By Rubin E. GrantAnna Slive Harwood is happy that Beyond Blue is back in the month it belongs.The 2022 event, presented by Medical Properties Trust, will be held Sept. 22 at Protective Life Stadium Club with ESPN’s Laura Rutledge serving as host.Beyond Blue benefits the Mike Slive Foundation’s effort to raise awareness about prostate cancer and fund cutting-edge … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantEvan Smallwood is quickly gaining a reputation as someone who thrives under pressure.In the first two games of the 2022 high school football season, with his team trailing late in the fourth quarter, the Spain Park senior quarterback directed touchdown drives to give the Jaguars the lead.In the opener against Calera, Smallwood spearheaded a … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantElijah Joseph earned All-State honors by finishing seventh in the 2021 Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 7A state cross-country meet.This fall, Hoover’s senior distance runner has loftier goals in mind, and they’re not just to win the individual title.He wants to help the Bucs win their first boys cross-country team state championship … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantSavannah Gann has become a killing machine — on the volleyball court, that is.During the first two weeks of the 2022 season, Vestavia’s 6-foot senior outside hitter racked up 209 kills in 17 matches, an average of more than 12 per match.Gann is rapidly and well on her way to surpassing the 317 kills she had last year as a junior“Savannah is … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantRay Powell’s roots ran deep at Shades Valley High School.His three older brothers went to school there. One played baseball, one played football and one was a drum major in the band. His mother was kind of the “band mother” and worked in the concession stands.Because of his mother’s duties on game nights, Powell found himself at the concession … [Read more...]