Sports

Habersham Central girls soccer varsity award winners are (from left) Sarah Clark (Most Improved and 1st Team All-Region), Addi Banks (Offensive MVP and 2nd Team All-Region), Nykerriah Brown (MVP), Breelyn Carroll (Honorable Mention All-Region), Sydney Turner (Defensive MVP and 2nd Team All-Region) Anna LaBarbera (1st Team All-Region), Jackie Orozco (Top Senior Scholar) and Riley Wilson (Caroline Bagwell/Coach’s Award). RAEGAN TURNER/Special

Habersham Central girls soccer varsity award winners are (from left) Sarah Clark (Most Improved and 1st Team All-Region), Addi Banks (Offensive MVP and 2nd Team All-Region), Nykerriah Brown (MVP), Breelyn Carroll (Honorable Mention All-Region), Sydney Turner (Defensive MVP and 2nd Team All-Region) Anna LaBarbera (1st Team All-Region), Jackie Orozco (Top Senior Scholar) and Riley Wilson (Caroline Bagwell/Coach’s Award). RAEGAN TURNER/Special

Habersham Central Girls Soccer Banquet

Habersham Central’s girls soccer team 9-10 and 7-5 in Region 8-6A this season.

Former Lady Raider guides team to cheer championship

When Brooke Ciolino heard the University of West Florida’s name called as National Cheerleaders Association Champions April 10, she said the moment was surreal.  “When they called our name, it was just like all the things we’d dealt with went away.
Parker Behrends (center) signs his national letter of intent April 29 to become the latest Raider to continue his track and field career at Berry College. With Behrends are his grandmother Mary Behrends and father Ray Behrends. ISAIAH SMITH/Staff

Parker Behrends (center) signs his national letter of intent April 29 to become the latest Raider to continue his track and field career at Berry College. With Behrends are his grandmother Mary Behrends and father Ray Behrends. ISAIAH SMITH/Staff

Behrends heading for Berry

For Parker Behrends, it was the welcoming, family atmosphere that pulled him to Berry College.  “They kind of reached out to me, and as soon as I got there it was immediately welcoming. That was the main decision,” Behrends said.
Cole Gragg (19) lays a hit on a receiver in the middle of the field during Wednesday’s practice. ISAIAH SMITH/Staff

Cole Gragg (19) lays a hit on a receiver in the middle of the field during Wednesday’s practice. ISAIAH SMITH/Staff

Raiders spring into action

After having spring football cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the echoes of whistles and pads popping have been welcome additions to the air in and around Raider Stadium this spring.

Anderson steps down as Raider boys hoops coach

Cody Anderson resigned as Habersham Central’s boys’ basketball coach after two seasons leading the Raiders.   Anderson officially stepped aside Tuesday after meeting with HCHS’ administration Monday afternoon.
The Team Fusion 4x800 relay team of (from left) Megan Hightower, Audrey Hotard, Ansley Moore and Abigail Hotard grabbed first at the Georgia Middle School State Track Championships in Lilburn. T. GABRIEL HOTARD/Submitted

The Team Fusion 4x800 relay team of (from left) Megan Hightower, Audrey Hotard, Ansley Moore and Abigail Hotard grabbed first at the Georgia Middle School State Track Championships in Lilburn. T. GABRIEL HOTARD/Submitted

Team Fusion runners win state relay title

Audrey Hotard, member of the Habersham Middle School Cross Country and Track and Field teams, joined by her twin sister, Abigail Hotard, member of the Habersham Middle School Cross Country and junior varsity Habersham Raider soccer teams, participated in the Georgia Middle School State Track...
Pictured are Habersham Central’s boys tennis team award winners (from left) Ray Carr (Most Improved), first doubles player Andrew Huizing (MVP) and Luke Atwood (Coaches Award). Not pictured was Brandon Smith, who joined Huizing in receiving MVP honors for their performance as a doubles duo. ROBERT WALLACE/Submitted

Pictured are Habersham Central’s boys tennis team award winners (from left) Ray Carr (Most Improved), first doubles player Andrew Huizing (MVP) and Luke Atwood (Coaches Award). Not pictured was Brandon Smith, who joined Huizing in receiving MVP honors for their performance as a doubles duo. ROBERT WALLACE/Submitted

Habersham Central Tennis Awards

Kilee Thomas (right) also received the Habersham Central tennis team’s Senior Academic Athlete Award from coach Robert Wallace (left). 

Just short of state

The Raider men’s golf team came up just shy of their goal of qualifying for the state tournament, as they missed a top-four finish at sectionals by just three strokes. “The Raiders fought hard and had a very successful season,” said head coach Matt Hudlow. “I’m very proud of these young men.
Andrew Kivett (center) signed his national letter of intent last Thursday to run track and cross country at Wake Forest. Pictured with him are his parents Luci (left) and Ed (right) Kivett. ISAIAH SMITH/Staff

Andrew Kivett (center) signed his national letter of intent last Thursday to run track and cross country at Wake Forest. Pictured with him are his parents Luci (left) and Ed (right) Kivett. ISAIAH SMITH/Staff

Kivett running all the way to Wake Forest

When Andrew Kivett began running cross country as a freshman and track a year later, he never imagined that he’d be signing a Division I scholarship to attend Wake Forest just four years later.  “My dad went to Wake Forest, and that’s a connection I have with that school,” Kivett said.