfinals will be Lovett, which routed
Pacelli 15-0 Tuesday night. GAC faced Lovett earlier in the season and lost
to the Lions 4-2. [5/4/05 Gwinnett Daily Post]

• GAC girls 1, Paideia 0
Jennifer Johnson scored her 33rd goal of the season and the 99th of her
career for the Spartans (12-5-2) in a Class AA second-round game. Sarah Gwyn
had an assist and keeper Gillian Potts earned the shutout. [5/4/05 AJC]

>>TENNIS

>Lady Spartans vs. Lovett today at home in State Tourney!

>Coach Dana Davis reports:
Congratulations to the boys' tennis team who defeated Walker yesterday by
the score of 3-2. Our team now advances to the third round of the state
tournament which will also be played at home.

Our girls play Lovett today at home in the second round of state. Come to
the courts at 4:00 and pull for our girls!

>GAC 3, Walker 2
NORCROSS — Greater Atlanta Christian knocked off defending state champion
Walker 3-2 on Tuesday in the second round of the Class AA state playoffs.

The Spartans (17-4) swept the doubles with the No. 1 team of Dillon Loyd and
Jesse Kent winning along with the No. 2 team of Michael Hutchinson and Kyle
Walker. GAC also got a win at No. 3 singles from Chad Day. [Gwinnett Daily
Post]

>3-2 win for GAC boys
GAC improved to 17-4 overall with a 3-2 win over Walker Tuesday in the
second round of the AA state tournament.

Winners for the Spartans were Chad Day in singles, and the doubles teams of
Dillon Loyd/Jesse Kent and Michael Hutchinson/Kyle Walker.

>>TRACK & FIELD

>Coach Brad Kinser reports:
Congratulations to the Boys track team for winning the Region meet yesterday
at Spartan Stadium.  GAC finished with 162 points, and Buford was second
with 82. The team was led by Phillip Mitchum who qualified for the state
meet in 3 events: both relays and the 400-meter run.

This was the 4th Region Championship in a row for the boys.  The following
boys qualified for the state meet in Jefferson on May 12-14:

4x100 relay team placed 2nd--Hunter Treadaway, Nathaniel Brown, Phillip
Mitchum & Meko McCray
Phillip Mitchum placed 2nd in the 400-meter run
Justin Schneider placed 2nd in the 800-meter run
Ty Shelton place 2nd in the 3,200-meter run
4x400-meter relay team placed 1st--Justin Schneider, Phillip Mitchum, Frank
Bolling & and Eric Walker

>These Lady Spartans will participate in the AA State Track & Field Meet in
>Albany on May 5-7:
Erika Barton
Kim Isidahomen
Stasia Kelly-Taylor
Cree Nix
Chanler Phelps
Courtney Samuels
Cassi Sticker
Toria Strickland
Kiara Swanier

Here is the link to the GHSA website for schedule for the girls State Track
Meet at Albany GA:
http://www.ghsa.net/index.php?well_id=2&url_publish_channel_id=564

>GAC boys win fourth straight region track title
By Scott Smith, Staff Correspondent
May 4, 2005 Gwinnett Daily Post

NORCROSS — Greater Atlanta Christian’s boys track and field team continued
its dominance in Region 8-AA by notching its fourth straight region crown on
Tuesday afternoon at GAC.

After opening up a 31-point lead over Providence in the meet’s opening
events on Monday, GAC took first in one event on Tuesday and second in four
more to secure the title with 162 points.

“It’s kind of the old GAC way of doing well in track,” GAC head coach Brad
Kinser said. “We never have a lot of 100 or 200 (meter) guys but we always
kind of emphasize field events and distance running. It was great team
effort with a lot of third and fourth finishers.”

After qualifying for state competition in five events on Monday, GAC became
eligible in five more on Tuesday by winning the 1,600-meter relay in 3
minutes, 28.56 seconds while taking second in the 400 relay, the 400, the
800 and the 3,200.

Buford entered Tuesday in fourth with 26 points but had a strong day in the
running events by qualifying for state in four events to surge into second
place with 84 points.

Matt Pridemore of Buford, who recently recovered from shoulder surgery
earlier this year and a pulled quad muscle suffered three weeks ago, showed
he has recovered from his maladies by winning both the 200 and 400 while
Yvan Banag was second in the 100 and 200.

“I’m pretty excited,” Pridemore said about qualifying for state. “We’ve got
one more week to train and see what we can do. It’s been a rough three years
running track and I haven’t had a full season yet, so I am excited about
going to state.”

The Wolves also scored a win in the 400 relay with a time of 43.95 in the
afternoon’s opening race, an event that saw a Providence runner drop the
baton. That miscue cost the Stars valuable points that ultimately decided
the difference in second and third place.

