Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge junior has top discus throw in state

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Oak Ridge High School junior Erin Van Berkel throws the disc 120 feet and 10 inches in a track and field meet at Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. That's the top discus throw among high school girls in Tennessee this year. (Photo by ORHS Track Fan)

Oak Ridge High School junior Erin Van Berkel throws the disc 120 feet and 10 inches in a track and field meet at Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. That’s the top discus throw among high school girls in Tennessee this year. (Photo by ORHS Track Fan)

 

Oak Ridge High School junior Erin Van Berkel threw a disc 120 feet and 10 inches in a track and field meet at Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday. That’s the top discus throw among high school girls in Tennessee this year.

Van Berkel had been ranked number three in the state going into Tuesday’s meet, said Luke Hadden, Oak Ridge throw coach. The top two had been girls at Alvin C. York and Jefferson County, and they had throws of about 116 feet and 113 feet.

Van Berkel’s throw is the farthest throw by an Oak Ridge athlete in a long time, said Allen Etheridge, Oak Ridge track coach. The school record of 128 feet and 8 inches was set by Sarah Gundlach in 1978.

Van Berkel beat her previous meet best by about eight feet on Tuesday.

“It was a great throw,” Etheridge said. “It was brilliant.” [Read more…]

Nine Wildcats score in 49-3 homecoming win over Karns

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Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Kai'Reese Pendergrass (12) is tackled by Karns sophomore Trey Hawkins (7) during a 49-3 homecoming win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. Also pictured are Oak Ridge seniors Jaycen McGhee (6) and Johnny Stewart (2). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Kai’Reese Pendergrass (12) is tackled by Karns sophomore Trey Hawkins (7) during a 49-3 homecoming win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. Also pictured are Oak Ridge seniors Jaycen McGhee (6) and Johnny Stewart (2). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Nine Oak Ridge Wildcats scored in a 49-3 rout of Karns in the homecoming football game on Blankenship Field on Friday.

Seven different Wildcats scored touchdowns, and two kickers added extra points.

It was the third region win for Oak Ridge (5-2, 3-0 Region 3-5A) and the third straight win for the Wildcats.

The three remaining regular-season games are all region games:

  • Clinton (2-4, 0-2) at home on Friday, October 13;
  • at Powell (5-2, 2-2) on Friday, October 20; and
  • at Fulton (5-1, 2-0) on Friday, October 27.

The Wildcats do not play this coming week.

Oak Ridge finished with a season-high 324 yards rushing on 33 carries and five touchdowns on Friday. The previous high was 112 yards rushing against Farragut on September 8. That was the only other time this season that the Wildcats have had more than 100 yards rushing in a game. [Read more…]

Football: Wildcats improve to 4-2 with win over Sevier County

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Oak Ridge senior linebacker Adarius Simpson (24) makes a tackle against West at home on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. In the background is senior linebacker Cobe Angel (22). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior linebacker Adarius Simpson (24) makes a tackle against West at home on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. In the background is senior linebacker Cobe Angel (22). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats improved to 4-2 for the season with a 30-14 win over Sevier County at home on Blankenship Field on Friday.

The Wildcats are now 2-0 in Region 3-5A. Their remaining four games are all region games.

After their season-opening win at home against Hardin Valley, the Wildcats:

  • lost 28-25 in a non-region game at Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport on August 25,
  • won 17-15 in their first region game at Campbell County on September 1,
  • were shut out 41-0 at Farraugt, a non-region opponent, on September 8, and
  • won their second region game, 23-13, over West at home on September 15.

The win over Sevier County this past Friday night was the second straight win for the Wildcats.

Here are the four games remaining, all Region 3-5A games:

  • at home against Karns (2-4, 0-3) on Friday, September 29;
  • at home against Clinton (2-3, 0-1) on Friday, October 13;
  • at Powell (5-1, 2-1) on Friday, October 20; and
  • at Fulton (4-1, 2-0) on Friday, October 27.

All games start at 7:30 p.m.

