East Cobb Sports & Recreation

Kell girls fall in state finals; Wheeler aims for 11th title

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Kell girls fall in state finals; Wheeler aims for 11th title
Kell senior Kennedy Deese scored 10 points in the Class 4A state title game. Photos via Cobb County School District.

Two high school basketball teams from East Cobb reached the finals of the Georgia High School Association basketball tournament in Macon.

The Kell girls were aiming for their second state championship on Thursday, but fell short in the Class 4A championships in a 58-50 win by Marist.

On Saturday, the Wheeler boys will be seeking their 11th state title and second in a row in the Class 6A finals against Cobb rival Pebblebrook.

The Kell Lady L0nghorns were the underdog on Thursday against Marist, which had been No. 1 in Class 4A and features high school All-American Kate Harpring, the national high school player of the year.

Kell fell behind in the first quarter but stayed close, trailing 26-21 at halftime, then took the lead in the third quarter.

But that was the only lead they would have, as Harpring helped close out Marist’s third title in five years with 12 points in the fourth quarter. She finished with 40 points and 16 rebounds, becoming the all-time girls basketball scoring leader in Georgia high school basketball history, with 3,399 points.

“It’s been a great season, but I’m super proud that we even got here,” Kell coach Kandra Bailey said in a Cobb County School District release after the game. “I’m proud of the effort we put on the floor tonight.”

Bailey, who gave birth to a baby boy less than two weeks ago, said that “obviously, I’m going to finish this season with my girls, because they’re my first kids! But now I’m going to get back home with my baby tonight.”

On Saturday night, the Wheeler boys will try to continue dominating Georgia high school basketball. They will face Pebblebrook at 7:30 p.m. in a game that can be seen live on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

The Wildcats are ranked No.1 and feature All-American guard Colben Landrew, who will be playing college basketball next season at the University of Connecticut.

They will be defending their state title against Pebblebrook in the sixth all-Cobb state finals in state history. Wheeler has won three of those games, and has 10 state titles in all.

Kell coach Kandra Bailey accepts the state runner-up trophy.

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Lassiter swimmers, Walton wrestlers win state titles

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Lassiter swimmers and Walton wrestlers win state titles
Cobb County School District photos.

The Lassiter High School girls swimming team won its seventh consecutive Georgia High School Association state championship earlier in February at Georgia Tech.

The Lassiter girls won the Class 5A title by 62 points, led by senior Ashlyn Loftin, who concluded her career by her second straight individual title in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Loftin also finished third in 100-yard butterfly and swam the anchor leg in Lassiter’s third-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

The Lassiter boys won their first state title in Class 5A, including three state champions in individual events: Gavin Halusic in the 50-yard freestyle, the 400-yard freestyle relay (Halusic, Alex O’Brien, Ethan Jones, Raef Jollands) and the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Halusic, Jones, Nick Nurnberg and Lincoln Holder.

The Pope girls finished 4th and the Pope boys were 5th in the Class 5A meets.

Nathaniel Park

Lassiter’s championships are the eighth for head coach Brittany Hughes, who said in a Cobb County School District release that “having the boys and girls win together was amazing.”

Hughes is a counselor at Lassiter and was recently recognized with the school’s counseling team for earnin the Cobb School Counseling Comprehensive Model Certification.

Lassiter athletic director Scott Kelly said of the school’s swimming program that “talent matters, but culture sustains excellence. There’s a clear standard of accountability and consistency that every swimmer buys into.”

Jake Rheaume

Two athletes from Walton High School also earned individual state championships in February in the traditional wrestling category.

Nathaniel Park won the GHSA Class 6A title in the 144-pound weight class, cruising through his first three matches before winning the finals by a 4-2 score. Park, a sophomore, finished the season with a 58-2 record.

In the Class 6A 165-pound category, Walton’s Jake Rheaume completed a 40-0 season at the state meet in Morrow. He won the semifinals 4-3 and the finals 11-5.

The Walton boys team finished third in the Class 6A duals competition.

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Community meeting set to discuss Shaw Park’s future

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Shaw Park redevelopment town hall meeting

Long-awaited plans for improving Shaw Park will be disclosed next week at a community engagement meeting.

Cobb PARKS and Commissioner JoAnn Birrell have put out notices for the meeting, next Thursday, Feb. 26, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Northeast Cobb Community Center/Gritters Library (880 Shaw Park Drive).

County spokeswoman Shelly Weidner told East Cobb News that conceptual plan will involve updating athletic fields, including synthetic turf on some of them, as well as updating the tennis/pickleball/basketball court area and adding amenities, including batting cages, LED lighting and concrete walkways.

Details of those plans will be presented at the meeting, with a chance for the public to provide input, Weidner said.

“The meeting will be held in an open-house format, similar to our recent SPLOST community engagement sessions, allowing attendees to view the plans, and speak directly with staff.”

The redevelopment of Shaw Park is included in the current 2022 Cobb SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax), with the project designed to “better meet the recreational needs and desires of the surrounding community.”

The Shaw Park redevelopment, according to the SPLOST project list, is estimated to cost $4 million (you can read through the thumbnail description at this link on page 37).

Shaw Park is the second park in the county parks system, and has been showing signs of age for years.

