The sports year in review
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Olympic shot-putter Reese Hoffa, a Lakeside graduate, practices on the University of Georgia campus. He competed at the Summer Games in Athens, Greece, in August.
Special photo
Columbia County sports went global in 2004.
The county's six schools have traditionally excelled throughout the state, and many of the county's athletes have succeeded when they have traveled to competitions throughout the nation.
But in 2004, Columbia County sports met Athens, Greece.
The county's most famous athlete - at least for the summer - was Reese Hoffa, who took the hopes of a community and the dreams of a young man to Athens for the 2004 Summer Olympics. The Lakeside graduate qualified for the Summer Games in August, when he finished second in shot put at the United States Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif.
Hoffa traveled to the birthplace of the Olympics and competed at Olympia, the site of the original games. Hoffa's bid for a medal came up short, but his accomplishments were just one of many for Columbia County in 2004.
Augusta Christian cross country runners Rebekah (left) and Sarah Madebach both won state titles and helped lead the girls track team to the state title.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Champions
It was a year of great success for many Columbia County teams and athletes. Championship gold started flowing in February, when Evans' swimmer Christian Kata won the state championship in the 50 freestyle. Kata signed with South Carolina and hopes to add championships there, while brother Martin, a sophomore at Evans, hopes to follow his brother's legacy.
Greenbrier's Wesley Merriweather won a state championship in weight-lifting at the state competition in March.
Individual state titles were plentiful in May.
Eve Machovec, of Augusta Christian, won state titles in the shot put and discus.
Her teammates, Sarah and Rebekah Madebach, closed their careers with state titles. Rebekah won the 800 and 3200 meters state championships, while Sarah won the 1600 meters. Their performances helped Augusta Christian take home the state title in girls track and field.
Greenbrier senior Kristan Glover was named State Pitcher of the Year and became the first in state history to win 100 games and post 1,000 strikeouts in a career.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Greenbrier's girls 4x100 team of Alisha Simmons, Renee Jones, April Bennet and Melisa Butler won the state championship.
Augusta Prep girls cross country won the state championship in October, while Greenbrier's Tyler Warren became the first in school history to win the individual state cross country title.
The county's lone state title in a true team sport came in October when the Greenbrier softball team won its first state title.
The team netted a number of accomplishments along the state title run. Greenbrier won its ninth straight region title - also accomplishing the same feat in cross country - and made it to the state finals in Columbus for the sixth time.
Coach Garrett Black was named State Coach of the Year and Brittany Leverett, Kristan Glover, Tiffany Blackburn and Courtney McCladdie made the All-State team (Harlem's Amber Klein made Class AAA All State). Four others made All State second team.
Lakeside's Caitilin Clark (left) and Marist's Nikki Carlson collided as they competed for control of the ball during state championship soccer action at Lakeside High School. Marist defeated Lakeside.
Photo by Michael Holahan
Glover was named State Pitcher of the Year and became the first player in state history to win 100 games and post 1,000 strikeouts in a career.
Close calls
Although they didn't win titles, a number of teams posted unforgettable seasons.
The Lakeside girls soccer team battled through the state playoffs in a sport dominated by private schools, getting all the way to the state championship before falling at home to Marist.
The Greenbrier baseball team lost to Columbus, which was ranked No. 2 by USA Today.
The Wolfpack led in both games of the double header but came up short.
Augusta Prep volleyball finished fourth in the Georgia Independent Schools Association playoffs, coming in behind three teams that the Lady Cavaliers beat during the regular season. Garrett Black's girls basketball team at Greenbrier fell one game short of the playoffs, losing to Burke County. A win would have given the Wolfpack its first postseason berth in school history for girls or boys basketball.
Evans' Brad Freeman crosses the goal line as Greenbrier's Bryan Sangster (No. 6) and Brent Johnson (63) bring him down. The Knights made their first playoff appearance since 2000, but lost 34-6 in the first round to Creekside.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Football moments
As always the case in the county, the 2004 football season had its share of memorable moments.
Evans was the big winner in the county in 2004, beating all three county public schools to win the unofficial county championship. The Knights also made their first playoff appearance since 2000, but lost 34-6 in the first round to Creekside.
Augusta Christian made its ninth straight playoff appearance but also lost in the first round.
Harlem's "Midnight Madness" got the season under way in late July, but the Bulldogs' best moment was when Jeremy Larson returned two kickoffs and one interception for touchdowns against Hancock Central.
Greenbrier's Michael Newman pitched against the North Forsyth Raiders during the state playoff game at the Brierpatch.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Lakeside's season might not have been the best in school history, but it had its share of highlights.
The Panthers beat Westside in triple overtime in the best game of 2004, and upset Jefferson County later in the season. The Panthers also led both Greenbrier and Evans in the fourth quarter but lost both games.
Greenbrier's Reggie Rice ran for three touchdowns in the second half to propel the Wolfpack over Lakeside, and Evans kicker Reid Tankersley made a game-winning field goal to sink the Panthers.
Evans also met up with Effingham County for the first time since 1987, when the Knights had to forfeit in the playoffs after officials discovered the coach used a hidden headset radio to communicate with the quarterback.
Individual achievements
Rashad Dunn (Greenbrier) and Tim Camp (Harlem) signed Division I football scholarships on National Signing Day in February with Iowa and Air Force, respectively.
Former Greenbrier star Bradley Key was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds out of USC Aiken in June. Greenbrier's Ryan Bowers was drafted by Grand Rapids of the Arena Football League in October.
Evans softball coach Colette Cassedy picked up her 300th career victory this season.
Greenbrier's Tyler Warren won the state cross country championship.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Former Harlem pitcher Johnny Dobbs and Greenbrier's Chad Thornhill played for UGA in the College World Series.
Coaching icon Terry Holder returned to coach junior varsity football at Thomson High. Holder retired in 1999 after winning eight state baseball titles at Evans and Greenbrier high schools.
Noteworthy
Evans joined Greenbrier and Lakeside in Class 2-AAAA, re-creating the county rivalry between the schools.
Augusta Christian moved to the South Carolina Independent Schools Association.
All of the public school soccer and baseball programs made the playoffs in 2004, including a Harlem baseball team that had only 11 players.