Sports
This sports reporting has been created by students in the Sports Media Certificate program within the John Huland Carmical Sports Media Institute, along with contributions from other courses at the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication.
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Chasing Eight: Lauren Neace’s Perfect State Lineup
For Lauren Neace, “good enough” was never the goal. This season, the Cedar Shoals sophomore became the first swimmer in school history to qualify for all eight state events — a goal she announced during her freshman year, half-joking, half-daring herself to try. By the middle of this season, it…
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Young Gun Lockleer Leading Tigers in State Basketball Playoffs
Commerce High School basketball is seeing its greatest success in years, largely due to junior guard Essien Lockleer. Lockleer did not begin his basketball career until he entered high school, but this did not stop him. As a two-sport athlete and a wide receiver for Commerce football, Lockleer’s athleticism has translated seamlessly to the hardwood, bringing speed, strength and energy…
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Eligible But Uninterested: Why UGA Club Women’s Lacrosse Team Prefers to Stay Club
One of the most successful teams at University of Georgia does not play under the lights at Sanford Stadium or on the court at Stegeman Coliseum. Instead, it plays at the Club Sports Complex. Last spring, Georgia’s women’s club lacrosse team made its 10th straight appearance in the Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates championship…
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New GHSA Playoff Formula Changing Road to State Title
North Oconee’s volleyball team swept Ware County in a first-round playoff match this fall. The Gators only scored seven points combined in the first two sets against the Titans. North Oconee was the top team in Region 8-4A, while Ware County was the third seed in its region. On the…
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Classic City Kick: Deep Dive into History, Title IX Legacy Behind Athens Soccer
A college town built on the foundation of SEC football is undergoing a quiet, athletic transformation. The new podcast, “Classic City Kick: The Rise of Soccer in Athens, GA,” dives into the local trend that explains why Athens — and the state of Georgia — have become a hotbed for…
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Population Boom Boosts Jackson County Volleyball Team
The halls at Jackson County High School are growing busier each year, and so is the volleyball court. As the county’s population surges, more students are filling classrooms, lockers and tryout lists. The squeak of sneakers and the thud of volleyballs echo through the gym as coaches call out drills,…
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‘Toughness Doesn’t Have a Gender’: Jefferson Going All-In on Girls Wrestling
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) The sound of sneakers squeaking on mats echoes through Jefferson High School’s wrestling room as a dozen girls warm up for practice. Sweat drips, laughter…
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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 Rumble tournament in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Nov. 9, 2025. Sievers won by fall over Jaxon Grant from Heritage-Catoosa. (Photo/Sydney Jarrard) Social Circle’s wrestling team is a powerhouse that has historically dominated in both team and individual state competitions. In…
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Georgia Initiative Seeks to Open Up Conversation, Support High School Athletes’ Mental Health
Hayden Holland knows pressure. As a North Oconee High School volleyball player, she feels the weight of expectations and the time demanded of her. “I think it’s so looked down upon in sports; people don’t understand mental health is a big part of sports,” Holland said. Just so much to…
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