Athletics News
Top 10 Athletic Moments from 2019-20
With the conclusion of the 2019-20 academic year, we take a look back at the greatness that was achieved in the area of athletics at both the middle school and high school level. The ‘19-20 season saw many historic achievements at Tallulah Falls School. With the unfortunate loss of a chunk of our spring season due to the worldwide pandemic, there was no doubt a loss of countless seasons of significance by both individuals and teams. All-State athletes like Brinson Hall and Maggie Jackson (golf), Chathan Clouatre (baseball), Grey Bourlet (track & field) were poised for unprecedented success in the spring season.
Despite the rude interruption from coronavirus, Tallulah Falls School still put on display its competitiveness, spirit, determination, and most of all, character. To that end, TFS was recognized by GHSA as the winner from Region 8-A of the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award. We had a number of individuals throughout the year showcase what it means to be part of the Tribe, including senior bass fisher Marshall Williams, who earned Positive Athlete honors from Positive Athlete in the Northeast Georgia area. Williams (Emmanuel College) and baseball standout Davis Jennings (Brevard College) also signed to continue their athletic careers in college.
Criteria
In choosing our Top 10 moments from 2019-20, we took into consideration the historic significance for TFS, either individually or as a team, as well as the intangibles, such as the emotions that these achievements emitted.
#10: Middle School Girls Basketball Wins Tri-State Title
The TFS MS girls basketball program took the Tri-State title with a 12-1 record. While the team, coached by Sharea Long, was dominant on the hardwood, it was equally impressive in attitude. The girls were recognized for their efforts to that end with the Tri-State Sportsmanship Award. This program embodied the spirit and attitude that upholds the TFS mission.
#9: Addie Higbie’s Emotionally Inspired Hat Trick
On the surface, a lone hat trick, while fantastic, might not crack a top 10 list. However, the story behind it gives the freshman a spot on the list. Higbie’s grandfather, Bruce William Higbie, almost never missed a game. He was there rain, heat, or otherwise. He fully intended on being present for his granddaughter’s varsity games had it not been for being diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer on February 17. Prior to that, he was seemingly in great health, showcasing no symptoms. By February 29, he had passed away.
Higbie wanted to honor her grandfather in a game just two days after his passing. Just before the COVID-19 interruption, the Lady Indians took to the pitch, and the freshman showed out with three goals. She pointed to the sky following each goal, the first three of her varsity career. The Lady Indians, coached by Travis Mullis, went 2-1 in their brief stint before the shutdown.
#8: Middle School Boys Soccer Wins First Tri-State Title
The Middle School boys soccer program, coached by Travis Mullis, had a fantastic run, going 11-1 on the way to its first-ever Tri-State Championship, defeating rival Rabun Gap 3-2 in the finale, thus turning the tide from the 2018 penalty kicking loss to Rabun Gap in the championship. The team, with distinct, legacy-leaving leadership by center back Jake Wehrstein and striker Austin Ball, compelled the program to move to the spring GHSA season. Following the blueprint of the MS girls basketball program, the boys likewise earned Tri-State Sportsmanship honors.
#7: Matthew Weidner Breaks All-Time Scoring Record
Senior four-year letterman Matthew Weidner (Clarkesville) achieved an historic milestone by becoming the boys basketball all-time leading scorer. The physical post player, whether he realized it or not, was closing in on the school’s scoring record, set in recent years by Josey Keene (‘17). In a region playoff game on February 2 against Riverside Military Academy, Weidner went off for 25 points, giving him 1,365 total points by the game’s end. He finished his career with 1,400 points, and averaged 18.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in 2019-20. He led the program, coached by Cody Coleman, to a state berth in Class 1A-Private, where the boys fell on a buzzer-beater, nearly making the Sweet 16.
#6: Middle School Girls & Boys Win Hebron Track & Field Meet
The middle school girls and boys track and field programs, coached by Scott Neal, took the top spot at Hebron Christian Academy in a meet that has deeper significance than meets the eye. This particular night was not normal. It was one of the latest midweek track meets in TFS history, getting home around midnight. Unbeknownst to all participants, this would be their final meet of the season, as the coronavirus halted the season the very next day.
