CANTON - Warriors Retire Matt Blaylock’s Jersey

This past Friday night, the Cherokee High Warriors retired Matt Blaylock’s jersey. Blaylock is paralyzed below the neck from a swimming accident last spring, the night before his graduation. The school and community made Friday night’s game a fundraiser for Blaylock, whose biggest need is a handicapped-accessible van.

DECATUR

With sixteen starters and forty seniors back for the 2009 season at Southwest DeKalb High, this group believes in sticking together like a family. Coach Buck Godfrey refers to his team as his “Band of Brothers,” a group he no doubt would like to see end their high school careers at the Georgia Dome in December.

WARNER ROBINS

Warner Robins High senior Jeffrey Whitaker is rated nationally as one of the top thirty defensive linemen in the country. We recognize Whitaker as this week’s “Cream of the Crop,” our look at one of Georgia’s senior football standouts.

ATLANTA

Both the boys and girls cross country team at Lakeside High finished 3rd at the 2008 State Class AAAA championship. Sophomore Meghan Wetterhall and junior John Ewing led the way for the Vikings, a determined group looking to place higher at state this season.

MARIETTA – Two-Time State Champs

We visit with the newspaper team at Pope High. For two consecutive years, The Greyhound Tracks have been recognized as the best high school paper in the state with junior Jessica Hale receiving two awards for excellence—one for photography and one for sports writing.

ALBANY

Albany High senior Jarvis Hicks is a three-sport athlete who loves animals, sports and school. In between playing and practicing sports, Hicks works for his local veterinarian while maintaining an outstanding 3.7 GPA. We recognize Hicks as this week’s “Academic Athlete of the Week.”