There are five softball fields, nine pickleball courts, two tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic pavilions and the community center.

“Shaw Park was first developed in 1970, and has served several generations of families since,” the SPLOST project booklet states. “However, the park design and amenities are now outdated, and the park no longer meets the recreational needs of the community.”

It’s been nearly three years since Birrell held a town hall meeting that got a little testy at times, with youth softball parents pleading to preserve their ballfields pickleball enthusiasts demanding more courts for their fast-growing activity.

Birrell told East Cobb News this week that softball fields will remain part of the park, and the proposal calls for adding pickleball courts.

“We’re not decreasing the number of fields,” she said, adding that those attending the community engagement meeting will be able to see a variety of proposed layouts for the part and provide feedback.

The delay in doing so now was in part due to the redevelopment of Gritters Library and to address SPLOST funding issues she said have been resolved.

“There is more than one option, and we want to see what’s best before we continue,” Birrell said.

 

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Wheeler retires basketball star Collier’s jersey number

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Wheeler retires basketball star Collier's jersey number
Isaiah Collier brought some of his Utah Jazz teammates to his Wheeler jersey retirement. Cobb County School District photos.

He’s only 21 years old, but Isaiah Collier’s old Wheeler High School basketball jersey number will never be worn again.

His No. 4 shirt was retired recently at a special ceremony, three years after Collier led the Wildcats to their third Georgia state championship in four years.

Now a guard with the Utah Jazz of the NBA, Collier is being honored in Wildcat Arena next to Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, recently inducted in the Wheeler Athletic Hall of Fame.

They are the only former Wheeler players to have their jerseys retired.

As a senior, Collier was Georgia Mr. Basketball, the Naismith National high school player of the year and an All-American.

After graduation, he played one season at the University of Southern California. In his second professional season, he leads the Jazz with 7.4 assists and averages 10 points a game as a part-time starter.

“Isaiah, your jersey goes up tonight because you’ve earned it,” Wheeler athletics director Barry Bowdre told him, in a release issued by the Cobb County School District.

“From this moment forward, every young Wildcat who looks up on this wall will see your number and know what’s possible. Congratulations, Isaiah Collier. The number 4 will never be worn again in Wheeler Basketball history.”

Collier was honored before the Jazz played the Hawks in Atlanta, and was joined by some of his Utah teammates and family members.

“This means a lot,” Collier said in the district release. “With all the alumni that have come through this school, and the history of basketball at this school, it means a lot to me and my family. Am I surprised it happened so quickly? I feel like, yeah, I’m a little bit surprised how fast it happened, but I’m happy about it. I’m just happy about it.”

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Boston Celtics star joins Wheeler Athletic Hall of Fame

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Boston Celtics star joins Wheeler Athletic Hall of Fame

Jaylen Brown, who led Wheeler to a Georgia high school boys state basketball championship, headlines the 2025-26 Wheeler Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.

Also honored in late January were former basketball player Sharaud Curry, baseball player Joey Monahan, football-baseball-track athlete Hal Shaw, and the 1977 and 1978 softball teams. A formal induction ceremony was postponed due to inclement weather and will be rescheduled at a date to be announced.

Brown played four years of varsity basketball for the Wildcats and as a senior was named Georgia Mr. Basketball. He played at the University of California-Berkeley for one season and was the third player chosen in the 2016 NBA draft. In 2024, he was named the MVP of the NBA Finals as the Boston Celtics won their 18th championship, and he has been an All-Star four times.

Curry was part of two Wheeler boys basketball state championship teams, in 2003 and 2005, and he later starred at Providence College. He played professional basketball in Europe for 13 seasons and has been a coach and owner of a basketball training academy.

Monahan was a standout on the baseball diamond for Wheeler in the late 1990s, earning first-team All-Cobb County, as well as being named MVP of the East Cobb Yankees and selected to the All-Tournament Team at the Connie Mack World Series.

He starred at Liberty University and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, and played minor league baseball for several seasons before running an insurance business.

Shaw was a lineman for the Wheeler football team under coach Corky Kell, and named a permanent co-captain in the 1973 season, when the Wildcats went undefeated before falling to Thomasville in the state championship game.

He was named All-County and All-State by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and he joins his brother Bill (Class of 1968) in the Wheeler Hall of Fame.

The Wheeler girls softball team played a slow-pitch version of the sport in the late 1970s under coach Jim Mau, who previously led the Wildcats to a baseball state title. His softball teams in 1977 and 1978 won Cobb County titles and finished with respective records of 19-2 and 17-3.

For more information and photos about the inductees, visit the Wheeler Athletic Hall of Fame Facebook page.

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East Cobb high school athletes make college commitments

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East Cobb high school athletes make college commitments
Photo: Cobb County School District

High school athletes from around the country made their college commitments this week in what’s known as National Signing Day.

That’s when the officially sign scholarship offers to continue their sports careers at the next level.

According to the Cobb County School District, Sprayberry High School had 14 athletes sign, the most for any school in the district. They included five football players as well as the first Yellow Jacket athlete to sign a college commitment in flag football.

