This past spring, as the seasons changed, it also harkened forward the Greyhounds spring sports season. In that setting, various teams strived to take a next step forward in multiple ways.
Baseball
All season long, the Greyhounds carved themselves out to be a major factor in the region race. In fact, coming to the final week of the season, Jones County was in position to claim a region runner-up finish in a highly competitive region comprised of the Greyhounds and teams from Henry County.
Taking advantage of steady pitching and timely hitting, JCHS took a step ahead from the year before, finishing third in the region, where it would end up on the road in first round at Harris County. A senior-laden team had its season come to an end. Key losses going toward next season will include Tucker Mix, Keagan Baxter and Aiden Payne as well as pitchers Quin McManmon and Landon Califf.
Boys Soccer
Under new head coach Will Cowart, the Greyhounds improved not only from the record standpoint but also found themselves being more competitive with teams in the upper reaches of the region, as well. Any team that’s looking to build success over a long stretch needs a good foundation, and the Greyhounds have both the younger players on the roster and the departing seniors. The team did just that during a campaign in which strong scoring production came from players such as Cade Jenkins.
Tennis
Jones County bid farewell to an outstanding senior class, but not before both served notice that both the Lady Greyhounds and Greyhounds would be a force to reckoned with in the region’s tennis landscape.
The Greyhounds strung together multiple match wins during the season, adding up an overall region finish of second place, which earned them a first-round home match in the state playoffs thanks to strong play in singles matches year-long by Sam Caldwell, AJ Pounds and Ethan Hill and doubles wins by the combos of Daniel Hursey and Fred Ogletree in addition to Michael Harris and JohnMack Rowland.
The Lady Greyhounds, for their part, finish third in the region, also making a return to postseason play once again led in singles matches by Rylee Veal, Haley Favors and Kaitlin Collins and Emma Randall and Anna Hill plus Sierra Hursey and Jalisa Williams in doubles matches.
Girls Soccer
The standard of success continued to be raised for the Lady Hounds, as they once again made their way to the state tournament. Using an unorthodox strategy putting high focus on the defensive end, Jones County held close with state power McIntosh in the first round where their season would come to a finish.
As their season ended, the Lady Hounds bid farewell to a senior class that has led them on and off the field over the last few years, including forwards Emily Brennaman and Reagan Hicks plus Megan Hamilton on defense and Taylor Trefelner in goal.
Gymnastics
Both in numbers and results, the season was a step forward for the Gym Hounds. Jones County was near the top finishers in a majority of meets that it entered, and Kennedie Dyer was a state qualifier.
In addition, JCHS had enough numbers this year to enter teams in varsity, JV and middle school, a surefire sign of the growth of a sport that’s been recently adopted on the high school level in recent years.
Track & Field
The Greyhounds once again made a splash on a state-wide stage. Zion Ragins repeated as state champion in the 100 meters, and he joined Javious Bond, Tyler Stewart and Ed Chester to finish second in the 4x100 and 4x200 relay events. Austin Sullivan was 14 th in the state meet to help Jones County to a tenth-place finish. The Lady Greyhounds top state finisher was Amaris Ridgeway in the triple jump, finishing fifth with Tranasia Parker 13 th in the high jump and Camryn Wommack 15 th in the 3200 meter run.
With Ragins, Stewart, Chester and Bond all returning next year, expect each of them to have eyes on a state title and Ragins setting his sights on a three-peat.
Golf
The final sport to complete in the spring, the Lady Hounds finished seventh in the state with Keegan Goins being 12 th overall. Ethan Chancey qualified individually for the state tournament as well, finishing 62 nd out of all boys in AAAAA.
