Greenbrier, Lakeside placed among states top 10 programs

Lakeside and Greenbrier each have a distinction they can share; they are among the top 10 high school athletic programs in the state.

Both high schools placed in the top 10 in the Class AAAA Director's Cup, an award given to the top program in each classification in the state.

The Georgia Athletic Directors Association awards points to individual schools throughout the year based on the schools' standings in each sport. Each school receives points for outstanding seasons in each team sport. For example, state team champions are awarded 100 points and runners-up receive 80 points, down to 10 points for teams that finished 17-32.

Some sports, such as riflery, have different scoring systems because not every school offers all sports. Individual accolades are not included in the Director's Cup.

"You are happy anytime someone says your athletic department is among the best in the state."

Mickey Derrick, Greenbrier athletic director

Greenbrier finished seventh overall (out of 82 schools) with Lakeside right behind in eighth. Greenbrier finished sixth in girls' sports and Lakeside came in seventh. Lakeside finished 10th in boy's sports and Greenbrier followed in 14th place.

Marist won the Class AAAA overall title, with Woodward following in second. A third private school, St. Pius X, finished fifth.

"I am very pleased with our ranking,' said Lakeside athletic director Randy Hill. "If you take away the private schools, we are right up at the top."

Greenbrier's 430 points and Lakeside's 400 were good enough for first and second place, respectively, in Region 3. The next closest school was Statesboro, with 230 points.

"You are happy anytime someone says your athletic department is among the best in the state," said Greenbrier athletic director Mickey Derrick.

Greenbrier received 60 points from each of its final four finishing teams in baseball, girls' track and fast-pitch softball.

Lakeside received 80 points from the girls' soccer team that finished second in the state, and 60 more from boys' golf.

Evans High finished 25th (out of 88) in Class AAAAA. The Knights finished 18th in the boys' standings and 33rd in the girls'. They also finished fourth in Region 7, behind Redan, Lakeside-DeKalb and Stephenson.

The Knights received 40-point efforts from boys' golf and boys' swimming.

Harlem finished 41st (out of 64) in Class AAA. The boys' teams finished 43rd and the girls' came in 33rd. Harlem's 110 points came in fifth in Region 3, behind Academy of Richmond County, Westside, Washington County and Jefferson County.

Harlem's highest scorer was the girls' soccer team which garnered 40 points.