Providence, spearheaded by wins in the 300 hurdles from Josh Singer (41.46)
and the 800 (1:57.29) from Kris Ward, placed one point behind Buford for
third at 83 points. The Stars also earned a state berth in the 1,600 relay,
finishing second behind GAC.

Wesleyan’s lone qualifier was Taylor Nilan, who won the 3,200 with a time of
10:08.92, beating Ty Shelton of GAC by just under five seconds.

The closest margin of the day came in the 400. Pridemore of Buford won the
race with a time of 50.97, but it was the second-place slot that required
use of the digital video equipment located in the press box.

Phillip Mitchum, who was also on GAC’s 400 and 1,600 relay teams, ran a time
of 51.89 seconds for second place. Review of the frame-by-frame video
revealed that he was just ahead of teammate Michael Hughes, who was third at
51.90.

The athletes qualifying for state will travel to Jefferson next Thursday for
the Class AA state finals.

>Spartans win 4th title in 4 years
By CHUCK O'BRIANT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Greater Atlanta Christian cruised to an easy 8-AA region win Tuesday in
Norcross, their fourth title in four years, almost doubling the point total
of second-place Buford.

The host Spartans scored 162 total points over the two-day competition and
were never really threatened. GAC had a 20-point lead over East Hall after
the first day.

The Spartans had first- or second-place qualifiers in five of the nine
events Tuesday, with a win in the 4x400 relay (3:28.56), and runner-up
finishes in the 3,200-meter run (Ty Shelton, 10:13.95), the 800-meter run,
(Justin Schneider, 1:57.80), 400-meter run, (Phillip Mitchum, 51.89), and
the 4x100 relay (45.10).

Buford football standouts Matt Pridemore and Yvan Banag provided a lift for
the Wolves, with Pridemore winning the 200 (22.90) and 400 (50.97) and Banag
taking second-place in the 200 (23.55) and 100 (11.28) meter runs.

GAC coach Brad Kinser spoke about the region championship after the awards
ceremony.

"This was our fourth win in a row, and kind of like the girls' teams, we
never have tons of team speed, so we rely on good field events and distance
runners," Kinser said. "And it was really nice to see that 4x400 team get
first place. I was really proud of everybody.

"We had a lot of third- and fourth-place finishers, we had so many people
contribute their best throws and runs the past two days in the most
important meet of the year."

Like others on the GAC squad, junior Michael Hughes competed in multiple
events, in disciplines as different as the pole vault and the 400-meter run
and estimated that he had helped contribute almost 30 points to the team
effort. Hughes qualified for the state meet at Jefferson in the pole vault,
the event that he was runner-up in at the 2004 competition.

Other winners Tuesday were Wesleyan's Nilan Taylor in the 3,200-meter run
(10:08.92), Josh Singer of Providence in the 300-meter hurdles (41.46),
teammate Kris Ward in the 800-meter run (1:57.29), Allen Woerner of Rabun
County in the 110-meter hurdles (15.40) and Keldrick Coleman in the
100-meter dash (11.27).

REGION 8-AA BOYS CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Individual results (top two advance to state)

4x100 relay: Buford 'A' 43.95; Greater Atlanta Christian 'A' 45.10.
400-meter dash: Matt Pridemore, Buford, 50.97; Phillip Mitchum, GAC, 51.89.
100-meter dash: Keldrick Coleman, East Hall, 11.27; Yvan Banag, Buford,
11.28.
110-meter hurdles: Allen Woerner, Rabun County, 15.40; Michael Cabe, Rabun
County, 15.71.
800-meter run: Kris Ward, Providence Christian, 1:57.29; Justin Schneider,
GAC, 1:57.80.
200-meter dash: Matt Pridemore, Buford, 22.90; Yvan Banag, Buford, 23.55.
300-meter hurdles: Josh Singer, Providence Christian, 41.46; Allen Woerner,
Rabun County, 42.61.
3,200-run: Taylor Nilan, Wesleyan, 10:08.92; Ty Shelton, GAC, 10:13.95.
4x400-meter relay: Greater Atlanta Christian 'A' 3:28.56; Providence
Christian 'A' 3:32.10.

Final team results:
1. Greater Atlanta Christian 162
2. Buford 84
3. Providence Christian 83
4. East Hall 62
5. Wesleyan 44
6. Rabun County 33.5
7. Dawson County 20
8. Lumpkin County 7.5.

>>FOOTBALL

>2005 Varsity Football Schedule

Aug. 19 Open Date
Aug. 26 Westminster at GAC
Sep. 2  GAC at Dawson Co.
Sep. 9  Wesleyan at GAC
Sep. 16 GAC at Banks Co.
Sep. 23 GAC at Blessed Trinity
Sep. 30 Rabun Co. at GAC
Oct. 7  GAC at Union Co.
Oct. 14 Lumpkin Co. at GAC
Oct. 21 GAC at Buford
Oct. 28 East Hall at GAC
Nov. 4  State Playoffs begin