By Lee Davis For those people who think that summer seems to be shorter every year, here’s some evidence that proves your theory: High school football practice in Alabama starts in less than three weeks. As incredible as that sounds, it’s true. The Alabama High School Athletic Association designates Aug. 1 as the first day teams can practice for the 2016 season. So if you’ve … [Read more...]
Triple Threat: John Carroll Triplets Graduate at the Top of the Class
By Emily Williams For triplets Abby, Maggie and Michael Hagelskamp, making it to the top of their graduating class at John Carroll Catholic High School was never a long-term goal, it was something that came quite naturally. “By the time junior year came around, we realized that it was a possibility to finish in the top five,” Abby said. The Hagelskamp siblings grew up in … [Read more...]
Spain Remains: Jags’ Hawkins and Tedder Share Top Player, Coach Honors
By Lee Davis There was a time when Spain Park softball wasn’t a very big deal. “Before we got here they even gave an award if a girl just dived for a fly ball in the outfield,” Lady Jaguar coach C.J. Hawkins recalled. “We had to change that mindset from the very beginning.” The mindset did change, and a decade later, Spain Park is one of the state’s elite softball programs. … [Read more...]
Blue Trophy Trio: Vestavia and Cav Girls , Oak Mountain Boys, Earn State Soccer Titles
By Lee DavisThe Over the Mountain area showed its domination of Alabama soccer in the state championships in Huntsville last weekend. Three area teams – Oak Mountain boys, Vestavia Hills girls and John Carroll Catholic girls – claimed blue trophies at the Rocket City’s John Hunt Park. The Altamont School’s boys team finished second in its bid for a title. In Class 7A … [Read more...]
Girls of Steele: Cavs’ Steele, Patriots’ Barber and Wayne Lead All-OTM Team
By Lee Davis The Homewood Lady Patriots did not repeat as state Class 6A basketball champions in 2015-16, but they accomplished just about everything else. Despite not having a senior on its roster, Homewood rolled to a 27-7 record and spent the entire season as the state’s top-ranked team before eventually losing to hot-shooting LeFlore in the Class 6A finals. The Lady … [Read more...]