The Jefferson High School girls wrestling team practices with coach Nick White.
Ava Catledge, Paola Swancey, Peyton Hawkins, Anna Ramirez and Kyndal Brown go through drills as coach Nick White calls them out. (Photo/Lily Grace Kilgore)

‘Toughness Doesn’t Have a Gender’: Jefferson Going All-In on Girls Wrestling

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Tia Mitchell, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Fall 2025 Guest Curator

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West Broad Complex Coverage: Clarke County School District Outlines Redevelopment Plans

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Man stands during a commission meeting in Athens.

Athens-Clarke County Commission Delays Vote on Homewood Hills Redevelopment Plan 

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Lasting Impact of Virtual Learning: How ...

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Oconee County Board of Commissioners Votes to Amend Alcoholic Beverages Ordinance

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday to amend the Alcoholic Beverages ...

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Social Circle Wrestling Adapts as GHSA Changes Classifications Again

Randy Prater, right, congratulates James Sievers, left, after his win at the Archer Tiger ...

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*This chart compares deputy sheriff salaries across 12 Georgia counties, each with populations between 100,000 and 200,000 according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Among these counties, Athens-Clarke County ranks fifth lowest in average deputy salary, highlighting its position near the bottom of comparable counties in the state.

Despite New Funding, Clarke County Jail Faces Ongoing Deputy Shortages

As Clarke County Jail’s inmate population continues to rise, the sheriff’s office is facing ...

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A team of 20 student journalists created a news special responding to the needs of Northeast Georgia counties. Reporters traveled to five counties, spoke with residents, uncovered environmental gaps, and highlighted the solutions communities are building. Watch to see what they discovered , and the solutions taking root. This is Groundwork: Stories of Sustainability in Northeast Georgia.
Geoff Rushing, founder of City of Refuge Athens, said Northeast Georgia has gone from "food insecurity crisis to food insecurity emergency." On Nov. 1, for the first time in United States history, the federal government suspended benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program amid the federal government shutdown. The unprecedented cut left thousands of Athens-Clarke County families without the support they rely on to buy groceries, and local nonprofits scrambling to meet demand they had never experienced. According to the Athens Wellbeing Project, 17% of Athens-Clarke County residents rely on SNAP to afford their groceries. Without those benefits, keeping food on the table became an immediate struggle. Organizations like City of Refuge Athens have been overwhelmed by the level of need. On. Nov. 12, Rushing said he arrived at 6:30 a.m. to begin setting up for their morning distribution and found seven cars already lined up, three and a half hours before the scheduled start time. Eva Duignan is a journalism major in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
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Georgia Initiative Seeks to Open Up ...

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High School Football: Playoff Preview Show

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A high school runner kisses a rubber fishing worm for good luck.
East Jackson High's Norah Nichols kisses a rubber fishing worm for good luck before every meet. Bailey Campbell

East Jackson Cross Country Coach Helps Runners Believe in Themselves

Before every race, the East Jackson girls cross country team gathers around junior Norah ...

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A young girl in a red shirt smiles excitedly while giving high-fives to female soccer players in white uniforms on a field. Other players and children are visible in the background.

UGA’s Fan Engagement Provides Incentives, Interaction for All Fans

The University of Georgia is home to 21 varsity level sports teams, bringing fans ...

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Sports Media at UGA
By: Lily Grace Kilgore, M’Kaylah Jackson, Brady Logan Jefferson High School senior Dallas Russell was a standout running back last year for the Dragons with 979 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns. However, this year, Russell made one of the hardest decisions of his life as he has opted out of playing football to focus on wrestling. “It was probably one of the hardest decisions of my life,” said Russell. “Considering I’ve always, I mean I’ve wrestled and played football since I was five years old, so telling the team that, I mean, yeah it was tough.” Russell is currently the No. 1 ranked high school wrestler in the country for the 157 lb. weight class without ever focusing on wrestling alone. Russell has been a multi-sport athlete throughout high school. However, this year, Russell has decided to focus on wrestling as he has his eyes set on becoming just the third wrestler in program history to win four straight wrestling state championships. After high school, Russell will continue his wrestling career at Oklahoma and he is working hard to leave behind a meaningful legacy at Jefferson.
By: Matthew Herren and Madison Shapiro After a torn labrum sidelined her just over a year ago, Jackson County softball infielder Alyssa Peurifoy is back on the field for her senior season with more determination and a stronger love for the game. Peurifoy suffered her injury in June of 2024 during a showcase at the University of North Georgia. Through the 2024 season that saw the Panthers in the state playoffs, Peurifoy remained a steady presence in the dugout while sidelined and in rehab for her injury. Now, working harder than she ever has, Peurifoy is helping her team push for a region title after a runner-up finish last year. In overcoming her injury, Peurifoy has gained a new perspective on the game of softball. She has expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to keep playing and wants to take nothing for granted this season. Head coach Kristin Croteau has admired Peurifoy’s overcoming of adversity, her hard work to return, and noted that her journey can be taken as life lessons off the field. Her whole life, she has had aspirations of playing softball at the next level. After wondering if she’d ever play again in 2024, Peurifoy has solidified an extension of her softball career. In August of 2025, she committed to play at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Ga. The team finished the regular season with a record of 16-4 and will host Glynn Academy on Oct. 13 in the first round of the GHSA state playoffs.
By: Sydney Jarrard and Wesley Webb Social Circle is a small town in Georgia with one of the most established and successful wrestling programs in the state. A lot of this success is due to one man: Robert Cline. Cline runs two wrestling clubs out of the Social Circle High School wrestling room, the Circle Training Center and the Backyard Brawlers. He volunteers his time to run these programs and help wrestlers develop skills in the offseason. Kids from elementary school to high school can wrestle in these clubs. The training center is open to anyone in Social Circle and the surrounding communities. Cline came to Social Circle in 2013 after Head Coach Randy Prater invited him to strengthen the youth program. Wrestling is an important part of Cline’s life, and he wants to give the same growth opportunities he had to other kids. “I love giving opportunities, watching these kids become better every day, watching these kids not only just win but just be better kids,” Cline said. The offseason practice and experience that the students receive have impacted the Social Circle High School wrestling team. They practice techniques and moves during practice and earn valuable mat time through off-season tournaments. Since 2013, they have won eight dual state championships. With wrestling season starting on Oct. 20, the wrestlers are gaining valuable time and practice on the mat.
Carmical Sports Media Institute students preview the regular season matchup between Madison County at North Oconee.
Dylan Clearfield walks the field with @NOHSFootball starting quarterback Harrison Faulkner, discussing the lessons he has learned from his father, @georgiatechathletics offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, his favorite player growing up, first touchdown memories and more.
Carmical Sports Media Institute students preview the North Oconee Titans first region game of the season versus the East Forsyth Broncos.
Storylines to watch in the regular-season matchup of reigning state champion @NOHSFootball and the Clarke Central Gladiators.
Owen McDaniel walks 100 yards with Clarke Central HS football coach David Perno, discussing his memories of former coach Billy Henderson, coaching against Gerrit Cole, a possible return to college baseball and more.
Clarke Central, riddled with injuries to key players like Georgia commit Anthony “AJ” Lonon, will host undefeated Jefferson in the latest edition of Friday night football. The Gladiators will start a new quarterback in Camar Lee against an experienced Dragons defense, seeking a bounce-back win.
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