Bartlett’s season ends with a win yet don’t qualify for state playoffs
Bartlett ended the 2011 season with a 23-20 overtime win over the Craigmont Chiefs. Junior, Josh Hall scored twice in the game, while Junior, Damecio Ewing had over 100 total yards of offense. In overtime, Craigmont missed both of their field goal attempts while Bartlett missed the first as well but made the second one to clinch victory. The Panther’s final record was 5-5 overall and 2-3 in districts. The season’s accomplishments also included defeating their biggest rivals: Bolton fell in a come-from-behind Panther victory, and the Panthers defeated Houston for the first time in 7 years.
Senior night was not only an amazing game but an emotional one with all the seniors playing their final snaps of Bartlett Panther football.
About his game-winning final kick as a Panther, Caleb Prince said, “It was a clutch kick to get us the win, yes, but it was more than that. It was our last game playing for Bartlett, and it meant more to us than anyone or anything else.”
Seniors Trey Garrin, Greg Hurt, Brandon Townsend, Caleb Prince, Quiones Jennings, Xay Kimble, Weston Philpot, Raymond Caldwell, Deandre Thompson, Gene Nolen, Jamal Cain, Chance Keeley, Cole Morton, Matthew Webb, Steven Eddings, and Preston Bradley all played their last game together here at Bartlett and were recognized before the game for their efforts, time, dedication, and love put into the team.
Track moves forward in sectionals
The Bartlett track team has been having a great season. Their five qualified runners participated in their first day of sectionals on May 7, and they have two more days of sectionals on May 18, and 20. The five qualifiers must make it into the top four in their event to qualify for the state competition.
The team has worked hard to improve their speed and to drop their times this season. According to head coach Mitch McDaniel the boys reached their peak at the right time.
Sophomore and first-time runner Chance Keeley has improved since the start of the year and now he clocks a time of 4:43 on the mile run. Also, sophomore Ryan Wilcox beat his personal record of five minutes on the mile run with a time of 4:53.
Also this year was the Harding Relay when seniors Willie Matthews, Jeremy Merriweather, and Gerren Harrison beat the triple jump relay record of 120 by five points, making the new record 125.
Even in track, a sport that revolves around each person individually, the seniors have been able to help the underclassmen improve.
“The seniors we have now have shown leadership through event training and competitions,” McDaniel said. “They have shown the underclassmen what it takes to compete at the highest [level].”
Support comes from all directions as the team moves forward towards the state competition.