By Rubin E. Grant Josh Donaldson added another state championship to his coaching resume in the spring when he guided the Homewood Patriots to the boys Class 6A title.But Donaldson wasn’t content just being a successful high school track coach.After 11 years at Homewood High School, including the past six as the Patriots’ head cross-country coach and the past … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantKierson McDonald was already a month beyond the end of her high school soccer career at Oak Mountain when she received the highest honor of her career.McDonald was named the 2022-23 Gatorade Alabama Girls Soccer Player of the Year in late June.“It was so amazing when I found out,” McDonald said. “I knew I was up against some very good athletes. It’s … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Alex Leath didn’t want to be left out. He had seen two of his former Vestavia Hills track teammates get recognized as Gatorade Players of the Year, and he wanted to join them.In late June, Leath did just that when he was selected as the 2022-23 Gatorade Alabama Boys Track & Field Player of the Year.“First and foremost, I am honored to be … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantAlex Fourie has a simple goal in mind, and that’s what led the PGA golf instructor to form a partnership with Highland Park Golf Course.“We’re looking forward to growing the game of adaptive golf in Alabama and in Birmingham in particular,” Fourie said.Highland Park, Alabama’s top municipal course, and Fourie, the No. 1 one-armed adaptive golfer in … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantIn the wee hours of the morning on May 19, Jackson Harris and his dad, Jamie Harris, were at Vestavia Hills’ baseball field chatting.It was a celebratory conversation. The Rebels had just returned from a late night at Jacksonville State University, where Jackson Harris, a senior first baseman, had helped his dad, the team’s head baseball coach, bring … [Read more...]