By Billy G. Baker Publisher  Moncks Corner— For the majority of the 2024 football season BHP, and first year charter school Mountain View Prep were the top two teams in the weekly HSSR AAA football rankings and one of the them is heavily favored to compete in the gold medal round hosted at South Carolina State University on Saturday December, 14 at noon. In the HSSR final AAA ranking Mountain View Prep has moved to number one in the ranking with BHP a close number two led by Clemson running back commitment Marquis Henderson (5-11, 179). With their 48-7 win over Broome last week, they finished the regular season as the only undefeated team in AAA. The Stars simply have too many offensive weapons (roster boasts 72 players) to be denied an opportunity to win a AAA football championship in their first year of playing varsity football. They are led by Broome running back transfer Jaylin McGill who went into the game this past week with 1,237 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 108 carries. McGill is among the top running backs in the Southeast area in the Class of 2026. MVP senior quarterback Bryson Drummond went into the final regular season game having completed 99-of-142 passes for 1,807 yards and 22 touchdowns. His top targets have been junior WR Kadarius Hainsworth (37-903-15 TD’s) and senior WR Kaevon Washington (18-426-2 TD’s). McGill is right behind with (19-385-7 TD’s). Senior RB T.J. Gassoway provide depth at running back for MVP and he had 245 rushing yards on 28 carries and 3 TD’s going into the Broomer game. This first year charter school is simply loaded with a team of transfers with a roster loaded with potential next level players for head coach Grey Ramsey . This team’s mascot is “Stars” for a reason. On defense MVP is led by senior LB Eli Smith with 57 tackles, 6 TFL and two interceptions. Senior DL Quay McCauley has 38 tackles on the hit index with 11 TFL including a team leading seven sacks. Senior DL Shannon Whiteside has 36 tackles, 9 TFL and four sacks. Junior DB Jacobe Smith has 30 tackles, three TFL also. MVP will host Carolina High School this week at Newberry College in the first round of the AAA play-offs. With either top ranked MVP, or second ranked BHP favored to emerge as the AAA upper state champions the AAA lower state is not as predictable but the favorites at this point are region rivals Loris, ranked number three in AAA and Dillon ranked number four. When the two teams met earlier in the season at Loris, the Lions pulled out a 30-27 win and neutral observers at the game were quick to point out that Dillon was flagged around 18 times to only four penalties for the Lions. “It seemed every time we got a drive going, we had some odd penalties called that killed our scoring opportunities, and after we looked at the film on Saturday, we wondered why several of them were called at all,” said Dillon head coach Kelvin Roller . (No doubt a highly rated crew of officials will call the next game if these two teams meet in the play-offs and the HSSR predicts the penalties will not favor either team 18-5. (See in-depth story on Dillon on page 14 of this issue) No doubt, Loris has one of the better defenses in AAA. Their 14-13 lost to Socastee is the only blemish on their Lions season to date. Loris (9-1) have defeated teams 363-83. The Lions have three talented running backs and none of them are seniors. Sophomore Makel Stephens (5-8,175) finished the regular season with 642 yards and 13 TD’s while soph Roderick Purcha (5-10, 160) contributed 478 yards and seven TD’s. Junior Khalil Sherman (5-11, 175) has contributed 438 yards and seven TD’s. Loris has a junior QB Zamire “ Moon ” Gerald who has a strong arm. He finished the regular season completing 109 passes for 1,298 yards and 16 TD receptions. His top targets are senior Quantez Dyson (6-11, 165) who has 382 reception yards on 17 catches and five TD’s to date. Junior Jacobien Lewis is next with 14 catches for 287 yards and fie TD’s. Senior Zhimir Herring has caught 13 passes for 205 yards. On defense, Loris is led by three veteran seniors. Senior MLB Avery Todd (6-0,185) has 70 tackles along with two TFL. The most impressive head hunter for the Lions has been senior OLB Javon Johnson (5-10, 210) who also has 70 tackles, but his 19 TFL and a team leading seven sacks are very impressive. Senior ILB Patrick Bellamy is third on the hit index with 60 tackles and three TFL. Loris also gets additional defensive support from junior DE/LB Landon Connor ((6-0,225) who has 56 tackles and 8 TFL along with junior DE Damarea Thurmond who has 53 hits and seven TFL. Woodruff is also having an outstanding season from the up-state and lower state foe Oceanside Collegiate won the AA state title a year ago, and they could be a spoiler in the play-offs. (See story on Oceanside on page 45 of this issue).

