Ernest Ward Middle Holds Annual Sports Banquet
April 25, 2009
The Third Annual Ernest Ward Middle School Sports Banquet was held Friday night.
Students were honored for their participation in football, cheerleading, volleyball, track, basketball and swimming.
Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry recognized EWMS Sports Booster President Charles Williams for his dedication to the sports programs at Ernest Ward (pictured below).
Students recognized included:
Boy’s Swim Team
- Sidney Amerson
- Robert Andreoli
- Devin Bell
- Mason Coleman
- Eathan Coon
- Justin Halteman
- Dakota Joiner
- Jarrett Parker
- Blake Presley
- Layne Purvis
- Brian Sanders
- Daulton Tullis
- Kelby Killam
- William Andreoli
- Alex Edmonson
- Dustin Parker
Girl’s Swim Team
- Cheyanne Schoonover
- Ariel Holland
- Sarah Holland
- Ashley Joiner
- Ashley Mooney
- Danielle Steadham
- Mason Solchenberger
- Lily Townson
- Jessica Warner
- Ashton Gibbs
- Chloe Leonard
- Jessica Lowery
- Anna Donald
- Hailey McQuaid
- McKenzie Nassar
- Reagan Bell
- Kristen Byrd
- Courtney Peebles
- Katelynne Calloway
- Mariah Albritton
- Penny Banda
- Ally Edwards
- Hannah Gibson
- Karmen Watson
- Courtney Lewis
- Kayla Nahkala
- Lauryn Walker
- Morgan Ward
Girl’s Track Team
- Autumn Ates
- Taylor Brook
- Kristen Byrd
- Lana Clayton
- Hope Coggins
- Georgia Goetter
- Andrea Miles
- Angel Mitchell
- Danielle Steadham
- Danielle Suggs
- Lily Townson
- Karmen Watson
- Courtney Lambert
- Taylor Roberson
- Savannah Vanderpol
Boy’s Track Team
- Jaylen Parker
- Lamikeal Banks
- Dillian Crutchfield
- Jonathan Moretz
- Trey Johnson
- Everette Garvey
- Daulton Daniel
- Elijah Harbison
- Robert Andreoli
- Reid Bell
- Josh Inghram
- Logan Lee
- Jacob Hendrix
Competition Cheerleaders
- Ariel Holland
- Angel Mitchell
- Cheyenne Godwin
- Ashley Mooney
- Jessica Lowery
- Ali Martin
- Paeton Hadley
- Raven Weaver
- Lana Clayton
- Katelynn Calloway
- Madison Arrington
- Mariah Albritton
- Morgan Ward
- Hannah Gibson
- Reagan Bell
Volleyball
- Madison Arrington
- Raven Weaver
- Lily Townson
- Mallory Wiggins
- Mallory Ryan
- Emily Fretwell
- Ariel Holland
- Kyndall Hall
- Julia Thorpe
- Darby Randolph
- Danielle Steadham
- Morgan Payne
- Rebecca Grim
Boy’s Basketball
- Hunter Rigby
- Kevin Vaughn
- Brandon Freeman
- Trenton Howard
- Aaron McDonald
- Lamikeal Banks
- Dalton Tullis
- ShaneBushaw
- Jaylen Parker
- William Andreoli
- Trey Johnson
- Reid Bell
- Justin Halterman
- La’derious Franklin
- DaMichael Fountain
- Blake McCall
2008-09 Boy’s Basketball MVP: DaMichael Fountain
Girl’s Basketball Team
- Dezaraa Turner
- Julia Thorpe
- Morgan Payne
- Jazzlyn Franklin
- Angel Lathan
- Mariah Albritton
- Rebekah Miles
- Samantha Sharpless
- Danielle Steadham
- Mallory Ryan
- Kaitlyn Gunn
- Darby Randolph
- Teamber Moorer
- Kasie Braun
2008-09 Girls Basketball Co-MVP: Jazzlyn Franklin and Danielle Steadham
Cheerleading Special Recognition Awards
- Most Outstanding Performer: Katelynn Calloway
- Most Improved: Paeton Hadley
- Best All-Around: Ariel Holland
- Best All-Around: Angel Mitchell
Volleyball Special Recognition Awards
- Team Spirit: Madison Arrington
- Best Serve: Morgan Payne
- Most Points Scored: Lily Townsend
- Most Improved: Danielle Steadham
- Best All Around/MVP: Raven Weaver
Student names and sports were provided by the coaches.
