Oak Ridge Today

Lady Wildcats roll over Central in district volleyball match; Senior Night tonight

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Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats Volleyball Timeout

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats Volleyball team during a timeout last week against Central. (Submitted photo)

 

By Head Coach Carmen Foster and Assistant Coach Greg Livengood

Last Thursday, the Oak Ridge High School Lady Wildcats and Baby Cats (as we fondly refer to our junior varsity team) took on district rival Central High School. The Lady Cats (both JV and varsity) won in straight sets.

That left both teams undefeated in the district at 6-0.

The Baby Cats came out strong and won in two straight sets: 25-7 and 25-20. [Read more…]

Today: Mutt Strutt, Treasure Hunt, Taste of Oak Ridge, Mark O’Connor concert

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There is a lot happening in Oak Ridge Today.

The events include a treasure hunt at the Oak Ridge outdoor pool on Providence Road from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., a Mutt Strutt at PetSafe Dog Park (at Big Turtle Park) from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Taste of Oak Ridge from 4-10 p.m. at the new Oak Ridge Universalist Church on Oak Ridge Turnpike, and a concert featuring Mark O’Connor and the Oak Ridge Symphony at 7:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge High School.

There’s also a pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m. at Applebee’s for ORHS Cross Country Boosters, a Community Mediation Services garage sale from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Eagle building on Oak Ridge Turnpike, and Tennessee Promise signup event for high school seniors from 10 a.m-2 p.m. at the Roane State Community College campus in Oak Ridge.

Please see the events calendar on Oak Ridge Today for more information.

Wildcats defense shines in third shutout of season

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Jaylen Nickerson and McMinn County

Junior running back Jaylen Nickerson (29) ran for two touchdowns for the Oak Ridge Wildcats at McMinn County on Friday. (Photos by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:15 a.m.

By Alex Myers

ATHENS, Tennessee—It was a beautiful night for a high school football game in McMinn County on Friday night.

Oak Ridge traveled down Interstate 75 Friday evening to face the Cherokees of McMinn County High School in Athens. Oak Ridge (4-0, 2-0 District 3-AAA) was coming off of a 42-0 win against Halls, while McMinn County (0-5, 0-1 District 5-AAA) was looking to rebound after a 32-point loss to Alcoa last week.

The Wildcats got things started quickly in the first quarter after getting on the board with a five-yard touchdown run from Jaylen Nickerson. Just minutes later shortly after a Cherokee turnover, Nickerson carried the ball in from 22 yards out for his second touchdown of the game.

With 1:39 left in the first quarter, junior quarterback Logan Fadnek connected with Jordan Dunbar to once again get the Wildcats into the end zone. At the end of the first quarter, Oak Ridge had jumped out to a 21-point lead. [Read more…]

‘Fight like Mikey’ inspires schools, community

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Information from WYSH Radio

It has been an emotional week in Oliver Springs as Norwood Middle School, Grand Oaks Elementary School, and the community have been honoring a 13-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Mikey Carter was a member of the Norwood Middle School football team, and when his teammates hosted Grace Christian Academy on Tuesday night, his younger brother Isiah was named honorary captain, allowed to wear his brother’s jersey and even scored a touchdown on a special play designed just for him. Mikey, who was a lineman for the Jaguars, is now too sick to play football and is at home in hospice care.

Tuesday night’s game also included the presentation of a check to the Carter family from Grace Christian to help with the family’s medical expenses, and both teams signed a football for the family and gave them posters of encouragement for Mikey.

The tributes did not end there, as on Wednesday, the football field at Grand Oaks Elementary School was named in his honor. If you would like to help the family offset the costs of Mikey’s care, you can donate by visiting their GoFundMe page at http://www.gofundme.com/dktqrc.

Volley ‘Cats sweep Dragons, 5-0 in district play

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Lady Wildcats Volleyball, Clinton, and Emma and Olivia Milloway

Sisters Emma and Olivia Milloway get a block for the Lady Wildcats against the Clinton Lady Dragons on Thursday. (Photos by Loren Bonds)

 

By Carmen Foster, Head Coach

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcat volleyball team took on district rival Clinton High School on Thursday night.

The Lady Wildcats beat the Lady Dragons in straight sets: 25-10, 25-22, and 25-15. They were led by seniors Rachel Card (#27), Mattie Livengood (#12), Sami Viau (#3), Emily Campbell (#30), and Rachel Loeffler (#21).

It was a well-played match, with contributions coming from all of the varsity players.

Standouts included seniors: [Read more…]

After sluggish start, Wildcats double scoring output in second half

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Malik Hardy and Halls Red Devils

Senior wide receiver Malik Hardy (15) runs for a 16-yard touchdown in the third quarter as the Wildcats beat the Halls Red Devils 42-0 in Oak Ridge on Friday. (Photos by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:35 a.m. Sept. 13.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats got off to a sluggish start in the first half on Friday, but doubled their scoring output in the second.

All of the second-half points—four touchdowns—came in the third quarter of the 42-0 win over the Halls Red Devils, the second shutout of the season for the Wildcats.

Junior running back T.J. Allison (six carries, 53 yards) rushed for three touchdowns for the Wildcats, one in the first half and two in the second.