This marked the first time TFS had won a 12-team invitational, and it did so while both the boys and the girls won five events and placed second in two others. The meet was full of personal bests, as six school records were broken in the process - three each gender. Bringing home the first-place trophies on a late night with so much historical significance makes the season’s abrupt ending both easier (by ending on a high note) and yet harder (seeing the hope of the success to come) to stomach.
#5: ESports Takes 7th at State in Inaugural Season
Not many knew what to expect when starting the TFS ESports program, coached by Casey Barron. When the school decided to join this relatively new GHSA-recognized sport, it was unknown how many kids would field the team. Expecting around five or six, it was tremendous to see 21 TFS students join the program in its inception. While 21 participated in the fall, 15 took part in the spring. Eli Higbie and Daniel Shin, both winners of the Coach’s Award, as well as Haokun David Cheng (Most Valuable Award) were pivotal to the success of the team.
The Mushrooms, the “League of Legends” team, weren’t just satisfied to be at the state meet. They broke into the Elite 8, and finished seventh overall at the state meet in just their first season.
#4: Girls Basketball Makes it Back-to-Back Sweet 16 Runs
The Lady Indians basketball program, coached by Brandy Corbett, made its second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. This is a first for the TFS girls program, who only a few years ago netted their first winning season in history. Corbett was forced to fill some gaping holes in her lineup after losing arguably the program’s best player in history. Nyah Williams (‘19) had scored 1,852 points and led Tallulah Falls School to an 18-win season as a senior. Her departure put pressure on the team to fill that void of scoring and leadership.
Newcomers Denika Lightbourne and Veronaye Charlton blasted onto the scene, coming alongside proven standouts Katy Corbett and Lillie Free. Corbett (10.4 points/game, 6 rebounds/game) and Lightbourne (13 points, 6.2 rebounds) both earned 2nd Team All-Region honors and guided TFS to 17 wins and another Sweet 16. The girls hovered around the top-10 state rankings throughout the season, and finished as runners-up in Region 8-A for the first time.
#3: Sam Stamey Earns Junior Olympic National Championship Berth
Junior Sam Stamey led the precision rifle program, coached by Tim Stamey, to the USA Shooting SE Regional Championships (though it was canceled). Stamey earned an elite distinction when being invited to the Junior Olympic National Championship, to be hosted in Fall 2020. She earned the Level One (Junior) Rifle Coaching Certification from NRA/CMP/USAS on her way to a school record 11th place finish in the state USA Shooting. The rapidly growing sport at TFS added 10 new electronic targets to our indoor range this year.
#2: Cross Country Teams Make History at Area and State Meets
The boys and girls cross country programs, coached by Scott Neal, not only qualified as full squads for the GHSA 1A Private State Championship, but excelled. The boys, paced by sophomore Evan Prince (3rd in Area, 5th at state), finished inside the top 10 (9th place, though ranked 12th) for the first time since 1990. Senior Chris Geiger made a tremendous surge, going from being ranked 12th in Area to place 5th, and improving from 60th ranking at state to 14th on race day. The girls meanwhile, led by senior Sophie Alexander and sophomore sister Lucy, finished 4th at Area and 12th at state, a school record and a place in TFS girls cross country lore.
#1: Boys Swim Comes in Highest Ever Finish at State
The boys swim team, despite a year lower in numbers, rebounded with the best season in TFS history, which included setting seven new school records. Coached by Rachel Nichols, the team reached new standards behind the efforts of 2nd Team All-State swimmer John Nichols and 3rd Team All-State swimmers Riley Barron, Caden Griffis, and Hunter Weyrich. Nichols, who shaved 0.4 seconds off his 50 meter free time, and the boys came in 7th place at the GHSA A-AAA State Meet, which marked the highest finish ever for the program. Starting next season, the team will have a new home in the enviable new TFS natatorium.