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Columbia – Heading into the 2024 season Keenan head volleyball coach Kiarra Pettway knew she would have a young squad as she had to replace seven seniors that had made three straight trips to the class AAA playoffs. The Lady Raiders are also in a new region and have dropped down to AA after the latest reclassification by the high school league. They are off to a solid start at 4-3/2-2 and are in good position to make another playoff trip. Four of their next five matches are region matches with two on the road before they end the season with three consecutive home matches. “We are young but we have talented players. I’ am proud of these girls and the hard work they have put in to get better every day,” said coach Pettway. This years version of the lady Raiders have only two seniors in Ceigan Carter and Samiyah Hicks . Carter is outstanding at the net and leads the team in kills and is second on the team in aces, digs and service receiving. She is closing in on a 100 kills for her career to go with over 170 digs and over 150 service receiving. She has been one of the teams most versatile players the past two seasons. She is also one of the teams captains. The Lady Raiders other captain is a junior and returning starter hitter Kristin Brown . She is seconds in kills and has over 60 for her career. She is also one of the teams top servers and last season had 38 aces. Junior setter/defensive specialist Zaniah Pearson is also a returning players and does a great job of covering the floor. She leads the team in assists and third in diggings Junior Tymina Walker is a defensive specialist that covers the backline well. Freshman Trinity Corbin has made the biggest impact of the new players for the Lady Raiders. She has stepped in to handle the libero position and has been outstanding. She currently leads the team in service receiving and in digs. The sophomore is made up of Camille Saunders , Estella Vazsquez and Tyleea Robinson . They have all seen time on the floor. Brailyn Williams and Lace Perez , both freshmen, round out the Lady Raiders lineup. The Lady Raiders have a match up with Newberry on 10/15 that could determine who gets the second seed from region 4AA and a home playoff game. 

Loris RB Deuce Stephens

Keenan RB Hunter O'Neal

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Columbia – The 2023/24 athletic season for the Keenan Raiders was a good year as they had several teams qualify for the playoffs and as usual the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams made deep runs in the playoffs. Sean Gilley is entering his third year as the Athletic Director and has seen his Raiders program improve in all areas thanks to a coaching staff that is committed to getting best out of their athletes both on the field/ court and in the classroom. Kiarra Pettway , head volleyball coach, led her team to a second-place finish in region 4AA and an overall record of 16-10 in her first year. She has several key players returning so her Lady Raiders will be a team watch in the Columbia area. The Raider football team reached the second round of the class AA playoffs for the second time in head coach Ray McCleod’s two-years at the helm. He and his team will look to make it three in a row this year as he returns a talented roster. He also coaches the Raider grapplers. The basketball teams continued their success even if they fell short of their usual goal of playing for a state championship. Coach Zachary Norris’s boys squad made another trip to the upper state finals but they came up short 45-38. Norris has won seven state championships at Keenan. He also coaches the boys’ cross-country and the Raider track and field teams. The boys’ team finished seventh and the girls’ placed 11 th at the class AA state meet. Reggie McLain’s girls’ team fell in the third of the playoffs 46-38. It was their earliest exit from the playoffs in the past nine years. In that time McLain has won six state championships including three in a row from 2019-2022. He also heads up the girls’ cross-country team. Reginald Laroche guided the Lady Raider softball into the class AA playoffs despite having many first-year players on his roster. They lost their two games in the district three tournament but they gained valuable experience. The rest of the staff is made up of cheer coach Ericka McIntee , boys soccer Pablo Rivera-Arriaga , swim coach Stanley McIntosh , and tennis coach Jennifer Brannon . Despite not making the playoffs each team is looking to change that in the 2024/25 season.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Hopkins — The Fairfield Central AA boy’s track team dominated the competition on May, 18 at the SCHSL AA track meet hosted on the track at Lower Richland High School. The Griffins dominated the 42-team field with a 25-point win over second place Greer Middle College by the score of 83-58. The next teams in order with 20 or more points include: Academic Magnet (55), Gray Collegiate (54), Hampton County (47), Silver Bluff (47), Keenan (39.5), Abbeville (32.5), Mid-Carolina (32), Bishop England (32), Liberty (31), Landrum (29), Marion (21) and Saluda (20). The Fairfield Central Griffins are head coached by six-year veteran Raymond Harrison and his boys’ team qualified 16 athletes for the state meet. “Track is a true team sport and it is a group of individuals performing at a high level for the good of the team,” said Coach Harrison. “I studies the heat sheet carefully and I felt like as long our kids maintained their consistency, we had a shot at winning a state title and that is what happened. “I will tell you the sky is the limit for Mr. Boyd ( Jaden Boyd won three