Boys doubles, singles set to compete for State Championship

By: Tyler Lee and Kirk McCarty

Staff Reporters

This year has been a rebuilding year for the tennis team after losing most of the team to graduation last year. All of the underclassmen got plenty of playing time this year, so the future is bright for the program. The Warriors won four matches this year, which included two against Hattiesburg High School and Meridian High School. The Warriors’ wins against Hattiesburg came on March 26 at Tatum Park, the home site for the Warriors.  An additional win against Hattiesburg came on April 2 at Kamper Park. The other wins came against Meridian in an away match on March 28 and a home match on April 4.

The 2013 Warrior tennis team will be heading to State next week. The Warriors are sending doubles partners John Lewis Neese and MacAlister Parker and singles player Eric Swisher. The Warriors are looking to capture their first doubles title since Ben and Brock Hurston’s win a few years ago.

Swisher has signed with Jones County Junior College to continue his tennis career through college. Head coach Zane Thomas said, “Eric is a life-long tennis guy. He is dedicated to the game and will be successful at the next level.”

Lewis and Parker were ranked number one in the state prior to being defeated by Gulfport’s doubles team by a score 6-2, 7-6. The team dropped to the tenth seed for the 16-team state tournament. Neese is extremely confident in his chances of a state title. “Go ahead and make room in the trophy case because we’re bringing it for the boys back home,” Neese said.

The first year under Coach Zane Thomas was a success in the eyes of the players. MacAlister Parker said, “Coach Thomas brought enough raw emotion for the whole team.” Thomas won’t be returning as coach for the 2014 season due to accepting a football coaching position at Madison Central. “The athletic programs at Oak Grove are second to none, and the tennis program is no exception.” Coach Thomas said. “I really enjoyed seeing these kids compete this season. It was really different than coaching a contact sport like I’m used to with football. I’m going to miss this group.”

Softball team preps for South State

By: Samantha Papp

Staff Reporter

After a rather disappointing 2012 season, the Lady Warriors fast-pitch softball team is back with a vengeance.  The Lady Warriors spent the 2013 regular season honing their defensive and offensive skills and preparing themselves for playoffs.  After finishing the regular season with a 21-4 record and sweeping both D’Iberville and Brandon in the early rounds of playoffs, the Lady Warriors are feeling confident about their chances at success this season.

“We’ve got a little bit different mindset this year,” head coach Gary Ivy said.  “We’ve had trouble closing the deal over the last couple years.  I think we’ve worked on the mental approach, and hopefully, we’re prepared to finish it for a chance.”

The Lady Warriors have put up impressive numbers this season, finishing the regular season with a team batting average of .412.  Prior to playoffs, seven of the nine starting players were batting over .350.  The two varsity pitchers, senior Payton Sheffield and junior Mahalia Gibson, had an earned run average of 1.43, and opposing teams only scored 28 earned runs in the entire regular season.

In 2012, the Lady Warriors lost to Harrison Central in the third round of playoffs.  After winning the first game of the best of three series, the Lady Warriors lost games two and three by scores of 6-5 and 8-5, respectively.  However, the team is not planning on letting such defeat occur again in 2013.  After winning first place in their district in 2013 and receiving a bye from the first round of playoffs, Oak Grove swept D’Iberville in the second round and Brandon in the third round.

“We aren’t willing to let people hang around anymore,” Ivy said.  “We’ve got to play hard through the entire game and not have those letups that let teams come back on you.”

After defeating Brandon in the third round of playoffs on May 6, the Lady Warriors earned themselves their ticket to South State.  The Lady Warriors will have home field advantage against Harrison Central, the team that ended Oak Grove’s season last year.  Oak Grove will play at Harrison Central on Saturday, May 11 and at Oak Grove on Monday, May 13.