Pictured top: Morgan Ward (left) videos winners at Friday night’s Ernest Ward Middle School Sports Banquet, including Angel Mitchell (right). Pictured below: Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry recognizes volunteer Charles Williams for his dedication to every Golden Eagles sports team. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Fall In District Tourney
April 24, 2009
The Northview Lady Chiefs came up short in the District 1-3A Softball Tournament Thursday night.
The Lady Chiefs fell to South Walton, 4-1.
Hitters in last night’s game were Candice Greenwell, Shawna Montgomery and Kolby Cobb.
Northview will play Holmes County on Tuesday The Lady Chiefs record stands at 11-11 for the season.
Northview won their first game in the district tournament Tuesday. For a photo gallery from that game, click here.
Northview, Jay, Other Schools Consider New Independent Sports League
April 23, 2009
NorthEscambia.com Exclusive
Northview and Jay high schools are among about 20 high schools in the Florida Panhandle that have met to discuss forming a new independent athletic league outside of the Florida High School Athletic Association, NorthEscambia.com has learned.
“We all just want to see our teams have a level playing field,” Northview Principal Gayle Weaver told NorthEscambia.com.
The problem lies with smaller schools in the FHSAA that are forced to compete at the playoff level with private schools and academies. Those private schools are able to recruit the best players with scholarships and other incentives, making the chances of a small public school winning a state playoff unlikely.
“Sometimes out students say we are playing for second best,” Weaver said, “because they know that they could never win state.”
In addition, the current FHSAA brackets had the Chiefs on the road for over 1,200 miles last football season. The team’s game in Blountstown was a nearly 350 mile round trip.
“It is a hardship during the regular season for families to follow our teams,” Weaver said. “And it takes away from our community because there are no local rivalries.”
The smaller independent league would mean more games closer to home for most member schools.
In addition, schools like Northview and Jay lose financially when hosting an event like a football game where the opponent is from a long distance away. A long distance for the visiting teams equates to poor attendance, and poor attendance equals money lost.
There are about 20 small rural high schools from Northview to Sneeds that are considering the formation of the independent athletic league and the separation from the FHSAA. They range in size from Monroe High School with 106 students to Walton with 699 students. Northview has 554; Jay has 200. Baker, at 435 students, is the only other Escambia or Santa Rosa County school currently in talks about the new league.
Weaver said that it would be hard for a school like Northview to get past the quarter finals in a state competition when paired against private academies that recruit so heavily that they are considered “feeder schools” for college teams.
“It is disheartening to see our kids unable to complete on that level playing field,” she said. “We want what is fair for our students. We don’t want them to be beat by teams that are almost like semi-pros.”
An official from the Florida High School Athletic Association was at Wednesday’s meeting, Weaver said. That official promised the group that the FHSAA would form a committee to address the small schools’ concerns, and that committee would also take a look at how small schools fit into the statewide athletic associations in nearby states.
The small schools, including Northview and Jay, will meet again soon to discuss the formation of the independent athletic association.
Weaver said the independent league is not likely to be formed before August, so Northview, Jay and the other schools will likely play under the FHSAA one more year.
“After that, we’ll just see what happens,” she said.
“The schools would still be members of the FHSAA. The membership carries a lot of resources, but it also would require the schools to follow the FHSAA rules. The FHSAA Handbook is published each year, and the handbook explains things such as eligibility, sports seasons, rules for officials,” Weaver said.
