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December 2010
North Cobb Cross Country
by Bryan Rante • photography by GATFX.com
Running in the season’s most anticipated races, the 2010 North Cobb cross country runners displayed spirit as they ran for the Region 4-AAAAA championship on October 28. The team also ran in the Coach Wood meet amid crowded and dusty conditions on October 16.
Determined, strong, willing and confident are words that describe the cross country runners’ spirits as they fought through their 5K (3.1 mile) races. The full squad made its mark at the region championship, placing varsity boys and JV boys second of eight teams, with each winning a trophy. The varsity girls placed fourth and the JV girls placed third. Seniors Aaron Balkum and Morgan Jackson each clocked times that qualified for National Silver Standards.
Every team member showed his or her Warrior spirit at the region meet, where both the varsity boys and girls qualified for state. Some exceptional performances included junior Eric Gjertson (18:24, PR) and sophomore Daniel Bozeman (17:53, PR) as they finished the JV boys race 10th and second, respectively. Balkum (16:27, PR) and senior Barry Manley (16:51, PR) finished the varsity boys race third and fifth, respectively.
The girls displayed award-winning races as well. Juniors Celeste Swatling (22:45, PR), who bested her personal record by 2:31, and Megan Huffman (22:52) finished the JV girls race 12th and 13th respectively. Jackson (19:12, PR) and senior Morgan Mooney (20:29, PR) finished first and 13th, respectively. Freshman Tyra Holloway (20:13, PR) finished 10th.
These exceptional times qualified the North Cobb varsity boys and girls teams for the state championship meet, an accomplishment that has not occurred in 30 years.
Prior to region competition, the Warriors participated in five races at Coach Wood: the boys championship, girls championship, JV boys “A,” JV girls “A” and the open race. Coach Wood served as a hot spot for personal records as runners displayed their strongest efforts. The top seven runners from each race combined for a total of 18 personal records and/or season bests. Highlights included times by seniors Thomas Webster (17:48) and CJ Triplett (18:02); freshman Jamie Colon (22:26), who bested a personal record by 1:38; and senior Leanne Barrett (22:44, PR).
The JV racers displayed championship-level running, including junior Joram Muraguri (19:28), injured freshman Erin Stanhope (23:50), and sophomores Amanda Moeller (26:27) and Gloria Dabek (26:27), all of whom set personal records.
The championship boys race placed 18 of 23 participants while the championship girls race placed 15 of 22. The JV boys “A” race placed seven of 22 and the JV girls “A” race placed 13 of 18.
“What I love most about this season is how everyone ran at championship levels,” says North Cobb coach David Stephenson. “I have seniors who have dedicated four years to this sport and freshman looking up to them. The runners always run their best and let nothing stand in their way. The future looks bright as the younger runners begin running at the same championship level and will continue striving for greatness.”
by Bryan Rante • photography by GATFX.com
Running in the season’s most anticipated races, the 2010 North Cobb cross country runners displayed spirit as they ran for the Region 4-AAAAA championship on October 28. The team also ran in the Coach Wood meet amid crowded and dusty conditions on October 16. Determined, strong, willing and confident are words that describe the cross country runners’ spirits as they fought through their 5K (3.1 mile) races. The full squad made its mark at the region championship, placing varsity boys and JV boys second of eight teams, with each winning a trophy. The varsity girls placed fourth and the JV girls placed third. Seniors Aaron Balkum and Morgan Jackson each clocked times that qualified for National Silver Standards.
Every team member showed his or her Warrior spirit at the region meet, where both the varsity boys and girls qualified for state. Some exceptional performances included junior Eric Gjertson (18:24, PR) and sophomore Daniel Bozeman (17:53, PR) as they finished the JV boys race 10th and second, respectively. Balkum (16:27, PR) and senior Barry Manley (16:51, PR) finished the varsity boys race third and fifth, respectively.
The girls displayed award-winning races as well. Juniors Celeste Swatling (22:45, PR), who bested her personal record by 2:31, and Megan Huffman (22:52) finished the JV girls race 12th and 13th respectively. Jackson (19:12, PR) and senior Morgan Mooney (20:29, PR) finished first and 13th, respectively. Freshman Tyra Holloway (20:13, PR) finished 10th.
These exceptional times qualified the North Cobb varsity boys and girls teams for the state championship meet, an accomplishment that has not occurred in 30 years.
Prior to region competition, the Warriors participated in five races at Coach Wood: the boys championship, girls championship, JV boys “A,” JV girls “A” and the open race. Coach Wood served as a hot spot for personal records as runners displayed their strongest efforts. The top seven runners from each race combined for a total of 18 personal records and/or season bests. Highlights included times by seniors Thomas Webster (17:48) and CJ Triplett (18:02); freshman Jamie Colon (22:26), who bested a personal record by 1:38; and senior Leanne Barrett (22:44, PR).
The JV racers displayed championship-level running, including junior Joram Muraguri (19:28), injured freshman Erin Stanhope (23:50), and sophomores Amanda Moeller (26:27) and Gloria Dabek (26:27), all of whom set personal records.
The championship boys race placed 18 of 23 participants while the championship girls race placed 15 of 22. The JV boys “A” race placed seven of 22 and the JV girls “A” race placed 13 of 18.
“What I love most about this season is how everyone ran at championship levels,” says North Cobb coach David Stephenson. “I have seniors who have dedicated four years to this sport and freshman looking up to them. The runners always run their best and let nothing stand in their way. The future looks bright as the younger runners begin running at the same championship level and will continue striving for greatness.”
