>>SPARTAN BOOSTER #310

>>February 17, 2006

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TODAY! FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Winter Break begins

5:00pm Varsity girls soccer: GACS vs. St. Vincent's High School at Savannah Country Day 6:30pm JV boys lacrosse: Chattahoochee at GACS; Spartan Stadium 7:00pm Varsity boys soccer: GACS at Savannah Country Day School; Savannah GA

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

3:00pm Varsity girls soccer: GACS vs. Evans High School at Aquinas High School 5:00pm Varsity boys soccer: GACS at Aquinas High School; Augusta GA 7:00pm Varsity girls basketball: Oglethorpe County at GACS; Bradford Gym; State AA Tournament

Note: The admission to the game is $5.00. Only pass accepted is the GHSA pass. The Spartan Booster Club card is NOT accepted at GHSA State Tournaments.

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>BASKETBALL

FIRST ROUND OF STATE SATURDAY AT BRADFORD: LADY SPARTANS VS. OGLETHORPE CO.

REGION 8-AA: FIRST ROUND OF STATE TOURNAMENT GIRLS [all games on Saturday]............

Oglethorpe County at GACS; Feb. 18; Bradford Gym; 7pm; $5.00 admission Westside-Augusta at Wesleyan East Hall at Putnam County Buford at Laney

BOYS [all games on Friday except Wesleyan]...........

Laney at Buford

Westside-Augusta at Wesleyan [Saturday]

East Hall at Green County

Lumpkin County at Putnam County

GAC IS 'AS GOOD AS ANYBODY'

By Larry Hartstein

Feb. 15 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution [photo below]

Greater Atlanta Christian coach Mike Mitchell has had easier seasons.

The Spartans lost starter Cree Nix to academics around Christmas. Their best player , D'Nay Daniels, went down with a knee injury and missed six games.

Point guard Bria Smith also hurt her knee and missed a few games.

But as they prepare for Saturday's 7 p.m. Class AA state tournament opener against Oglethorpe County, the Spartans are healthy and their confidence is high.

GAC (21-7) came out of the region final, a 62-59 loss to top-ranked Wesleyan, believing it can beat anybody in the state.

"We're real close to where we want to be," Mitchell said Tuesday.

"Especially after the way we played against Wesleyan Saturday night, against the quality of the team we were playing against, if we put it all together, I think we're as good as anybody."

Daniels' absence in late December and early January forced Kiki Swanier, Courtney Samuels and Julio Stephens to elevate their games. Stephens, a 5-foot-10 junior, eventually moved into the starting lineup and has become a matchup problem. Also a soccer and softball player, Stephens can outrun and outjump most opposing forwards.

"We always knew she had a lot of ability," Mitchell said of Stephens, who scored 39 points in three region tournament games. "She plays her role well, doesn't try to do more than she's capable of. She can put the ball on the floor and she's got a real nice shot. She does a lot of things well."

Swanier, a 5-7 junior, is a tenacious defender who guards the opponent's best perimeter player. She has shown offensive bursts.

Mitchell wants all his players to be assertive instead of relying too much on Daniels, who scored 21 in the region final. "I've never been one to try to depend on one person completely," Mitchell said. "Some people do a better job of using a great player. I've always tried to have a balanced team, a balanced attack."

The Spartans' increased balance and deep bench were evident against Wesleyan, as GAC overcame a 15-point deficit, even though Daniels sat for stretches in foul trouble.

Now, after reaching the quarterfinals the past two years, GAC is intent on going further.

Region 8-AA Basketball Tournament Results GIRLS 1. Wesleyan 2. GACS 3. East Hall 4. Buford

BOYS

1. Buford

2. Wesleyan

3. East Hall

4. Lumpkin County

LADY SPARTANS RECORD (21-7)

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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*

GACS 60-57 Buford*

*Region games (10-3)

REGION TOURNAMENT (2-1)

GACS 64-37 Banks County

GACS 59-50 Buford

GACS 59-62 Wesleyan

STATE TOURNAMENT

7pm Sat. Feb. 18 Oglethorpe County at GACS; Bradford Gym

8TH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL

Congratulations to Stephen Atwater, Bo Herbert, Taylor Hamm, Elie Haynes, Julian Horton, Elliott Long, Jake Mitchell, Terry Pendleton, Andrew Robbins, Kyle Speller, Cory Simmons, Carter Ward, Patrick White, and Trent Wiedeman.