Schools that are considering the independent league are (along with the student population of some schools):
- Monroe (106)
- Graceville (214)
- Cottondale
- Wewahitchka
- Jay
- Franklin Count
- Liberty County
- West Gadsden
- Freeport
- Port St. Joe
- Sneads
- Vernon
- Blountstown
- Baker
- Holmes County
- Bozeman
- Northview (554)
- South Walton
- Chipley (616)
- Walton (697)
Pictured above: Northview Head Coach Cody Keene prepares the Chiefs before last year’s season opener against Catholic High. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
NASCAR Night At Flomaton Speedway; Wallace Places Third
April 23, 2009
Flomaton Speedway had a NASCAR Night Wednesday with NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace racing against local and regional drivers in the IMCA Modified class.
Wallace brought his #36, JEGS-sponsored modified to race with about 17 others in the feature event.
This was the first NASCAR night at the track, and owner Jimmy Goodwin hopes to make it an annual event. A large crowd came out to meet Wallace, get autographs and watch him compete on the 1/4 mile banked dirt track.
Wallace finished third in the main event. After Wednesday night’s race he will be heading to Talladega for more racing this week.
Racing is held every Saturday night with four classes running at Flomaton Speedway. There is no racing this Saturday night, but the action will resume on May 2.
Pictured above: NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace’s #36 at Flomaton Speedway Wednesday night. Pictured inset: Wallace signs autographs. Pictured below: Wallace in a group photo with IMCA Class drivers. Submitted photo by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
More photos will be available at www.mikenewtonphotography.
Northview’s Next Baseball Game Moved Home
April 22, 2009
Northview’s baseball game Thursday has been moved back to Chief territory.
The Chiefs will take on West Florida Tech at home in Bratt at 6:00. It was originally scheduled to be a road game.
Lady Chiefs Advance In District Tourney
April 22, 2009
Northview beat Catholic 5-3 in the District 1-3A Softball Tournament Tuesday.
Miranda Burkett pitched five for the Chiefs, holding Catholic scoreless until the third.
Northview scored one in the first, two in the second and one each in the third and fourth innings.
Sophomores Ashley Digmon and Sarah Killam, junior Aimee Clark and senior Briana Halteman were hitters for the Chiefs.
The Lady Chiefs improve to 11-10 for the year.
NHS Chiefs Beat PCA 13-6
April 22, 2009
The Northview varsity boys slammed Pensacola Christian Academy Tuesday 13-6.
Brad Foster slammed a home run for the Chiefs. Other hitters for Northview included Scooter Hamilton with two hits and one run. Patrick McPherson had one hit. Brad Lowery had two hits, scored a run, and had an RBI. Austin Lowery had three hits, including a double, and scored 2 runs. Heath Burkett had one hit and an RBI. Luke Killam scored three runs for the chiefs. Alex Abbott, the winning pitcher, had a two run single for Northview. Brett Hanks had one hit and scored 2 runs.
Abbott pitched five for the Chiefs. He gave up three runs on five hits, walked three and struck out five. Abbot is 2-0 this year.
The first inning ended 1-1, and PCA jumped out to a 3-1 lead by the end of the second. Northview answered with one in the third to make it 3-2 PCA going into the fourth. But Northview turned the game around, scoring four each in the fourth and fifth inning and three in the sixth. PCA managed just three in the sixth, giving the Chiefs the 13-6 win.
Northview Volleyball Tryouts Are Scheduled
April 21, 2009
Tryouts for the Northview High School volleyball team will be held May 4-6 in the school gym.
Tryouts will be held 3:30 to 5:30 May 4 and 5 and May 6 3:30 to 5:00 in the gym.
The gym will be open April 27, 28 and 30 from 3:00 until 4:15 for students that wish to practice before tryouts.
Every student that participates in the tryouts must have a current physical, liability and insurance form on file with the school. The tryouts are closed to everyone except those that are trying out.