October 2010
Girls Varsity Basketball Preview
by Eddie Cengic
With a new assistant coach, eager underclassmen ready to develop and returning Player of the Year Jarae Savage, veteran coach Matt Williams prepares his Lady Warriors for another exceptional season on the hardwood.
Adam Cogbill, four-year varsity girls basketball coach at South Cobb, transferred to North Cobb this year to continue his career as an assistant. “[Coach Cogbill] is one of the best fundamental coaches around. Along with Coach Speeney, he will bring some new and interesting things to the program with his expertise and experience,” Coach Williams says.
The girls understand that basketball requires hard work and consistency to achieve success. The team weight-trains and prepares with individual workouts after school, hoping to surpass last year’s team and transcend the state tournament Sweet 16. “As long as everyone hustles and gives her best effort 100 percent of the time, we will be successful,” Savage says.
The girls’ basketball program possesses a reputation for achievement. “The formula for our success is having talented athletes who believe in each other and their coaches. … We have a team-oriented attitude and one that understands what it takes to win,” Williams says.
Every player’s potential steadily grows each year. Considering this year’s lack of size, the coaches will implement an active, fast-paced basketball style to take advantage of the girls’ speed.
Junior forward Kira Gordon has hope for this year’s team. “Our primary goal for this season is to win the state championship, but we understand that it takes one step at a time. Our expectations on the basketball court are very high, but we are ultimately a family,” Gordon says.
by Eddie Cengic
With a new assistant coach, eager underclassmen ready to develop and returning Player of the Year Jarae Savage, veteran coach Matt Williams prepares his Lady Warriors for another exceptional season on the hardwood.
Adam Cogbill, four-year varsity girls basketball coach at South Cobb, transferred to North Cobb this year to continue his career as an assistant. “[Coach Cogbill] is one of the best fundamental coaches around. Along with Coach Speeney, he will bring some new and interesting things to the program with his expertise and experience,” Coach Williams says.
The girls understand that basketball requires hard work and consistency to achieve success. The team weight-trains and prepares with individual workouts after school, hoping to surpass last year’s team and transcend the state tournament Sweet 16. “As long as everyone hustles and gives her best effort 100 percent of the time, we will be successful,” Savage says.
The girls’ basketball program possesses a reputation for achievement. “The formula for our success is having talented athletes who believe in each other and their coaches. … We have a team-oriented attitude and one that understands what it takes to win,” Williams says.
Every player’s potential steadily grows each year. Considering this year’s lack of size, the coaches will implement an active, fast-paced basketball style to take advantage of the girls’ speed.
Junior forward Kira Gordon has hope for this year’s team. “Our primary goal for this season is to win the state championship, but we understand that it takes one step at a time. Our expectations on the basketball court are very high, but we are ultimately a family,” Gordon says.
Boys Varsity Basketball Preview
by Alec Robles • photography by Alec Robles
Because the varsity boys basketball season begins soon, the team is preparing for the difficult season ahead. The team returns the majority of last season’s roster, including its starting five players. Adding depth to its previously thin lineup, the team also returns senior forward Eddie Cengic and sophomore forward Jordan Neff, who suffered knee injuries last year.
Coach Gorsuch holds high expectations for a successful season this year. “I expect us to reach our potential, which for this team would be to contend for the region championship. If we don’t reach our potential, then we as coaches have not done our job,” he says.
The team, however, does not plan on stopping there. Holding themselves to a higher standard, they plan on achieving greatness by making it deep in the postseason.
“We have a big senior class, and we have a lot of experience on the team. All of us need to stay on top of everything in the classroom, and we know we can make it far if we stay humble and healthy,” senior point guard Jalen Clark says.
This year’s team boasts something fairly uncommon in high school basketball: big post players. North Cobb could score a majority of its baskets in the paint by utilizing above-average size and strength in the post.
The team possesses loads of experience. It holds mostly seniors on the roster, three of whom have already lettered for varsity three times: Cengic, Clark and center John Smith.
“We have high hopes for this year,” Smith says. “We want to make it to the state tournament and past the Sweet 16. We know what we need to do and how we need to do it. The goal for the seniors, personally, is for all of us to go to Division I schools for sports. And we feel like we can accomplish that.”
by Alec Robles • photography by Alec Robles
Because the varsity boys basketball season begins soon, the team is preparing for the difficult season ahead. The team returns the majority of last season’s roster, including its starting five players. Adding depth to its previously thin lineup, the team also returns senior forward Eddie Cengic and sophomore forward Jordan Neff, who suffered knee injuries last year.Coach Gorsuch holds high expectations for a successful season this year. “I expect us to reach our potential, which for this team would be to contend for the region championship. If we don’t reach our potential, then we as coaches have not done our job,” he says.
The team, however, does not plan on stopping there. Holding themselves to a higher standard, they plan on achieving greatness by making it deep in the postseason.
“We have a big senior class, and we have a lot of experience on the team. All of us need to stay on top of everything in the classroom, and we know we can make it far if we stay humble and healthy,” senior point guard Jalen Clark says.
This year’s team boasts something fairly uncommon in high school basketball: big post players. North Cobb could score a majority of its baskets in the paint by utilizing above-average size and strength in the post.
The team possesses loads of experience. It holds mostly seniors on the roster, three of whom have already lettered for varsity three times: Cengic, Clark and center John Smith.
“We have high hopes for this year,” Smith says. “We want to make it to the state tournament and past the Sweet 16. We know what we need to do and how we need to do it. The goal for the seniors, personally, is for all of us to go to Division I schools for sports. And we feel like we can accomplish that.”
All photography submitted by North Cobb High School