These players are members of the undefeated 8th grade boys basketball team.

They went 17-0, their second straight year of going undefeated, and Coach Thames' second straight year of coaching an undefeated 8th grade team.

The boys dominated St. Pius on Saturday 52-14, taking first place in a tournament at Buford Middle School. The team was led in scoring by Trent Wiedeman, Julian Horton, Elie Haynes, and Bo Hebert. They were led in defense by Andrew Robbins Jake Mitchell and Terry Pendleton. The team shot an amazing 19 for 20 from the free throw line! Thank you to all who came and supported the team during this season! These names you will again as they are the future for our high school program. [reprinted from Feb. 13 Junior High Announcements]

8TH GRADE GIRLS BASKETBALL

COACH CHAN MEANS REPORTS:

The 8th grade Lady Spartans finished the season with a victory over Buford in the Championship game of the Buford Middle School Invitational. Chaney Means and Brian Jordan were selected to the All-Tournament team and Chaney was voted as the tournaments MVP.

The team finished the season as Tournament Champions and also undefeated on the season with a record of 19-0. What a great season for the Lady Spartans! Team members include:

Jaclyn Anderson

Madeline Barker

Clarke Boards

Haley Carroll

Blake Foxworthy

Briana Jordan

Amanda Komisarow

Emery Lee

Chaney Means

Alex McCall

Katie Stevens

Mary White

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>WRESTLING

COACH JEFF HARSH REPORTS:

"I’m very pleased with our performance at the State Tournament this past weekend. The guys did their very best and we had one come home with a medal.

Making it to state is a great accomplishment and all four (Mason, Andrew, Travis, and Locke) won their first match.

Andrew ran in to two great wrestlers, one of which made it to the finals at

189 from Toombs County. Travis wrestled some great opponents as well. He ended up winning two matches (Cook Co. and Model). Mason went on to win four matches at state (Screven Co., Cross Keys, Dublin, and Armuchee). He got a rematch with the Cross Keys wrestler who he beat to place third at Area. The Dade County wrestler went on to take second in the finals. Locke’s second opponent went on to win the state title. Locke’s third opponent went on to take third. Travis’ second opponent went on to take third at 112. As you can see, we wrestled the very best of AA.

Congratulations have to go to Mason and those that qualified for state. What a great way to finish the season! The team banquet will be held on March 9th at Winfield Hall."

CSS to Televise GHSA Wrestling

Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS) will televise action from the GHSA Traditional Wrestling State Championship in a taped program to air Friday, Feb. 17th at 12:30 p.m. The 2006 state tournament was held on Feb. 9-11 at The Arena at Gwinnett Center featuring the first time consolidation of all five classifications competing at a single site. This is the eighth season that CSS has broadcast GHSA wrestling, which first aired in 1999. The announce team of Matt Stewart and Gordon Pritz will deliver the move-by-move commentary.

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

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>BOYS SOCCER

COACH THOM JACQUET REPORTS:

Congratulations to the boy’s varsity soccer team for a convincing 2-0 victory over 9th-ranked Grady Tuesday night up on the hill. Sam Arthur scored twice, as the Spartans completely shut down Grady allowing only one shot on goal. The Spartans now will travel to Savannah and Augusta for the weekend and will play at Lovett on Tuesday night before we come back from Winter Break!

[reprinted from Senior High Announcements]

PREVIEW: GACS Spartans

Head coach: Thom Jacquet

2005 record: 14-3-2

Returning starters: Sam Arthur, Tom Ream, Nick Ramon, Roy Lee, John Strohmeyer, Matt Wolfe Other key players/newcomers:Matt Carroll, Taylor Wisted, Richard Klemm, Eric Fletcher, Chris Thomas

Outlook: Despite losing four quality players, including Ohio State signee Danny Irizarry, the Spartans’ powerful middle school program allows them to reload quickly. Plenty of talent is available for GAC, which traditionally fields one of the state’s best AA/A programs. Arthur is a force who had a school-record 24 goals last season. [Feb. 14 Gwinnett Daily Post]

GAC 2, Grady 0

Sam Arthur scored both goals for GAC (1-0) while goalkeeper Matt Wolfe logged the shutout by saving the one shot.