For more information, contact Betty Heaton, Northview Volleyball coach, by email at bheaton@escambia.k12.fl.u.
Flomaton Hurricanes Advance To Round Two Of State Playoffs
April 20, 2009
The Flomaton Hurricanes have advanced to round two of the state Class 2A playoffs after weekend wins over Cottonwood.
Flomaton (17-8) heads to Monroe County to take on Excel next Friday in the second round of their trip toward state. Cottonwood beat Flomaton 11-10, the he ‘Canes beat the Bears 14-4 in the second game of the three game series. Flomaton took game three with a solid 11-5 victory.
The Bears took an early 3-0 lead in the third game, but the Bears’ lead was quickly ended in the bottom of the second with a three-run homer from Tyler Coleman sending Caleb Bethea, Chip Edwards and Samuel Mize across home plate. The ‘Canes were up 4-3 heading into the third.
The Bears tied the game again at 5-5 in the fourth inning. The Hurricanes owned the fifth when Mize picked up a single, and Allen Spears hit a double. Denver Hawsey had a triple for the 11-5 final.
Vickery pitched the first three innings. Chip Edwards pitched the next three innings, and Bethea pitched the final for the Flomaton Hurricanes.
Here Come The Blackcats: The Kayo Stanton Story
April 20, 2009
Perhaps it is fitting that Century’s Relay for Life will be held Saturday night at Kayo Stanton Stadium. The stadium was named in honor of a man that was a legacy in Century High School sports. A man that was the voice of the Blackcats for 20 years until he was silenced by cancer.
As Century prepares for this weekend’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life, we thought it fitting to look back at the man and the history behind Kayo Stanton Stadium, the stadium that is all too often referred to as the “old Century High School Stadium”.
The following was submitted by Jerry Simmons from the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society for NorthEscambia.com.
“Heeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrreeeee come the Blackcats”
Kayo’s full name was Vivian Earl Stanton, Jr. “Kayo” is a term used in boxing to denote a knockout but his daughter Anne Williamson of Thomasville said his nickname was for a character in the 1930s-50s “Moon Mullins” Sunday comic strip named “Kayo.”
Stanton’s deep voice was easily recognizable – his trademark was “Heeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrreeeee come the Blackcats,” as the Century team came onto the field before the game started. His son, David Stanton said his father borrowed the line from the Florida Gators after attending games in Gainesville when David was a student there. “He came back and tried it, and it went over pretty good,” he said. “He kept it for the next 20 years.”
Kayo didn’t try to be a play-by-play announcer. He once said, “The fans can see what’s going on. I just tell them the yard marker, since we can see from this high vantage point. The men who work as spotters in the press box tell me the players’ numbers and I pass that to the crowd.”
The stadium was named in his honor during the football season of 1990. He was beginning to be paralyzed from the cancer by the end of the football season, but he could still walk some at the time of the dedication. By the end of the season he was confined to a wheelchair and would listen to the games from the wheelchair sitting in his front yard.
According to a contemporary report in the Pensacola News-Journal, he was “embarrassed but honored” when Century High School named its football stadium for him. But that honor was an indication of how well everyone thought of him. Kayo’s son David said, “There was never any controversy or complaint about the decision to name the stadium for him.”
Kayo was “The Voice of the Blackcats” as public address announcer for Century football for 40 years, starting in the early 1950s.
The News-Journal report continued, “He was Blackcat football,” said [former] Century football coach Joe Cardwell. “He was our version of Mel Allen, with that gravelly voice.”
“If you were going to have a ball game, you were going to have Kayo there,” said Edsol Smith, former CHS coach and principal. Smith remembered Stanton as a community booster and historian and a fixture at Century Lions Club meetings, where he was the member with the most years of service at the time of his death.
Stanton was also a third generation businessman in Century. At 19, he went to work for his father, Bubba Stanton, at Stanton’s grocery on Mayo Street. The family closed the grocery store in 1963, and when Bubba died in 1964, Kayo took over the operation and eventually turned it into a furniture store.
