Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge boys cross country finishes second in state

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Oak Ridge Boys Cross Country 2015 State Runner-Up

The Oak Ridge High School boys cross country team finished second in Tennessee during the 2015 state Class AAA meet in Nashville on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015. (Photo by Adrian Etheridge)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 8:34 p.m.

NASHVILLE—The Oak Ridge High School boys team finished second in Tennessee during the 2015 state cross country meet in Nashville on Saturday. Brentwood finished first.

Senior Gashaw Duhamel was the top runner for Oak Ridge, the runner-up in the Division I Class AAA boys race. It was a 5,000-meter, or 5k, race. Duhamel finished 10th, with a time of 16:20.01 on the muddy course on a chilly, overcast Saturday morning.

Brentwood had two of the top three runners: sophomore Brodey Hasty, who was first with a time of 15:35.09, and junior Taylor Vroon, who finished third with a time of 15:50.85.

Oak Ridge senior Tyler Boullie was 16th, crossing the finish line at Percy Warner Park Steeplechase Course at 16:36.85.

Also in the top five for the Wildcats, meaning their scores were included in the team total, were senior Thomas Colburn, who finished 20th at 16:40.94; junior Jacob “Jake” Etheridge, who was 22nd with a time of 16:43.07; and sophomore Jose Villegas, who finished 27th at 16:45.09. [Read more…]

Dragon rally runs out of time as CHS falls to Farragut 45-39

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Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton ran out of time to complete its comeback against Farragut on Friday, but the Dragons did serve notice that they will not be rolling over for anyone as the playoffs begin Friday, November 6.

Farragut outlasted the Orange and Black 45-39.

It was Senior Night at Clinton High School, and senior quarterback Tyler Thackerson turned in another “Thackersonian” performance, accounting for 616 total yards and six touchdowns. Thackerson completed 41 of his 60 pass attempts for 538 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 78 yards rushing on 22 carries and two more scores.

All four of Thackerson’s scoring passes went to J’Quan Thomas, who caught 18 passes for 271 yards. His 18 receptions tied him for third-most in a single game in Tennessee high school football history. [Read more…]

Football playoff brackets posted: Oak Ridge plays Soddy-Daisy

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Tee Higgins and Soddy-Daisy Trojans

Oak Ridge wide receiver Tee Higgins (5), who was then a sophomore, catches a 30-yard touchdown pass over defender Christian Bell of the Soddy Daisy Trojans at 5:51 in the third quarter in the first round of the 2014 football playoffs on November 7 on Blankenship Field. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The state football playoff brackets have been posted. Oak Ridge will play Soddy-Daisy on Blankenship Field at 7 p.m. Friday, November 6.

Oak Ridge (9-1) is the number two seed in Region 3 in Class 5A, and Soddy-Daisy (7-3) is the number three seed in Region 4. The Wildcats beat the Trojans 53-28 in the first round of the 2014 playoffs after a close first half.

Here is the schedule for other Region 3-5A teams on Friday: [Read more…]

Coaches agree: Oak Ridge peaking at right time, headed into playoffs

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Oak Ridge Wildcats and Campbell County Cougars Oct. 30, 2015

The Oak Ridge Wildcats defense stifled the Campbell County Cougars’ running game on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, allowing only 33 yards rushing on Blankenship Field. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:15 a.m.

The two football coaches agreed: Oak Ridge is peaking at the right time, late in the season and headed into the playoffs.

After a decisive 62-6 win over Webb last week, the Wildcats celebrated a 45-6 rout of Campbell County on Friday on Blankenship Field. That win ensured Oak Ridge (9-1, 4-1 Region 3-5A) will play at home next week against Soddy Daisy, a Region 4 team, in the first round of the playoffs. The game starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 6, on Blankenship Field.

The Wildcats, the No. 2 seed, shut out the Cougars (5-5, 3-2) at home in the first half on Friday, October 30. The score at halftime was 45-0. Campbell County, the No. 3 seed, scored after Oak Ridge put in reserves in the second half.

“There is no doubt this is the best team we’ve played,” Campbell County Coach Justin Price said. “They’ve improved tremendously as the season went on.”

