Blythewood Online 691

Category: Schools

  • Defending Champs clip the Eagles

    Noah Edwards (20) comes in as a courtesy runner, and slides in past a close tag at home. Photo/ Martha Ladd

    WINNSBORO – Richard Winn baseball was eliminated from SCISA State title contention Wednesday after a 14-4 loss in the second game of their series with the Holly Hill Raiders. Holly Hill, last year’s SCISA Class A baseball champions, won game one 11-1 on Tuesday.

    “Holly Hill is a team that’s won back to back state championships,” Richard Winn head coach Paul Brigman said. “They were the number one seed this year so they’re clearly the best team in 1-A. They got a really good program. That program has been really strong for several years.”

    Despite the final score, the game stayed interesting up through the first few innings, and Richard Winn even held the early lead. After Holly Hill was shut down in the top of the first, the Eagles put up a score on a Bryant Carvalho RBI-single that scored Brandon Miller, who was hit in the head by a pitch.

    The Raiders did not wait long to tie the contest back up at one. Josh Siau got on base due to an Eagles’ fielding error, and after a stolen base and sacrifice bunt, Siau ended up on third with just one out. Dylan Hill dribbled a ground ball for the second out, but in the process brought Siau home. In the third, Hank Avinger and John Brown also knocked in ground-out RBIs for the Raiders to go along with two errors and another run scored.

    After the three-run third inning, Holly Hill took a 4-1 lead, but it was short-lived because the Eagles charged back in the bottom half of the third. Chris Christianson led the surge with a base-knock to begin the inning.
    Bryant Carvalho reached on first on an error, and a pitch that went to the back-stop scored Christianson and Carvalho made his way over to third base. Jimmy McKeown followed Carvalho and delivered a big RBI single.

    Later in the third, Peyton Gilbert jolted another RBI single out to left field that evened the score up again. However, the next three innings were all Holly Hill.

    The first four Raider batters in the fourth delivered hits, including a Hank Avinger RBI-double that broke the tie. Nick Strickland knocked in two base-runners with a single, and then a series of errors allowed two more Raiders,including Strickland, to cross the plate.

    By the time the first five batters had cycled through the fourth inning, the Raiders had scored five runs. They followed that up by putting up a three-run fifth inning that featured Hank Avinger getting two more RBIs to add to his total.

    The 10-run mercy rule kicked in after the Raiders picked up two more runs in the top of the sixth frame.

    “I think the future is bright,” Brigman said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys. Most of our issues this year was experience, especially with our pitching staff. We  really only had one guy that we could consistently count on to throw strikes, but we’ve got several guys that came on right at the end of the year that are going to be able to help us next year.”

    This game was the last for Richard Winn seniors’ Bryant Carvalho, Chris Christianson and Tyler Douglas.

    “We’re going to miss this senior class an awful lot,” Brigman said. “ These are guys that when I came in coaching five years ago, were eighth grade kids and we’ve kind of all been together in the program for the last five years and they do mean a lot to me and they mean a lot to the team as well. For the first time in a long time we were an extremely young team and those guys did a really good job of being leaders.”

    RWA: 1-0-3-0-0-4
    HHA:0-1-3-5-3-2-14

    Hitting: 1B- Peyton Gilbert, Chris Christianson (2), Bryant Carvalho, Jimmy McKeown (RWA); Evan Boyd (4), Andrew Siau, Hank Avinger, Nick Strickland, Josh Siau, Jordan Boyd, Shane Hawkins (2) (HHA). 2B- Hank Avinger, Josh Siau (HHA).
    Pitching: WP- Josh Siau, LP- Zach Taylor.

  • College Notebook

    Bell

    Brandi Bell of Ridgeway was inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the College Of Charleston. Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897, and only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 of juniors qualify for membership. Blythewood’s Caitlynn Tracy (not pictured) was inducted at the College of Charleston as well.

    Caitlyn Alexander of Winnsboro, SC earned an award at during the Mary Baldwin College’s Honors Convocation on March 30. The ceremony recognizes student academic achievement.

    Mary Braden Murphy was honored in the Information Technology & Sciences Honors Night at Champlain College in Burlington, VT. Murphy is a Computer and Digital Forensics major from Blythewood, SC.