 

Archery team brings home first ever State title

By: Samantha Papp

Staff Reporter

After only three years at Oak Grove, the archery team has quickly become one of the most populated sports at the school.  Beginning with 20 archers in 2011, the team’s numbers rose to 30 in 2012, and skyrocketed to around 48 members in 2013.  With this increased level of participation came an increased level of success; this year’s archery team was the first Oak Grove archery team to win a State championship.

“Winning State felt pretty great,” senior archer Kyle Caver said.  “Last year, we didn’t have as much experience.  This year, we had veterans who helped us set up the shoot better.”

The team’s unprecedented success this season can be attributed to several factors:  new coaching strategies, improved practices, and player-to-player instruction.  This season is the archery team’s first year under head coach Shauna Hedgepeth’s reign.  Hedgepeth has previous experience of coaching robotics, mathematics, and cheerleading.  She decided to tackle the task of coaching archery this year.

“I decided to coach archery because the age restriction goes all the way down to fourth grade, so my son could start learning the sport,” Hedgepeth said.  “Also, my dad and brother shoot; I wanted to get back into archery so that they would stop ignoring me during holidays.”

Under the coaching of Hedgepeth, Colonel David Morris, and Bobby DeLeon, the team saw more numerous and intense practices.  The team practiced every afternoon during the week and sometimes on Saturdays, with practices lasting up to four hours.

After participating in five meets and winning two, the team traveled to the Jackson State Fairgrounds on April 16 to bring home Oak Grove’ first archery state title.  The team will look to add one more meet against Sumrall before drawing the 2013 season to a close.

 

Powerlifting teams compete at State

By: Nan Buti

Staff Reporter

The Oak Grove powerlifting teams have proven to not only represent themselves as true warriors with leadership and brainpower, but also have shown their strength both physically and mentally. Under the coaching of Tony Myers, Knute Douglas, and Chris Tran, the boys’ powerlifting team once again placed first at state. Coaches Amanda Micka, John Micka, and Jeff Douglas led the girls’ team to State with Kim Franklin placing third and Christie Stricker placing first in their weight classes. Both teams competed at the MHSAA Class 6A State Championship on April 13 in Jackson.

The boys’ team successfully placed first with 39 points, maintaining their winning streak from last year. Boys’ team lifters who placed at state were Antonio Mikell, Alex Smith, Devonte Durr, Mikal Bilal, Dante Pittman, Trevor Neeley, and John Pride. “Everyone worked really hard and stayed dedicated from late November until April. They always kept their eye on the prize,” junior member Mauricio Hernandez said. In fact, the boys’ team consecutively placed first in every competition leading up to state, including Regionals and South State.

The girls’ team of just 11 overcame competitive teams, winning third at Regionals, second at South State, and fourth at State. “This is only my second year on the team, but all of the veterans have gotten so much stronger. We’ve actually started breaking each other’s records, which gives a healthy sense of competition to the team. All of the girls who just completed their first year on the team have come so far in just one year. I look forward to seeing how great they’re going to be next year,” junior Anna Catherine Colbert said. With a loss of seniors on both teams, Douglas feels the upcoming members will exceed their previous successes. “There are many new team members this year, and I expect next year’s team will be very well-rounded,” Douglas said.

Colbert and other team members are very thankful for their coaches dedication. “I’d like to thank coaches Amanda, John, and Jeff for so willingly donating their time, wisdom, and resources to the OG Girls’ Powerlifting team. There’s no possible way we could have gotten this far or even have known about powerlifting without them,” Colbert said.

Both Oak Grove teams have seen every member breaking personal records.

 

Golf team finishes third at State, Motter places fourth

By: Tyler Lee

Staff Reporter

The 2013 Oak Grove High School golf team made the trip up to Tupelo on Tuesday, April 30, for the MHSAA 6A State Championship. Oak Grove junior Grant Motter was looking to defend his individual State Championship, an award that he has won twice in previous years. The Warriors played a practice round on Tuesday to get a feel for Tupelo Country Club, the host site for the tournament.

