Sports

Caden Polley helps put TFS in 1st place with a 32.37 breaststroke time in the 200-yard Medley Relay. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Caden Polley helps put TFS in 1st place with a 32.37 breaststroke time in the 200-yard Medley Relay. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

TFS swimmers qualify for state in five events in season opener

   In the opening swim meet of the 2023-24 season, Tallulah Falls School had multiple state qualifying cuts Saturday in the Mask-Erade Invitational at home. Both the varsity boys and girls  came in 1st-place in the process.
Members of Habersham Central’s girls wrestling team include (front row, from left) Natalie Gosnell, Samara Beck, Mckenzie Spradley, Shaina Xiguin and Hailey Speed. Back row are (from left) Kyleigh Thomann, Emma Ryals, Emili Zavala, Melia Mead, Gracie Abernathy and Ava Gregg. Not pictured is Sarah Morris. MORRIS BROOKS/Submitted

Members of Habersham Central’s girls wrestling team include (front row, from left) Natalie Gosnell, Samara Beck, Mckenzie Spradley, Shaina Xiguin and Hailey Speed. Back row are (from left) Kyleigh Thomann, Emma Ryals, Emili Zavala, Melia Mead, Gracie Abernathy and Ava Gregg. Not pictured is Sarah Morris. MORRIS BROOKS/Submitted

Lady Raider wrestling set for debut this year

   For the first time in school history, Habersham will field a girls wrestling squad. 2023-24 will be the Lady Raiders’ inaugural season and head wrestling coach Morris Brooks said the turnout has been staggering.    “We have a lot of girls out there that are extremely competitive.
Habersham Central’s Zeke Whittington is five catches away from surpassing Tavarres King as the school’s all-time receptions leader. TOM ASKEW/Special

Habersham Central’s Zeke Whittington is five catches away from surpassing Tavarres King as the school’s all-time receptions leader. TOM ASKEW/Special

Zeke pursues King’s mark, playoffs

   With two weeks and two games left in the season, the Raiders have officially entered what can only be classified as do-or-die time. The formula is simple – if HCHS beats Shiloh in Snellville next week, the squad will return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 pandemic season.
Habersham Central cross country team members shown are (from left) Coach Sebastian  Galloway, Titania Ramirez, Audrey Hotard, Leah Culpepper, Ember Ivester, Yamilez Otero, Abigail Hotard, Kailey Otero and Coach Kaylee Bosley. SUBMITTED

Habersham Central cross country team members shown are (from left) Coach Sebastian Galloway, Titania Ramirez, Audrey Hotard, Leah Culpepper, Ember Ivester, Yamilez Otero, Abigail Hotard, Kailey Otero and Coach Kaylee Bosley. SUBMITTED

Hotard’s 3rd region title helps pace Raider runners

   Habersham Central Cross Country competed in the GHSA 8-6A Region Championships in Winder last weekend.    As a team, the Hab girls placed third. Both Hotard twins were back in action and led the way for the Lady Raiders.
Tallulah Falls’ Madison Dampier is back with another chance at a state championship. TFS ATHLETICS/Submitted

Tallulah Falls’ Madison Dampier is back with another chance at a state championship. TFS ATHLETICS/Submitted

TFS swimmers ready to make more waves

   Both Tallulah Falls varsity swim teams last season took a step forward with the girls placing 8th at state and the boys 12th.
Glenn Jones and his wife Susan acknowledge the Raider crowd Friday night at halftime after being honored for his 46 years of public address announcing at the school. They are joined by athletic director Geep Cunningham (left) and Principal Dr. Jonathan Stribling. TOM ASKEW/Special

Glenn Jones and his wife Susan acknowledge the Raider crowd Friday night at halftime after being honored for his 46 years of public address announcing at the school. They are joined by athletic director Geep Cunningham (left) and Principal Dr. Jonathan Stribling. TOM ASKEW/Special

Jones hangs up his mic after 46 years

   Habersham Central public address announcer Glenn Jones has seen a lot.    In 97 seasons worth (46 years) of Raider athletics, that’s bound to happen.
Tallulah Falls’ Iva Ristic gets the dig on a well-placed kill during the Lady Indians’ first-round playoff match. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Tallulah Falls’ Iva Ristic gets the dig on a well-placed kill during the Lady Indians’ first-round playoff match. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

TFS girls stunned in second round

   There were plenty of tears Saturday afternoon as Tallulah Falls’ chance for back-to-back state volleyball championships ended in shocking fashion. But that does not mean it was all for nothing.
Habersham Central’s Jonah Wilson looks to break a tackle by North Forsyth defender Parker Smaltz during Friday’s home finale. TOM ASKEW/Special

Habersham Central’s Jonah Wilson looks to break a tackle by North Forsyth defender Parker Smaltz during Friday’s home finale. TOM ASKEW/Special

Purple haze clouds Raiders in 4th

   Big plays through the air kept the Raiders afloat through three quarters, but North Forsyth ultimately pulled away late to top Habersham Central, 36-19, Friday night in Mt. Airy.
Katarina Foskey led the Lady Indians in kills, having 21 during Wednesday night’s match against Aquinas High School. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Katarina Foskey led the Lady Indians in kills, having 21 during Wednesday night’s match against Aquinas High School. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

TFS takes the first step toward a repeat

   The defending Georgia 1A State Champs began another postseason run in dominant fashion as the fourth-ranked Tallulah Falls Lady Indians took down Aquinas (Augusta) in straight sets, 25-13, 25-19, 25-19 on Wednesday night.
Football fans can always see Jayden Arria taking video of every play on Friday nights. His work has expanded beyond the boundaries of Habersham Central. SUBMITTED

Football fans can always see Jayden Arria taking video of every play on Friday nights. His work has expanded beyond the boundaries of Habersham Central. SUBMITTED

Arria gets all the angles

   Like many high school students, Habersham Central’s Jayden Arria wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted to pursue both academically and vocationally. It was  his sophomore year and Arria needed an elective to fill his schedule.