The district compiled the following names and schools (this is only a partial list):

Kell High School

  • Jacob Carroll (Football/Reinhardt)
  • Kennedy Deese (Basketball/Howard)
  • Anabel Gonzalez (Lacrosse/Life)
  • Alexander Jean (Football/Shorter)
  • Myles Jones (Football/Arkansas at Monticello)
  • Chase Lewandowski (Football/Miles)
  • David Ornelas (Football/Reinhardt)
  • Jaziah Owens (Football/Muskingum)
  • Leah Wetherington (Soccer/Kennesaw State)

Pope High School

  • Jaxson Griffin (Football/Reinhardt)
  • Mathews Lago (Football/Newberry)

Sprayberry High School

  • Josh Alequin (Baseball/Brewton-Parker Christian)
  • Colton Clearman (Baseball/Paradise Valley C.C.)
  • Luke Hopkins (Baseball/Truett-McConnell)
  • Kobe Lewis (Football/Drake)
  • Lenai Louie (Basketball/Montreat)
  • Graci Pederson (Softball/Shorter)
  • Isabella Puleo (Softball/Reinhardt)
  • Payton Ramsay (Soccer/West Georgia)
  • Jordan Simpson (Softball/West Georgia)
  • Brock Trout (Football/Berry)
  • Jack Trout (Football/Berry College)
  • Judah Williams (Football/Central Georgia Tech)
  • Mikyla Wilson (Flag Football/Alabama State)
  • Ashton Wright (Football/Andrew)

Walton High School

  • Christian Andrews (Football/Reinhardt)
  • Ethan Baker (Football/Berry)
  • Cooper Bowles (Football/Johns Hopkins)
  • Bryant Gunnels (Football/University of the South)
  • Max McRaney (Football/Anderson)
  • Sam Strickland (Football/Furman)
  • Nick Thorner (Football/Kennesaw State)

Wheeler High School

  • Khalil Bullock (Football/Muskingum)
  • Jemar Mitchell (Football/Benedict)
  • Jashawn Sanders (Football/Huntingdon)
  • Greg Kendrick (Football/Miles)

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Wheeler names new football coach who won Fla. state title

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Wheeler High School’s new head football coach is Travis Roland.Wheeler names new football coach who won Fla. state title

He was introduced on the school’s social media channels on Thursday, and he comes from Camden County High School in South Georgia, where he was 13-8 over the last two seasons.

Roland has a 75-29 record as a high school head coach, and he led Mainland High School of Daytona Beach to the 2023 Florida High School Athletic Association state championship, as well as a runner-up finish in 2022.

His teams at Mainland also were regional quarterfinalists six times and won district championships three times.

Wheeler made a coaching change after the Wildcats finished 3-7 in 2025. Bryan Love was 26-47 in seven seasons and led Wheeler to one playoff appearance, in 2023, with a 7-4 record.

That has been Wheeler’s only winning season since 2018.

Roland came to Camden County, one of Georgia’s most successful high school football programs, in 2024, but was dismissed after the team went 6-4 in 2025 and failed to make the playoffs.

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Pope youth football coach and booster battling dementia

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Pope youth football coach and booster battling dementia

The Pope High School football community is rallying behind one of its leading figures.

Tom Stuetzer, whose sons played for the Greyhounds and who’s been active as a youth coach and official with the program’s booster club, has been diagnosed with an incurable form of dementia at the age of 51 and is facing major medical bills.

Stuetzer is battling behavioral variant frontal temporal dementia (FTD), and friends have set up a fundraiser for some of those expenses.

Stuetzer had to leave his job as the CFO of a DIY art and craft supply company last summer due to his illness, and health insurance doesn’t cover all of the expenses.

The GoFundMe campaign thus far has nearly $155,000; according to the fundraising message Stuetzer can no longer drive or be left alone for extended periods of time. The message also lays out the details of the estimated expenses for his care.

“We would love to see our football family help the Stuetzer family in this time of need,” said a message on the Pope Football Facebook page Tuesday afternoon.

“They are trying to prepare to a future of full time care. We are also asking for prayers of healing and support for Tom and his family.”

Stuetzer and his wife Kerri have athletic backgrounds. He played football at Wake Forest, and she is a member of the Dunwoody High School sports Hall of Fame.

Stuetzer has been involved in coaching in the Pope youth football feeder program and had served on the board and been president of the Pope Touchdown Club.

They are the parents of three children, Ryan (25), Katelynn (22), and John (19). The boys played football and baseball for the Greyhounds, and the youngest is currently on the baseball team at Florida State. Katelynn is a former lacrosse player at Pope who attends Clemson University.

“As the disease has progressed, the children have stepped into roles no young adults expect to carry so early,” the GoFundMe message states. “They help manage finances, schedules, appointments, research, and daily logistics. They advocate for their father, support their mother, and share responsibility for navigating the roadmap ahead, all while working and building their own lives.

“Their strength is steady and rooted in the values Tom and Kerri spent decades instilling.”

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Walton Hall of Fame class includes former Little League star

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Walton Hall of Fame class includes former Little League star

Submitted information from the Cobb County School District and photo from the Walton Sports Hall of Fame:

The Walton High School (WHS) Sports Hall of Fame (HOF) recently introduced its 2026 class of honorees. Former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Marc Pisciotta and National Football League (NFL) draftee Mike Travis were inducted alongside Aaron Kelly, Amanda Ballinger, and the undefeated 1995 Men’s Soccer Team.

