Evans teams finally have their day
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Evans' Cheng Ho charges through the Harlem defense for a long gain in the first half against Harlem in Harlem. The two schools hadn't met on the field since 1984
Photo by Jim Blaylock
The senior class at Evans has a long list of achievements to remember after the 2004-05 school year.
Bolstered by a strong senior class and a return to Class AAAA, Evans had its best seasons in recent memory in baseball, boys soccer, girls soccer and football.
The baseball team, which had seven senior starters, made it to the state semifinals before falling to top-ranked Lee County in Leesburg on Memorial Day. The Knights became even more popular with their die-hard fans after late-inning heroics helped Evans beat Hardaway and Etowah in the second and third round, respectively, of the playoffs.
The senior-laden football team made its first trip to the state playoffs since 2000 after a third-place finish in Region 2-AAAA. The Knights lost to Creekside, 34-6, but Brad Freeman, Cheng Ho and Ryan Crislip were named as Columbia County Players of the Year.
Evans' boys and girls soccer teams both had the best seasons in recent memory.
Evans' Ryan Crislip moves the ball with pressure from Whitewater's Daniel Higginbotham.
Photo by Chris Thelen
The Lady Knights (12-3-1) had the best record in school history but lost in the first round to Whitewater. The team looks to be in good hands with freshman Tarah Henderson as one of the top goal-scorers in the county.
The Evans boys made their first trip to the state semifinals after beating Whitewater, Eagle's Landing and Etowah. The Knights later lost to Woodward Academy, the eventual state champions.
Evans also had banner years in other sports.
The swim teams both finished eighth in the state, with Martin Kata finishing second in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events.
C.J. Hendry finished fifth in the 100-meter butterfly and sixth in the 100-meter backstroke for the girls team.
Softball coach Colette Cassedy won her 300th game at Evans and the Lady Knights advanced to the state sectionals.
C.J. Hendry, of Evans High School, swims the backstroke in the first heat of the girls 200-meter medley relay during the CSRA Swimming Championships at the Augusta Aquatic Center.
Photo by Kevin Martin
All-County selections Cayla Hale and Brittani Turner led the Knights into the sectionals, but Evans lost to Elite Eight finalists Northgate and Stockbridge.
The boys basketball team went from being winless in their region two seasons ago to winning three of seven regional games and finishing fifth in the region. The Knights won the Columbia County Christmas Tournament and beat playoff-bound Greenbrier twice during the season.
Both the girls and boys tennis teams lost in the first round of the state playoffs.
The Evans golf team won the region championship, as did Alex Lochern in the 125-pound weight class in wrestling.
Evans' baseball team celebrates on the field after defeating Etowah in the ninth inning to advance to the state semifinals.
Photo by Jim Blaylock