The News Courier

3 weeks ago | enewscourier.com | Jake Winfrey

Published 9:11 am Friday, June 6, 2025 Jack Smith’s basketball career was like a fine wine — it got better and better with each season he played. From his first start as a junior at Athens until he finished his career at Troy State, Smith’s productivity increased with every passing season. Smith comes from a family of great athletes and will join his brother Freddie Smith (class of 2008) on June 14 as a member of the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame.

3 weeks ago | enewscourier.com | Jake Winfrey

Published 3:44 pm Thursday, June 5, 2025 Tanner’s Randy Cortes secured first-team Super All-State honors when the Alabama High School Soccer Coaches Association announced its All-State teams earlier this spring. The senior standout, who netted 30 goals and 23 assists for the Rattlers this past season en route to becoming the AHSAA’s all-time leading goal scorer (183), spearheaded a talented group of deserving local athletes also recognized by the AHSSCA.

3 weeks ago | enewscourier.com | Jake Winfrey

Published 11:12 am Tuesday, June 3, 2025 Reshard Langford capped a brilliant career as a four-sport standout at Tanner with a bang. Literally. The Rattlers trailed Sparkman heading to the bottom of the seventh inning in Langford’s final time to wear a Tanner uniform. He stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs, and unfazed by the situation, crushed a walk-off grand slam.

3 weeks ago | enewscourier.com | Jake Winfrey

Published 2:18 pm Sunday, June 1, 2025 Life can sometimes be a tough teacher by giving the test first and the lessons later. A young Michael Crutcher experienced this as a fourth-grade student at Piney Chapel Elementary School. His favorite times in school were lunch and physical education. Crutcher’s fourth-grade teacher Doris Walker provided a reality check for the youngster, who later became a standout basketball player at Elkmont High School.

4 weeks ago | enewscourier.com | Jake Winfrey

Published 5:00 am Saturday, May 31, 2025 Several local standouts recognized by ASWAAthens Bible’s Luke Murrell earned first-team honors following the release of this year’s All-State baseball team on Saturday. Murrell, who also received a first-team nod last year, was joined on the honorary squad by Athens’ Hudson Marks and Elkmont’s Corder Hobbs, both of whom secured second-team accolades. Athens’ Ashton Dickey and Athens Bible’s Ethan Barnes, meanwhile, were honorable mentions.