Plenty of teams had stellar 2023 seasons. But here are our Spring Sports Teams of the Year!

BASEBALL

Towns County Indians

Coach: Shannon Floyd
Record: 22-13
Accomplishments: 1A DII Elite 8, Region 8-A DII Runner-Up, #7 State Ranking

The Indians motored through the 2023 season with a top-to-bottom solid lineup, combined with great pitching and defense. Despite a relatively young team, Towns County had a fantastic run differential of 262-198, going 22-13 overall while claiming Runner-Up honors in Region 8-A DII. Throughout the season, the Indians were ranked #7 in the state, and were often in the top-10. On March 24, Towns County ended the day at 6-8 overall. A 14-6 win over Lincoln County turned the tide, and it was the beginning of a 11-game win streak. A couple of losses to Rabun County interrupted the streak, but Towns rebounded with its deep playoff run. The Indians beat Central (Carrollton) 13-3 and 12-1 to sweep past the opening round of state. Chattahoochee County provided a tough assignment in the Sweet 16, but the Indians won 13-3 in game one and – after a 2-0 game two loss – clinched with a dramatic 8-7 win. The Elite 8 was the end of the road against a stellar ECI team. JR catcher Connor Chastain (.403-3 HR-43 RBI), JR P/IF Zane Floyd (.395-21 RBI; 4 wins, 3.79 ERA), and JR P/IF Kade McConnell (.312-27 RBI; 5 wins, 3.24 ERA) were the key cogs, and others such as SR Seth Gillis and JR Tanner Cunningham were instrumental as well.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Commerce (Sweet 16), Dawson County (Rnd 1), Lumpkin County (Rnd 1), Jefferson (Rnd 1), Banks County (Rnd 1), Tallulah Falls (Rnd 1)

GIRLS SOCCER

Commerce Lady Tigers

Coach: Scott Tolbert
Record: 19-2
Accomplishments: 1A DI State Final 4, Region 8-A DI Champions, #1 State Ranking

Fresh off a State Runner-Up finish, the Lady Tigers were ranked #1 in the state nearly wire-to-wire. National Player of the Year Top-50 Watch List and Ivy League commit Ivy Tolbert (Cornell) had a sensational season once again. The junior midfielder posted 87 goals and 50 assists, and senior midfielder teammates Chloe Diaz (47 G, 41 A) and Kate Hill (32 G, 31 A), as well as sophomore center back Sara English guided Commerce to the Final 4. The team outscored opponents 172-25 throughout the season, went 10-0 at home, and 19-2 overall while taking the Region 8-A DI title with ease. A 19-match win streak was alive until the 3-2 Final 4 loss to Mt. Vernon. Prior to that came an 11-1 win over Pepperell in the first round, 3-2 win over Atlanta International in the Sweet 16, and a 10-0 blanking of Bleckley County in the Elite 8.

Towns County Lady Indians

Coach: Clay Livingston
Record: 8-6-1
Accomplishments: 1A DII State Runner-Up, #2 State Ranking

Towns County’s record doesn’t show how good this team was. Everyone knew the slow start was due to Towns County’s girls basketball team making a deep playoff run into the Elite 8. It was only a matter of time before the Lady Indians got their core players such as Sarah Shook and Laura Mauldin back into the fold. So a team that started out 1-5-1 with losses to Hart, Rabun, Banks, Aquinas, and Lake Oconee Academy, and earned a draw against Franklin suddenly turned on a dime. Towns got the whole group together and won 7 straight games until the season-ending playoff loss in the State Championship to Aquinas. Seniors center mid Shook (11 G, 11 A), defender Alana Stowers (3 G, 4 A), and forward Jayden Taylor (21 G, 6 A) led along with Mauldin between the posts. Towns County earned a first round bye before an 8-3 win in the Sweet 16 over Portal. That was followed by a 2-0 Elite 8 win over Hawkinsville and a win in PKs over Lake Oconee Academy in the Final 4. A first-ever State Championship match came next and was a tough loss to Aquinas. It was a remarkable season for a veteran team that put up 3 straight Final 4 runs.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: White County (Elite 8), Jefferson (Sweet 16), Lumpkin County (Sweet 16), Tallulah Falls (Sweet 16), Union County (Sweet 16), Habersham Central (Rnd 1), Dawson County (Rnd 1), Stephens County (Rnd 1), Rabun County (Rnd 1)

BOYS SOCCER

Union County Panthers

Coach: Tim Hunter
Record: 12-4
Accomplishments: 2A State Final 4, #3 State Ranking