“People would just drop by his store all the time and sit and talk,” said former Century mayor Benny Barnes. “We’d talk a lot about things going on in the community and about football.”
Stanton prepared for games as if he were going to broadcast them, studying series records against Century’s opposition for the week and scores against common opponents, to be shared with the fans. “He did a lot of research,” David said. “He was really good at it.”
His attendance record was almost spotless, even after he opened another store in Pensacola in 1979. The new store kept him out of town for much of the week in the six years it was open. But Fridays always found him in the press box.
His tenure was interrupted only once, as family ties put him in a different place in the stadium during the 1968 season. That was the senior season for David, an All-State linebacker for Century. Smith said, “He said he’d get too excited to do a good job.”
But he returned to the booth the following year and stayed for the next 20 years, before cancer forced him to give up announcing. He died June 13, 1991.
“You can say that the whole community’s lost a friend,” Barnes said at the time.
The History
Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis took down a sign honoring a prominent figure in Century’s recent history. Kayo Stanton Field is hardly known to people around town any more, although it was the center of the community’s identity for 50 or 60 years. It was named for one of Century’s favorite sons.
Century’s high school ventured into football in the early 1930s. According to “Blackcats: A history of Century Football 1931-1975″ by Jim Curenton, football was first played behind the Baptist and Methodist churches in 1931. In 1934, Marvin Kelly donated a parcel of land northwest of the present-day Carver-Century K-8 (the site of present-day Showalter Park) and it was used for Century’s athletic teams. Football was played at Kelly Field during the daytime hours since there were no lights.
It’s not clear just when the first games were played at the new high school, built in 1936. Curenton’s book says of the 1941 season, “Kelly Field had not been used as a football field in two or three years.” At any rate, at the end of World War II, for the first time, home games were played under lights on the field behind the new high school. Century played its first night game against W.S. Neal. A solid white ball was used to make it more visible at night. Curenton reported that since grandstands were non-existent and there were no fences as yet, crowds pressed closer and closer to the action, actually narrowing the field of play.
The school property bordered the crest of a hill on the edge of a small swamp around Findley Branch. Coach Bill Turberville took advantage of the slope. He had the boys carry each other up the hill repeatedly to build the legs and endurance of the players. Coaches following Turberville also used the slope for practice drills, and Eddie Simmons believes Coach Jay Smith made the most use of it. He had two boys race down the hill – one boy had to block them both and push them back up the hill. He would alternate two on one going up and then going down, tackling and blocking. The players battled one another, some trying to get up the hill and others trying to keep them from succeeding, with Coach Smith yelling not-too-kind words at the all the while!
By 1944 a grandstand was erected on the north side of the field. It was a wooden affair with about five or so rows of seats, seating maybe some 50 people. However, it was a start. It was a sign of progress and of a “slowly growing interest in high school football,” according to Curenton. Crowds increased and that resulted in larger stands being constructed. Later cars pulled up to the fence on the south side and fans sat in their autos, blowing their horns when there was an exceptional play. About 1948, a grandstand and dressing rooms were built with wooden seats atop them. Running water was added to the dressing rooms in 1952, with Kayo Stanton doing most of the plumbing work.
Grover Hicks, Mr. Peavy and Angus Hall of the county’s maintenance crew used wheelbarrows to build a concrete extension onto the east end of the existing grandstand that was used by opponents’ fans.
A deep gulley at the east end was filled in during Jim Manderson’s coaching tenure at CHS some time during 1952-54. A classroom was built adjacent to the southwest corner end zone and encroached on the end zone. In the 1980s, Paul Jones, owner of the land east of the field, donated property so the field could be extended in that direction.
The cement grandstand and press box on the south side was promoted and built with the help of the Quarterback Club in the 1960s and 70s.
Photos courtesy Alger-Sullivan Historical Society.