All-around success for LaGrange
Published 1:44 pm Thursday, May 31, 2018
By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY
Daily News
LaGrange High’s athletic program has always prided itself on its all-around excellence, and the 2017-2018 school year was no exception.
The state golf tournament that was held last week put an end to a sensational school year for LaGrange, and that was reflected in the final Georgia Athletic Director’s Association standings.
Points are awarded to teams and individuals that enjoy success on the state level, and when the spring seasons are completed, the final standings are revealed.
In Region 5-AAAA, only Cartersville finished with more points than LaGrange.
While Cartersville had 768 points, LaGrange finished with 606 points.
It was almost a perfect balance between the girls’ and boys’ teams at the school.
LaGrange’s boys’ teams earned 309 points, and the girls’ teams had 297 points.
Following Cartersville and LaGrange were Chapel Hill (566 points), Troup (452 points), Central-Carroll (436 points), Sandy Creek (386 points) and Cedartown (364 points).
Five different LaGrange teams won a game or match on the state level, three other teams reached the state playoffs, and the boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams had strong showings at state.
On the individual front, a handful of LaGrange wrestlers and track-and-field athletes came home with high state finishes.
The spring was a particularly profitable time for LaGrange’s sports teams.
Leading the way were the boys’ and girls’ golf teams who both excelled at the state meet.
LaGrange’s girls’ team finished ninth in the state meet, while the boys’ team was 12th.
TJ Ormsby led LaGrange with a 75, and Blakely Arp paced the girls’ team with a 92.
Also during the spring, both soccer teams reached the second round of the playoffs.
LaGrange’s girls’ team, which won a second consecutive region championship, beat Gilmer County 8-0 in the first round before losing a hard-fought 3-0 decision to Marist in the second round.
Marist came into the game ranked first in the country according the maxpreps.com rankings.
“I thought it was the best effort we put into a game,” said Andy Fritchley, who coaches the team along with Colin Ross. “They all knew how highly ranked they were, and they rose to the challenge. We could have easily come into this game and played timid. We didn’t.”
After the season, senior Maggie Asbell was selected as the region’s defensive player of the year.
LaGrange’s boys’ team saw its season come to a close against Marist as well.
After beating Lafayette 7-0 in the first round, LaGrange went on the road and lost to Marist 5-1 in round two. Liam McDonald led LaGrange with 24 goals, and he and fellow senior Max Halcomb were selected to play in a postseason all-star game.
Also in the spring, LaGrange’s tennis teams continued to thrive under head coach Kenny Moore.
Both teams finished second in the region and won a match at state before losing to Marist in the second round.
In the first round, LaGrange’s boys’ team beat Lafayette, and the girls’ handled Northwest Whitfield.
The future is bright for both teams, with everyone but seniors Abbi Lynn Lanier and Jackson Kuerzi set to return.
LaGrange’s baseball team, in its final season under head coach David Smart, made it to the state playoffs before losing to Northwest Whitfield.
During the winter, LaGrange’s girls’ basketball team made it to the second round of the state tournament.
LaGrange, which went unbeaten in region play in the regular season before finishing second in the region tournament, beat Heritage 59-50 in the first round at state. LaGrange hung tough with Marist in the second round of the state tournament before losing 59-48.
LaGrange’s boys’ basketball team made it to the state tournament and lost to LaFayette in the first round.
Also reaching the state tournament was the LaGrange volleyball team, which lost to Marist in the opening round.
In wrestling, LaGrange got 48 points with a pair of wrestlers placing at the state meet.
Dexter Fitzpatrick lost his first match in the state finals, but he rebounded to finish fourth in the 195-pound weight class.
“It’s special,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s really a dream come true (to place). I wasn’t sure if I’d make it this far. Through God I did.”
Also placing was Matthew Callaway, who finished fifth.
LaGrange also got it done in track and field and earned 20 points, with a handful of members of the team earning a spot on the podium.
Jada Grant (triple jump) , WaWa Benn (100-meter hurdles) and the 400-meter relay team were eighth, and Renaya Edmondson (discus) and Cameron Thomas (triple jump) were seventh.
In cross country, LaGrange’s boys’ team finished 13th, with Alex Bowie leading the way with a 31st-place finish.
LaGrange’s girls’ team was 23rd overall, and Anna Doerr was the team’s top finisher.
LAGRANGE POINTS
Girls golf – 63; Boys golf – 54, Girls soccer – 53, Boys soccer – 53, Girls tennis – 53, Boys tennis – 53, Girls basketball – 53, Boys cross country – 51, Wrestling – 48, Girls cross country – 30, Boys basketball 25, Volleyball – 25 points, Baseball – 25 points, Track – 20 points
