Swimming

Coffee High School hosted their first-ever Region 1-AAAAA swim meet at South Georgia College in Douglas and came away with two region crowns. The Coffee girls dominated the seven-team field, amassing 91 points to Northside - Warner Robins’ 59 points.  The Coffee boys team, consisting of just seven swimmers, battled for every point they could gather and finished in a 76-76 tie with a strong Houston County team, resulting in both teams being named Co-Champion. Warner Robins High School finished third in the boys side of the meet and tied Houston for third in the girls competition. Colquitt, Tifton and Lowndes rounded out the team places. Valdosta does not have a team.

The strength of the Coffee girls was evidenced by the three relay races. Coffee took first in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays and finished second in 400 freestyle relay.  Shelby Rumker, Nicole Ricketson, Jessica Cohen, Savannah Carver and Savannah Morgan led the first place teams. Morgan, Carver, Sarabeth Hobbs and Dru Betts swam on the second place relay team.

The boys medley team of Joshua Harrell, Andrew Tanner, Allen Vickers and Rhett Musgrove took first place and also made the state qualifying time. Harrell, Vickers, Musgrove and Tyler Metts led the boys 400 freestyle relay to a second place finish.

“Our relay teams proved very decisive in the meet outcomes today,” stated swim coach CM Jenkins. “Relay points are doubled in these type competitions, and we stressed their importance all week. The kids came through with five out of the six relay teams finishing in either first or second place.”

Joshua Harrell led Coffee with two first place finishes in his individual events. Harrell swam 51.3 in the 100 freestyle and 23.0 in the 50 freestyle. Shelby Rumker earned a top spot with her 100 butterfly time of 1:06.3 and finished second in the 50 freestyle with a time of 27.4. Nicole Ricketson finished first in the 200 freestyle and second in the girls 100 backstroke.

Other podium finishers were Allen Vickers, second in 100 backstroke and third in 100 freestyle; Jessica Cohen, second in 100 freestyle and fourth in 50 freestyle; Tyler Metts, second in 200 individual medley and fourth in 100 breaststroke; Bobby Hurst, third in 100 butterfly; Savannah Morgan, third in 200 individual medley and fourth in 100 breaststroke; Sara Beth Hobbs, third in 200 freestyle; Rhett Musgrove, third in 200 freestyle and fourth in 100 backstroke; and Andrew Tanner, third in 100 breaststroke.  Also earning points for the Coffee swimmers in individual events were Savannah Carver, Aaron Hurst and Dru Betts.

“Booker T. Washington said, ‘Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work,’ “quoted head swim coach Barbara Joiner. “These kids worked extremely hard this season, overcame some team setbacks and still managed to win their school two region championships. Coach Jenkins and I are extremely proud of them.”

Coffee will take ten state qualifiers to the GHSA state high school swim meet on February 11 in Atlanta.

Coffee High Hosts Baseball Showcase

The Coffee High baseball program hosted the 2009 South Georgia Instructional Showcase on November 7-8 at Coffee High's Charles Wilson Field in Douglas.  Over 70 college prospects from around the state attended the event and were both instructed and evaluated by nearly 20 college coaches and scouts.

Athletes were instructed in the areas of pitching, hitting, catching, infield play and outfield play in the morning.  After a recruiting question and answer session and lunch, the athletes were evaluated through a professional style workout.

The coaching staff for the event was highlighted by legendary Mississippi State University baseball coach Ron Polk, the winningest coach in the history of the Southeastern Conference and seventh all-time on the NCAA career head coaching wins list with 1,373.  He is also the author of "The Baseball Playbook," the nation's leading college textbook for baseball.  Coach Polk retired from MSU in 2008 and is entering his second season with the University of Alabama-Birmingham baseball program as a volunteer assistant coach.