SPARTAN BOYS

SOCCER RECORD (1-0)

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GACS 2-0 Grady

>GIRLS SOCCER

PREVIEW: GACS Lady Spartans

Head coach: Troy Bendickson

2005 record: 12-6-2

Returning starters: Sarah Brummett, Gillian Potts, Sarah Gwyn, Whitney Adams, Kathryn Tarulli, Allison Turner, Julio Stephens, Sara Lindsley, Kristin Fredrickson Other key players/newcomers: Sammy Abrahart, Morgan Hall, Quincy Meyer

Outlook: Auburn signee Jennifer Johnson graduated, but a talented senior class is back for 2006 to join the Spartans’ impressive freshman class. The two Sarahs, seniors Brummett and Gwyn, combined for 35 goals and 23 assists last year. Also back is goalkeeper Potts, who posted nine shutouts. [Feb. 14 Gwinnett Daily Post]

Grady girls 2, GAC 1

Sarah Brummett scored on an assist from Whitney Adams to give GAC, ranked fifth in Class AA/A, a 1-0 lead early in the second half. GAC (0-1) also received a solid game from keeper Gillian Potts. [Feb. 15 Gwinnett Daily Post]

Lady Spartans

Soccer Record (0-1)

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GACS 1-2 Grady

>SWIMMING & DIVING

Gwinnett swim teams win 10 events over weekend Feb. 14 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wesleyan senior Caitlin Reynolds ended her high school swimming career with a half- dozen state championships in three years.

On Saturday, she swept the 500- and 200-yard freestyles in the Georgia High School Association's Class A-AAAA championships at Westminster. Reynolds won the same events last year after taking the 100 freestyle and 200 individual medley in 2004.

Parkview's boys won the team title, and Gwinnett athletes claimed 10 events in last week's competition, with the wealth spread among seven schools.

In the smaller-school division, Greater Atlanta Christian's Ali Slack won the 50 and 100 freestyles.

Champions in AAAAA were the Parkview boys 200 medley relay team of John Tait, Matthew Odom, Ryan Smith and George Partin; Peachtree Ridge's Aileen Cole (50 free) and Scott Royal (500 free); Duluth's Lexie Bryant (diving); Dacula's Abigail Alton 100 free); and South Gwinnett's Emily Roberts (100 breaststroke).

Wesleyan's girls placed third in their combined division but had the highest team total among Class AA schools.

The top 10 in each event earned points for their teams. Here's a look at team and individual scoring:

A-AAAA

Boys teams: 7. Greater Atlanta Christian, 93 points; 13. Wesleyan, 49.

Girls teams: 3. Wesleyan, 211; 4. Greater Atlanta Christian, 167; 37.

Providence Christian, 4.

Boys 200 medley relay: 8. Wesleyan (Stephen Durham, J.P. McLaughlin, Robby Atkinson, Andrew Crabill); 10. GAC (Sean Frendt, Tom McArthur, John Troll, Michael Hughes).

Girls 200 medley relay: 2. Greater Atlanta Christian (Jessica Pate, Emma Eisler, Ali Slack, Annalise Peters); 5. Wesleyan (Alex Bufton, Hannah Machemehl, Caiti Troyer, Jessica Landis).

Boys 200 freestyle: 4. John Toll, GAC; 16. Lawrence Buckley, Wesleyan.

Girls 200 freestyle: 1. Caitlin Reynolds, Wesleyan.

Girls 200 individual medley: 11. Emma Eisler, GAC; 12. Jenna Worsham, Wesleyan.

Boys 50 freestyle: 6. Michael Hughes, GAC.

Girls 50 freestyle: 1. Ali Slack, GAC; 6. Meg Reynolds, Wesleyan; 11.

Annalise Peters, GAC; 12. Alex Bufton, Wesleyan.

Boys 100 butterfly: 3. John Toll, GAC.

Girls 100 butterfly: 13. Caiti Troyer, Wesleyan.

Boys 100 freestyle: 8. Michael Hughes, GAC; 15. Lawrence Buckley, Wesleyan.

Girls 100 freestyle: 1. Ali Slack, GAC; 4. Meg Reynolds, Wesleyan; 7.

Jessica Pate, GAC; 11. Jenna Worsham, Wesleyan.

