Year in Review: Free competed at Augusta

Published 6:33 pm Thursday, December 29, 2016

Editor’s Note: Through Jan. 1, the Times-Journal will look back on the top sports stories of 2016. Here’s the year in review for April-June:

Wingo leaves Morgan for Leeds

Morgan Academy football coach Jake Wingo left for a job at Leeds High School.

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Wingo led the Senators to a 5-15 record in two seasons.
Free participates in Drive, Chip, Putt

Selma’s Jones Free participated in the 12 and 13-year-old portion of the Drive, Chip and Putt contest at Augusta National. Free finished eighth in the country in the boys 12-13-year old age division.

“I was just pretty excited to make it here,” Free said.
Winchester named 1A Girls POY

Keith’s Harriet Winchester was named the 1A Girls Player of the Year at the Alabama Sports Writers Association banquet in Montgomery. Keith’s John Pettway was a finalist for 1A Boys Player of the Year.
Jackson resigns from Selma High

Selma basketball coach and assistant principal Woodie Jackson resigned in April. Jackson has over 700 wins in his coaching career.
Williams selected to coach North-South All-Star game

Keith girls basketball coach Cecil Williams was selected to coach in the North-South All-Star Game in July.

Williams has led Keith to Birmingham for the AHSAA state finals three of the last four years, including a championship in 2014.
Morgan JV baseball team makes history

Morgan Academy’s junior varsity baseball team made school history in April when it won the Alabama Independent School Association’s JV championship. The Senators defeated Pike Liberal Arts 7-6 to win the title.
Morgan tennis teams finish as state runners-up

Morgan Academy’s tennis teams finished second in the Alabama Independent School Association championships. Tuscaloosa won both AISA titles.
Three Keith Bears sign to play college basketball

Keith High School celebrated three of its seniors by holding a signing day at the school. John Pettway signed with South Alabama, Harriet Winchester signed with Troy and Zykia Pettway signed with Stillman.
Johnson holds annual football, cheer camp

Michael Johnson held his seventh annual football and cheer camp in April at Memorial Stadium. Hundreds of children, many sporting Bengals hats, took part in the day.
Young Morgan golf team finishes second in AISA championship

The Morgan Academy golf team finished second to Lee-Scott in the AISA state championship tournament at Cambrian Ridge Golf Course.

The oldest player on the young Senators team was sophomore Sam Brackin.
Davis finishes second in class 3A triple jump finals

Several local athletes from numerous local schools, including Southside, Dallas County, Selma Keith and Ellwood Christian, participated in the AHSAA state track and field finals.

Southside’s Chris Davis finished second in the class 3A triple jump finals, the highest finish of any local athlete.
Meadowview wins ACAA softball championship

The Meadowview Christian softball team defeated New Life to win the Alabama Christian Athletic Association championship. The Trojans defeated New Life 8-7 to win the title.
Selma, Morgan hire new football coaches

Several new football coaches were hired across the county in May. Selma named Keon Handley as its football coach and Morgan Academy hired Josh Thacker as athletic director and football coach. Selma also named Melissa White as its athletic director.
Sansom wins Bud Burns again

Brooke Sansom from Pike Road won her third consecutive Bud Burns Dixie Junior Championship at the Selma Country Club. Riley Thrasher from Trinity won the boys title.