Since losing to Farragut 31-14 on September 4, Oak Ridge has outscored its opponents 327-75 in seven games. That’s an average of about 47 points per game for the Wildcats. [Read more…]

ORHS boys win Region 2 cross country championship

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ORHS Cross Country Region 2 Champions 2015

The Oak Ridge High School boys cross country team won the Region 2 championship in Knoxville on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015. (Photo courtesy ORHS Cross Country/ORHS Dance Cats)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:20 p.m.

For the second year in a row, the Oak Ridge High School boys cross country team has won the Region 2-AAA championship. The boys finished first in Knoxville on Thursday.

Oak Ridge senior Gashaw Duhamel finished first in the 5k race. Senior Tyler Boullie finished third, senior Thomas Colburn was sixth, junior Jacob Etheridge was seventh, and senior Daniel Beckett finished ninth.

Here are their times:

  • Duhamel—16:18.55 (first)
  • Boullie—16:24.13 (third)
  • Colburn—16:43.09 (sixth)
  • Etheridge—16:50.34 (seventh)
  • Beckett—16:54.68 (ninth)

Oak Ridge finished with 26 points, and the other two teams in the top three, Maryville and Hardin Valley, both finished with 72. A lower score is better.

The Oak Ridge boys team will compete in the state meet on Saturday, November 7, at Percy Warner Park Steeplechase Course in Nashville. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge ranked third in AP high school football poll

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Football Helmet

The Oak Ridge Wildcats (8-1) are ranked third in Class 5A in this week’s Associated Press high school football poll.

Coming in at the top two spots are Independence (9-0) at number one and Hendersonville (8-1) at number 2.

Oak Ridge moved up from number seven last week.

Farragut (8-1), which beat Oak Ridge 31-14 on September 4, is number four, and Sevier County (8-2), which lost to the Wildcats 44-34 on September 24, is number six. Farragut moved up from number eight last week, and Sevier County moved up from number 10.

See the complete poll results for Class 1A to Class 6A on the Tennessean website here.

Region: Farragut falls to Brentwood 3-0 in state volleyball championship

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Farragut Alexis Parker and Brentwood Volleyball Championship Oct. 23, 2015

Junior Alexis Parker (6), who had 14 kills for Farragut, spikes the ball during a 3-0 loss to Brentwood in the Class AAA state volleyball tournament in Murfreesboro on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

They battled to close finishes in two games, but Farragut fell to Brentwood 3-0 in the state volleyball Class AAA championship in Murfreesboro on Friday. It was the second time in two years that the Lady Admirals made it to the state final only to lose to the Lady Bruins.

Brentwood beat Farragut in three straight sets in Murfreesboro on Friday: 25-23, 25-16, and 27-25.

But the Lady Admirals, who are Class AAA runner-ups, fought until the end, pushing the final third set past 25 points. They occasionally took the lead and often kept the games within a few points. Brentwood won by only two points in two of the sets.

“I was proud of our girls,” Farragut Coach Susan Davidson said. [Read more…]

Volleyball: AC, OR lose in region tournament; Bearden, Farragut advance

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Lady Wildcats and Farragut Alexis Parker on Oct. 13, 2015

Alexis Parker (6) of Farragut, shown spiking the ball here, had four digs and 14 kills against Oak Ridge in a 3-0 Region 2-AAA semifinal win for the Lady Admirals at Anderson County High School on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. The Lady Admirals went on to win the region championship over Bearden 3-1, and Parker was named tournament MVP. Going for the block above are Olivia Milloway (29) and Stella Powell (16) of Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—The Anderson County and Oak Ridge girls volleyball teams were eliminated in the Region 2-AAA tournament at Anderson County High School on Tuesday, and Bearden and Farragut advanced.

The Lady Wildcats lost to Farragut in three straight semifinal games: 25-17, 25-11, and 25-12.

The Lady Mavericks lost to Bearden in three straight semifinal games as well: 25-23, 25-11, and 25-22.

Oak Ridge and Anderson County are District 3 teams in Region 2, and Bearden and Farragut are District 4.