Union County went 12-4 overall and rode all the way to the Final 4. The Panthers did it with an incredible defense first and foremost, as the team only scored 47 goals all season. However, Union allowed just 25 scores, and had a 7-match win streak early in the season. After falling to third in the region, the Panthers went on a tear in the playoffs, earning 3 straight 1-0 wins over North Murray (first round), Walker (Sweet 16), and Putnam (Elite 8). Game-winning goals, in order, came from Benton Gregory, Zuriel Mancillas, and Evan Bohms. The loss to Tattnall County in the Final 4 saw Union take an early lead before giving up a second half goal and in each overtime half. Of Union’s 4 losses, 3 were on the road against 2 state champion teams and one state runner-up. Standouts included SR keeper Trent Baker (3 GA, 0.51 GAA, 6 Shutouts), JR CM Bohms (9 G, 7 A), JR CM Mancillas (5 G, 9 A), SR D Isaiah Ortiz (1 G, 2 A, 6 Shutouts), and SR F Wilson Walker (17 G, 4 A).

Tallulah Falls Indians

Coach: Jeremy Stille
Record: 16-1
Accomplishments: 1A DI State Sweet 16, Region 8-A DI Champions, #1 State Ranking

No team was as dominant all season as Tallulah Falls. The Indians had built up to this by creating a powerful core that included Region POY and junior forward Austin Ball (39 G, 16 A), SO GK Kelton Reynolds (13 Shutouts, 0.35 GAA, 77 Saves), JR D Jake Wehrstein (Region Defensive POY), JR D Brit Shaw, and SO Clay Kafsky. But the additions of SR M Jake Hall (26 G, 10 A) and SO Landon Hall (11 G, 11 A), and returning players like SR Simeon Conjagic and SO Koen Eller really pushed the team over the top. The Indians went 16-0 until the Sweet 16, a tough 3-1 loss in overtime to Whitefield Academy. TFS won its first-ever Region Championship, held the #1 state ranking nearly all the way through, and won its first-ever playoff game. The final goal count was 113 against just 6 allowed, which included a ridiculous 13 shutouts and a pair of wins over state-ranked programs. This team was unforgettable.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Lumpkin County (Rnd 1), Jefferson (Rnd 1), Habersham Central (Rnd 1), Rabun County (Rnd 1), Towns County (Rnd 1)

GIRLS TENNIS

Tallulah Falls Lady Indians

Coach: Anthony Cox
Record: 16-1
Accomplishments: 1A DI State Elite 8, Region 8-A DI Champions; Top-10 State Ranking

The Lady Indians had made the playoffs before, but never had this much success. With a new incoming #1 and #2 singles player, the lineup was dramatically altered with the additions of junior Ariel Kelsick and freshman Jaeda-Lee Daniel-Joseph. Kelsick broke the single-season wins record first, and ended up 15-1 overall. Daniel-Joseph went 16-0 to set the new record. Ava Carnes at 3-singles won 8 times, and the doubles unit of JR Katarina Foskey & FR Azaria Junaid went 9-0, while long-time Lady Indian Cassidy Hayes and partner, SO Landry Carnes, had a nice season at 2-doubles. TFS was 16-0 until the Elite 8 home loss to Bleckley County. The win streak and team win total were records, as well as earning the team’s first playoff win(s) ever and first region title in 23 years. Kelsick was named Region Player of the Year.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Jefferson (Sweet 16), Dawson County (Sweet 16), Rabun County (Sweet 16), Lumpkin County (Rnd 1), Stephens County (Rnd 1), Habersham Central (Rnd 1), Banks County (Rnd 1), Commerce (Rnd 1)

BOYS TENNIS

Lumpkin County Indians

Coach: Paul Hoch
Record: 17-5
Accomplishments: 3A State Final 4, Region 7-AAA Runner-Up, Top-10 State Ranking

Despite being denied a Region Championship in a tough Region 7-AAA, the Indians shrugged off a Runner-Up finish to get all the way to the Final 4, and take a tough 3-2 loss to Savannah City Day to close out with a fantastic season. Lumpkin went 17-5 overall and 5-1 in region play, and just rolled through the playoff bracket with wins over Franklin County (Rnd 1), Bremen (Sweet 16), and Morgan County (Elite 8). The strength of the team was in the doubles lines, where Will Bicknell and Jack Lowry teamed up to go 9-2 overall and 4-0 in the state tourney at 1-doubles. The senior duo was followed by the 2-doubles team of brothers Will (JR) and Jack McKinney (SO), who were 11-1 overall and 4-0 in the tournament. Sophomore Bricen Popko at 3-singles was solid at 13-4 overall, and went 3-1 in the state playoffs as well.

