January
Bulldogs Head Coach Mark Loudermilk earned the Rome News-Tribune Coach of the Year Award after guiding Cedartown from an 0-10 2007 football record to a 5-6 2008 record, which included a trip to the Class AAA state playoffs.
Also, football players Van Hunt and Cortney Buffington were named to the Rome News-Tribune All-Area Offensive First Team while B.J. Moore and Demetrius Green were Honorable Mention for offense and Darius Green was Honorable Mention for defense.
January was also the month that the Polk County Youth Baseball League, a Dizzy Dean affiliate, began their first-ever sign-ups in Cedartown.
High Schools in Georgia also found out that majority of them would be competing in sub-regions under the new two-year region alignments, including Cedartown.
February
This was the month that the Bulldogs varsity basketball team stole the spotlight. Benji Frazier, in his first-year as coach, guided Cedartown to a 57-52 win over Carrollton, their first victory over the Trojans since January of 2006. Frazier’s team defeated Cartersville, the future Region 6-AAA champs, 75-55 in their very next game.
Later that month, the Bulldogs beat Cass 75-56 to qualify for the Class AAA state playoffs. The Bulldogs lost in the opening round to traditional state powerhouse Hart County 89-87 in overtime.
Also during February, Cody Mesta, Blake Oxenreider, Bradley Wheeler, Leo Cordero and Richard Anderande won middle school championships in wrestling for Cedartown. On the varsity wrestling scene, Mikey Warner and Koran Dyer qualifed for the state wrestling tournament.
Maddie Woodhouse also picked up an honor this month, placing on the All-Tournament basketball team at the JVIT tournament at Cass High School.
March
After starting the season 0-4, the Bulldogs baseball team defeated their rivals Pepperell 8-2 to pick up their first win of the season. Chase Patterson was the hero, hitting a three-run home run to give Cedartown the lead for good.
The Lady Bulldogs tennis team was recognized for their early season success this month, getting ranked No. 10 in the Class AAA state polls. Cedartown was 4-0 in the region at the time of their ranking.
Brandon Brown, who averaged 20 points and six rebounds a game for the Bulldogs basketball team, made the Rome News-Tribune All-Area First Team. James Smith earned Honorable Mention honors as did Lydia Elkins and Kirstin Prescott for the girls team.
The new Dizzy Dean League in Cedartown held Opening Day, with 14 games being played.
April
Warner and Dyer, who made state for the Bulldogs wrestling team, were honored for their big seasons as they were named to the Rome News-Tribune All-Area Honorable Mention team.
Michael Atwater, the President of the Panthers travel football team, organized the first-ever Northwest Georgia Basketball Showcase this month and it was played in Cedartown. It featured the best high school basketball players in northwest Georgia.
Doc Ayers, a living legend in these parts, was inducted into the Piedmont College Hall of Fame. Also, the Cedartown boys tennis team won twice at the Region 6-AAA tournament to qualify for the state playoffs.
The football team placed third at the Advance Rehabilitation Football Combine with Brown winning the individual championship.
May
Highlighting this month was Lacee Landrum, a softball player, signing with Gordon College.
The Bulldogs football team, fresh off their strong showing at the combine, had 70 players dress out for spring practice.
Mikayla Wilson of Cedartown won the 13-and-14-year-old AAU state championship in gymnastics in Cobb County.
The Diamond ’Dogs, a 7-year-old baseball team from Cedartown, won first place in the Rome Dizzy Dean League.
The 17th annual Doc Ayers/Ray Beck Celebrity Golf Tournament was held.
June
As summer entered into the picture, Hunt received one more award for his high school career. The athletic, versatile player was named to the Rome News-Tribune All-Area First Team for baseball. Cory Pucket earned Honorable Mention honors.
Ralph Terry, a former Major League Baseball player, and Cliff Richey, a former Tennis pro, visited Polk County and gave speeches and clinics.
Over 300 kids participated in the annual Polk County Kids Fishing Rodeo.
Rockmart’s Jeff Bailey caught Chipper Jones 400th home run ball.
Beau Gammage of Cedartown made Team Atlanta to compete in the Atlanta-Kauai Team Challenge in golf.
