Fayette County High School (Georgia)

Fayette County High School is located in Fayetteville, Georgia, United States. It was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1999^[1] and a Georgia School of Excellence in 2000.^[2] The school enrolls approximately 1,322 students in grades 9-12. Fayette County High is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school's mascot is a tiger.

Academics

The school graduates over ninety percent of its attendees. Its students' standardized test scores often exceed state and national testing averages.^[3][4] Most graduates who go to college attend in-state schools, particularly Agnes Scott College, Emory, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and Morehouse College.

Fine arts

The band, choral, orchestra, and drama departments annually receive awards on the local, state, regional, and national levels.^[5][6]

The choral department's Select Chorus performs in Europe and New York City, and receives superior ratings at local music festivals.^[7]

The FCHS band program came to national recognition under the direction of Eastman School of Music graduate and master teacher Kenneth F. Beard Sr. The program is now under the direction of Dr. Myra Rhoden and Andrew McMillen, and has continued this long tradition of excellence. The 200-member marching band is among Georgia's most successful programs, with a reputation for staging highly entertaining field shows that annually win state and regional championships. The Marching Tigers have been a Bands of America regional finalist multiple times. The band performed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony, the 2005 London New Year's Day Parade, the 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif, and returned for the 2009 London New Year's Parade. Matthew McCord is the drum major instructor. He has served with the program since 1996. John D. Duncan directs the color guard and winter guard programs.^[8][9]

Athletics

Fayette County High School gym

The school colors are black and Vegas gold. The Tigers send competitors to state playoffs in baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and wrestling on a regular basis.

From 1976 through 1983, the Fayette County Tiger football team, under the direction of Hall of Fame Coach Charlie Winslette (2006), had the best run in Tiger history, winning 55 games in eight years. Winslette was the defensive coordinator during the 1976 season, then took over as head football coach after Ted Missildine left to take the head football position in Prattville, Alabama. The Tigers, under Winslette, advanced to the playoffs in five consecutive seasons, with the 1980 team (10-2) ranked #4 at season's end by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Notable players included Will Forts (UGA) and Jody Allen (Valdosta State). After eight seasons at Fayette County, Winslette has continued his winning ways. He has been a head football coach in Georgia for 33 years, winning 258 games, which currently ranks at #7 among the State of Georgia's active winningest coaches. He has won two State Football Championships, one at West Rome High School in 1985 and one at Greene-Taliaferro High School in Greensboro in 1993. Winslette also had two State Champion Runner-Up teams, in 1989 at Greene-Taliaferro and in 1997 at Tift County High School. The 2007 varsity football team was the most successful in school history, going undefeated in the regular season and earning Region Champion honors. The Tigers advanced to the second round of the state playoffs, losing to Bainbridge at home and finishing the season 11–1, ranked 6th in the state.

In 2008, the girls' and boys' varsity basketball teams both played in the State Championship Finals.

The wrestling team has had several state champion wrestlers and a national champion wrestler, Patrick Blankenbecker, in recent years.^[10][11]

Wrestling

The 2007–2008 wrestling team were the Region 4-AAAA Champions.

• 103 - Ali Khan*
• 112 - Joel Carnow*
• 119 - Blake Axleburg
• 125 - Austin Vorwald*
• 130 - Nick Edwards
• 135 - Matt Brown
• 140 - Johnathan West
• 145 - Dylan Tanner
• 152 - Sam Law
• 160 - Cecil Level
• 171 - Brian Tilton
• 189 - Patrick Blankenbeker*
• 215 - Matt Mulski
• HWT - Chris Moody

* individual champions

The 2010 Tiger wrestling squad won the Area 5-AAAA Duals title.^[12]

Girls' basketball

The Fayette County Lady Tigers basketball team first rose to prominence in the mid-1980s, when current Hofstra University Head Basketball Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey starred for FCHS.^[13] In the mid-2000s, longtime Fayette County High Head Track Coach John Strickland took over as head varsity girls' basketball coach. The Lady Tigers advanced to the Class AAAA state championship game in both 2008 and 2009, falling to Southwest Dekalb both times.^[14] Key players in recent years include current Florida Gator Tessah Holt,^[15] University of Connecticut commit Brianna Banks, Hofstra commit Anma Onyeuku, Stetson commit Sasha Sims, Chattanooga State Chasity Welch, Dekota Walton, Agnes Scott Arielle Register, Jasmine Facey, Kristine Walker, Keyondra Jenkins, Elem Ibiam, Kyra King, and Taybreonna Couch.

The JV Girls' basketball coach Bart Phillips clicked off his 100th career win on February 7, 2011, as the Lady Tigers defeated the Starr's Mill Lady Panthers.

On March 6, 2011, Chasity Welch and her Chattanooga State Lady Tigers won the TCCAA/JCAA Championship, adding to her record of 37 double doubles. She sealed the game's win with two three-point shots. On March 5, 2011, Sasha Sims led her team Stetson Univ. Lady Hatters to the Atlantic Sun Championship. She was named All Tournament Team. Sasha also broke Stetson 3-point record. She had six three-point shots, and ended the game with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

In March 2011, the Lady Tigers won the county's first ever State Championship, defeating Forest Park 55-45.

Boys' basketball

Under Head Coach Andre Flynn, the Fayette County boys' basketball team achieved a high level of success in 2006, with a 27-0 record.

Softball

The Lady Tigers softball team won the 2002 Class AAAAA Championship under the leadership of Hall of Fame Head Coach Jill Joiner, who remains at the helm as of 2010.^[16] Joiner completed her 29th year as Fayette's head coach in 2009. Ashley Holcombe, a member of the 2002 state title team, went on to star at Alabama and made Team USA in 2009 and 2010.^[17]

Debate

One of the most decorated activities at the school is the Speech & Debate Team. The Fayette County Debate Team has won Region Championship every year but three since 1988. In the 2008–2009 season, the debate team won the GFCA AAAA Policy Debate State Championship^[18] and GFCA Lincoln Douglas State Championship.^[19]

Notable alumni

• William Lee Adams, journalist and YouTube personality
• Brandon Boykin, cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League
• Caleb "Bama" Brown, running back, Mercer University
• Logan Browning, actress and singer-songwriter
• Matthew Daniels, played for Duke University and the St. Louis Rams
• Mike Duke, CEO of Wal-Mart
• Noel Johnson, guard for the Auburn Tigers
• Ronnie Mabra, member of the Georgia House of Representatives

External links

• Fayette County High School
• Fayette County Board of Education: Fayette County High School
• Fayette County Board of Education

References