  • BHS requests 194-ft communication tower

    RALEIGH, NC – According to a notice from Milestone Communications of Raleigh, N. C., published last week in The Voice, the company proposes to construct a 194-foot AGL Monopol communications tower with appurtenances, at Blythewood High School on Wilson Boulevard.
    The notice asked for the submission of any written comments regarding the potential effects that the proposed tower may have on historic properties that are listed or eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
    Those comments should be addressed to Tower Engineering Professionals, Inc. (Attn: George Swearingin) 326 Tryon Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 or call 919-661-6351 or fax 919-661-6350.
    Lindsey Woolridge, a spokesperson with Milestone Communications said she was not aware when a public hearing might be held for the tower.
    “We are only involved with engineering and environmental concerns at this time,” Woolridge said.
    The school district had not returned calls about the proposed tower at press tim

  • **Corrected:Blythewood mourns loss of Redhawk

    Courtesy of PalmettoSportsImaging

    Retraction: In the first version of this article it was stated that the Westwood football and basketball booster clubs would be working alongside Sweet Pea’s Ice Cream for a charity benefit. Due to scheduling conflicts the booster clubs were unable to participate.

     

    The Westwood Redhawks and entire Blythewood community are mourning the death of 16-year old Ellis Hawkins who lost his life March 31 in a multi-vehicle accident that occurred on Wilson Boulevard at Fulmer Road in Blythewood.

    Hawkins, a junior at Westwood high, was a restrained rear-seat passenger in a 2005 Saturn, when the Saturn traveled into oncoming traffic and collided with another vehicle.

    The collision took place at 6:10 p.m., and Hawkins was transported to Palmetto Health Richland Memorial Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries at 9:21 p.m., according to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts. Watts’ autopsy attributed the cause of death to multiple trauma due to the collision.

    Three others were transported to the hospital, but none sustained life threatening injuries.

    Westwood principle Dr.Cheryl Guy issued the following statement.

    “We are saddened and our hearts are heavy here. Ellis was an 11th grade student and athlete on our varsity football and basketball teams. On behalf of all of the students, teachers and staff at Westwood, I extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to the Hawkins family. Ellis will be missed by his friends, teammates and teachers and will always be part of the Redhawk Family,” Guy said.

    Ellis was a two-way defensive player who switched between linebacker and defensive end for the Redhawk football team. Dustin Curtis, Hawkins’ head football coach, said that his guys will be playing for Ellis when the football season rolls around. He said he also wanted to thank the Blythewood community for their support during this difficult time.

    “We lost a fantastic young man last Thursday. His impact on our Redhawk community was real, and he was a friend to so many.  Ellis will continue to be a big part of our team moving forward, and our guys will be playing hard for him.  We give many thanks back to the entire Westwood/Blythewood community for all of their support this past week,” Curtis said.

    In addition to Hawkins’ exploits on the gridiron, he was also a member of the varsity basketball program, and Redhawks head basketball coach Jeffrey DiBattisto said Hawkins was a hard working young man who had begun to earn himself a leadership position on the team.

    “Ellis Hawkins was an unbelievable young man who always had a smile on his face. He was able to connect to anyone he met. He excelled as a basketball player but was an even better person. He was one of our hardest workers and was always trying to get better. He had already begun to take a leadership role on our team as we began workouts this spring. We are going to miss him terribly,” DiBattisto said.

    Guy said additional counselors are on campus to help students and school employees.

    A candlelight vigil, organized by students and alumni, will be held Friday at 5 p.m. in the Westwood high parking lot. Viewing and visitation will be held Saturday, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium, and funeral services will follow at 1 p.m.

    Sweet Pea’s Ice Cream Parlor in Blythewood will be hosting a benefit for the Hawkins family at Sweet Pea’s on Saturday, April 15 from 4-7 p.m. Sweet Pea’s is located at 412 McNulty St. Donations and checks may be made payable to Sweet Pea’s with “E45 Donation” in the memo line are being collected through April 22 at the Parlor.

     

     

     

  • Nothing could be finer

    Comfy couches, reading lamps and other cozy furniture bring touches of home to the school. Principal Jeaneen Tucker reads to, clockwise: Reilly Lewis (pink boots), Aiden Henderson, Anderson Butler, Olivia Douglass, Dre’ylen Perry’Brooks, Gavin Bridges, Celine Shalabi, Santiago Castro and Tucker. Lady, laying on the floor, patiently listens.