Marc Pisciotta’s WHS HOF induction marked the third former MLBer to be welcomed into this elite group, joining former Raider greats Blaine Boyer and Billy Burns. Pisciotta had a 20-2 career pitching record in high school with a 2.04 earned run average and 103 strikeouts in 103 innings pitched. He went on to pitch professionally for the Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Royals. Before high school, he was a dominant pitcher on the East Marietta team that won the 1983 Little League World Series title, and later added several amateur world titles with the East Cobb Astros. 

“Baseball is a team sport,” Pisciotta stated humbly. “I just happened to be the guy who got some notoriety. I couldn’t have done what I did in my career without my teammates at all levels of play. Success takes nine positions on the field.”

Mike Travis entered the WHS HOF due to his accomplishments in both track and football. Blessed with great speed, he was the Cobb champion in both the 100 meters and the 4×400 relay as a junior. In football, he was selected to multiple All-County and All-Region teams and earned a spot on the 1981 All-State team in his senior year. He became a four-year starter at defensive back for Georgia Tech and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 1986 NFL Draft.

“This honor is not only because of me,” he said. “I didn’t block. I didn’t hand off. I didn’t do all the things that allowed us to be successful as a team. There are so many people that were a part of any success that any of us honorees have had. We didn’t earn this on our own.”

Two decades after Travis, Aaron Kelly also excelled on Friday nights for the Walton Raiders. However, Kelly’s talents were displayed on the offensive side of the football as a wide receiver, a position he didn’t play until his sophomore season. Clearly, it was the right move as he went on to earn All-County, All-State, and Cobb County Player of the Year Awards. In his senior season alone, he hauled in 55 catches for 955 yards and 17 touchdowns. He followed that with a solid four-year career at Clemson and four seasons in the Canadian Football League.

“I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I did without my family pushing me and motivating me,” Kelly emphasized. “I would still say to this day that my twin brother was a better athlete than I was. I felt like I was just trying to chase and keep up with him.”Amanda Ballinger starred on the tennis courts for Walton from her first season. She won the 1992 State Singles Championship as a freshman, earning her recognition as an All-American. She went on to win team state titles in 1994 and 1995 before being named MVP of her University of Alabama tennis team and earning 2nd Team All-American honors during her time at Berry College. 

“I woke up this morning very grateful for this honor,” Ballinger noted at the HOF ceremony. “I loved my experience here at Walton. I had the best four years, and every team we had was just so much fun. I loved being here and had so many amazing coaches that I just really thank for my career.”

1995 was obviously a big year at Walton as the men’s soccer team also won the state championship, dethroning two-time defending champion Parkview, which came into the matchup on a 57-game unbeaten streak. The Raiders won the title 3-1, with Brian Oakes netting two goals to help secure the trophy and an overall 16-0-3 record. This team allowed only seven goals against them for the season, largely due to the efforts of goalies Greg Chandler and Matt Richardson. They were coached by Bucky Boozer, who was inducted into the WHS HOF in the Class of 2024.

“We weren’t undefeated because we were perfect,” team captain Mikel Parker remarked while representing the team. “We were undefeated because we were together. Something special happened in that ’95 team. Thank you for this honor and for remembering the team that proved what’s possible when talent meets grit, preparation, and heart.”

Former Walton basketball coach Larry Pace is a member of the WHS HOF selection committee and a co-founder, along with former Raiders basketball star Tom Wideman. He was quick to point out the significance of being inducted into the school’s Sports Hall of Fame.

“We select the cream of the crop athlete,” he said as inductees were congratulated around him, “and this is one of the highest and most recognized athletic awards that we can give them.”

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East Cobb football stars earn Touchdown Club all-state honors

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Football players from Kell, Sprayberry and Walton high schools in East Cobb are among those selected for all-state honors by the Touchdown Club of Atlanta.East Cobb football stars earn Touchdown Club all-state honors

The prestigious honor, which was launched in 1938, includes first- and second-team players on offense and defense from around the state of Georgia.

Linebacker Brayden Rouse of Kell and defensive back Jorden Edmonds of Sprayberry were named to the first-team defense. Another Kell player, running back Moonie Gipson, was named to the second-team offense, and Walton linebacker Noah LaVallee was named to the second-team defense.

Kell reached the semifinals of the Georgia High School Association Class 4A playoffs and was the last team eliminated from Cobb County.

Gipson set a school record with 1,918 yards as a junior. Rouse was an all-Region player of the year who has signed to play college football at the University of Tennessee.

Edmonds, who led Sprayberry to a second consecutive state playoff appearance, will be headed to the University of Alabama.

LaVallee, a senior, recorded 124 tackles for Walton, which reached the Class 6A quarterfinals. Earlier this month, he signed a football scholarship offer to play at Florida State, where his brother Caleb also is a linebacker.

The Touchdown Club’s other season honors also included several players from East Cobb schools. The Litle Peach Freshman watchlist includes another Walton player, Jordan Peacock, a wide receiver who was named a Rivals High School Freshman All-American.

