Spartan Spam 1-31-06

>>SPARTAN BOOSTER #306
>>January 31, 2006
___________________________________________________________

TODAY! TUESDAY, JANUARY 31
Varsity wrestling: GAC & Chamblee at Dunwoody 6:00pm JV boys basketball: Blessed Trinity at GAC; Bradford Gym

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1
No events scheduled

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2
4:15pm 7th grade girls basketball: GAC vs. Loganville at Jefferson Tournament 5:30pm 7th grade boys basketball: GAC vs. Clarke Middle School at Jefferson Tournament

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Varsity wrestling: GAC at Area 4 Traditional wrestling tournament at Oglethorpe County 4:00pm JV girls basketball: GAC at Buford 5:30pm JV boys basketball: GAC at Buford 7:00pm Varsity girls basketball: GAC at Buford 8:30pm Varsity boys basketball: GAC at Buford

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4
Varsity wrestling: GAC at Area 4 Traditional wrestling tournament at Oglethorpe County ______________________________________________________________
>BASKETBALL

COACH MIKE MITCHELL REPORTS:
The Lady Spartans had a big weekend of basketball with two region games
against Wesleyan and Providence.  The Lady Spartans gave a great effort on
Friday night but came up just a little short against Wesleyan, 57-48.  It
was a very hard fought game and the girls played with great heart and class.
  D’Nay Daniels was the leading scorer for GACS with 17 points.

Homecoming Saturday night was an offensive explosion for the Lady Spartans
as they beat Providence 92-57.  D’Nay scored 21 to lead GACS, and Bria Smith
returned from an injury to score 18.  All ten players scored as the Lady
Spartans reached their highest point total of the season.  We have one
regular season game left, and it will be at Buford this Friday night.  It is
a very important region game so plan on coming to Buford and supporting the
basketball teams.

GAC girls 92, Providence 57
NORCROSS — Greater Atlanta Christian (18-6, 9-3) rebounded from a tough loss
to Wesleyan Friday night to defeat Providence 92-57 in Region 8-AA on
Saturday. D’Nay Daniels led GAC with 21 points while Bria Smith added 18
points. Carli West led all scorers on the night with 23 points for
Providence (8-14, 4-8).

Providence boys 68, GAC 55
NORCROSS — Ben Landiss made 19 free-throws as Providence topped Greater
Atlanta Christian 68-55 in Region 8-AA on Saturday. Landiss led the Stars
with 24 points while Durk Stanton added 13 points. Reece Wiedeman led GAC
with 24 points.

WESLEYAN COACH'S HALFTIME SPEECH SPARKS LADY WOLVES WIN OVER REGION RIVAL
GAC
By Corey Clark, Staff Writer
Jan. 28 Gwinnett Daily Post

NORCROSS  — The message from Jan Azar at halftime was a simple one.

The Wesleyan head coach had watched her team struggle to a five-point first
quarter and a 20-20 tie with region rival Greater Atlanta Christian on
Friday night.

In the locker room, she asked her players a very direction question.

“We did talk that we haven’t lost a regular-season region game in like six
or seven years,” Azar said, “so I asked them if they wanted to be the first
team to do that.”

The Wolves’ answer came over the next 16 minutes.

Wesleyan (20-3) scored 23 points in the third quarter and then hit 10 of 13
free throws in the fourth to slip past the Spartans 57-48 and remain a
perfect 10-0 in Region 8-AA. GAC dropped to 17-6 overall and 8-3 in region.

So apparently Azar’s message was received loud and clear.

“She’s got a great way with words,” junior Sarah Delk said with a laugh.
“She got us fired up.”
Delk hit two huge 3-pointers in the third quarter and Anne Marie Armstrong
and Alison Watt added one each for the Wolves, who shot just 7 of 28 in the
first half.

Despite Wesleyan’s offensive outburst, the visiting Spartans remained close
thanks to the stellar play of forward D’Nay Daniels.

The junior scored nine of her game-high 17 points in the third quarter to
help withstand the Wolves’ push.

Daniels cut the Wesleyan lead to 43-40 with two straight putbacks early in
the fourth quarter, but the Wolves went on a 10-3 run to ice the game.

“They get after it,” Azar said of the Spartans. “It’s always a game when you
play GAC. They always seem to be close.”

She then added, “But this one was a little more close than I would have
liked.”

