By Lee Davis It’s hard to imagine how Mary Catherine Hart could improve on her sophomore year at John Carroll Catholic. Not only did Hart help lead her team to the state 6A volleyball championship, but she was named the Most Valuable Player of the state tournament. In addition, her sister Lucy – who also starred in volleyball – was chosen as the school’s homecoming … [Read more...]
Linebacker Joe: Spartan Makes Big Comeback From Injury
By Lee Davis Joe Donald will always remember the homecoming game of his junior year. For all the wrong reasons. Donald, a standout linebacker for Mountain Brook, broke his left tibia in his ankle in the Spartans’ 35-16 homecoming win against Thompson. He spent six weeks wearing a cast and another four weeks with his leg in a boot. Weeks of rehabilitation followed. Mountain … [Read more...]
September Exams: Teams Show Interesting Trends as First Month Concludes
If you think that the 2015 high school football season is going by quickly, it’s probably not your imagination. Schools that played their first game on Aug. 21 will reach the halfway point of their regular schedules a full week and a half before the end of September. So now is as good a time as any to take stock of what we have seen. The Hoover Bucs, to the surprise of no … [Read more...]
Family Tradition: Hoover’s Vacarella is Following His Father’s Footsteps
By Lee Davis Hoover quarterback Christopher Vacarella is in his first year as a starter, but he already has proven himself as a winner in the clutch. In the Bucs’ first two Class 7A Region Three victories, Vacarella directed his team to hard-fought fourth quarter victories. In a 21-14 win against Mountain Brook, he led a 65-yard touchdown drive. The following week, the senior … [Read more...]
The Long Run: Smith Has High Goals for Senior Season
By Lee Davis For those unfamiliar with the sport, cross-country running can, almost literally, sound like a walk in the park. After all, the athletes are competing in an attractive wooded setting with pristine running trails and are surrounded by nature. So how hard can that be? Actually, cross-country is one of the most demanding sports an athlete can choose. The five … [Read more...]