Abbeville honors scholar-athletes for 2023-24

Abbeville – It takes a special focus and dedication for a high school student/athlete to excel in both the classroom and the competitive sports arena.

Being able to successfully balance academics and athletics is worthy of prominent recognition and the administration at Abbeville High makes sure their top performers receive their due publicity.

Abbeville recently honored a long list of student/athletes that managed to accumulate a 3.5 grade-point-average or better. All total, more than two dozen Panthers achieved the impressive academic milestone.

The student/athletes included Carson Porter, Thomas Booth, Dawson Pursley, Jude Dowis, Angel Oliphant, Michael Bazile, Eric Burton, Tymon Thomas, Ryan Hughes, Emma Harper, Samari London, Tyler Gulley, James Pooser, Langley Light, Tori Cannaday, Coleton Price, Neveah Leach, Jordan Oglesby, Natalie Guire, Tyla Johnson, Mikelyn Bowie, Garianna Burton, Josie Evans, Ashley Adger, Brandt Scott and Chloe Mobley.

In addition to the academic awards, the school also named several other significant award winners. Thomas Booth was selected as the Male Athlete of the Year and Garianna Burton was the Female Athlete of the Year. Burton was a North-South all-star and all-state performer in volleyball and softball, while Booth played football and baseball.

Jude Dowis received the Glenn Ferguson award. Tyla Johnson received the “All About the A” scholarship and Bowie received the Panther Pride scholarship. Tae Harris received the D’Juan Sanders scholarship.

Golf team competes in state tournament

Abbeville’s boys golf team qualified for the Class AA state tournament in May, posting a 10^th-place finish in the team standings.

Maddox Isbell was the low scorer for the Panthers, posting a 36-hole total of 165. Gage Evans shot 167 and Carter Riddle shot 168.

Tyler Gulley was the fourth player to figure into the team scoring, shooting 181 over two days. Adam Beiler also competed and shot 183.

Evans and Isbell were all-region performers as well.

Football prepping for 2024 season

The Abbeville High football team is busy putting in the work this summer as they prepare for the2024 season. Abbeville finished 12-2 a year ago, losing to Gray Collegiate in the AA upper state finals. The Panthers won the AA state title in 2022, their eighth championship under coach Jamie Nickles.

The Panthers will not be contending for the AA title this fall after being reclassified to Class A by the SC High School League last winter.

The Panthers will certainly be a state championship contender in Class A with a bevy of returning starters expected to fill the roster in August. Among those expected to return are running backs Karson Norman, Altavious Patterson and Jha’Louis Hadden, all seniors.

Demarkus Leach will return at quarterback for his senior season. Leach also is an anchor defensively at safety and is an early verbal commit to South Carolina as one of the state’s top prospects.

Expected back along the offensive line are Cooper Hansen, Will New and Kadon Harrison, all seniors. Junior Kamron Jones also saw starting time in 2023.

Seniors Gage Evans and AJ Speech are returning veterans on the defensive line, and senior Gavin Calhoun returns as a starting linebacker. Justin Rollinson and Jakwon Elmore are returning as starters in the secondary, along with Leach.