The first quarter was downright ugly for both squads. There were 12 fouls
called and the two teams combined to shoot 5 of 22 from the floor. GAC led
9-5 after eight minutes.

The game began to get into more of a rhythm in the second quarter, which
definitely seemed to benefit the hosts. Daniels picked up her third foul
early in the period and Armstrong came off the bench to score five of her
team-best 14 points for the Wolves.

“We were just committing too many stupid fouls,” Azar said. “Once we were
able to play smarter defense, we could run a little more.”

And after the Spartans took an early third-quarter lead, Delk buried two 3’s
to spark the Wesleyan offense.

“There were also a lot of other little things that helped us,” Delk said.
“And they’re our big region rival and they always play us physical, so we
expected that going in.”

Delk finished with 12 points and Le Le LeSeur added nine (on 9 of 10
free-throw shooting), but the key Wesleyan player on the night might very
well have been Carolyn Whitney.

The Georgia Southern signee didn’t even crack double digits, but she had a
terrific all-around game — let’s call it a quadruple-single (eight points,
eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals).

“I was extremely pleased with the way Carolyn played,” Azar said. “She
played hard and she got some key rebounds for us.”

Daniels, who had a game-high nine boards as well, was the only Spartan in
double figures. GAC shot just 8 of 20 from the free-throw line in the game,
including 1 of 7 in the fourth quarter.

Wesleyan boys 60, GAC 37
NORCROSS — Wesleyan picked up a Region 8-AA win Friday night by beating
crosstown rival Greater Atlanta Christian 60-37.
Howard Thompkins led Wesleyan (17-6, 9-3) with 24 points, 15 rebounds and
seven blocks. Tanner Smith added 16 points while Erik Strong finished with
13 points and 12 boards. Wade Weldon led GAC (10-12, 4-7) with 17 points
while Taylor Wood added nine points. [Jan. 28 Gwinnett Daily Post]

LADY SPARTANS RECORD (18-6)
--------------------------------------------
GACS 46-55 Marist
GACS 74-30 Chestatee
GACS 75-58 Shaw
GACS 75-35 Lovett
GACS 49-22 Paideia
GACS 81-28 Banks County*
GACS 57-51 Cartersville
GACS 67-12 Union County*
GACS 67-22 Rabun County*
GACS 76-40 Jefferson
GACS 57-39 Buford*
GACS 57-28 Walton
GACS 43-53 South Gwinnett
GACS 55-63 Spartanburg SC
GACS 40-38 East Hall*
GACS 41-25 Dawson County*
GACS 60-34 Chestatee
GACS 43-61 Wesleyan*
GACS 60-36 Providence Christian*
GACS 62-38 Lumpkin County*
GACS 44-45 East Hall*
GACS 51-45 Cartersville
GACS 48-57 Wesleyan*
GACS 92-57 Providence Christian*
*Region games (9-3)

VARSITY BOYS RECORD (10-13)
-----------------------------------------
GACS 60-47 Cross Keys
GACS 63-53 Blessed Trinity
GACS 54-47 Blessed Trinity
GACS 69-52 Banks County*
GACS 61-71 Union County*
GACS 96-44 Rabun County*
GACS 55-79 Jefferson
GACS 64-63 Buford*
GACS 68-54 Habersham Central
GACS 56-64 Mill Creek
GACS 67-36 Jackson County
GACS 65-70 Christ the King School (NC)
GACS 59-60 Marist
GACS 68-62 Westminster
GACS 60-75 East Hall*
GACS 54-64 Dawson County*
GACS 49-69 Chestatee
GACS 40-50 Wesleyan*
GACS 54-42 Providence Christian*
GACS 52-53 Lumpkin County*
GACS 74-98 East Hall*
GACS 37-60 Wesleyan*
GACS 55-68 Providence Christian*
*Region games (4-8)

BOYS CLASS AA
COACHES' POLL
[Source: www.gasports.com]
---------------------------------------
1. East Hall*
2. Greenville
3. Dublin
4. Lovett
5. Manchester
6. Buford*
7. Wesleyan*
8. Darlington
9. Greene County
10. Albany
*Region 8-AA team

LADY SPARTANS, WESLEYAN & BUFORD DOMINATE CLASS AA TOP 10

GIRLS CLASS AA
COACHES' POLL
[Source: www.gasports.com]
---------------------------------------
1. Wesleyan*
2. Laney
3. Model
4. Screven County
5. Dodge County
6. Holy Innocents'
7. GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN*
8. Buford*
9. Calhoun
10. West Laurens
*Region 8-AA team

