By Rubin E. GrantComing into the 2023 high school football season, the Briarwood Lions expected to employ a two-quarterback system with the graduation of phenom Christopher Vizzina.Vizzina started for four years, passing for 7,220 yards and 59 touchdowns. He also ran for 29 touchdowns.Senior Josh Thompson and junior Will Clark were tasked with filling the massive … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantFor Hoover senior Zander Dakis, running is more mental than physical. That’s why he prefers cross-country to track.“Cross-country is more of a mindset sport,” Dakis said. “In track, it’s a lot about leg speed. If you mess up one bit, you can’t recover. In cross-country, it’s a mindset race. If you mess up, you still have time to recover.”Dakis … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantMae Mae and Annie Lacey get some curious looks from the other side of the net whenever they are on the front row together for the Mountain Brook volleyball team.“They point at us and then you can hear them whispering, ‘Are they twins,’” Mae Mae said. “Then when the point is over they ask us, ‘Are y’all twins?’”Indeed they are. In fact, the Laceys … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantThe spectators and event coordinators had fun, but the participants had a blast, judging from their smiles and laughter.More than 525 students – representing 50 classes or groups from Hoover, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Trussville and two post-secondary programs – participated in the 18th annual Special Olympics at Hewitt-Trussville’s … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantWilliam Grier McDuffie has loved football since he was a little boy. He began playing the sport when he was in the third grade and continued to play through his sophomore year at Mountain Brook High School. But before his junior year, McDuffie quit the football team to concentrate on lacrosse.A midfielder, he helped the Spartans win the 2022 … [Read more...]