Laurence Manning volleyball coach Marshall excited about team's progress
LMA football team off to 4-2 start as it tries to get back to SCISA AAAA title game
Manning – The Laurence Manning Academy volleyball program has had large graduating classes over the past three years. With such a high rate of turnover, Lady ‘Cats head coach Amy Marshall knew this year’s team could face some struggles.
Laurence Manning didn’t get off to the best of starts, but Marshall is excited about how her team has performed.
“After losing 17 seniors in the last three seasons, this had the potential to be a regroup, rebuild type of season,” Marshall said of the Lady ‘Cats, who had won five matches through their first 17 matches. “Though we’re collectively a very young group, we’ve got some extremely talented athletes, and we’re on the path to better our last season’s record.
“That’s what we strive for; to be better today than we were yesterday,” Marshall added. “To be better this season than we were last season.”
Laurence Manning won seven matches last season. It still had 11 matches remaining this year to better its record. The Lady ‘Cats advanced to the SCISA AAAA state tournament last season, losing both of their matches. However, they did win a set against Pinewood Prep.
Laurence Manning has only one senior on the roster in Sarah Madelyn Fleming and two juniors in Laini Kosinski and Anna Charles Lester. The remainder of the 11-player roster is made up of four sophomores, three freshmen and one eighth-grader.
` The starting lineup for the Lady Cats includes freshman Gracie Lyles, freshman Emily Frierson, sophomore Abby Voll, Kosinski, freshman Caroline Barkley and sophomore Paisley Newman.
Anna Gail Prescott is the eighth-grader, and she shares time with Frierson as the setter. Lester, Fleming and sophomore Jayden O’Mara all see consistent time in the rotation as well along with sophomore Makinley Roberson.
“Offensively, Laini Kosinski and Gracie Lyles are leading our team with kills and aces, and Abby Voll is right up there with them in regard to kills,” Marshall said. “Senior Sarah Madelyn Fleming is high up the stat ladder with aces. Emily Frierson is leading the team with assists. Defensively, Paisley Newman, Jayden O’Mara and Gracie Lyles are leading the team with digs, and Abby Voll and Anna Charles Lester are our leading blockers.”
Marshall has been with the Laurence Manning program for seven years, the last six as the head coach.
LAURENCE MANNING FOOTBALL OFF TO 4-2 START
Laurence Manning won four of its first six football games, going 21-1 in SCISA AAAA contests. Three of their final four games are against fellow AAAA schools.
Laurence Manning will be trying to get back to the state championship game for the second straight season. The Swampcats, who were 9-4 last season, lost to 6-time defending state champion Hammond last season. LMA lost to Hammond 20-6 earlier this season.
The Swampcats have had freshman Grainger Powell and senior Tyler June splitting time at quarterback throughout the season. Powell had completed 38 of 58 passes for 456 yards and three touchdowns against one interception. June was 16-for-26 for 256 yards and four touchdowns while throwing no interceptions.
June is also a threat running the football when behind center. He was the leading rusher with 247 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries. June is on the field at wide receiver when he isn’t taking snaps and had seven catches for 80 yards.
Senior Ian Harris and senior Thomas Sumpter were not far behind June in rushing yardage. Harris had 236 yards and two touchdowns on 54 carries, while Sumpter had 206 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries.
Senior Josiah Burson was the leading pass catcher with 18 receptions for 301 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Jackson Brunson had eight catches for 77 yards and touchdown, senior tight end Bryson Hodge had three catches for 70 yards and one touchdown, and senior Noah Tanner had two caches for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Blocking up front on the offensive line for the Swampcats are senior right tackle Jack Wellborn and senior right guard Bryce Manlove, both returning starters from last season. Junior Nik Ambroggio is at left tackle, junor Dillon Smith is at left guard and junior Gavin Brown and senior Herman Holland are sharing time at center.
The Swampcats have scored touchdowns via both kickoff return and punt return. Burson had a 78-yard kickoff return for a score, while Sumpter had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Junior Jeremiah Burson was leading the Laurence Manning defense in tackles, solo tackles and quarterback sacks. He had 46 total tackles, 32 solo stops and four sacks. He had also forced a fumble.
Senior linebacker Chapell Brogdon led in tackles for loss with eight to go along with 25 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
` Senior linebacker Bryson Smith had 36 tackles, two sacks, five tackles for loss and a forced fumble, Brunson, a defensive back, had 28 tackles, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble, and Josiah Burson, a defensive back, had 24 tackles, one tackle for loss and Laurence Manning’s only interception.
Defensive lineman Hodge had six tackles for loss and a sack among his 18 tackles. Senior linebacker Nate Hawthorne had four tackles for loss and a sack among his 15 tackles.
Junior linebacker Drew Ferriell had a sack and a tackle for loss to go with 12 tackles and a forced fumble. June has two tackles for loss and has forced a fumble in the secondary, while defensive lineman Brown had two forced fumbles.
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