The Lady Admirals went on to beat the Lady Bulldogs in the Region 2-AAA championship game 3-1. It was the fourth region title in a row for Farragut. Both teams advance to the state sectionals on Thursday.

Alexis Parker of Farragut, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player, had 14 kills and five digs against Oak Ridge. The Lady Admirals’ Madi Howell had nine digs, seven aces, five kills, and four blocks. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats back on ‘winning track,’ beat Catholic 2-0

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Lady Wildcats Leah Scudder and Catholic Oct. 5, 2015

Oak Ridge junior Leah Scudder (22) looks for a pass during a 2-0 win for the Lady Wildcats at home on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

After a short slump, the Oak Ridge girls soccer team got “back on the winning track” in a 2-0 win over Knoxville Catholic at home on Monday.

The Lady Wildcats (11-3, 4-1 District 3-Class AAA) scored one goal in each half. The first was by sophomore Zoe Van Hook with 3:38 remaining in the first half. She curled left from the center of the goal box and kicked the ball into the right side of the net from the left side of the box, past goalkeeper Katie Whitaker. Oak Ridge junior Olivia Hoyt got the assist on that goal.

Senior Katie Welsh scored the second goal for Oak Ridge after a corner kick by senior Ellie Brown. The ball bounced around a bit in front of the net before Welsh kicked it into the left side of the net past Catholic goalkeeper Miriam Janoyan at 12:55 in the second half.

“I think it was a good effort, back on the winning track,” Oak Ridge Coach Jeff Trombly said. [Read more…]

ORHS boys cross country wins McCallie Invitational in Chattanooga

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ORHS Boys Cross Country Team at McCallie Invitational on Sept. 26, 2015

The Oak Ridge High School boys cross country team finished first at the McCallie Invitational in Chattanooga on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. (Photo courtesy Steven D. Martin)

 

The Oak Ridge High School boys cross country team finished first at the McCallie Cross Country Invitational in Chattanooga on Saturday.

The Wildcats also had three of the top five male runners in the 5,000-meter run, or 5k.

Senior Mitchell Poynter of Tippecanoe was the top individual male runner, finishing the 5k in 15:43.57.

Senior Tyler Boullie of ORHS was 14 seconds behind him in second place, finishing the race in 15:57.96.

Boullie was followed by junior Jacob Etheridge of ORHS at 16:22.88. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge drops from top spot to No. 7 in weekly football poll

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Tee Higgins TD Catch and Farragut Admirals

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins (5) hauls in his first touchdown catch, a 37-yard reception, at 6:47 in the first quarter at Farragut on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Also pictured is Farragut defender Justin Kirkendall (3). The Admirals won 31-14. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats dropped from number one to number seven in the Associated Press’ weekly football poll in Tennessee.

The Wildcats (2-1) fell six spots in Class 5A after losing to Farragut 31-14 at Bill Clabo Field on Friday.

Sevier County (3-0), which will play Oak Ridge in Sevier County on Friday, September 24, moved up to number three from number four.

See the complete poll results as reported by the Knoxville News Sentinel here.

The Wildcats play at Anderson County at 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 11.

Wildcats Coach Joe Gaddis will discuss last week’s game and this Friday’s game during Coaches Corner at 8 p.m. today (Wednesday, September 9) at Pizza Inn in Oak Ridge.

Football photos: Oak Ridge and Farragut

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Tee Higgins TD Catch and Farragut Admirals

Oak Ridge junior receiver Tee Higgins (5) hauls in his first touchdown catch, a 37-yard reception, at 6:47 in the first quarter at Farragut on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. Also pictured is Farragut defender Justin Kirkendall (3). (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats had their first loss of the football season on Friday, falling 31-14 to the Farragut Admirals.

See a story on the game here.

Here is one set of photos by Julio Culiat. See a second set of photos here.

Tanner Thomas Farragut Admirals and Oak Ridge Wildcats

Farragut senior running back Tanner Thomas (1) had 183 yards on 23 carries against the Oak Ridge Wildcats at Bill Clabo Field on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

[Read more…]