    Blythewood’s Round Top Elementary School has been awarded a “Palmetto’s Finest” designation by the S.C. Association of School Administrators – one of only five schools in the state to receive that honor this year. According to the SCASA website, the award recognizes schools that offer “excellent instruction, outstanding leaders, strong family and community involvement and a supportive business community.”
    “We’re thrilled and honored,” said Jeaneen Tucker, who has served as principal of Round Top since the school opened in 2003 for grades K-5. “This is completely a community award – our students, teachers and parents are a super strong team.”
    After the school was named as one of nine finalists, Tucker said the students were very excited about watching the March 21 announcement of the awards on ETV.
    “The entire school gathered in the multi-purpose room to watch the live feed – except the fourth graders, who were on a field trip to the zoo,” she said. “But the teachers and parents with them even got some video footage of their cheering when they heard the news!”
    Celebrations began right away with a cookie party at lunch the following day, and Tucker said she anticipates lots of little things to mark the occasion, along with a big event such as an outdoor dance party with a DJ.
    So what does it take for a school to be named one of Palmetto’s Finest?
    Well, having a dog helps! For the past five years, a friendly yellow Labrador Retriever named Lady has been a favorite of students on the days she accompanies her owner, teacher Holly Threatt, to school. Lady is a former seeing-eye dog and a certified therapy dog with an easygoing personality that encourages the children’s affection and supports their good work habits. Tucker said that Lady’s presence helps students develop the compassion and humanity that is kindled through fun, friendly relationships with animals.
    “She’s a gentle spirit – you can see it in her eyes,” Tucker said, adding that Lady is especially gifted at comforting children who might be having a bad day. “She has added a wonderful element to our school.”
    And Lady’s even started a trend – this year, two more dogs started coming for school day visits, adding to the companionable atmosphere.
    The school’s outdoor environment provides another distinctive component – the architecturally stylish building is nestled into a bucolic wooded setting, complete with a winding nature trail through the pines. Tucker said there are many elements that foster a warm atmosphere both outside and inside the building.
    “The environment is very rich, aesthetically and academically, which is something we were very intentional about,” she said. “We have tons of murals throughout the building, low lights in the classrooms, lots of greenery and pleasant muted colors.”
    She said the school’s focus on art, technology and cultural awareness is another big part of what makes it special. Round Top is an “Arts in the Basic Curriculum” school, one of only two at the elementary level in Richland 2.
    “Our arts program is phenomenal, and I think it truly sets us apart,” she said. “For instance, we have artists-in-residence through a grant from the S.C. Arts Commission, and this year we were delighted to have the West African Drum Corps. We also do a major stage production every other year – this year it was Peter Pan, Jr., which involved about 60 of our students and was amazing.”
    But Tucker added that there’s also just an overall quality that differentiates Round Top.
    “What I think sets us apart the most is the inherent character of our school, which you can feel, hear and see when you’re in the building,” she said. “We opened Round Top with a vision for raising responsible citizens, and we are doing that in many ways. For instance, we focus on 19 life skills throughout the school year – things like Courage, Effort, Responsibility, Perseverance and Caring – and this is built into the culture and the climate of our school.”
    The Palmetto’s Finest award will be presented during a ceremony at the Innovative Ideas Institute in Myrtle Beach in June.

  • Ridgeway council names new water tower

    RIDGEWAY – After it was proposed last month that the new Ridgeway water tower be placed behind Geiger Elementary School on property owned by the Fairfield County School District, a packet of information about the proposal and a graphic design of the new tower emblazoned with ‘Geiger Elementary,’ was presented to school board trustees and made available to the public by Ridgeway Councilwoman Angela Harrison. After the graphic appeared in The Voice, some Ridgeway Council members and town residents had second thoughts about naming the tower after the town’s elementary school.

    Council called a special meeting on Tuesday evening to hear from the community before voting on the name. Since the School Board’s monthly meeting was already scheduled at the same time, no members of the Board attended the Ridgeway Town meeting. But about 20 town residents and Geiger family members did attend. All either spoke or stood in favor of the tower being named for the elementary school, but not without the spirit of compromise.

    “I suggest we name the tower for the school and the town,” lifelong Ridgeway resident Dwight Robertson said, addressing Council. “It won’t cost that much to add Ridgeway, South Carolina under Geiger Elementary. There should not even be a question about naming the tower after the school. I went to Geiger and it’s a great school. It should be recognized. And we hope the Council will see fit to name the new water tower for Geiger,” Robertson said.