JV GIRLS BASKETBALL

COACH TONY MCDONALD: JV Lady Spartans are undefeated at 17-0

Our JV Lady Spartan basketball team remained unbeaten with one game to go
this past weekend with two more victories. Friday they went on the road to
Wesleyan and won a hard battle 40-31. Then on Saturday at Homecoming
defeated Providence 53-41. The team was led by Anjelica
Wilcox, Chaney Means and Briana Jordan both games. The team returns to
action Friday nite at Buford in the last regular season game. Come out and
support the team Friday at 4pm @ Buford, in their quest to have an
undefeated season.

Tuesday our JV girls basketball team went on the road again and continued
their winning ways with a victory over Cartersville 51-30. It was a great
team effort, led by fantastic games by Briana Jordan, 14 points, 5 steals
and Chaney Means with 10 points, and 10 rebounds. Anjelica Wilcox, Heidi
Tabor, and Clarke Boards all had 5 rebounds as well.

8TH GRADE BASKETBALL

COACH CHAN MEANS REPORTS:
The 8th grade Lady Spartans ended their regular season a perfect 17-0 with a
win over the Buford Wolves.  Briana Jordan, 12pts, Clarke Boards 10 pts,6
rebounds and Chaney Means 9pts, 9 rebs. 5 stls.  The Lady Spartans will be
playing in the Buford Invitational vs. Jefferson on Monday Feb. 6th at 4:30
and then hopefully in the championship game on the 11th at 10:00 a.m.
.........................................................................................
>WRESTLING

COACH JEFF HARSH REPORTS:
The Varsity Wrestling Team wrestled in the Bowdon Invitational this weekend
as they head to the end of their season. Locke Hoover (103) came home with a
third place medal. Our next wrestling meet is tomorrow evening at Dunwoody
with Chamblee HS and Dunwoody HS.

Wesleyan tops GAC, Buford
NORCROSS — The Wesleyan wrestling team defeated Greater Atlanta Christian
49-20 and Buford 45-22 on Thursday.
Sam Bell (112), Brendan Patterson (125), Tyler Hediger (119), Jay Heslan
(135), Kip Thompson (140), Cole Watson (140), Michael Douglas (160), David
Kaszycki (171), and Edward Van Winkle were all undefeated for the Wolves
(20-12). [Jan. 27 Gwinnett Daily Post]

JUNIOR HIGH WRESTLING [reprinted from Junior High Announcements]
Congratulations to the Spartan Wrestlers for their fine performance at the
Upper Chattahoochee Wrestling Tournament. Spartan Champion was Patrick
Haberstroh. Second places were earned by Joe Clark-Kaziow and Bryan Savage.
David Davis and Matt Pulliam earned third and Chip Glaser placed 5th.
Congratulate your Spartan wrestling team on a fantastic season.

The Junior High Wrestling team traveled down to Woodward Academy Tuesday to
wrestle Woodward and Walker. In our matches against Woodward we were
outscored 27-81. Woodward is known as one of the best programs in the state
and they proved it last night.

Against Walker our team outscored them 23-18 to finish our regular season
record at 14-4-1. Congratulations wrestlers on a great season. Having pins
last night were Chip Glaser (90), Chase Crawford (100), Joseph Arnold (105),
Bryan Savage (167), Matt Pulliam (185) and having a technical fall
(outscored his opponent by 15 points) was David Davis (120). [reprinted from
Junior High Announcements]

2005-06 SPARTAN ROSTER
Name / Grade
Alex Davis  10
Andrew Classon  11
Andrew Deneen  12
Ben Golden  10
Ben Hixson  11
Chris Alston  9
Christian Fretz  10
Cody Davidson  9
Corbin Reynolds 9
Drew Schoepf  9
Locke Hoover  9
Mason Deal  11
Michael Phelps  11
Travis Elrod 9
Head Coach: Jeff Harsh
Asst. Coach: Bob Harsh

CLASS AA WRESTLING
COACHES' POLL
[Source: www.gasports.com]
---------------------------------------
1 LaFayette
2 Dublin
3 West Laurens
4 Pepperell
5 Lovett
6 Cook County
7 Toombs County
8 Wesleyan
9 Darlington
10 Calhoun

VARSITY WRESTLING SCHEDULE (*Home matches noted)
Today! Jan. 31 GAC and Chamblee at Dunwoody
Feb. 3-4 Area 4 Traditional Tournament Oglethorpe County High School;
Feb. 10-11 Traditional State Tournament
....................................................................................
>SWIMMING & DIVING

COACH KAREN BLACKMAN REPORTS:
Over the Homecoming weekend the Varsity Swim & Dive Team participated in the
Metro Atlanta Championships at Westminster. Over 1000 athletes from 52
different schools met in a no separation of school classification format.
From 5A to 1A, schools from all over Georgia sent their top 4 in each event
to battle it out.