Here are highlights of the season so far: [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge-West

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Oak Ridge junior defensive back Herbert Booker (13) tackles West junior wide receiver Jackson Snodgrass (11) on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge junior defensive back Herbert Booker (13) tackles West junior wide receiver Jackson Snodgrass (11) on Blankenship Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Here are photos by Luther Simmons from the Oak Ridge football game at home on Blankenship Field against West on Friday, September 15. Oak Ridge won 23-13. It was the third win of the season, out of five games total, and the second region win of two played. [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge-Farragut

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Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Kai'Reese Pendergrass (12) is pictured above at Farragut on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge junior wide receiver Kai’Reese Pendergrass (12) is pictured above at Farragut on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Here are photos by Luther Simmons from the Oak Ridge football game at Farragut on Friday, September 8. Oak Ridge was shut out 41-0. It was the third non-region game and the fourth game of the season. [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge vs. Dobyns-Bennett

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Pictured above is Oak Ridge senior quarterback Johnny Stewart (2) at Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017. (Photo by Allen Greene Photography)

Pictured above is Oak Ridge senior quarterback Johnny Stewart (2) at Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017. (Photo by Allen Greene Photography)

 

Here are photos by Allen Greene Photography from the Oak Ridge and Dobyns-Bennett football game in Kingsport on Friday, August 25. Oak Ridge lost 28-25 in this non-region game, the second of the season. [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge-Hardin Valley

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Hardin Valley defenders tackle Oak Ridge senior running back Adarius Simpson (24) during a 21-20 win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Hardin Valley defenders tackle Oak Ridge senior running back Adarius Simpson (24) during a 21-20 win for the Wildcats on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats won a close one-point game against Hardin Valley Academy on Friday night when the Hawks missed an extra point with 21.5 seconds left in the season opener. Here are photos from the 21-20 win by John Huotari. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge boys finish ninth in state 4×800 meter relay

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Oak Ridge senior Jake Etheridge raced in the 1,600 meter run and was part of the 4x800 meter relay team at the 2017 TSSAA Boys' State Track Championships at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Friday, May 26, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

Oak Ridge senior Jake Etheridge finished 12th in the 1,600 meter run and was part of the 4×800 meter relay team that finished ninth at the 2017 TSSAA Boys’ State Track Championships at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Friday, May 26, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

MURFREESBORO—The Oak Ridge boys 4×800 meter relay team finished ninth in the state track meet in Murfreesboro on Friday.

The boys 4×800 meter relay team includes senior Jake Etheridge and juniors Reid Dukes, Will Jeter, and Jose Villegas. They finished ninth in a field of 16 teams with a time of 8:14.63. Houston finished first with a time of 7:58.51. Blackman (8:03.53) and Daniel Boone (8:06.03) had the other top three finishes.

Hardin Valley Academy was sixth in the 4×800 meter relay with a time of 8:11.29, while Farragut finished 12th at 8:33.98.

The 2017 TSSAA Boys’ Track State Championships were at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro on Friday.

Etheridge also raced in the boys 1,600 meter run, where he finished 12th with a time of 4:39.27. He finished just ahead of senior Brennan Humphreys of Hardin Valley, who crossed the finish line at 4:41.91. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge girls finish ninth in state 4×800 meter relay

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Oak Ridge junior Genevieve Schwartz competed in the 4x800 meter relay at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Thursday, May 25, 2017, when the girls finished ninth out of 16 teams. Schwartz also competed in the 3,200 meter run, where she finished 15th. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

Oak Ridge junior Genevieve Schwartz competed as part of the 4×800 meter relay at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Thursday, May 25, 2017, when the girls finished ninth out of 16 teams. Schwartz also competed in the 3,200 meter run, where she finished 15th. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

MURFREESBORO—The Oak Ridge girls 4×800 meter relay team finished ninth in the state track meet in Murfreesboro on Thursday.

The team includes senior Abbey Greenhalgh, junior Genevieve Schwartz, and freshmen Rebecca Joyal and Muskaan Vohra.

The team finished ninth in a field of 16 teams with a time of 10:02.58.