His brother was Walton’s quarterback in the 2025 season, sophomore Christion Peacock.

The Little Peach Junior watchlist includes Gipson of Kell.

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East Cobb high school athletes sign college scholarships

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East Cobb high school athletes sign college scholarships
Jorden Edmonds (left) and Kaelan Jones starred for Sprayberry as defensive backs, and will be headed to big-time college programs. CCSD photo.

High school athletes from East Cobb and around the country officially made their college choices on Wednesday on what’s known as National Signing Day.

That’s when they officially signed letters-of-intent to receive scholarship aid to the college or university of their choice.

Some athletes will be receiving full-ride scholarships—all expenses paid—and others partial scholarships. That depends on the sport and the number of scholarships available.

In football, most scholarships are full-ride. For two football players at Sprayberry, they will be heading to two of the top college programs in the country.

The Yellow Jackets had another outstanding season finishing 9-2, and reaching the first round of the Georgia High School Association Class 5A playoffs.

Defensive back Jorden Edmonds committed to the University of Alabama, and made it official in a signing ceremony Wednesday at Sprayberry.

Kealan Jones, another Sprayberry defensive back, had committed to the University of Georgia, but at the last minute decided to sign a scholarship offer from Georgia Tech.

“This is a summation of 18 years of really hard work for these young men,” said Dr. Pete Fominaya, Sprayberry’s head football coach, in a release issued by the Cobb County School District.

“Not only do you have to be great on the field, but you have to be great in the classroom and be a great leader to have an opportunity to sign in December. This is a really special group of young men. They’re high-character kids. They do the right thing, and I am proud to have been able to coach them.”

Five other Yellow Jackets signed their letters on Wednesday as well:

  • Lineman Taylen Swinney (Georgia Military College)
  • Defensive end Gabe Clarke (University of West Georgia)
  • Defensive back Noah Voltaire (Austin Peay University),
  • Offensive lineman Cash Barowsky (Berry College)
  • Quarterback Jaden Duckett (The Citadel)

The Kell football team was eliminated in the GHSA Class 5A semifinals on Friday at Creekside of Fairburn, the last Cobb football team standing. But before that on Wednesday, eight Longhorns signed their college letters:

  • Tight end Nathan Agyemang (Georgia Tech)
  • Defensive back Jowell Combay (Tennessee)
  • Linebacker Michael Domanik (Charlotte)
  • Defensive back Tony Forney (Pittsburgh)
  • Quarterback Kaleb Narcisse (East Tennessee State)
  • Linebacker Brayden Rouse (Tennessee)
  • Athlete Bryce Shelton (William & Mary)
  • Defensive back Jalen Williams (Arizona State)

The Cobb school district compiled the following college signees from other high schools:

Pope High School

  • Baseball: Drew Abney (Jacksonville State), Nick Bobrowski (Georgia Southern), Kayden Campbell (Ohio State), Ben Hill (LaGrange)
  • Lacrosse: Ashley Anne Braun (Delaware), Colby Brennan (Mars Hill), Lauren Ebersole (Pittsburgh), Cooper Heintzelman (Lincoln Memorial), Talia Olshansky (St. Bonaventure), Daniel Wahn (New Jersey Institute of Technology)
  • Swimming: Addison Clark (Florida Atlantic)
  • Volleyball: Jahan Lalli (Rhode Island)
  • Fencing: Joshua Riggins (Ohio State)
  • Softball: Emma Santamaria (Georgia State College and University)

Walton High School

  • Football: tight end Jude Cascone (Alabama) and linebacker Noah LaVallee (Florida State)

Wheeler High School

  • Football: Defensive back Brock Adams (Austin Peay), defensive back Landon Harper (Point University)
  • Swimming: Caroline Hughes (North Florida)
  • Softball: Rhea Karmacharya (Augusta)

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Registration underway for 2026 Noonday Shanty 5K/10K

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Registration underway for 2026 Noonday Shanty 5K/10K

Submitted information:

Registration is now open for Town Center Community’s 2026 Noonday Shanty 5K/10K, presented by Avonlea Apartments. Set to take place along the scenic Noonday Creek Trail on Saturday, March 28, 2026, the annual Peachtree Road Race qualifier is a USA Track and Field-certified event managed by Start2Finish.

Throughout the course, participants of all ages and experience levels will experience Noonday Creek’s natural landscapes, including bird habitats, greenspaces and wetlands, and pass landmarks such as Aviation Park, Cobb International Airport, Fifth Third Stadium and art installations, including the newest Tiny Doors ATL, and the Chimney Swift Tower. 10K runners will also get a glimpse of the district’s vibrant new murals.

“The Noonday Shanty 5K/10 is a staple in our community because it gets people moving and brings our community closer,” Jennifer Hogan, director of community engagement at Town Center Community, said. “The race not only allows us to invest back into our community through greenspace and trail projects, but it also gives us the opportunity to meet new faces, support local businesses and celebrate our beautiful trails.”

To register or become a sponsor for the Noonday Shanty 5K/10K race, please visit the Town Center Community website. 