individual gold medals) and I can see him having an opportunity to run track and play college football at the next level,” said Coach Harrison. “Of our 16 qualifiers today only one is a senior ( Kristen Golden -long jumper) so we feel really good about next season also. It was a real team effort today and we had four personal bests today which you are hoping happens.” Sophomore Jaden Boyd led the Griffins with three gold medals and he ran a leg on a second- place relay team to produce 32 of his team’s gold medal points. Boyd won the 100- meters (10.51), the 200-meters (21.34) and the long jump (6.95m). Boyd was amongst the top wide receivers in the state who played on his junior varsity (not varsity) football this past season. Boyd talked with the HSSR from the state track meet. “I ran a personal best in the 100 today and I have been working hard getting prepared for the state meet,” said Boyd. “In my first 30 meters I want to get a good drive, and then in the next 70-yard drive phase; I want to hit my top end speed with a burst at the end. It is a 100 per cent effort the whole way.” With two more years left Boyd is also focused on participating in track and football at the next level. “I like both sports and my goal are to achieve a five-star rating in football also,” he said. “”I would like to play both sports in college.” The other gold medal winner for FC was junior Hank White who won for the second straight year in the 800-meters ((1:57,59). His win was a personal best for him. “I have been struggling to break two-minutes all year and I finally accomplished that goal today,” said White. “I like to stay behind the leaders until the final 200-meters because I have a strong kick and I always finish strong. In the past year I have improved over three seconds. My senior goal is to go under 1:50.” Gray Collegiate sophomore Caleb Raysor won individual gold medals in the 110 hurdles (14.81) and the 400-meters (55.92) plus he ran a leg on the winning 4X100 relay team to account for 22.5 points for the War Eagles. “It feels great to have won two individual gold medals and a third with the relay,” said Raysor. “I ran a personal best in the 110 -hurdles. My thing is to get how hard and run like a butterfly and sting like a bee. I try not to knock down any hurdles also. I also play football; wrestle and I power lift. Football is my favorite passion and I play receiver and corner back.” Junior Quin Swanton of Academic Magnet was a double winner in the 1600-meters (4:19.60) and the 3200-meters (9:44.92). “My goal coming into the meet was to win both of individual events,” said Swanton. “My goal is keep improving and earn a four-year track scholarship to major college program. My goal by my senior season is a 4:10 mile and break my school record in the two-mile and to just keep having fun in the sport.” The shot-put gold medal (51-04.50) went to senior Ka’Von Chisolm of Hampton County. Chisolm has signed a football scholarship (defensive end) with South Carolina State . His winning toss was his personal best and also established a new school record for himself. “It feels great to win today because I have been trying to win in the shot for the past six years,” said Chisolm. “My technique is to stay low and explode on the glide.” Batesburg-Leesville sophomore JaQuan Corley won the discus (157-01.75) event. “My goal for my junior year will be to get a personal best and win again,” said Corley. “I try to stay calm and get a good push when I release the disc.” Abbeville junior Karson Norman won the 400-mters (48.11) and the Panther football player also placed third in the 100-meters (10.85) and 6 th in the 200-meters (22.54). “My strategy in running my race varies from meet-to-meet but today I ran all-out because it was do-or-die at the state meet,” said Norman. “I led wire-to-wire today. My goal is to keep training in both football and track and to keep getting better.” Silver Bluff sophomore Joshua Smith took gold in the triple jump (44-09.75). “My goal for next year is to get a personal best in the triple jump and finish first again,” said Smith. “My strategy is just to stay clam and get a good spring off the board.” Senior Lucas New of Pelion earned gold in the high jump (6-06.75). “My first step is forward, and then the curve part is where you get all of your momentum, and I watch a lot of videos and practice a lot,” said New. “I was an inch off my personal best today. I am going to Marshall to be a Decathlon athlete and I hope to top the record there of 6-7.” Senior Academic Magnet pole vaulter Jackson Miller won the event (13-11.25) at the AA meet for the second straight year improving one-foot in the process. “I improved from 14 feet to 15 feet in one year,” said Miller who is headed to Clemson in the fall on a track scholarship. “I also placed 4 th at Nationals so I have improved a lot. “My technique involves giving everything I’ve got running down the runway, and then push up as hard as you can, and once you jump your swing, try to get upside down as far as you can, and pull yourself off the top of the pole,” said Miller, all in one breath. “It takes a lot of focus and hard-work, I have been a pole vaulter for four years and I am really excited about going to Clemson.” Senior Mark Baker of Landrum improved from second to first place over the past year winning the Javelin with a heave of (168-11.50). “I think it just came down to working hard,” said Baker. “In the fall I had ankle surgery and I really worked hard to rehab and get ready for the track season. The hard work paid off and I am looking forward to attending MIT on a track scholarship the next four years. I will major in mechanical engineering with a focus in bio-medical devices.”

