FHSAA Considers New Division For Small, Rural Schools Like Northview, Jay
May 3, 2010
A Florida High School Athletic Association committee has given preliminary approval to creating a new division for for small, rural schools like Northview and Jay. Schools in the rural division would compete within their own division and have their own playoff series for boys and girls basketball, baseball, football, softball and girls volleyball.
The recommendation from the FHSAA Urban/Rural Committee came about a year after Northview, Jay and nearly 20 other high schools in the Florida Panhandle met to discuss forming a new independent athletic league outside of the Florida High School Athletic Association.
“We all just want to see our teams have a level playing field,” Northview Principal Gayle Weaver told NorthEscambia.com at the time the smaller Panhandle schools were meeting. “Sometimes our students say we are playing for second best, because they know that they could never win state.”
The problem lies with smaller schools in the FHSAA that are forced to compete at the playoff level with private schools and academies located in cities like Pensacola. Those private schools are able to recruit the best players with scholarships and other incentives, making the chances of a small, rural public school winning a state playoff unlikely.
“It’s a good idea because it keeps these private schools out,” Northview Athletic Director Sammy Day said. “You’ve got a lot of private schools that recruit…if they get them coming to school because they live in their area, that would be fine. But they don’t.”
“A new division of participating schools (public and private) needs to be created,” the FHSAA Urban/Rural Committee wrote in a recommendation for full FHSAA board approval.
“We have a number of member schools that need issues addressed in terms of equitable competition,” said Executive Director Roger Dearing. “We need to make sure people know this is not a public-private issue. This is an issue of small rural schools that do not draw their student populations from larger urban areas or outside the state or country, and have a difficult time competing against those that do. There is a way for all schools to exist and succeed with the advent of this new division.”
The committee, which was commissioned in Fall 2009, traveled throughout the state to gather feedback from parents, coaches and other stakeholders at public meetings about issues of concern regarding participation. From this feedback, the committee developed the following recommendations:
- to create a new division of participating schools, private and public, which have been designated as rural by the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, and whose student enrollments are 500 or less. This classification shall be limited to the following sports: boys and girls basketball, baseball, football, boys and girls soccer, softball and girls volleyball.
- to ensure penalties for an offense of recruiting, or any violation(s) of eligibility bylaws, are very severe, including but not limited to: program and/or school suspension from the Association; program and/or school restrictive probation, including exclusion from state series playoff events; and increased financial penalties.
- to investigate the use of a “clearinghouse” system for international student eligibility, with no more than one international student being eligible to participate on each varsity-level team.
- to seek input from member schools regarding reclassification and redistricting processes.
The Urban/Rural Committee noted in their full recommendation that the student population of 500 is an approximation with the actual number to be determined by the actual number of schools required t o create a competitive division.
To read the full FHSAA committee recommendation, click here (pdf).
Pictured top: Brandon Sheets tries to avoid Jay defender Chris Carrigan during last year’s meeting of two rural schools. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Atmore’s 5K For A Cause; Jay’s Dobson Wins Fiesta 5K
May 2, 2010
About 40 people took part in the second annual Atmore Community Hospital Relay for Life 5K Run/Walk Saturday morning in Atmore. The male overall winner was Keith Bell of Atmore with a time of 20:13. The female overall winner was Georgia Geotter of Bratt with a time of 25:27.
In Pensacola, Matt Dobson of Jay was the overall male winner in the 36th Annual Fiesta of Five Flags 5K. His time was 16:26.
Pictured top and bottom: About 40 runners took part in the second annual Atmore Community Hospital Relay for Life 5K Run/Walk Saturday morning in Atmore. Pictured left: Overall winners Keith Bell of Atmore and Georgia Geotter of Bratt. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Defeats Northview For District 1-2A Championship
April 30, 2010
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 12-2 in six innings Thursday night for the District 1-2A championship in Baker.
The winning pitcher for the Royals was Hunter Brown (6-4). He pitched six, allowing eight hits, two errors, one walk and striking out five.
Jay hitters included Hunter Boutwell 3-4 with one RBI, Hunger Brown 1-3 with two RBIs, Rush Hendricks 1-2, Tyler Prescott 1-2 with 2 RBIs, Conner Weeks 1-2 with 2 RBIs and Sawyer Gandy 2-3.
Northview hitters included Brad Lowery 2-3, Dabney Langhorne 2-3 and Hunter Black with a double.
The Chiefs and the Royals were tied for the spot going into the District 1-2A tournament with Jay getting the number one seed on a coin toss.
