Several of the spring sports teams had stellar seasons. Some stood above the rest. Here are the BLITZ Spring Sports Teams of the Year for 2025.

BASEBALL

HABERSHAM CENTRAL RAIDERS

Coach: Chris Akridge
Record: 23-14
Accomplishments: 5A State Elite 8, Region 8-AAAAA 3rd Place, #8 State Ranking

The best season by far in school history for the Raiders came in Spring 2025. A young yet hungry roster came together for a special run. The 23 wins is a program record, and even making state back-to-back years was a first. But Habersham was relentless in the playoffs, winning road series at Lee County and South Paulding. The Lee series included a walkoff win in game two to force a game three that the Raiders won 7-4. Their Sweet 16 went to a third game as well, where Habersham won 9-5. In the Elite 8, Hab Central lost 2-1 at Newnan before bouncing back to a 4-2 win. In the finale, they lost 6-2 despite being tied going into the sixth. Newnan went on to win the state title. The cast of heroes included juniors Maverick Chitwood, Hudson Gailey, Tyler Rothell, and Kreed Barrett, along with SR Charlie Mills and sophomores Mason Witt and Ethan Wheeler. Chris Akridge earned Region Coach of the Year honors!

BOYS SOCCER

TALLULAH FALLS INDIANS

Coach: Jeremy Stille
Record: 19-2
Accomplishments: GIAA 4A State Final 4, Region 4-AAAA Champions (3rd straight), #1 State Ranking

Once again, Jeremy Stille’s team was loaded and dominant. The senior class was gigantic, led by Region POY Clay Kafsky. The Indians went 19-1 in making their fifth straight playoff push and securing their third consecutive region title. Ranked #1 for nearly the entire season, TFS set team records in wins (19), wins over ranked opponents (5), and goals (128). Kafsky (24 G, 29 A), Bogdan Jesic (35 G), Jorge Gomez Prieto (6 G, 25 A), and Kale Borchers (28 G, 6 A) led the offense, which overcame season-ending injuries to Landon Hall and Jackson Cording, while the defense was anchored by Jared Mullis, Alvaro Garcia Breton, and others. Javier Bachiller Mateo was incredible in goal, and the Indians rolled into the playoffs. From there, TFS advanced to their first Final 4 prior to dropping the finale to St. Anne Pacelli.

GIRLS SOCCER

JEFFERSON LADY DRAGONS

Coach: Molly McCarty
Record: 17-4
Accomplishments: 3A State Runner-Up, Region 8-AAA Champions, #1 State Ranking

Another incredible team coached by Molly McCarty, the Lady Dragons went 17-4 all the way to the State Championship game, falling 1-0 to region rivals Oconee County in a tough overtime loss. Jefferson obliterated playoff opponents on the way to the big one, taking down previous #1-ranked teams Lumpkin and Dawson, and held a final goal count of 91-9. All-time great GK Ella Sellers was phenomenal, and Ava Rodriguez, Gabby Garnett, Khloe Robertson, and Arielle Vermillion were the leaders for this team. Others like Lily Gaddy, Evie Johnson, Maryn McCarty, Mia Smith, and Clarie Gilstrap were all pivotal as well. This team was unforgettable.

BOYS TENNIS

TALLULAH FALLS INDIANS

Coach: Anthony Cox
RECORD: 16-2
Accomplishments: GIAA 4A State Runner-Up!, Region 4-AAAA Champions, #2 State Ranking

The Indians were guided by a veteran lineup that included a quartet of seniors who had played for so long together. Formerly winning middle school championships, their journey culminated in a State Runner-Up finish in GIAA, as the team went 16-2 while winning a second region title in a 3-year span. Tanner Davis and TJ Cox at 1- and 2-singles both tallied a school single-season record 18 wins, while Petar Ratkovic had 12 of his own. Zach Carringer and Jake Owensby came up with 10 wins together for a third straight season at 1-doubles. The team’s 16 wins was a record, and everything about the tournament run was a program-best.

GIRLS TENNIS

TALLULAH FALLS LADY INDIANS

Coach: Anthony Cox
RECORD: 14-1
Accomplishments: GIAA 4A State Final 4, Region 4-AAAA Champions, #3 State Ranking

The Lady Indians played up to the hype with a 14-1 season that included a third straight region title and a first-ever Final 4 run, carrying a program-best #3 ranking. Singles star and region individual champion Jaeda-Lee Daniel-Joseph racked up a school record 21 wins, while fellow junior Azaria Junaid had 15. The doubles lines were fantastic, with the combo of Landry Carnes and Keira Webb posting a record 17 wins together and winning the doubles region title over teammates Ava Carnes and Charlotte Stafford (14 wins). The girls made a great run at state, advancing to the semifinals and narrowly missing a state title match appearance.

BOYS GOLF

BANKS COUNTY LEOPARDS

Coach: Todd Samples
Accomplishments: 1A DI State 3rd, Area Runner-Up, #3 Rank

The Leopards finished as Runner-Up in the Area Championship, as Hunter Youngblood and Tyson Maney led the charge. At the GHSA State Championship, Banks County came in 3rd, led by Cooper Todd (15th) and Youngblood (16th).

GIRLS GOLF

JEFFERSON LADY DRAGONS

Coach: Matt Sims
Accomplishments: 3A State Champions!, Area 3rd, #1 Rank

These girls were fantastic and never waivered at the state tournament. After finishing third in a tough area, Jefferson kept laser focused at the GHSA State Championship. There, the Lady Dragons got a few top-10 individual finishes, with Rylee Brown (5th), Anna Kate Patton (7th), and Addison Taylor (8th) pacing the team to a title, etching their name in history.

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

JEFFERSON DRAGONS

Coach: Amos Tift
Accomplishments: 3A State Runner-Up!, Region 8-AAA Champions, #2 Ranking

The Dragons absolutely dominated at the Region Championship, winning easily. That carried over to State, where Jefferson was Runner-Up. At the region level, the team had five 1st-place event finishes, led by Michael Roberts’ titles in the triple jump and 400. He then won state in the latter, and the 4×800 Relay was unbelievable while helping secure the team’s runner-up trophy. Brock Brush, Kameron Bailey, CJ Jeffords were among those who excelled at state aside from Roberts.

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

JEFFERSON LADY DRAGONS

Coach: Llonisha McElhaney
Accomplishments: 3A State 3rd Place, Region 8-AAA Champions, #3 Ranking

Violet Patton won three individual region titles and was runner-up in another event to lead the Lady Dragons to a Region Championship. Hannah Howard also won a couple of titles, and Rileigh Harrison, Teah Gales, and the 4×1 and 4×8 relays won as the team easily won the region title. Then came state, where Jefferson was 3rd. Harrison and Gales were both runner-up finishers, and a handful of others excelled to help guide the program to a podium finish.