By Rubin E. GrantThird-year Hoover volleyball coach Amanda Wood tries not to look too far ahead.So, even with nine seniors returning from a team that reached the Class 7A semifinals in 2023, she didn’t enter this season with the expectation of another trip to the Elite Eight and winning it all this time around.“The expectation was just to compete every day in … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantZach Erickson is glad he listened to his friends.Erickson played football up until the sixth grade but quit to focus on track and basketball.He has become one of the top throwers in the state for Spain Park, finishing third in the discus in the Class 7A state outdoor meet in May. He also competed in the shot put and javelin.As he headed into his … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantBriarwood football coach Matthew Forester calls senior running back Luke Reynolds the Lions’ spark plug.In the first half of the season, the spark plug was missing and the Lions certainly weren’t firing on all cylinders.Reynolds played fewer than two quarters in Briarwood’s first five games because of a dislocated shoulder and concussion, and the … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantMountain Brook volleyball coach Mattie Gardner considers senior Grace Stewart to be the consummate team player.Stewart spent the past three seasons as a reserve setter, playing behind former Spartans’ star Hannah Parant and patiently waiting her turn to move into the starting lineup.During the wait, Stewart did whatever she could to support her … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantAt 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, Cam Torbor is a physical specimen.“He’s got SEC size,” Hoover football coach Chip English said of the Bucs’ senior linebacker.So, it’s kind of hard to believe that Torbor didn’t start playing football until last year, even though he is the younger son of Reggie Torbor, who played at Auburn and in the NFL for eight seasons … [Read more...]