Local artists are encouraged to submit artwork for the annual race poster contest, which offers participants the chance to have their work featured on the official event poster and in promotional materials. Runners will receive the selected poster during packet pickup as a unique keepsake to commemorate the race. Artists may submit up to three digitally created or hand-drawn designs, and cash prizes will be awarded for first and second place. The overall winning artwork will serve as the official race poster. Submissions are due February 12, 2026. Full contest details are available on the Town Center Community website.

The 2026 event will also include a new tradition: the first-ever community-designed race shirt. Community members can vote on the inaugural shirt design, and to kick things off, this year’s nominees will include past winning poster designs from 2022-2025 races with the winner inspiring the 2026 race shirt. Moving forward, each year’s winning poster design will be used for the race shirt. Voting closes on January 13, 2026. Past posters and the voting link are available on the Town Center Community website.

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Cobb PARKS recognized as Georgia ‘agency of the year’

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Cobb PARKS recognized as Georgia 'agency of the year'

Cobb PARKS was recognized by the Cobb Board of Commissioners this week for being named the Agency of the Year by the Georgia Recreation and Park Association.

Department officials and staff were present at Wednesday’s BOC meeting. The agency award is the second given to Cobb in recent years, following 2019, and Cobb PARKS Director Michael Brantley was recognized in 2024 as the GRPA’s Distinguished Professional of the Year.

GRPA is a private, nonprofit institution to support and promote the recreation and park industries within the state of Georgia. According to agenda item for Wednesday’s meeting, it is “the only state organization that serves as an advocate for quality recreation and park areas, facilities, programs and services at the local level.”

The Agency of the Year Award is presented to five population groups within the state. Cobb County is in the largest population category—150,000 and over. More from the agenda item:

“The rating period for the award was September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025, a year that has been a transformative one for Cobb PARKS, marked by achievements that not only provided improved facilities and operations but also strengthened our commitment to equity, community and quality of life.

“A tremendous number of initiatives and projects — from transformational facilities like the Milford Recreation Center and Rhyne Park, to systemwide upgrades, strategic partnerships and organizational improvements — illustrate a year of growth, innovation and service. Each represents a commitment to ensuring that Cobb’s parks, facilities and programs are not only maintained but continually improved for the benefit of all who call this community home.”

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Longtime Pope football coach retires after 50-year career

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Longtime Pope football coach retires after 50-year career
Coach Jerry Mahon is honored by Pope High School officials and his family as he marked his retirement in 2025. Photo courtesy CCSD.

Pope’s season-ending win in varsity football was the last game for a longtime coach in the Cobb County School District.

Jerry Mahon, an assistant coach for the Greyhounds the last 10 years, is retiring, bringing to a close a 50-year career in coaching and teaching that included tenures at Lassiter and Wheeler.

He’s been Pope’s offensive line coach, and his players excelled as the Greyhounds won 35–14, rushing for 385 yards against Riverwood.

“His countless hours of hard work and commitment have made Pope Football a better program,” Pope head coach Sean O’Sullivan said in a release issued by the Cobb school district.

“It has been a true pleasure having such a veteran coach on staff. We appreciate all his support and the positive impact he’s had on our team and community.”

Mahon said he had wanted to be a coach since he was in eighth grade, and started in Mississippi in 1976. After also coaching in Alabama, he moved to Georgia in 1997, and was an assistant and head coach at Lassiter.

That’s where he coached his son Jerry, Jr., an offensive lineman for the Trojans in the late 90s, and said “he’s one of the best centers I ever coached, so the opportunity to coach my son was a real thrill.”

In 2005, Mahon moved to Wheeler, where he served for 11 seasons before coming to Pope.

“Coach Mahon’s legacy in coaching will be left with the thousands of players and hundreds of coaches who have encountered his professional, faith-based approach to teaching life lessons,” Pope AD Josh Mathews said.

“I have witnessed a coach who cares for the heart of the athlete significantly more than he cared about the result of a game or match.”

Mahon said his motivational and teaching philosophy came from an adapted rhyme believed to be inspired by the fourth-century Christian priest St. Jerome.

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best. The key to all that right there is to never let it rest. You’ve got to keep working. Being average is halfway from the top, but also halfway from the bottom. You’ve got to be willing to put in the work. Hopefully, that is what I have passed on to my players and students.”

More about Mahon can be found by clicking here.

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Pope cross country runner seeks to defend state championship

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Pope cross country runner seeks to defend state championship

Submitted information and photo:

Pope High School senior Josie Hutchinson is chasing history this weekend as she seeks to defend her GHSA 5A Girls Individual Cross Country State Championship title, one year after leading the Pope Greyhounds to a team state championship.

Known for her grit, leadership, and grounded personality, Hutchinson has built an impressive athletic résumé. The five-time GHSA state champion boasts titles in both cross country and track and field, including the 3200m, 4x800m relay, and team championships. Over the past three seasons, she has finished in the top three in 19 of her last 25 cross country races she has run in Georgia. She holds five school records and multiple county and regional honors.

“She’s the GOAT for Pope High School cross country,” said Coach Cathi Monk. “Josie goes above what’s required in her preparation. She’s a fierce competitor and an even better person.”

