The Gators football team hit a few rough spots with losses to Glynn Academy, Northside Warner Robins, and Lowndes, but despite the three losses, Ware County was still ranked sixth in the AJC’s Top 10 at the halfway point of the season. The originally scheduled homecoming game against the East Lake Eagles from Tarpon Springs, Florida, was cancelled due to Hurricane Matthew, and the parade and other ceremonies were moved to the following weekend with the game against Statesboro on Friday night. It marked the start of the Gators’ Region 2-AAAAA schedule, and it was off to a good start as Ware County celebrated a big Homecoming win over the Blue Devils 29-0. Senior Rokia Sallet was named Ware County High School’s 2016 Homecoming Queen during halftime.
The Lady Gators softball team finished the regular season 11-9 and took the number three seed in their region. Coach Rebecca Kirkland’s team fell to the South Effingham Mustangs in three games in the first round of the Region playoffs. The Lady Gators then won both ends of a doubleheader to defeat the Statesboro Blue Devils and become the third seed from Region 2-AAAAA going into the state playoffs. This put Ware County on the road just south of Atlanta to play Locust Grove in the first round of the state playoffs. Despite the long road trip, the Lady Gators took both ends of the double header from the Lady Wildcats 13-1 and 3-1.
The victories moved Ware County to the second round of the state playoffs against Region 8’s Flowery Branch Lady Falcons, who were upset winners over Decatur in the first round. Because Ware was a higher seed, the series was hosted in Waycross.
The Lady Gators volleyball team ended the regular season as the number three team in Region 2-AAAAA. Coach Alesia Gibson’s ladies finished with a record of 19-6 and were to take on number two team Statesboro in the region double elimination tournament, but not before it was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. In fact, as most teams in the state were playing their first round matchups, it had yet to be determined which two teams would represent what is known in volleyball as “Area 2” in the state playoffs.
Winter Sports
There has been lots of activity in the gym as the basketball teams and wrestling team prepare for their upcoming seasons. The Lady Gators basketball team of coach Mandy Lingenfelter gets going in November at the Tip Off Classic hosted by Jeff Davis County High School in Hazlehurst. That will be followed by the home opener for both the girls and coach Tre Hill’s boys team against Bacon County Nov. 29.
Coach Joe Eichfeld’s Gator wrestling team will get started in November, hosting the Swamp Duals on Nov. 12. Last year, 10 teams took part in the tournament, including Camden, Effingham, Brunswick, Glynn Academy, Colquitt County, Tift County, Lowndes County, and Valdosta. The Gator wrestlers will also travel to Valdosta in November to face Lowndes and Colquitt. Ware County will then take part in the Buddy Duals in Effingham County on Nov. 19 and the Battle at the Beach in Brunswick Nov. 22.
ITG Web Content
Fall Sports Going Strong, Winter Sports Warming Up
Written by Rob Asbell
