By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. The PlayStation Fiesta Bowl was a rollercoaster for JoyceMarie Turner and her son Nolan, a junior safety for the Clemson Tigers. Early in the fourth quarter of the NCAA football semifinal playoff game at Sun Devil Stadium, Turner was beaten on a 23-yard touchdown pass for Ohio State as the Buckeyes took a 23-21 fourth-quarter lead. “Oh my gosh. … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant The Vestavia Hills boys bowling team is not dwelling on its 2019 state championship. “That happened last year,” Vestavia Hills coach Todd Evans said pointedly. “We’ve moved on to a new challenge.” That new challenge will be the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Bowling Championships Thursday and Friday at Oak Mountain Lanes in Pelham. The … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Homewood’s girls indoor track and field team appears primed to continue their Class 6A dominance. The Patriots outclassed the competition last week in the Hump Day Octameet, hosted by Mountain Brook at the Birmingham CrossPlex. With senior distance runner Lainey Phelps claiming victories in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs and senior Alex Brooks … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Sam Willoughby already was playing football when his dad, Lee Willoughby, suggested he also try wrestling. Lee Willoughby had been part of a state wrestling championship team at Hewitt-Trussville in 1988 and encouraged his son to give the sport a try. “He took me out there on the mat, and I liked it,” Sam Willoughby said. “I’ve been wrestling eight or nine … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant After taking over for Briarwood Christian football coaching legend Fred Yancey last year, Matthew Forester had one goal in mind: Maintain the standard Yancey had set. “It was a huge honor for me to follow Coach Yancey,” said Forester, who played for Yancey and spent several years as an assistant under him. “It was good for me to pay attention and learn from … [Read more...]