July
The Diamond ’Dogs, a 7-year-old Dizzy Dean team from Cedartown that competed in the Rome league, qualified for the Dizzy Dean state tournament by placing fifth out of 11 teams at district.
Caroline Williams, a Rockmart High grad, hosted her second annual basketball camps for all children.
The Bulldogs wrestling team placed second in a week-long wrestling camp at LaGrange.
Polk County Youth Baseball hosted the 9-year-old ‘A’ state tournament, with 16 teams competing.
The Cedartown Recreation Department’s 10-and-under softball team not only made the state tournament, but placed second overall.
A Recreation Advisory Board was built by Scotty Tillery to help the Recreation Department.
August
Three Cedartown football players – Darius Green, Demetrius Green, Brown – were named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Top 150 players in Georgia list.
The Bulldogs football team defeated Rockmart 21-12 in the Battle of Polk County in front of an over-flowing crowd. It was Cedartown’s first win in the rivalry since 1999.
An Adventure League for special need kids was formed, giving them a place to play baseball.
The Cedartown volleyball team placed second in the At the Rock volleyball tournament in Rockmart. Nedra Wofford, Jessica Hall and Maddie Woodhouse made the All-Tournament team.
September
Cedartown’s fast-pitch softball team finished second at the Hurricane Invitational Labor Day tournament.
The newly formed Adventure League teamed up with the Little League Challenger League and held Opening Day in Rockmart.
The Lady Bulldogs fast-pitch softball team won the gold bracket at the Lady Tiger Town Classic in Adairsville.
Thanks to their success, Cedartown was briefly ranked No. 10 in the state rankings.
Trevor Cox, a 16-year-old tenth-grader from Rockmart, approached the Polk County School Board about allowing archery at Rockmart High.
Kevin Bullard appeared on “Big Shots – Titans at the Tee” on the Speed Network. Bullard, who competes in long-drive golf tournaments across America, was able to go against NASCAR drivers as well as some of the best long-drivers on tour.
October
The Cedartown Middle School softball team finished in second place at their end of the year District tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs varsity fast-pitch softball team won enough games at the Region 6-AAA tournament to qualify for Sectionals. Cedartown went 2-2 at Sectionals before being eliminated.
For the first time since the season-opener, the Cedartown football team won a game, this time defeating Haralson County 35-20.
Coming off that victory, Cedartown marched into Cartersville and won easily, 35-14, to put them in the sub-region championship game against Carrollton. The Bulldogs lost the title game to the Trojans, 21-7.
November
The Cedartown High competition cheerleaders placed third at the Region 6-AAA tournament and advanced to Sectionals.
Chan Borders, a freshman, came in to play after starting quarterback Hayden Privett went down with an injury against LFO in the final game of the year. Borders completed 6-of-8 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another as Cedartown won, 34-19.
Jolie Mason, Kristen Little and Prescott made the Rome News-Tribune All-Area Softball Team. Rebecca Roberts and Holly Moore made the Second Team while Kayci McGee, Katie Brown and Kristen Agan earned Honorable Mention honors.
The Panthers 5-and-6-year-old team, that competes in the West Georgia Youth Football League, won an exciting playoff game over Bill Arp, 18-13, to advance to the championship contest.
Jeff Collier takes over the Cedartown wrestling program.
Haley Holder, age nine, placed third at the Candy Cane Invitational, an AAU Level 2 event, despite having only six fingers.
December
The Bulldogs wrestling team won their home opener, defeating Coosa 60-24 and Armuchee 63-18.
On Dec. 6 the Lady Bulldogs basketball team beats LaFayette 66-62 at home. It is the Cedartown girls first home win since Jan. 26, 2007.
Little and Prescott were honored again for their fast-pitch softball season, this time making the GACA coaches Class AAA All-State Honorable Mention squad.
The Cedartown boys basketball team lost their season-opener and then reeled off seven straight wins before falling to Cass, a Class AAAA school, in the Century Bank Holiday Hoopfest tournament.
Cedartown lost the game with their star player, Brown, out due to him participating in the GACA North-South All-Star football game in Columbus.
Loudermilk, Cedartown’s Head Coach in football, was an assistant coach for the North team during the all-star contest.
Post a Comment