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Hopkins —The Gray Collegiate War Eagles edged out tradition rich Bishop England (75-72) and 30 other AA girl’s track teams, to earn the school’s first SCHSL Track & Field state championship hosted by Lower Richland High School on May, 18. The next 10 teams in the AA girl’s finals were: Fairfield Central (59), Oceanside Collegiate (50), Woodland (48), Hampton County (42), Greer Middle College (38.5) Landrum (36) Mid-Carolina (34.5), Academic Magnet (28), Keenan (24), and Marion (23). Bishop England, coached by Tony Colizzi , had been seeking their 14th state title. Gray Collegiate, won the state title with just 9 state qualifiers. The Griffins are coached by former Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Clemson track athlete Jackie Robinson . “The good thing is that we won as a team, and it was not just from one person,” said Coach Robinson. “It was everybody collectively, and all season long these ladies have sacrificed, and they did not complain while putting in the work. They came to work every practice and it paid off for them today. “To win a state championship it takes a lot of hard work and dedication and you have to put in the hours,” said Coach Robinson. “You have to be disciplined and true to your focus of self-improvement. Getting involved in year-round track programs certainly helps you to become better. Track has become a year-round sport now, and it takes a lot of hard work “I knew coming in we had a chance but only if we had several PR’s in a few events and it trusted each other to do our very best,” said Coach Robinson. “Winning a championship with only 9 state qualifiers is a testament to those young ladies. We have a lot of quality, but not quantity, on both our teams at Gray.” The War Eagles took three first place finishers in individual events from Tresta Miller in the 400 meters (58.33), Aubrey Guy in the 100-meter hurdles (15.42) and Tamara Steward in the 400-meter hurdles (1:05.00). Miller picked up two second place finishes for GC in the 100-meters (12.04) and the long jump (5.51m) producing 16 additional points for her team. Guy was third in the 400-hurdles ((1:08.60) and Steward was 5 th in the long jump (5.02m). Zaria Gaines contributed points in the 100-meters (12,57) and in the 200-meters (26,27) with a 7 th and 8 th place finish respectively. GC placed second in both the 4x100 (48.98) and the 4X100 Relay (3:27.82) to earn 16 total points. The 4X100 was ran by Steward, Gaines, Taylor Jones and Guy. The 4X400 was run by Steward, Amariah Gonzalez , Taylor Jones and Gaines. While Gray and BE competed back-and-forth throughout the even, Fairfield Central senior Sharmelle Holmes was dominating the competition once again, with three individual gold medals and another gold medal as a participant on the winning 4X100 relay. Holmes set a new state record in the 100-meters (11.45). when she ran the anchor leg. Holmes, She was first in the 200-meters (23.57) and took gold in the long jump (19-02.75). Holmes has signed to run track at Kentucky . She produced 32.5 points for her team and is the leading candidate for the 2024 HSSR-SCHSL Miss Track awards in South Carolina. After the majority of the gold medal winners left their moment of honor, on the victory podium at the meet, the HSSR asked them to share how they were able to beat the field in the respective event. Holmes was among the most enthusiastic performers interviewed. “This is the second year that I have won four gold medals and it makes all the hard work worthwhile,” said Holmes. “I participated in four individual events last year and this year I traded out the 100-hurdles to run anchor on the 4X100 relay. It’s a woo-woo moment for me with the state record! “I had hoped to set a state record but I will tell everybody who competed with me that it takes hard work to win gold medals at a state track meet,” said Holmes. “I am really grateful to God for all of my success. I am excited to be going on to the University of Kentucky. Go Wildcats!!” Tresta Miller (Gray Collegiate-junior) won the 400-meters (58.33 and she has a 57.01 personal best earlier this season) and she told the HSSR , “My goal is just to take off fast, maintain a steady speed, and leave something in the tank for a strong kick down the stretch,” she said. “Next year my goal is winning the 200 and the 400 and I hope to run a 55 flat in the 400 next seasons.” Freshman Aubrey Gray of Gray Collegiate won the 100-meter hurdles (15.42). “I would love to set a state record in the 100-hurdles by my senior year,” she said. “I also want to also be a double winner with a win the 400 hurdles in the future.” Batesburg Leesville’s sophomore Ja’Quan Corley won gold in the discus with a personal best of (157.01.75). “I would love to get a track scholarship by my senior year,” said Corley. “My technique