Tallulah Falls Indians

Coach: Anthony Cox
Record: 15-1
Accomplishments: 1A DI State Sweet 16, Region 8-A DI Champions

A young team coming off a Sweet 16 run was nearly completely intact for an encore 2023 run. The Indians blistered opposition to the tune of going 15-0 overall until the Sweet 16 loss at home to Whitefield Academy. TFS did win the program’s first Region Championship in 46 years, and standout sophomores Tanner Davis (1-singles) and TJ Cox (2-singles) were a perfect 15-0 on the season. Davis was named Region 8-A DI Player of the Year. 1-doubles was a big strength as well with Zach Carringer and Jake Owensby, both sophomores, winning 10 matches together. Carringer had 14 total wins on the season. Fellow sophomore Aiden VanOrman had 10 as well, and won 6 together with junior Justin Graham.

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

White County Lady Warriors

Coach: Jake Cantrell
Accomplishments: 3A State 7th Place, Region 7-AAA Champions; #7 State Ranking

The Lady Warriors were fantastic both in region and at state. In the Region 7-AAA Championships, White County made no doubt who the top team was, finishing as champs with titles in 10 events, and runner-up in 7 others. Claire Beckman won a pair in high jump and triple jump, Kendra “Rusty” Dye in discus and shot put, Ella Blair in pole vault and 300 MH, Nealeigh Broadwell in the 800, Adelynn Knight in the 100, Aliyah Anderson in the 200, and the 4×100 Relay team. In the state meet, Dye was the State Champion in shot put. Blair (3rd in pole vault), Beckman (4th in high jump), 4×800 relay (4th), and Broadwell (5th in 800) posted top-5 finishes to lead the Lady Warriors to a 7th-place finish in AAA.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Jefferson (State 9th), Commerce (State 9th), Tallulah Falls (State 10th), Banks County (State 12th), Dawson County (State 14th)

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

White County Warriors

Coach: Jake Cantrell
Accomplishments: 3A State 6th Place, Region 7-AAA Champions; #6 State Ranking

The Warriors were loaded with athleticism, and showed out in the Region 7-AAA Championships and in the GHSA State Championships. White County first won the region behind titles in 9 events. Sean Hughes (long jump, triple jump), Vondre Nelson (110 MH, 300 MH), Caysen Duval (100), Cam Wilson (200), Kyler Mayo (400), and the 4×1 and 4×4 relays were atop the podiums. In 8 other events, White County was runner-up. At state, Hughes took the spotlight with a state title in the long jump, and he was 6th in the triple jump also. Other top-5 finishers included Wilson (3rd in 200) and Duval (5th in 100), while the 4×400 relay placed 3rd.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Banks County (State 10th), Commerce (State 10th), Jefferson (State 11th), Rabun County (State 15th)

GIRLS GOLF

White County Lady Warriors

Coach: Esta Johnson
Accomplishments: 3A State Runner-Up, Area 4-AAA Champions; #2 State Ranking

The Lady Warriors penned a new chapter with 1st-year head coach Esta Johnson, yet carried on the strong legacy of the program. White County finished as State Runner-Up in Class 3A, carrying a #2 state ranking. That came after an Area Championship as well. The Lady Warriors featured sophomore standouts Cameron Kimsey (14th at state), Layne Graham (9th), and BilliKayl Allison (28th). Junior Aubrey Free (22nd) and freshman Maddie Kate Hall (also 22nd) rounded out the young and talented group!

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Habersham Central (State 5th), Tallulah Falls (State 5th), Jefferson (State 6th), Union County (State 9th), Banks County (State 10th), Commerce (State 11th)

BOYS GOLF

Banks County Leopards

Coach: Curtis Chitwood
Accomplishments: 2A State 3rd, Area 3-AA Champions; #3 State Ranking

The Leopards capped off their impressive season with a 3rd-place finish at state. That came following an Area Championship as well, and Banks County closed with a #3 state ranking. Sophomore Jake Dalton and junior Hunter Bond both fired a 77 to finish tied for Area Runner-Up honors individually, and fellow standouts SR Nate Crabbe and junior Matthew Roberts were reliable as well. At state, Dalton came in 6th, Crabbe was 15th, freshman Thomas Nguyen was 21st, Roberts was 25th, and Bond was 31st. Sophomore Cooper Todd also contributed, coming in 48th. This is a young team with only one senior, though Crabbe has been the heart and soul of the team and will be sorely missed.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Dawson County (State 8th), Rabun County (State 8th), Tallulah Falls (State 11th), Jefferson (State 12th),