The Royals (15-7) will be at home Tuesday against Panama City’s Bozeman Bucks (19-9) as the Region 2A tournament gets underway, and the Northview Chiefs will be on the road in Bonifay Tuesday against Holmes County (23-5).
Holmes County beat Bozeman Thursday night 12-8.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Names 2010-2011 Cheerleaders
April 30, 2010
Northview High School named their 2010-2011 varsity and junior varsity cheerleading squads on Thursday.
The 2010-2011 Northview High School Varsity Cheerleaders are:
- Hillary Byrd
- Tori Chavers
- Lauren Cloud
- Laneicia Gomez
- Megan Ryan
- Brooke Tullis
- Tiffany Chavers
- Lauren McCall
- Charleigh McPherson
- Caroline Prater
- Tori Reid
- Taylor Rigby
- Tori Searcy
- Autumn Slay
- Brittany Thompson
- Ashley Cunningham
- Ariel Holland
- Ashley Mooney
- Jessica Warner
The 2010-2011 Northview High School Junior Varsity Cheerleaders are:
- Abby Odom
- Sandy Rainwater
- Mariah Albritton
- Kaitlynne Calloway
- Anna Fischer
- Tamara Green
- Chloe Leonard
- Rachel Presley
- Rebekah Sepulveda
- Lauryn Walker
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Ernest Ward Middle School Track
April 30, 2010
The Ernest Ward Middle School track team competed in their third track meet of the year Thursday afternoon at Warrington Middle School in Pensacola.
Pictured: Members of the Ernest Ward Middle School track team compete Thursday afternoon at Warrington Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Academy Sweeps State Track Championships
April 29, 2010
The Escambia Academy Cougars are state track champions — four times over. The Cougars took first place in the Alabama Independent School Association track and field championship for varsity boys, varsity girls, junior varsity boys and junior varsity girls.
For the varsity boys, it was the fourth state championship in a row; for the girls, it was the second consecutive state championship. And for the junior varsity boys, it was also the fourth straight state win.
Jaylen Henry had a first place in the state finish for the Cougars in the 100 meter, 200 meter and long jump. For the girls, Amber Huskey had a first place finish in the discus.
Several members of the JV boys team took first in the state — including Reid Bell with a state record 41-feet three-inches in the shot put. The boys 4×100 team — Chad Cooper, Reid Bell, Jordon Sasser and Scott Brantley – finished first, as did Michael Thompson in the 800 meter, Brandon Goins in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and long jump, and Jordan Sasser in the triple jump.
For the JV girls, there were several first place finishes, including Page Lancaster in the 800 meter, Lacie Flowers in the 400 meter, Peyton Snider in the high jump, Chelsey Ramer in the discus and Allie Brooks in the shot put.
Here are complete Escambia Academy state track results, as provided by the school:
VARSITY BOYS
100 M – Jaylen Henry 1st
200 M – Jaylen Henry 1st
1600 M – Wade Matthews 4th
3200 M – Wade Matthews 4th
4 x 200 M – Jon Dean, Brandon Goddard, Jaylen Henry, Jake Wasdin 3rd
4 x 800 – James Dean, Cameron McGhee, Phillip Kabbott, J. P. Sawyer 3rd
Long Jump – Jaylen Henry 1st
High Jump – Jared Hadley 4th
VARSITY GIRLS
Discus – Amber Huskey 1st
Shot Put – Amber Huskey 3rd
4 x 100 – Lacie Flowers, Page Lancaster, Nikki Bryan, Brooke McGhee 3rd
4 x 800 – Chelsey Ramer, Grayson Emmons, Payton Snider, Kristen Matthews 3rd
JV BOYS
High Jump – Michael Thompson 2nd
Long Jump – Brandon Goins 1st
Triple Jump – Jordan Sasser 1st
Shot Put – Reid Bell 1st – State Record 41’3”
Discus – Mason Caraway 3rd
100 M – Brandon Goins 1st
200 M – Brandon Goins 1st
400 M – Brandon Goins 1st, Michael Thompson 2nd
110 H – Reid Bell 3rd
800 M – Michael Thompson 1st
1600 M – J. P. Sawyer 3rd
3200 M – J. P. Sawyer 2nd, Eddie Agrait 4th
4 x 400 – Chad Cooper, Reid Bell, Jordon Sasser, Scott Brantley 1st
JV GIRLS
Shot – Allie Brooks 1st, Page Allen 2nd, Brooke McGhee 3rd
Discus – Chelsey Ramer 1st, Grayson Emmons 2nd, Victoria Sawyer 4th
High Jump – Peyton Snider 1st
100 M – Lacie Flowers 2nd, Page Lancaster 3rd
200 M – Lacie Flowers 2nd
100 Hurdles – Grayson Emmons 2nd
300 Hurdles – Page Lancaster 1st, Grayson Emmons 2nd
400 M – Lacie Flowers 1st, Peyton Snider 3rd
800 M – Page Lancaster 1st, Grayson Emmons 2nd
Lady Chiefs Best Season Ever Ends In Regionals
April 28, 2010
The best season ever in the history of the Northview Lady Chiefs came to a tearful end Tuesday night with a 3-2 loss to Sneads in the Region 2A softball tournament.