On Wednesday, the Warriors experienced a rough first round, shooting a dismal 327 as a team. After the first day, they found themselves 33 strokes behind defending champs Tupelo, who finished the first day at eight over as a team, shooting 296 altogether. The Warriors shot better on the second day, coming in with 324, but Tupelo held on, shooting 299 as a team. The Warriors ended up finishing third with a two-day total of 651, behind Tupelo’s 595 and Madison Central’s 623.

Individually, Tupelo’s number one golfer Austin Rose opened up with a six under 66. Oak Grove’s Grant Motter shot two over 74 and found himself eight strokes out of first place after the first day. On the second day of competition, Rose shot four under 68, and Motter shot another two over 74. Rose was the state champion with a two-day total of ten under 134. Motter finished in fourth place with a two-day total of four over 148. “I just couldn’t get comfortable with the putter. If you can’t make putts, you’re not going to win,” Motter said.

Oak Grove track qualifiers head to State Championship meet

By: Kirk McCarty

Staff Reporter

The Oak Grove boys’ and girls’ track teams are nearing the end of their season, and the end of the season brings the state meet in Pearl, MS at Pearl High School.

The boys qualified in three events, including the 4×4, 800M, and 1600M. The 4×4 team ran the relay in 3 minutes and 21 seconds at the district meet at Meridian High School. Senior member of the relay team John Addison Ford said, “We’ve been training for this last meet the entire season. It all comes down to this last week. We want a ring.” The 4×4 team hasn’t lost a race this entire season. Other boys’ qualifiers include Jeremy Trask in the 800M and Will Murphey, also a cross country standout, in the 1600M (one mile). Murphey has been battling a knee injury all season but still managed to qualify for State by winning District, coming in second in Regional, and second in South State. Murphey ran a 4:43 at South State, only a second behind the winner from Forest Hill High School in Jackson. Murphey has high expectations for State, however. “I want to win State and break 4:30,” Murphey said.

The girls’ track team has encountered much success as well. The girls qualified in multiple events including the 1600M, 3200M, 800M, pole vault, and the triple jump.

Junior Christie Stricker, who qualified in the 800M and pole vault, placed second at the South State meet at Gulfport High School with a time of 2:26. Stricker won the pole vault competition, jumping 8’ 9”. “I enjoy pole vaulting because a lot of people can’t really go out and clear heights nine feet high,” Stricker said. Stricker began pole vaulting in ninth grade and is now one of the best in the state.

The girls distance runners continue
to impress as senior Chloe Sanders qualified in the 1600M and fellow
senior Dana Dillistone qualified in the 3200M as well as the 800M. The final qualifier for the state meet is junior Reagen Woods, who qualified in the triple jump.

All of the qualifiers will travel to
Pearl High School in Jackson to compete for their respective State Championships on May 13.

Warrior train on the road to Jackson

By: Kirk McCarty

Staff Reporter

The Oak Grove Warrior baseball team has had what many other teams would consider a very exceptional season by any standards. The Warriors won a district title, going 9-0 in district play, which included a three game sweep of rival the Petal Panthers.  The Warriors finished the regular season with an impressive 24-3 record and first round bye in the 6A South State baseball playoffs.

The Warriors had to wait patiently to find out who the first contender would be between the Ocean Springs Greyhounds and the Hancock Hawks. Ocean Springs won the series in game three with a 6-2 win in the deciding game.