The top three teams in the girls’ 4×800-meter relay were West (of Knoxville), Brentwood (of the Nashville area), and Hardin Valley Academy. West finished first with a time of 9:30.90.

The 2017 TSSAA Girls’ Track State Championships were at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro on Thursday.

In a second event, another Oak Ridge girls team finished 12th in the 4×200 meter relay. That team includes senior Breanne Young, junior Desiree Bates, sophomore Makiya Garrett, and junior Shatyrah Copeland. Their time was 1:47.72. The first-place team, Whitehaven, had a time of 1:41.44. [Read more…]

Thirteen Wildcats qualify for state track meet in seven events

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Pictured above is the Oak Ridge boys 4x800-meter relay team, which qualified for the 2017 TSSAA State Track Meet during the Class AAA Section 1 Finals at Hardin Valley Academy on Saturday, May 13, 2017. From left are junior Reid Dukes, senior Jake Etheridge, and juniors Jose Villegas and Will Jeter. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Pictured above is the Oak Ridge boys 4×800-meter relay team, which qualified for the 2017 TSSAA State Track Meet during the Class AAA Section 1 Finals at Hardin Valley Academy on Saturday, May 13, 2017. From left are junior Reid Dukes, senior Jake Etheridge, and juniors Jose Villegas and Will Jeter. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1 p.m. May 14.

HARDIN VALLEY—The Oak Ridge track and field team had 13 athletes qualify for seven events in the state track meet during the Class AAA Section 1 Finals at Hardin Valley on Saturday.

The seven events included three relays, three runs, and the 100-meter dash.

Here’s who qualified:

  • Girls 4×200-meter relay—senior Breanne Young, junior Desiree Bates, sophomore Makiya Garrett, and junior Shatyrah Copeland (4th with a time of 1:45.22);
  • Girls 4×800-meter relay—senior Abbey Greenhalgh, junior Genevieve Schwartz, and freshmen Rebecca Joyal and Muskaan Vohra (4th with a time of 9:53.08);
  • Girls 3,200-meter run—Schwartz (4th with a time of 12:02.05);
  • Boys 4×800-meter relay—senior Jake Etheridge and juniors Reid Dukes, Will Jeter, and Jose Villegas (3rd with a time of 8:06.50);
  • Boys 1,600-meter run—Etheridge (3rd with a time of 4:33.87);
  • Boys 3,200-meter run—Etheridge (4th with a time of 9:55.97); and
  • Boys 100-meter dash—sophomore Jordan Graham (4th with a time of 11.53).

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge shuts out Campbell County to win region championship, secure home-field advantage

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Oak Ridge sophomore Tre Jackson (6) ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns during a 28-0 region championship win at Campbell County on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

JACKSBORO—Oak Ridge won the regional championship and secured home-field advantage to start the playoffs with a 28-0 win at Campbell County on Thursday.

The Thursday night shutout win followed two disappointing losses this month, one at McMinn County and the other at Webb. Both games were decided by four points or less.

After giving up 393 yards at Webb a week earlier, the Wildcats (8-2, 5-0 Region 3-5A) held the Cougars to 183 yards of total offense in the regular-season finale on Thursday.

The defense played great, Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis said.

“Nobody has really shut them down like we did tonight, and no one has come close to shutting them out,” Gaddis said. “Tonight, we were ready to play.” [Read more…]

McMinn County gives Oak Ridge first loss, 28-24

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Note: This story was updated at 1:55 a.m

ATHENS—When the Oak Ridge Wildcats traveled to Athens on Friday night to face McMinn County, despite the Cherokees’ impressive 5-1 record, they probably were not expecting a loss.

But that’s exactly what happened, as the two teams swapped leads throughout the contest, and the Cherokees just barely escaped with the win, 28-24.

“They whipped us,” Oak Ridge head coach Joe Gaddis said. “To their credit, they whipped us. And I think they whipped us on both sides of the ball.”

McMinn County burned seven minutes and 20 seconds off the clock on their first offensive possession, with all but one of the plays designed runs, and concluded the drive with a Zane Byas touchdown carry to put the Cherokees ahead 7-0. [Read more…]