“It was our best season ever,” Head Coach Sammy Day said. “We could not have asked for anything better, except to win this game. We, overall, just did not hit the ball hard enough tonight.”
The Lady Chiefs (24-4) took an early 2-0 lead in the first and held Sneads scoreless until the fifth. In the fifth, Sneads scored a couple to tie the ballgame 2-2 headed into the sixth. In the sixth inning, Sneads added one, giving them a 3-2 lead.
“They played hard. They gave it all they had, and that was all I could ask,” Day said. “We are coming back at it next year. We are going to be there next year too. We’ll be back.”
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the game, click here.
Losing pitcher was freshman Misty Doran, who walked two and struck out three. Doran finished the season at 19-4. Northview hitters were Doran 2-3 with a triple, Kolbi Cobb 2-3 with a double, Candace Greenwell 1-3 and Amy Clark 1-3.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview, Jay Pick Up District Tournament Wins
April 28, 2010
The Northview Chiefs and the Jay Royals both picked up wins Tuesday in Baker in the District 1-2A baseball tournament.
The Northview Chiefs bit the Baker Gators 5-2 Tuesday night.
Winning pitcher was Austin Reid with 14 strikeouts, six hits and two runs.
Brandon Sheets was 1-2 with two runs scored, Brad Lowery was 1-2 with two runs score and one RBI, Dabney Langhorne 1-2 with two RBI’s, Austin Reid 2-2 with one RBI, Austin Arrington was 103 with one run scored, Austin Lowery was 1-3, and Heath Burkett had one RBI.
The Jay Royals beat Ponce de Leon 12-2 in Tuesday’s other district semifinal game.
The Chiefs and Royals will meet for the District championship on Thursday.
Submitted photo by Edie Jackson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Register Now For June’s 5K Race For The Blueberries
April 27, 2010
The Escambia County Neighborhoods and Community Services Bureau invites runners, walkers, and wheelchair racers to join the 5K Race for the Blueberries.
The event will be Saturday, June 12, beginning at 8 a.m. with a staggered start. The race will be one of the many fun activities offered at the Blueberry Jamboree, to be held at Barrineau Park Community Center and Historical Society, 6055 Barrineau Park School Road in Molino.
Pre-registration is $15. Registration forms can be found by clicking here or by calling (850) 475-5220. Registration is $20 on the day of the event. T-shirts will be given to all registrants and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners.
For more information, please contact the Recreation Division, 475-5220, e-mail recreation@co.escambia.fl.us, or visit our web site at www.blueberryjamboree.com.
The Blueberry Jamboree is sponsored by several local organizations, including NorthEscambia.com.
Jay Boy’s Track Team Places Third In Regionals
April 26, 2010
The Jay High School Boy’s track and field team placed third in the Class 1A Regional Championship Meet held at Bolles High School in Jacksonville.
The following athletes scored points during Friday’s competition. Those placing in the top four will proceed to the State Championships in Winterpark this Friday.
- 4×800 m relay – 5th place – Drew Kennedy, Dusty Kennedy, Chad Phillips, Jeffery Fischer
- High Jump – 4th place – Justin White (5′ 10″)
- Pole Vault – 1st place – Chris Carrigan (14′), 3rd place – Dakota Boughton (12′), 7th place – John Daniel Golden
- Discus – 3rd place – Andrew Polk (128′ 8″)
- 3200 m run – 3rd place – Drew Kennedy (10.47.31), 4th place – Dylan Nadsady (10.48.46)
- 110 m hurdles – 7th place – Steven Brabham
- 300m hurdles – 6th place – Steven Brabham, 8th place – Ben Shorb