Hutchinson’s drive runs deep in her roots. The daughter of Joe and Christin Hutchinson, Josie credits her family’s athletic and faith-filled foundation for shaping her determination. Her father, a former Little League World Series champion and standout at Wheeler High School, recognizes her innate competitiveness: “Some kids just have that desire to work hard — Josie has it.”

Beyond her athletic success, Hutchinson’s leadership and compassion have defined her legacy at Pope. She is known for mentoring younger runners, rallying teammates before races, and cheering competitors at the finish line — a gesture parents and coaches call the “Josie Effect.”

Hutchinson’s personal record of 17:31.49 ranks among Georgia’s best. She plans to continue her running career next year at Samford University, but first, she and the Greyhounds will defend their 5A titles this Saturday in Carrollton, Georgia.

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Walton volleyball team earns ‘Sweet 16’ state championship

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Walton volleyball team earns 'Sweet 16' state championship
Photo and videos courtesy Cobb County School District.

It’s been a long time since the Walton High School volleyball team won a Georgia state championship.

Four years, to be exact, which is an eternity for the Raiders program that has had three head coaches in the last four years.

But first-year coach Ashley Jones inherited a talented roster, and Walton exacted some revenge on Thursday in defeating defending Georgia High School Association Class 6A champion Alpharetta for its 16 state title.

The Raiders lost the first set 25–16, then won the last three sets by scores of 25–23, 25–21, and 27–25 to down top-seeded Alpharetta.

Here’s more from the Cobb County School District:

“Walton’s championship match featured several outstanding performances. Sophomore outside hitter Addison Contestabile led the team with 15 kills. Senior right-side hitter Simone Searles added 12 kills. Senior libero Ella Cobb was credited with 22 digs, and junior middle blocker Scarlett Holden led the team with six blocks. The Championship MVP Award went to sophomore setter Janie Myers, who assisted on 32 kills and had 11 digs of her own.”

Myers added that “I’m just so proud of all of us. I didn’t do this all by myself. This is such a special group of girls. This feels awesome.”

Jones, who was hired from Marietta High School over the summer, said in the CCSD release that “we said from practice number one that this was our year to win it all. To give these seniors, who haven’t experienced a championship and have been with the program for four years, to give them this win in their last season, that’s super special.”

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Town Center CID unveils murals along Noonday Creek Trail

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Town Center CID unveils murals along Noonday Creek Trail

Submitted information and photos:

Last Saturday, the Town Center Community debuted two new murals along the Noonday Creek Trail with a public Art Walk and artist meet-and-greet at the Bells Ferry Trailhead. The event highlighted the work of muralists Kelsey Wishik and Leigh Ann Culver, whose installations will reshape the corridor into a vibrant cultural destination. 

In addition to the Art Walk, the celebration marked the 10th anniversary of the Town Center Community Bikeshare, sponsored by Georgia Power, with a bike pop-up, the announcement of the Bikeshare Anniversary Sweepstakes winners, and family-friendly activities. Visitors can connect with the muralists, see their installations up close, and enjoy an energizing morning outdoors.

About the Muralists

  • Kelsey Wishik, a graduate of UGA’s Lamar Dodd School of Art, explores growth, connectivity, and transformation through painting, sculpture, movement, and music. Her work draws on natural systems and cultural traditions, with exhibitions ranging from neighborhood galleries to international venues. Her newest mural will include wrapping a bridge support beam in bold blocks of color and floral motifs, creating a dynamic and uplifting visual. Her mural will be completed by October 11.
  • Leigh Ann Culver, an Atlanta-based artist, is known for evocative portraits and charcoal works rooted in Southern history. Her mixed-media pieces appear across Georgia, reflecting human stories that connect past and present. Culver will turn the adjacent embankment into a serene setting with stained glass-inspired panels and candle imagery, bringing “light” beneath the bridge. Her mural will be completed by October 20.

“The Noonday Creek Trail has become a place where art, nature, and active living intersect,” said Jennifer Hogan, Director of Community Engagement at Town Center Community. “Marking 10 years of bikeshare alongside these new works demonstrates how shared spaces can inspire creativity, connection, and healthier communities.”

The gathering also marks the 10th anniversary of the Town Center Bikeshare Program, the first CID-led bikeshare program in Georgia. Since its 2015 launch, the program has become a fixture in the area, surpassing 100,000 rides and recently adding e-bikes to make cycling more accessible. 

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Pope HS unveils Matt Hobby Field to honor former student

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Pope HS unveils Matt Hobby Field to honor former student

Friday was the 20th anniversary of a fundraiser to benefit childhood cancer research in the memory of former Pope High School student and football player Matt Hobby.

Before the football game against Lassiter, the school announced that it was designating the sports stadium Matt Hobby Field.

Hobby died of Ewing Sarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer, in 2006, right before his graduation, and a year after the Rally Foundation had been formed to conduct childhood cancer research.Matt Hobby Game

Each year during the football season, a Pope home game is designated as a fundraiser for the Rally Foundation.

At that fundraiser, special t-shirts are sold, and a player is honored who wears Hobby’s jersey No. 70. That player is chosen before the season by coaches who “best exemplifies Matt’s qualities.”

This year, No. 70 is James Burns, and he’s wearing that shirt all season. Here are all the No. 70 recipients, starting in 2012.