Girls 500 freestyle: 1. Caitlin Reynolds, Wesleyan; 13. Kaylan Campbell, Providence Christian.

Boys 200 freestyle relay: 7. Wesleyan (Jordan Dale, Freddie Akers, Stephen Durham, Greg Gossett).

Girls 200 freestyle relay: 2. Wesleyan (Meg Reynolds, Jenna Worsham, Katherine Rosenkranz, Caitlin Reynolds); 12. GAC (Katie Witwer, Caroline Still, Jennifer McCarter, Annalise Peters).

Girls 100 backstroke: 5. Jessica Pate, GAC; 8. Alex Bufton, Wesleyan; 9.

Caiti Troyer, Wesleyan.

Girls 100 breaststroke: 6. Emma Eisler, GAC; 10. Hannah Machemehl, Wesleyan.

Boys 400 freestyle relay: 7. GAC (Tom McArthur, Sean Frendt, John Toll, Michael Hughes).

Girls 400 freestyle relay: 2. Wesleyan (Meg Reynolds, Jenna Worsham, Alex Bufton, Caitlin Reynolds); 3. GAC (Jessica Pate, Annalise Peters, Emma Eisler, Ali Slack).

COACH KAREN BLACKMAN REPORTS:

Congratulations to the Swim & Dive Team for their accomplishments this past weekend at the AAAA-A State Championships at Westminster. The girls'

team took 4th place in all schools from all 4 classifications, and ranked 2nd only to Wesleyan in our own AA.

The boys' team placed 7th among all schools, and 1st in AA - reclaiming the AA plaque.

The meet was outstanding; the Spartans were peaked and ready to go. During Friday's prelims the team proved they were ready. Qualifying for finals in all but one event entered, the Spartans knew they were on their way to a great finish at the State Meet.

Taking gold in both of her individual events, Ali Slack led the team.

(Her 24.14 in the 50 free was an All-American consideration cut.) John Toll broke 2 school records in his events taking silver in the 200 free with a 1:45.41, and bronze in the 100 fly with a 52.80. Jessica Pate took 5th in the 100 back with a 1:00.56, as did Michael Hughes in the 50 free with a 22.13. Emma Eisler placed 6th among all breaststrokers at a time of 1:09.54. Pate, Hughes, and Eisler placed 7th, 8th, and 11th, in their secondary events, respectively. Annalise Peters took 11th in the 50 free with a 25.70.

The Boys' 200 medley relay and 400 free relay team of Sean Frendt, Tom McArthur, John Toll, and Michael Hughes took 10th and 7th in their double-record breaking performances of 1:47.05 and 3:26.43. (The record for the medley relay had held since 2000.) The Girls' 200 medley relay and 400 free relay team of Jessica Pate, Emma Eisler, Ali Slack, and Annalise Peters took silver and bronze for their times of 1:52.55 and 3:39.73. Katie Witwer, Caroline Still, Jennifer McCarter, and Annalise Peters took 12th in the 200 free relay with a 1:47.60.

The team gave it their all, brought home the goods, and had no regrets for a great, championship season. Congrats, Spartans!

ALI SLACK WINS STATE FREESTYLE

Feb. 13 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution [edited for length]

In the A-AAAA state meet, Wesleyan's distance swimmer Caitlin Reynolds also won third straight titles in the 200 free and the 500 free. Her times were the best of the day, regardless of classification.

Greater Atlanta Christian's Ali Slack won the 50 free and the 100 free, giving Gwinnett schools a sweep in the individual freestyle events.

The Wesleyan girls finished third overall and GAC came in fourth, while the GAC boys finished seventh in the boys competition.

>BASEBALL - Spartans are ranked in AA Top Ten

Class AA PreSeason

Coaches Poll

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1 Calhoun

2 Westside, Augusta

3 Cook County

4 Buford

5 Lovett

6 Dublin

7 Pike County

8 Brantley County

9 Jeff Davis County

10 GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN

>BASEBALL: Spartans will play at Turner Field

Greater Atlanta Christian and Wesleyan will play at Turner Field on Wednesday, May 10 as part of the Spring Baseball Classic benefiting Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

The Spartans and Wolves will play at 4 p.m., followed by Georgia vs. Georgia Tech at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. Seating is general admission. For information, call Joe Chapple at 404-663-9453 or e-mail him at Chapple@wpyba.org [Feb. 15 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

Game Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2006.