Game one was a much-anticipated game for the Warriors, who had been off of the field for nearly two weeks. The game was scheduled to take place on Thursday, but had to be played Saturday at Ocean Springs due to inclement weather. The Warriors came ready to play, scoring runs in all of the first four innings off of Ocean Springs starter Billy Cox. Junior left-handed pitcher Kirk McCarty towed the hill for the Warriors and, with exceptional defense, took a no hitter into the sixth inning before it was busted on a single off up a slider up in the zone. Senior utility player Jalen Haskin had a solid game at the plate for the Warriors going 2-5 with a double and two RBIs in the game, including a two out RBI in the top half of the first inning.  The Warriors easily got through game one, winning by a score of 7-0

Game two featured junior righty Taylor Braley for the Warriors and senior ace Wes Wendam for the Greyhounds. Braley has been a key part of the Warriors success with his stellar 1.67 ERA. Braley has thrown two no-hitters already this season.  The Warriors jumped on the Hounds again early striking for four runs in the first, but after that Wendam found his groove. The Warrior bats fell silent, and the Greyhounds countered. The Hounds scored five runs (three earned) over the next five innings to take a 5-4 lead after a two-run homer by Wendam. The Warriors, for the first time in the playoffs, found themselves having to work from behind.  They were, however, up to the task. Jansen Bounds provided the big hit of the game with a 2-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to score Jalen Haskins, who led off the inning with a walk, and sophomore Matthew Guidry, who reached on a controversial fielder’s choice. Colton McMurry then added another run on a sacrifice fly to left field that scored pinch runner JC Keys. The two run lead would be all the Warriors needed as Braley found his groove and pitched a near perfect seventh inning to earn his 9th win of the season.

The Warriors will face the Biloxi Indians, who swept the Brandon Bulldogs in round two. Game one is set to take place tonight at Purvis High School.

 

By: Miranda Rester Editor For the first time in a number of years, the Warriors had a competitive, head-to-head election day. Since competitors weren’t allowed to campaign with posters or speeches, the student body resorted to social media to earn votes. “We haven’t had an intense election since 2011,” Morgan Guess, junior, said. “It’s easier to get the student body interested in the elections when they feel like they can actively participate.” After days of “Vote for me!” tweets, most of the student body officers for the 2013-2014 school year have been elected: Vice President – John Carter Sanner, up-coming senior; Reporter – Taylor Parsons, up-coming junior; Secretary – Olivia Kent, up-coming senior; Treasurer- Andrew Glaze, up-coming senior; and Elections Commissioner – Ashley Bryant, up-coming senior. Hannah Drake, up-coming senior, was originally elected for Student Body President, but due to complications with the ballots, the student body will revote for President on May 14. Obstacles occurred when some teachers didn’t receive or distribute ballots, and Field Bennett’s name was mistyped as “Fred Bennett.” Bennett, fellow up-coming senior, is the only other student who ran for the position of Student Body President. Although an announcement was made to clarify that the name on the ballot should be changed to “Field,” this typo created confusion among many students, which may or may not have affected the outcome of the votes. “I definitely understand why there needs to be revote; I just would have preferred that we had sorted this all out before the first vote,” Drake said. Drake and Bennett will still not be allowed to make speeches or hang campaign posters around the school, so students suspect that social networking sites will remain an election hub until May 14. “No matter how the revote comes out, I think the student body will be in good hands,” Bennett said.

By:  Miranda Rester

Editor

For the first time in a number of years, the Warriors had a competitive, head-to-head election day. Since competitors weren’t allowed to campaign with posters or speeches, the student body resorted to social media to earn votes. “We haven’t had an intense election since 2011,” Morgan Guess, junior, said. “It’s easier to get the student body interested in the elections when they feel like they can actively participate.”

After days of “Vote for me!” tweets, most of the student body officers for the 2013-2014 school year have been elected: Vice President – John Carter Sanner, up-coming senior; Reporter –  Taylor Parsons, up-coming junior; Secretary – Olivia Kent, up-coming senior; Treasurer- Andrew Glaze, up-coming senior; and Elections Commissioner – Ashley Bryant, up-coming senior.

Hannah Drake, up-coming senior, was originally elected for Student Body President, but due to complications with the ballots, the student body will revote for President on May 14. Obstacles occurred when some teachers didn’t receive or distribute ballots, and Field Bennett’s name was mistyped as “Fred Bennett.”