    Jasper Adams, Sarah Robertson and Dede Ruff also spoke in favor of placing both names on the tower.

    “It makes sense to put both Geiger Elementary and the town’s names on the tower,” Ruff said. “I think it’s a great idea. There’s not a better location and it’s wonderful that the school donated the property.”

    Mayor Charlene Herring called for a motion and Council voted unanimously to name the new water tower after the town and the school.

     

  • Pay vetoed for school trustees

    COLUMBIA – After the South Carolina Senate voted on Feb. 28 on a bill to allow the Board of Trustees of the Fairfield County School District to receive a monthly stipend and to let the Board set the amount of the stipend its members would receive, the bill was sent to the House where it was again approved.

    The Bill, R-6, S. 457, was put forward by Sen. Mike Fanning who represents Fairfield County.

    On Monday, however, Gov. Henry McMaster vetoed the bill.

    “At present there is a patchwork of authorities governing South Carolina’s school districts. Consequently, school districts have varying degrees of fiscal autonomy, and there is no uniform method of compensating school board members,” McMaster wrote in a letter to Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant who forwarded the letter to all House and Senate members on Tuesday.

    “I submit that the General Assembly should enact statewide legislation that provides uniform authority and autonomy to the state’s school districts instead of the current piecemeal and inconsistent local legislation,” McMaster wrote.

    Fairfield County School Superintendent Dr. J. R. Green and Sen. Mike Fanning could not be reached for comment before press time.

     

  • State Title Game Update

    Final in Columbia — the Dorman Cavaliers are the 2017 Class 5A state champions, 55-53 winners over Blythewood.

  • Bengals Set Sights on State Title

    Members of the Blythewood High School boys’ basketball squad celebrate their overtime victory over Irmo in Saturday’s Lower State championship game. The Bengals face Upper State champions Dorman for the Class 5A state title at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia. (Photo/Jason Arthur)

    COLUMBIA (March 2, 2017) – Blythewood head coach Zeke Washington’s basketball teams all have a similar look.

    They play fast. They run up and down the floor on offense and defense. They put on full presses and punch balls out of opponents’ hands. They do as much as they can to take an early lead and keep holding onto it until the final buzzer.

    “We have to play fast. That’s my thing, what we’ve done throughout the years,” Washington said Monday at the 5A press conference at the High School League office in Columbia. “We’re a motion team, a fast-break team that goes into motion, we like to keep the tempo up.”

    This system was good enough for Washington’s Fairfield Central team to storm through the 1997-1998 season and capture the 3A state championship. In 2004, it was good enough for Washington’s Chester girls’ team to take a 3A crown.

    In his fifth year with the Bengals, Washington prepares to take the team to the 2017 5A state championship game. Blythewood plays Dorman at 8:30 Friday night at the Colonial Center.

    The Bengals (23-5) defeated Irmo 61-50 in overtime to earn the lower state championship Saturday at the Florence Civic Center. Meanwhile, Dorman (22-5) rallied past, then routed Gaffney 61-47 at the Bon Secours Arena in Greenville.

    The two teams, which run similar fast-break styles, overcame challenges in the upper and lower state championships to reach the final game.

    The Cavaliers trailed Gaffney 15-9 after the first quarter, but used steady and solid defensive play over the next two quarters to rally and build a lead on the Indians.

    “I looked in these guys’ eyes and felt like they were confident,” Dorman head coach Thomas Ryan said about his starters, all seniors. “They knew we needed to play better, but they knew that it would start on the defensive end.”

    The Cavaliers took care of business in the second and third quarters, holding Gaffney to one field goal through the second quarter and halfway through the third. In the meantime, Dorman built a 37-26 lead by the start of the fourth.

    “When we held Gaffney to one field goal over 12 minutes, that was big,” Ryan said. “It’s also nice for what you teach and preach, you see it happen. These guys believe it starts from the defensive end. Playing great defense. When we’re able to get up and down and make some shots and play fast, and it can really get fun, but you have to be able to do the dirty work and get stops and rebounds.”

    Blythewood, on the other hand, had their hands full with Region V-5A rival and co-champion Irmo in Florence. Both teams battled through three quarters, but at the start of the fourth quarter the Bengals were up 38-30.

