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Will Blocker with one of his two touchdowns
Photo by Kyle Thornton

2019 - The Year in Sports

By Michael Butler

There were a lot of highlights in the sports world in 2019 right here in Tallassee.

The Tallassee youth wrestling program, Talisi Wrestling Club, claimed its third straight team title at the USAW Alabama Championship in Birmingham with nine individual champions.

"We put 17 in the finals," head coach Brent Tennyson said. "Going into the finals, it was neck and neck. In the end, they pulled it off."

Tallassee edged Warrior and Ironclad in team points for the overall championship.

Tallassee's individual champions are; Landyn Woodall, Granger Barrett, Barker Davis, Jace Nabors, Land Bell, Alli Faith Smith, Sara Whatt, Jude Rogers and Aidan Cockrell.

The Tallassee basketball team reached the playoffs again but fell in the sub-regional round. The Tigers matched the record for wins in a season with 22.

Multisport athlete Kalvin Levett received a football scholarship from Tuskegee University

THS was 22-8 with a 15-game win streak over one stretch. The 1970 varsity Tigers were 22-3 reaching the semifinals and losing to Pell City. That team finished third in the state with a win over Eufaula in the consolation game.

"One loss doesn’t diminish a lot of team goals met and an exceptional season. We reached our 20-win goal. We won two tournaments and were runner-up in the third. We were ranked for most of the entire season in the ASWA poll. I feel bad today because I wanted these guys to experience region so bad. I feel a little like I let them down. I am so thankful to have coached a great group of young men that represent Tallassee well."

The Tallassee softball team broke the record for wins in a season with a 44-9 mark.

Head coach Pat Love reached 100 wins in just his third season this year.

"We had a great season," Love said. "This year will be a stepping stone for us. I'm very proud of this team and the direction they have us going. The future is bright."

A bright future indeed... Chloe Baynes was named the Freshmen Player of the Year by MaxPreps, a national website. The all-state outfielder batted .669 with 117 hits, 90 runs and 82 stolen bases.

Cochran-Gill (left) and Justiss

Two Tallassee football graduates were selected to play in the Alabama High School Athletic Association North/South All-Star Football Game at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.

Trent Cochran-Gill and Jake Justiss played on the South team that won 22-19.Cochran-Gill led all tacklers in the game with nine total, five solo.

"It's great for our school and team when we have kids that get to participate in those events," Tallassee head football coach Mike Battles said.

The Tallassee Babe Ruth all-stars 15-and-under team claimed the state championship and placed second in the regional tournament in Pine Bluff, Ark.

Tallassee went 4-2 at the Pine Bluff, Ark. regional reaching the championship. Eagle Pass knocked out the Alabama state champs 13-0.

"I'm very proud of this team for leaving it all on the field," head coach Justin Ellis said. "I hope they made the city proud. A team like this may not have the most talent in the world, but they've got desire to go out there and play baseball to win a championship. I'll take 13 kids with that attitude anyday."

Those 13 kids assembled the team all on their own.

"The great thing about this was the kids actually put this team together. You have to sign an all-star commitment form. I think we had seven, maybe eight sign," Ellis added. "Clayten Gough texted me after we decided we wouldn't have a team. 'Hey coach, if I get enough to have a team, will you coach us?' I said, 'Yes. Absolutlely.' We were able to get 13 guys."

The Year in News
The Year in Pictures