The Spartan girls had a skeleton team, due to the conflict with homecoming
events, and they were not able to fill all of the events in prelims, nor
were they able to send any of the qualifiers back to finals; yet the girls
that did swim, performed very well.

Qualifying for finals for the Spartan girls were Ali Slack in the 50 free
and 100 fly; Jessica Pate in the 100 back; and the medley relay team of
Pate, Slack, Emma Eisler, and Annalise Peters. Patricia Williams teamed with
Pate, Slack, and Eisler in the 200 free relay to make the cut for finals.

The Spartan boys team had two out sick, yet they came together as a unit to
take 7th place over all at the meet. Three 5A schools came in ahead of the
Spartans – Chattahoochee, Centennial, and Northview, as well as 4-A Marist
and Woodward. 3A Westminster was the winning team, and the Spartans were the
first team of their division in the ranks.

Sean Frendt, Tom McArthur, John Toll, and Michael Hughes brought home a
medal in the 200 free relay, taking 6th place. The same four came together
in the 200 medley relay to take 7th over all. John Toll and Michael Hughes
both brought home 2 individual medals in the 200 IM and 100 fly and 50 and
100 free, respectively. It was a great meet that lends some insight into the
upcoming competition at the State Meet at the same venue in 2 weeks.
[reprinted from Senior High Announcements]

GACS SWIMMING STATE QUALIFIERS
[Source: www.gasports.com]

EVENT.....GENDER....SWIMMER OR
TEAM....GRADE...TIME...SCHOOL....CLASSIFICATION
200 MedRel F Greater Atlanta Christian Relay 12 1:56.47 Greater Atlanta
Christian AAAA-A
200 MedRel M Greater Atlanta Christian Relay 12 1:48.84 Greater Atlanta
Christian AAAA-A
200 Free M John Toll 12 1:47.82 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
200 IM F Emma Eisler 9 2:19.68 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
200 IM M John Toll 12 2:03.02 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
50 Free F Ali Slack 11 24.42 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
50 Free F Annalise Peters 12 26.07 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
50 Free M Michael Hughes 12 21.77 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
50 Free M John Toll 12 23.26 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
100 Fly F Ali Slack 11 58.13 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
100 Fly M John Toll 12 53.67 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
100 Free F Ali Slack 11 53.37 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
100 Free F Jessica Pate 12 56.27 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
100 Free F Annalise Peters 12 57.18 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
100 Free F Emma Eisler 9 57.65 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
100 Free M Michael Hughes 12 49.54 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
100 Free M John Toll 12 49.75 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
500 Free M John Toll 12 4:56.65 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
200 FrRel F Greater Atlanta Christian Relay 12 1:46.41 Greater Atlanta
Christian AAAA-A
200 FrRel M Greater Atlanta Christian Relay 12 1:34.48 Greater Atlanta
Christian AAAA-A
100 Back F Jessica Pate 12 1:02.33 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
100 Brst F Emma Eisler 9 1:10.64 Greater Atlanta Christian AAAA-A
400 FrRel F Greater Atlanta Christian Relay 12 3:55.20 Greater Atlanta
Christian AAAA-A
400 FrRel M Greater Atlanta Christian Relay 12 3:38.96 Greater Atlanta
Christian AAAA-A

2005-06 SWIMMING & DIVING SCHEDULE
Day / Date /  Meet / Type / Opponents / Location / Start
Wednesday Feb. 8  Varsity Diving at State Championships at Westminster
1:00pm
Friday Feb. 10  Varsity Swimming Preliminaries at State Championship at
Westminster 5:00pm
Saturday Feb. 11 Varsity Swimming Finals at State Championship at
Westminster 6:00pm
____________________________________________________________________

>SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW

SOCCER

SPARTANS AND LADY SPARTANS ARE AMONG TOP TEN TEAMS IN PRESEASON RANKINGS

BOYS AA/A
1. Aquinas
2. Walker
3. Savannah Christian
4. Savannah Country Day
5. Lovett
6. GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN
7. Brookstone
8. Buford
9. Grady
10. Providence Christian

GIRLS AA/A
1. Lovett
2. Providence Christian
3. Pace Academy
4. Decatur
5. GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN
6. Holy Innocents' Episcopal School
7. Walker
8. Wesleyan
9. Paideia
10. Aquinas
[Source: Georgia High School Soccer Coaches Association & reprinted from
AJC]

SPRING SPORTS: First matches
Girls lacrosse: Feb. 13 Northview at GAC; Spartan Stadium
Varsity girls soccer: Feb. 14 Grady at GAC; 5pm
Varsity boys soccer: Feb. 14 Grady at GAC; 7pm
Boys lacrosse: Feb. 17 Chattahoochee at GAC; Spartan Stadium
JV tennis: Feb. 20 GAC at Parkview
JV boys soccer: Feb. 21 GAC JV at Lovett
JV girls soccer: Feb. 21 GAC at Westminster
Varsity tennis: Feb. 23 GAC at Woodward Academy
Junior High boys soccer: Feb. 24 Walker at GAC
Varsity baseball: Feb. 27 GAC vs. St. Pius at Oglethorpe University
Junior High girls soccer: Feb. 27 Buford at GAC
Varsity track & field: Mar. 2 Pace, Paideia & Rabun County at GAC
JV baseball: Mar. 13 GAC JV at Holy Innocents'
Junior High track & field: Mar. 16 Marist & Pace at GAC

>FOOTBALL

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Walker takes over at Mary Persons
Jay Stone - Staff
Friday, January 27, 2006

Rodney Walker returned to the head coaching ranks Thursday, taking over at
Mary Persons High School, where he played under Dan Pitts.

Walker, 59, was approved by the Monroe County Board of Education on
Thursday. He stepped in as the Forsyth school's athletics director last
summer and served as linebackers coach in 2005.

"I'm very fortunate to come back and end up here," he said. "I've had a lot
of jobs, but this is one of the best in the state."

He replaces Steve Chafin, who resigned after going 63-31 in eight seasons,
8-4 in 2005. More than four decades ago, Walker played for Pitts --- the
state's second-winningest coach with 346 victories.

"I hope to have this thing on good footing," said Walker, whose career
record is 260-117-3. "That opportunity is there, but you don't ever say what
you're going to do. I just want it to be as good as it was in the past.
That's a good goal, though."

Walker was 48-19 at Sandy Creek, the school he left last April. The Patriots
had back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in 2003 and 2004, his last two
seasons there. He also won a Class AA title at West Rome in 1984.
__________________________________________________________________________

>THE BEST OF GAC ANNOUNCEMENTS [reprinted from
>www.greateratlantachristian.org]

Congratulations to Katie Coker and Pavle Potparic who were crowned
Homecoming Queen and King Saturday at a beautiful ceremony Saturday
afternoon in the Bradford Gym.

Mark you calendars for every Monday in January, February and March for the
JH Parent to Parent Meeting from 2:15 – 3:00pm in the Wista Worthen Meeting
Room located in the Student Family Center.

2006 SCHOOL CALENDAR

February 17-21 Winter Break
March 23, 25 Spartan Spectacular
March 31 Grandparents' Day (noon dismissal)
April 3-7 Spring break
April 28 Junior/Senior Banquet
May 5 Celebration Dinner
May 25 Commencement

See the school calendar online at
http://63.243.64.130:84/default/d01/01/2006?display=M&style=B&positioning=A
________________________________________________________
|
|                 KING'S GATE THEATRE
|
|  Feb. 10-11............FRESHMAN FOLLIES
|  Mar. 10-11............DINNER THEATRE
|  Mar. 17-18............VISION SHOWCASE
|  May 11-13............COMEDY OF ERRORS
|
| [reprinted from the GACS PARENT CONNECTION]
|_______________________________________________________
>SPARTAN PHOTOS ONLINE

Martin Photography link
http://martinphotography.morephotos.com/mp_includes/index.asp

Gwinnett Daily Post link
http://gwinnettdailypost.mycapture.com/mycapture/index.asp?view=yes&groupingid=2649

---------------- PHOTO GALLERY BELOW ---------------