Fall sports: The defending champs

The month of August gets closer and closer, meaning high school athletics are almost in season. Football, softball and volleyball start up soon and some teams in Houston County will be defending their respective titles.

Here are the teams around the county with targets on their back.

Will the Lady Warhawks lose their county championship?

The Veterans Lady Warhawks have occupied the throne as the best volleyball team in Houston County for the past eight seasons.

Will they make it nine?

Last season’s county championship was a true nail biter that boiled down to the final set. Veterans faced the Houston County Lady Bears, who beat the Lady Warhawks earlier in the season. It was an intense back-and-forth battle where the Lady Warhawks arose as victors, winning by two points to clinch the county title yet again.

Heading into this season, the Lady Warhawks will look much different. Six key seniors from last year’s squad have graduated and new head coach Jill Nash is in command. But the expectation of a county championship should remain the same as it has for almost a decade.

Can the Demons go back-to-back?

The Warner Robins Demons are defending 5A football state champions and have graced the grand stage the past four seasons.

Last season the Demons convincingly had the top defense in 5A along with one of the most electric, if not the most electric, athlete in the state as quarterback. They defeated the one team ranked higher than them (Blessed Trinity) in a road playoff game, went on to tie the record for most points scored (62) in a Georgia state championship game and brought home the trophy.

This year’s mission is to go back to the state championship for a fifth consecutive time and repeat as champions. Sounds like a tough task because it is, but the Demons are poised for another run. Even after graduating some key players, the next men up appear to be ready for the challenge.

Some people already doubt the Demons, but it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve had to prove doubters wrong.

Does Westfield have enough to win five-straight titles?

Most locals already know the Westfield Lady Hornets are four-peat GISA AAA softball state champs. Former Westfield head coach Danny Camp led the Hornets to their last four championships, now the program has constant championship expectations.

The team is under the direction of new head coach Van Faussien and Camp is assured the Lady Hornets will continue to thrive under him.

Westfield also graduated a load of valuable seniors from the team but still have some very special players returning. Depth in the roster is the only question mark heading into the year but that shouldn’t hinder the Lady Hornets too much. The returning players have proven their dedication and passion to compete and get better, their moxie is bound to rub off on the new players.

Winning a fifth straight state title would be an absurd feat for the Lady Hornets’ program—and they’re more than capable of making it happen.

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