First game: GAC Spartans vs. Wesleyan Wolves at 4:00pm.

Second game: Georgia vs. Georgia Tech at 7:00pm.

Location: Turner Field.

Tickets are $10 each.

Seating is general admission.

For questions about this event, please contact Joe Chapple at 404-663-9453 or Chapple@wpyba.org

>GOLF

Assistant golf coach Steve Tufts reports:

2006 LADY SPARTANS GIRLS GOLF CLASSIC - SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION FORM

THANK YOU for your interest in the Lady Spartans Girls Golf Classic (formerly known as the Chick-fil-A Georgia Girls Golf Classic) to be held at Reunion Golf Club in Hoschton, Georgia on Saturday, February 25, 2006. We continue to have the support of the LPGA Tour event, making this one of only a few events in the nation where a high school girls golf tournament is affiliated with an LPGA event. In the first two years of this tournament, we had most of the best high school teams and players from around the state of Georgia. Several college coaches attended the event and there are several current Division I golfers that have participated. Nancy Lopez lended her support and actually met with several of the participants and their parents in the first year of the tournament.

We are proud to once again have the support of the LPGA Tournament Staff as one of our sponsors. We also have support from:

· Tufts Realty Associates at Keller Williams Realty, Atlanta Partners,

Sugarloaf

· Longhorn Steakhouse at Mall of Georgia

· Mike Stowe Golf Schools and the Junior Tournament Players Club

· Affinity Golf Partners

Please support this tournament sponsoring a hole or snacks or donating tee gifts or whatever. The fee for hole sponsorship is $125 and includes the

following:

· A sign with your logo placed on the tee or green of a hole.

· Your name listed in a handout that will be distributed to all coaches and

participants.

· A single page promotional handout (furnished by you) to be placed in the

welcome package. You may include a coupon if you desire.

Please make checks payable to Greater Atlanta Christian School and furnish the following information.

Company Name: ________________________________________________________

Contact Person: _________________________________________________________

Contact Phone: _________________________ Email: ___________________________

Type of Business: ________________________________________________________

Sponsorship Desired (Circle One): Hole Driving Range Snacks

Drinks Best Use

If you need further information contact: Tournament Director Steve Tufts, Asst. Golf Coach, Greater Atlanta Christian School via email at stevetufts@bellsouth.net or Mike Stowe at Mike Stowe Golf Schools at mike@mikestowegolf.com.

>SPRING SPORTS: FIRST GAMES

TODAY! 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 __________________________________________________________________________

>THE BEST OF GAC ANNOUNCEMENTS [reprinted from

College Planning Night for juniors and their parents will be Thursday, February 23rd, at 7:00 PM in the Campus Church Auditorium. We will discuss the entire college counseling process, senior class scheduling, hand out essential information for parents/students, and answer any questions you might have about the college selection process. It is extremely important to be at this meeting, both parents and students. Information will be tailored specifically to juniors, who are beginning the process, but the meeting is open to any high school student/parents who might wish to attend.

The GACS Orchestra Department’s is having its first major fundraiser! We’ve joined forces with the Gwinnett Gladiators (AA League Hockey team) to help us out!

Here are the details:

What: GAC and Stradivarius Orchestras will be performing The Canadian National Anthem

When: Saturday, March 4th, 2006 at 7:00pm-ish/7:35pm game

Fundraiser: We’re selling tickets for THAT game Ticket price: $16 How do I get tickets?:

All Orchestra Members have tickets if they’re out, then come by Ms.

Hequibal’s office or contact

Ms. Denise Barros at the Gladiator office at 770.497.5712 or dbarros@gwinnettgladiators.com

>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

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| KING'S GATE THEATRE

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| Mar. 10-11............DINNER THEATRE

| Mar. 17-18............VISION SHOWCASE May 11-13............COMEDY OF

| ERRORS

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>SPARTAN PHOTOS ONLINE

Martin Photography link

Gwinnett Daily Post link

----------------SPARTAN PHOTO GALLERY BELOW--------------------------- 1. Girls basketball Class AA State Tournament bracket 2. Kiki Swanier, dribbling past Buford defender, has taken a top role on the Spartans squad after injuries left several of the team's leaders stuck on the bench. [photo by Jason Getz/AJC]