is to always turn my left foot and get across the circle.” Oceanside Collegiate senior Joyce Siobhan was a double winner in the 1600-meters (4:59.03) and in the 3200 (11:06.09). She was proud of finally running a sub-five-minute 1600 that had been her goal all season. She will be running track at South Carolina next year. “My strategy is to stay near the front of the pack in either race and then kick it hard at the end,” said . “At South Carolina I will be more of a 5-K runner in cross country.” Oceanside Collegiate junior Kailen Kramer won the pole vault (3.80m). “My winning jump was 12’ 6” and I missed at my personal best attempt at 13’ 1”,” said Kramer. “My technique is not to slow down on my last few steps down the lane and hitting it hard, dropping my shoulders back and shooting for the sky ,” she said. “My goal is 14’ at the state meet next year and I would love to compete in college.” Senior Sinead Joyce of Oceanside Collegiate won the 800-meters (2:18.19) for the second year in a row. “I usually start out not super conservative but at a steady pace, but today I probably started out a little too fast,” she said. “I will be running at South Carolina next season. My goal is to respond to good college coaching and keep improving.” The AA girl’s shot put (10.77m) was won by Eau Claire junior Sytiria Bethel . “If feels great to see all the all- hard work pay off,” she said. “My goal by next year is 38 feet. My technique is using the power throw. I never change my technique.” Senior Sydney Price of Landrum won the Javelin toss (15.66m) for the third year in a row at the AA meet. “I have improved every year but today I threw around 128 feet and my personal best is 134,” said Price. “Everybody thinks it is your arm in throwing the Javelin but it really more the use of your hips and legs,” said Price. “Getting a good block and then throwing your hips into it is very important.” Price has actually signed to play softball at North Greenville College . She is a middle infielder with 30 career home runs. Keenan High senior Lauren Hannibal won the triple jump (11.02m). “I hit the board just right today on my final spring and I knew it was going to be among my best jumps ever and it was,” said Hannibal. “It feels great to go out with a gold medal my senior year.”

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Columbia – Four years ago, Johnny Burbage took over as the head coach of the Keenan Raiders baseball program and all he, his staff and his ball players have done is improve every year and established a winning culture on the diamond with getting out of district play and moving on in the playoffs “Our expectations are always to make the play-offs; however, with things that are going on in our region we can’t finish first which would be our first goal of any season,” said coach Burbage. “Now we want secure second place and get a home play-off game.” One of the biggest changes for the baseball program has been the participation in the off season. When coach Burbage took over the first two years two-four players showed up to go work but this past off season 9-12 players showed up every day. “This is the best group of guys I have evet had. They pick each other up when they are there down. I know family is an overused word in sports, but it is a family that we have with this team. We have guys that are freshmen now that are three-year starters and they grown together as a team,” said the coach. While the Raiders are a young team, they do have four seniors that will leave the program knowing it is better than when they started. The senior players are Brock Flemming , Jamarion Charley , Lionel Watson , Chris Walker , and Steven Coleman . Watson and Crosby are currently hitting .400. On the mound Charley has been the top pitcher sporting a 2-0 record and 2.74 ERA. Walker is also 2-0 for the Raiders as well. Junior Desmond Washington is behind the dish and is a returning All Region player for coach Burbage. Washington is the leader of the team and is a coach on the field. The Raiders’ other returning All-Region player is sophomore outfielder Max Ketcherside . He is a three-year starter who is currently second on the team with a .563 batting average and in runs scored with nine. Two returning freshmen shortstop Nasir Jackson and right fielder Peyton Bishop were named honorable mention All-Region as eighth graders last year. They are three-year starters for coach Burbage. Bishop is hitting .364 and is second on the team in RBI’s while Jackson is hitting at a .500 clip. First basemen Elijah Smith leads the team with 9 RBI’s and has a .500 batting average. Newcomers’ sophomore second basemen Luis Santiago and eighth grade outfielder Josiah Clarke have been lights out. Santiago leads the team in batting with a .636 average and has scored a team high twelve runs and Clarke is hitting at a 500 clip.