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With the stage set by this year's athletes in these parts, I am savoring a chance to see what they will do for an encore.

Suffice it to say that it was an exciting year for Carroll County schools. With all the hub-bub going on, our teams made Six Flags look like a place to relax for cardiac patients.

Shall we review? Sure, I knew you'd want to.

McKenzie: From what I gather, MHS is considering investment in flame-retardant carpeting. They ought to because the Rebs and Lady Rebels were red-hot this year. McKenzie had a storybook ride to the Class 2A state football semifinals and senior lineman Ricky Mathis was the school's first Mr. Football finalist. The Lady Rebel basketball and softball teams earned substate games while several track athletes reached sectionals. Mathis, meanwhile, will play in the Tennessee-Kentucky all-star football game in Lexington later this month.

Huntingdon: The Mustangs captured the school's 500th victory by defeating McKenzie for the Region 6-2A football title. The Mustang basketball team finished the regular season with an unblemished district record. The Fillies won district and regional basketball titles and defeated Dresden in substate. From there, they earned a state tourney bid and made it all the way to the Final Four. The Mustangs captured the district baseball title while the Fillies softball team advanced to the state tournament, where they were in the final six remaining teams. Meanwhile, the middle school Mustangs won the TNT state championship in February.

West Carroll: The War Eagles' football team staged a late-season rally and finished second in the region, earning a home playoff game. Curses, however, foiled again by JCS. For the second time in the season, JCS edged West Carroll, ending the War Eagles' season. Meanwhile, the Lady Eagle softball team sizzled through the regular season and captured the district championship. Meanwhile, the War Eagle baseball team earned the regular-season runner-up spot in the district.

Clarksburg: How about those junior Lady Rockets? The Clarksburg Middle School girls won the county title and streaked all the way to Springfield for the TNT where they advanced to the state's Final Four. A late, horrid call against Clarksburg v. Lobelville perhaps cost the Lady Rockets at bringing home state-championship bookends from the TNT this year.

Hollow Rock-Bruceton: Patrick Willis inked with Ole Miss to play football after becoming the first player in Tennessee history to be named finalist in both back and line categories for Mr. Football. He won Mr. Football lineman. Meanwhile, the Tigers reached the Class A state quarterfinals before succumbing to University School of Jackson. In a February stunner at Big Sandy, upstart Bruceton defeated Huntingdon for its first district boys' basketball title in perhaps more than a decade. In the spring, the Tigers were district runners-up to Huntingdon in baseball and advanced to the regional tournament.

Carroll Academy: Last summer, Jaguar coach Randy Hatch cut a deal to put the old Pyramid floor down at the new Carroll Academy gym. Michael Jordan, Allan Houston, John Stark, Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal have all played on that floor. Volleyball, boys and girls basketball at CA had successful seasons this year, especially since it had its own gym to play in this year.
This was a banner year for teams in these parts. Carroll County is crystallizing itself as a place where champions compete. Well done, folks.

McKenzie High School is hosting 13 other different high schools from West and Middle Tennessee in a week-long boys' basketball camp. In addition to the Rebel cagers, Huntingdon, Dresden, Bruceton, Bradford, Stewart County, Gleason, Milan, Henry County, Trinity Christian, Camden, Adamsville and Crockett County will be taking part.

Camp games will be taking place at McKenzie High School, McKenzie Middle School and Bethel College.

McKenzie opened the action on Monday afternoon against Bradford and Stewart County. The Rebel B-teamers took on Milan and Henr County. Tuesday, MHS played Houston County and Crockett County.

Today at 5:30, McKenzie will take on Waverly at McKenzie High School, then travel across town at 7:30 to play Trinity. The Rebel B-team plays Crockett County at 8:30 Wednesday.

Gleason and McKenzie will battle 6 p.m. Thursday at MHS, then the Rebels take on Dresden at 8. The Rebel B team will engage Houston County at 5:15 at the Middle School.

Next week, from June 9-13, McKenzie will host a high school girls' camp. The Lady Rebs will host nine other teams from around the area: Dyer County, Camden, Riverside, Huntingdon, Bruceton, Scotts Hill, Bradford, Greenfield and Trinity Christian Academy.

The girls' camp will take place at McKenzie High School and McKenzie Middle School gymnasiums.

On Monday, June 9, a full slate of games takes place at both MHS and MMS.

McKenzie will play 5 p.m. Tuesday against Dyer County at MMS and 8:30 vs. TCA at MHS.

On June 10, The Lady Rebs will take on Camden at 5 then Huntingdon at the high school. Tipoff for that one will be 7:30.

In addition, the 20th Annual Little Rebels Basketball Camp will take place June 9-12 for prospective cagers who will be in third grade through eighth grade next year. There is a $40 registration fee and campers may register the first day of the came between 8:30 and 9 a.m. For more information on the Little Rebel Basketball Camp, contact Larry Joe Smith at 352-7453 or Josh Kee at 352-0982.

"These three young men epitomize the type of character we want," said Matt Griffin, Tennessee-Martin's head football coach. "They are outstanding student-athletes and extremely hard working."

Lawrence, a 6-3, 290-pound, senior offensive lineman, is the son of James and Linda Lawrence. He went to high school at nearby Gleason.

"Lee is a very well-rounded person," Griffin said. "He is an outstanding student and a solid football player who plays with great toughness.

Gray, a 6-3, 230-pound defensive end, is the son of Emanuel Gray and Nellie Shelton. He was a two-year all-area player at Danville High, and led the team to the Kentucky state title game his senior year. He also made 119 tackles his senior season.

Gray played in nine games last season and recorded 35 tackles. He made five tackles for a loss of yardage and had one fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

"John Gray is an intense competitor," Griffin said. "He has overcome adversity on and off the field. He is a winner."

Jackson, a 6-7, 265-pound offensive lineman, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jackson.

He prepped at Cheatham County High School .

"Michael leads by example on and off the field," Griffin said. "He has great athleticism for a man his size. He is a very physical player."

"These young men will be looked upon to set the speed for our football team," Griffin said.

The Skyhawks, under the direction of new head coach Matt Griffin, will make their 2003 debut, Thursday, Aug. 28 at Hardy M. Graham Stadium when they play host to Austin Peay State University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Season tickets for all six Skyhawk home games will go on sale later this month. In addition to Austin Peay, the Skyhawks will host East Tennessee State (Thursday, Sept. 11), Tennessee Tech (Oct. 4), Samford (Oct. 18), Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 1) and Murray State University (Thursday, Nov. 13).

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