Sports

Putnam County head coach Joel Harvin directs his players while they go through a drill during a spring practice in May. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Putnam County head coach Joel Harvin directs his players while they go through a drill during a spring practice in May. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

War Eagles to navigate tough schedule in 2025

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
The Putnam County football team will have a tough schedule in 2025.The War Eagles finished 5-6 last season with a first-round playoff exit and will face the same teams during the regular season this year.Putnam County head coach Joel Harvin believes that this season will be different than last year.
Loran Smith/Columnist

Loran Smith/Columnist

Smith: Wimbledon memories

Loran Smith
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
As the action intensifies at Wimbledon, the world’s oldest tennis championship charms and inspires, and leaves you smitten and overwhelmed. That is how this great venue and its revered tournament affect this partisan.
A group of veteran Gatewood football players goes through a drill in the weight room Tuesday morning, under the watchful eye of strength and conditioning coaches Scott Dennard and Conor Richards (far right). IAN TOCHER/Staff

A group of veteran Gatewood football players goes through a drill in the weight room Tuesday morning, under the watchful eye of strength and conditioning coaches Scott Dennard and Conor Richards (far right). IAN TOCHER/Staff

‘Improvement’ key to Gators’ success this season

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Gatewood’s football team continued its busy summer workout schedule this week.The Gators are in the weight room and conditioning on the field, hoping their efforts will pay off on the gridiron this fall.
Kathy Mendez

Kathy Mendez

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Gatewood soccer players earn All-State recognition

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Gatewood’s soccer teams had several players earn postseason recognition for their performances on the pitch in 2025.Four Lady Gators were named to the GIAA All-Region 4-AA team: senior Sarah Kate Mansfield, junior Kimberly Mendez, sophomore Lily Piper, and freshman Kathy Mendez.
LANCE MCCURLEY/File Photo

LANCE MCCURLEY/File Photo

McCurley: The Dawgs are hot on the trail

Lance
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Besides working for the Lake Oconee News and The Eatonton Messenger, I’ve been a recruiting reporter for UGASports.com, and I’m heading into my third year. Recruiting is the lifeblood of college football, and I’ve fallen in love with it over the last few years. Like this one, it’s a rewarding job.
Gatewood running back Hunter Johnson (22) dives into the end zone and scores a touchdown during a game last season. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gatewood running back Hunter Johnson (22) dives into the end zone and scores a touchdown during a game last season. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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Gatewood’s Johnson signs with SUNY Cortland

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Fresh off another All-State baseball season and helping Gatewood win a third straight state title, Gators’ running back Hunter Johnson will head north to play football at SUNY Cortland, the State University of New York campus, near the mid-state Finger Lakes.
Lake Oconee Wild Things pitcher Skylar McCoy, who is a recent Morgan County graduate, totaled six strikeouts in a win on June 28. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff

Lake Oconee Wild Things pitcher Skylar McCoy, who is a recent Morgan County graduate, totaled six strikeouts in a win on June 28. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff

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Lake Oconee Wild Things sweep Bucks at home

Skyla Morris
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Lake Oconee’s Wild Things showcased an action-packed weekend at home with victories over the Brookhaven Bucks on June 27-28. The series sweep propelled the Sunbelt League team to a four-game winning streak following two road victories earlier in the week.
Chase Elliott celebrates Saturday night’s win at EchoPark Speedway with a burnout. BRAD HARRISON/Staff

Chase Elliott celebrates Saturday night’s win at EchoPark Speedway with a burnout. BRAD HARRISON/Staff

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Elliott snaps winless streak with last-lap pass

Brad Harrison
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
HAMPTON - A previous NASCAR Cup Series champion and 19-time winner going into last weekend, Dawsonville’s Chase Elliott has had plenty of memorable wins as a driver.
Brad Keselowski fought back from an early-race incident on Saturday, finishing second. BRAD HARRISON/Staff

Brad Keselowski fought back from an early-race incident on Saturday, finishing second. BRAD HARRISON/Staff

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Keselowski comes up just shy of postseason-clinching win

Brad Harrison
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
A horrendously bad string of luck has put Brad Keselowski in a position of likely needing to win his way into the NASCAR playoffs, having failed to finish five of the season’s first 12 NASCAR Cup Series races.
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