    The Yellow Jackets crept back into the game, and eventually led 48-46 in the final seconds of regulation, before senior Josh Bowers weaved past defenders in the lane and put up a tying shot with 0.2 seconds on the clock.

    In overtime, senior Keith Matthews hit a 3-pointer before Irmo’s only overtime score made it 51-50 Blythewood. A Jacobi Bailey basket and eight foul shots sealed the lower state title win and the trip to Columbia to battle Dorman.

    Playing two region rivals in the postseason, Irmo and Lexington (which Blythewood defeated 74-71 last week), is a reflection of how tough the region is, and has been, for the Bengals.

    “Just playing through that region and the coaches that we have there has prepared us for a moment like this,” Washington said. “Our region is like the ACC. Every night we faced somebody that was very good; great athletes, coached very, very well. It’s like going to a clinic every night.”

    Leading the way for the Bengals has been Tre Jackson, averaging 14.0 points per game, and Robert Braswell, who has 11.2 ppg. But as anyone who watches Blythewood play regularly can attest, anyone from the team can contribute and have a big night.

    The starting lineup for the postseason has been Jackson, Matthews, Jonathan Breeland, Kameron Riley and Khalil Shakir-Harris. Within a few minutes of play, Braswell, Bowers, Jacobi Bailey, Savion Dawkins and others can come in.

    Rotations in and out are a regular thing for the Bengals, whom Washington said need to stay fresh while running the pressure offense and defense throughout the game.

    “We’re very similar (to Dorman). They play 10 people, we play 10 people every quarter,” Washington said. “It’s tough to get kids to buy into that, because their parents don’t want them to ever come out of the game.”

    When the system Washington runs brings you to the final game of the season, that criticism subsides.

    “When you have a team like ours, where the kids actually start believing that the system will work, it’s beautiful to see,” he said.

     

  • Board Considers Funding U.K. Field Trip

    WINNSBORO (March 2, 2017) – When the School Board approved a trip to England for eight STEM students at Fairfield Central High School last fall, Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green told Board members at the time that the students would be raising all the funds for the trip through fundraisers.

    At Tuesday evening’s meeting, however, a parent’s group from the STEM school at FCHS told Board members during public comment time that the eight students had only been able to raise $22,000 and asked the Board to kick in another $13,000 for a total of $35,000 for the trip.

    Asked by Chairwoman Beth Reid (District 7) what the cost is for each student, the parent spokesperson said it is $3,600 per student. The trip is scheduled for this summer. The parent told the Board that the trip is for educational purposes and would include visits to Stonehenge and other sites that would enhance the students’ enthusiasm for learning.

    Henry Miller (District 3) said he applauded the students “for putting some skin in the game,” and said he thought the trip was worth the Board putting up the balance needed for the eight students.

    “I’ll investigate some funding and get back to the Board with a recommendation,” Green told the parent group. But the spokesperson for the group said they had to have final payment in by March 1.

    “That won’t work,” Annie McDaniel (District 4) said.

    “Will we have enough time (to get the money approved) before March 1?” Miller asked.

    Green said that was the first he had heard the payment was due on March 1.

    “Let me see what I can work out. I’ll get back to the Board,” he said. “I’ll figure out the details and I assure you we’ll get it worked out.”

    McDaniel suggested that there may have been students who wanted to take the trip from the beginning but didn’t have a way to raise funds.

    “So now that we’re going to bridge the gap for these eight students, should we help those who wanted to go but did not think they could get funding?” McDaniel asked.

    “Why some students chose not to go on the trip when the fund raising efforts began, I can’t speak as to what their motivations were,” Green said. “I think it would be problematic at this point in time to go back and find those students. If they have not raised money, then I don’t know how it will be received by the students who raised $22,000.”

    “I think we need to find out if those other students didn’t participate because they didn’t have a way to raise funds. If these students thought they couldn’t raise the money and now we’re going to fund the rest of this money for these eight students, then why could we not do that for those (other) students? We paid for the chorus to go to Disney World how many times?” McDaniel asked.

    “If those students don’t have passports, it might be too late to get them now,” the parent spokesperson added.

    No decision was made about the funding, which was not on the agenda. Green did not say how or when he would get back to the Board about the issue.

    Also on the Board’s agenda was a report that the District had spent $45,119.13 for 35 trips ‘over $600’ each for teacher training.