Red Devils coach J.D. Overton said Halls is a young, inexperienced team that was playing without a half-dozen starters on Friday night at Blankenship Field in Oak Ridge. He declined to say why the players were sitting out the game. Two of those starters play offense and defense.

“They didn’t play tonight,” Overton said. “That’s all I’m going to say.” [Read more…]

ORRA hosts Learn to Row class for visually impaired, blind

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Oak Ridge Rowing Association Boathouse

The Oak Ridge Rowing Association boathouse at Melton Lake Park on the Clinch River.

The Oak Ridge Rowing Association will host a special Learn to Row class for the visually impaired and blind on Sunday, September 14.

ORRA is partnering with Visually Impaired/Blind Enhanced Services, or Club VIBES, to offer the class, which starts at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Club VIBES is a nonprofit organization with a mission to assist blind and visually impaired young people in the Knoxville area to live independent and productive lives by identifying their unique capacities and developing their individual strengths, a press release said. Club VIBES provides a free mentoring service for visually impaired or blind youth and their parents/guardians residing in or around the Knoxville area.

Twelve to 13 participants will launch on Sunday afternoon to engage in a new activity for those who have always wanted to try the sport but have not had the opportunity. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge has treasure hunt at outdoor pool on Sept. 20

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is having a treasure hunt at the outdoor pool on Saturday, September 20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hunters are invited to bring their metal detectors and search the grass areas for treasure, a press release said.

For this one-time event, the City of Oak Ridge will allow hunters to use small utensils to dig; however, no shovels will be allowed, and all removed turf must be replaced. Every hunter with a metal detector will be charged $5 to hunt.

For more information, call the Recreation and Parks Department at (865) 425-3450 or visit www.orrecparks.org.

Pancake breakfast on Sept. 20 to help ORHS Cross Country Boosters

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Oak Ridge Cross Country 2014

The Oak Ridge Cross Country team is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

A pancake breakfast at Applebee’s restaurant on Saturday, September 20, will help the Oak Ridge High School cross country team.

Tickets for the pancake breakfast are $5 per person. The breakfast is scheduled from 8-10 a.m. September 20. All proceeds go to the ORHS Cross Country Boosters, organizers said.

VolleyCats sweep Halls, 3-0 in district; play Powell, Clinton this week

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Oak Ridge High School 2014 Volleyball Closeup

The 2014-2015 Oak Ridge Wildcats Volleyball Team—front row (left to right): Samantha Mabry, Rachel Loeffler, Emily Lawless, J-J Valencia, Allison Jones; middle row (left to right): Beth Wyatt, Olivia Milloway, Reagan Dickens, Sami Viau, Mattie Livengood, Rachel Clement, Sarah Roth, Carolyn Pelfrey, and Devyn Bonds; back row (left to right): Greg Livengood (assistant coach), Emily Campbell, Rachel Card, Alex Sherles, Emma Milloway, Molly McDonough, Stella Powell, Mollie Turner, Kasey Smith, and Carmen Foster (head coach).

 

Submitted

On Tuesday, in the first district match of the season, the Oak Ridge VolleyCats clawed their way to a huge district win over Anderson County after five sets: 25-12, 18-25, 25-21, 24-26, and 15-10.

On Thursday, Oak Ridge defeated Karns in four sets: 25-20, 25-21, 21-25, and 25-16.

Then, on Monday, September 8, Oak Ridge swept Halls 25-15, 25-23, and 25-12.

The volleyball team’s district record is now 3-0, and its overall record is 14-6. [Read more…]

Water Exercise class begins September 8

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The city’s next water exercise session will start September 8 and run through October 17. These classes run in six-week sessions.

The class will meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 1-2 p.m. in the indoor pool at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The fee is $42 per person and $37.50 for anyone 65 and older for the six-week session. The rate per class is $4.25 and $2.25 for 65 and older.

For more information call the Recreation and Parks Department at (865) 425-3450 or visit www.orrecparks.org.

Updated: Oak Ridge scores six TDs in first start for Fadnek

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Shawmain Fleming and Clinton Dragons Zack Jones

Oak Ridge defenders, including nose guard Shawmain Fleming (#78), wrap up an elusive Clinton running back, junior Zack Jones (#10). (Photos by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10 p.m. Sept. 7.

CLINTON—Clinton struck first, scoring on an 80-yard touchdown pass on the opening play of the game.

But Oak Ridge answered with two touchdowns of its own. The second score, a five-yard run by junior T.J. Allison, put Oak Ridge on top 14-7 at 5:38 in the first quarter. The Wildcats never trailed again.

Four other Wildcats (2-0, 1-0 District 3-AAA) also scored touchdowns in the 44-21 win over the Dragons (1-2, 0-2), the first district game of the season for Oak Ridge, and junior Brandon Nickle added a field goal.

It was the first start for junior Wildcats quarterback Logan Fadnek. Fadnek also played last week against the Farragut Admirals, but junior Gavin Warrington started at quarterback in that game. On Friday, Fadnek completed 11 of 21 passes (52.4 percent) for 196 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions.

Sophomore wide receiver Tee Higgins had a team-high 117 yards on five catches, including a 35-yard touchdown pass lofted high in the air near the right pylon with 32 seconds left in the first quarter. Higgins, who is 6’3” and 175 pounds and also plays basketball, was second in rushing yards, picking up 33 yards on one carry. [Read more…]