“When Matt realized he would not survive cancer, he asked that money be raised for childhood cancer research so younger kids could live,” said Dean Crowe, founder and CEO of Rally Foundation, earlier this week.

“In 2005, he stood in uniform on the gridiron as the Pope community rallied around him, beginning a tradition that became the Matt Hobby Classic. Since then, 4 Quarters 4 Research has raised more than $450,000 at Pope alone and spread to schools nationwide, and it proves that Matt’s legacy of hope and generosity is still changing lives 20 years later.”

In addition to football, Pope’s soccer and lacrosse teams also compete at what is now Matt Hobby Field, along with track and field athletes.

Lassiter won the game 49-7.

To learn more about Rally Foundation, visit its website and follow on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

Pope HS unveils Matt Hobby Field to honor former student

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Eastvalley ES student qualifies for Augusta youth golf final

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Eastvalley ES student qualifies for Augusta youth golf final

Eastvalley Elementary School third-grader Finley Nelson recently won the regional qualifier for the Boys 7-9 age division of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

His next step is The Masters course in Augusta for the Drive, Chip, and Putt National Finals that will be played at Augusta National Golf Club in April 2026.

“I’m very excited to go to the Masters, and see it and actually get to play on it,” Finley said in a release issued this week by the Cobb County School District. “You have to be the best of the best to get there, and it’s very prestigious.”

Eastvalley principal Dr. Whitney Spooner said Finley’s accomplishments were noted on the school’s morning news update: “His classmates and teacher were so excited.”

“Eastvalley Elementary classmates cheer on Finley like a hometown hero after his regional victory.”

Calley Anderson, Finley’s homeroom teacher, said in the release that “as soon as Finley told the class he had won the regional in Florida, the class could not contain their cheers. The whole class was jumping up and down.”

His teacher and classmates also made a good luck card and poster for him.

Finley said that “I was very happy that they were all cheering for me.”

“Finley is a very thoughtful, respectful, and dependable student,” Dr. Spooner said in the release. “He is soft-spoken, but very eager to learn.”

After winning the Regional Qualifier at TPC Sawgrass, Finley secured his place in the 2026 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club, held during Masters week.

“Focused and fearless: Young golf prodigy Finley Nelson lines up his shot at TPC Sawgrass.”

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Pope HS to hold 20th Matt Hobby Classic for cancer research

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Submitted information:Pope HS to hold 20th Matt Hobby Classic for childhood cancer

This fall, two milestone anniversaries come together in the fight against childhood cancer. Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research is celebrating 20 years of funding innovative research, supporting families and advocating for better treatments. At the same time, Pope High School will host its 20th annual Matt Hobby Classic football game on Friday, September 19, at 7:00 p.m. at Pope High School, 3001 Hembree Road, Marietta, GA 30062. The annual game has supported Rally Foundation since its beginning. 

The Matt Hobby Classic honors the memory of Pope student and football player Matt Hobby, who was diagnosed in 2003 with Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in and around the bones. With the encouragement of his teammates and the Pope community, Matt vowed to “STANDTOUGH” through treatment. He passed away on May 30, 2006, just days after his high school graduation. Before his passing, Matt asked his parents to keep raising money for research so that “the little kids with cancer get a chance to live.”

The Pope community, together with Matt’s family and Rally’s founder Dean Crowe, turned his request into action. In 2005, they hosted the very first 4 Quarters 4 Research (4Q4R) game, which was Rally Foundation’s first fundraiser. Buckets were passed through the stands to collect spare change in support of childhood cancer research. That event later became known as the Matt Hobby Classic. Over the past 20 years, Pope High School has raised more than $450,000 through the annual event, including more than $33,000 last year alone. The 4Q4R idea also spread to schools across the country, multiplying Matt’s legacy and fueling childhood cancer research nationwide.

Rally Foundation was founded in 2005 with the mission to fund the best research wherever it takes place. Over the last 20 years, Rally has awarded more than $40.5 million in research grants through more than 680 projects across the United States and around the world. From its first $5,000 grant in 2006 to a record-breaking $5.5 million in 2025 alone, Rally’s funding has helped advance safer, more effective treatments for kids with cancer.

“When Matt realized he would not survive cancer, he asked that money be raised for childhood cancer research so younger kids could live,” said Dean Crowe, founder and CEO of Rally Foundation. “In 2005, he stood in uniform on the gridiron as the Pope community rallied around him, beginning a tradition that became the Matt Hobby Classic. Since then, 4 Quarters 4 Research has raised more than $450,000 at Pope alone and spread to schools nationwide, and it proves that Matt’s legacy of hope and generosity is still changing lives 20 years later.”

About Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research:
Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer among children in the United States. In 2025, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, proudly celebrates 20 years of impact, dedication and progress in the fight against childhood cancer. Rally empowers volunteers nationwide to raise awareness and funds for research to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects and, ultimately, cures. Rally received the Independent Charities Seal of Excellence and GuideStar Valued Partner seal, and according to independently audited financials’ five-year average results, 93 cents of every dollar raised supports Rally’s mission.

To learn more about Rally Foundation, visit www.rallyfoundation.org and follow Rally Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

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