JONES GIVES GEORGIA TECH A PREVIEW

Stephen Jones made another big splash in what will soon be his new home as he won the 500-yard freestyle and finished third in 100-yard butterfly in the GHSA Class 6A state meet held last Friday and Saturday at the Georgia Tech aquatic center.

Jones, who last fall signed a letter of intent to continue his swimming career at Georgia Tech, was also a member of the Wildcats’ 400-yard freestyle relay team which finished third. In addition to Jones other members of the relay team were Aiden Gray, Sebastian Rosales and Josh Mattison.

Gray also placed fourth in the 200 freestyle and sixth in the 100 free. Rosales was fifth in the 50 free and ninth in the 100. Emily Padgett was sixth in the 100-yard breaststroke as the Wildcats finished fourth as a team.

The girls 200 medley relay team of London Best, Emily Padgett, Kate Schoch and Emmie Patselas was eighth. The boys 200 freestyle relay team of Xander Brion, Alex Lee, Brody Williams and Mattison finished 12th. Jack Hendricks was 16th in the 200 intermediate and Patselas was 17th in the 200 free.

“It was a fantastic showing,” Coach Michelle Girage said. “This team showed up and swam their hearts out. It was a weekend filled with time drops, personal bests and new team records.”

Jones’ performance marked the eighth time he was an individual finalist in the state meet. He finished first in the 100-yard fly and eighth in the 500 as a sophomore and was second in the 100-yard fly and sixth in the 500 last year.

The Wildcats standout’s winning time in the 500-yard freestyle was 4:33.85 which was a marked improvement over last year’s 4:39.45.

STATE WRESTLING QUALIFIERS

Richmond Hill qualified six wrestlers and Bryan County two for the GHSA Traditional State Wrestling Championships which will be held Thursday through Saturday in Macon.

Competing in the Class 6A Section A tournament last weekend at Brunswick the Wildcats had five boys and one girl advance as the top six finishers earned the right to move on. The Redskins, also competing in Brunswick, had one boy and one girl place in Class A Section A.

Colin Dragon (54-6) took second in the 126-pound weight class and Jackson Crawford (47-11) grabbed second at 138 for Richmond Hill. Caleb Gonser (49-9) was fourth at 195 while Trey Boykett (29-10) and Thomas Crawford (45-12) took fifth at 170 and 220, respectively.

Also qualifying for the Wildcats was Izzy West, a 112-pound freshman, who finished fourth in the girl’s division.

Bryan County’s Tarrell Singleton (25-10), a 220-pound sophomore, qualified for the second straight year as he took sixth place and freshman Alyssa Burnsed got sixth in the 132-pound division to get the chance to wrestle in the girl’s tournament.

Richmond Hill’s Gaven Hill (43-14) finished seventh at 152 pounds to earn first alternate status and DarVante Menzie is a second alternate at 182 with his eighth-place finish.

WILDCATS SEEKING COACHES

The Bryan County Board of Education is advertising on its website for a baseball coach and volleyball coach for Richmond Hill.

Coach Chris Jenkins, who is the school’s softball coach, will be coaching Wildcats baseball this spring having taken the job on an interim basis following Scott Strickland’s resignation last fall. At the time it was announced Jenkins said he was not interested in coaching baseball permanently.

The volleyball opening came about when Coach Tori Wright’s fiancée landed a job in Charlotte, N.C. A science teacher at the high school, Wright said the couple would be moving this summer.

Wright’s run with the Wildcats lasted two seasons with her teams compiling an overall 46-26 record. In her first year Richmond Hill claimed the Region 6A title and advanced to the GHSA Class 6A Elite Eight where it lost to eventual state champion Buford.

Last fall Richmond Hill finished second in the region and reached the second round of the state playoffs where it once against lost to state champion Buford.