Bennett, fellow up-coming senior, is the only other student who ran for the position of Student Body President. Although an announcement was made to clarify that the name on the ballot should be changed to “Field,” this typo created confusion among many students, which may or may not have affected the outcome of the votes. “I definitely understand why there needs to be revote; I just would have preferred that we had sorted this all out before the first vote,” Drake said.

Drake and Bennett will still not be allowed to make speeches or hang campaign posters around the school, so students suspect that social networking sites will remain an election hub until May 14. “No matter how the revote comes out, I think the student body will be in good hands,”  Bennett said.

Senior Recognition marks bittersweet end

By:  Katie Williams

Staff Reporter

On Sunday, May 5, 2013, Senior Recognition Day was held at Temple Baptist Church. The OGHS class of 2013 has had an extremely successful year. Ninety-one percent of all seniors took the ACT, averaging a score of 22. Forty seniors had a score of 29 or higher. Of the class of 2013, 48 percent will be attending a four-year university in the fall of 2013. Fourty-nine percent will attend a community or junior college. Two percent of the class is enlisted in the miliary, and one percent will be going into the workforce.

To date, the class of 2013 has been awarded 15.5 million dollars in scholarships, but scholarships are still being awarded.

John Addison Ford received the 2013 Harry Breland Athletic Scholarship. The recipient is decided based on athletic performance during high school. 2013 is the first year of this scholarship’s existence. Colton McMurry was the recipient of the Johnie McMurry Memorial Scholarship, which is named for McMurry’s great uncle. Representatives from all major state universities were present to present scholarships to all OGHS students attending those schools.

Ten students were National Merit Finalists. The class of 2013 valedictorian is Nicholas Stevenson, and the salutatorian is Mallory Jennings. Wisam Buti is the sole Distinguished Scholar of this graduating class, and John Baxter was this year’s Star Student.

One of the most anticipated moments of the senior recognition ceremony was the senior slide show. Every year, the yearbook staff puts together this slide show, made up of baby pictures and other pictures and videos throughout the seniors’ school years. Another special part of this year’s recognition ceremony was piano music provided by John Baxter.

Every year, the senior class provides the school with a senior gift. The Class of 2013 presented a senior gift of patio furniture to OGHS.

The vast amount of scholarship money awarded to these seniors shows their great legacy that was started in the very hallways of Oak Grove High School.

 

Oak Grove High School named #2 high school in Mississippi, top 8% in nation

By: Katie Williams

Staff Reporter

U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Oak Grove High School as the second best high school in Mississippi. Out of 21,000 eligible high schools surveyed, OGHS placed in the top eighth percentile. Numerically, Oak Grove received a national ranking of 1,750.

High schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia were considered for the 2013 national rankings.

According to the U.S. News and World Report website, the report was based on “overall student performance on state-mandated assessments, as well as how effectively schools educated African American, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students.” Student performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams was then used to determine the degree to which school prepare students for college level work.

U.S. News and World Report noted that the OGHS student body is comprised of 50 percent male and 50 percent female. The minority enrollment is 38 percent, and 41 percent of students are considered “economically disadvantaged.” Twenty nine percent of OGHS’s students are enrolled in an AP class.

To be eligible for a state and national ranking, schools must earn a gold or silver medal. Only four schools in Mississippi earned this prestigious honor. “I know it sounds like a cliché, but it starts with the parents and community,” Dr. Ben Burnett, Lamar County School District superintendent, told The Lamar Times. “Of course, the students have to perform well, too. It’s definitely a team effort, and everyone deserves a pat on the back.”

The report also stated that “schools were ranked within each state and on a national scale, so families can see how well their public schools stacked up against rival public schools within the community and nationwide.” In the national rankings, 500 schools earned gold medals, 1,790 schools received silver medals, and 2,515 schools were awarded bronze medals.

Pass Christian High School ranked first in Mississippi, and Petal High School ranked third.

Information about all high school rankings can be found on the U.S. News and World Report website.

Information courtesy of The Lamar Times.