Elite Stone Supply, in conjunction with WBHF and Bartow Sports Zone, presents the ELITE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH. Each month, local high schools are provided opportunity to name an Elite Athlete of the Month and present the information on their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3FM and AM1450, WBHF in Cartersville. Recipients for April 2018: Blake Bottegal -- Woodland HS Buck Brumlow -- Cartersville HS Brianna Bullock -- Cass HS Kyle Martin -- Adairsville HS NOTE: The Elite Athletes of the Month will return next August for the 2018-19 school year. The Woodland High School Elite Athlete of the Month for April is Blake Bottegal. The Wildcats’ senior tennis player was recently honored as a selection to the All-Region 7-AAAAA team. He was undefeated in all region and state-level matches this season as the Woodland boys reached the GHSA Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history. The son of Anthony and Tammy Bottegal, Blake is signing a tennis scholarship with Shorter University next week. “Blake made it his goal to be an elite tennis player through a complete dedication to fitness, technique, and strategy,” said his tennis head coach Kevin Tant. “He has reached a level of maturity and skill that his teammates and I recognize as the reasons for his success. He will continue to strive for excellence in college and his talents will continue to grow at the next level.” Bottegal was the 2018 Wildcats’ team captain. “Blake has the respect of our team’s parents and players for his demeanor,” Tant concluded. Buck Brumlow is the April Elite Athlete of the Month representing Cartersville High School. The freshman golfer won low medalist honors last week with an even-par 72 at the GHSA Class 4A-Area IV Championship to lead the Hurricanes to a region title and a second place area finish at Nob North Golf Club in Dalton. The team also qualified for the 36-hole, two-day Class 4A State Championship Tournament at Achasta Golf Club in Dahlonega May 21-22. The son of Andy and Leslie Brumlow, Buck was low medalist this season at the Nob North Invitational with a 1-under par 71. He carded a 2-under par 70 at the Christian Heritage Invitational and had nine-hole match scores of 3-under par 33 and 2-under par 34 during the regular season. “Buck is a hard working student-athlete with all A’s in his classes who is devoted to the game of golf,” added Canes’ head golf coach Reggie Perkins. The Cass High School April Elite Athlete of the Month is Brianna Bullock. The Lady Colonels’ soccer senior has been the starting goalkeeper since her sophomore season. The daughter of Evelyn Bullock, Brianna recorded seven shutouts in net this season and helped lead her team into the state playoffs with wins in a pair of penalty shootout games. “There were many games where she made all the difference,” noted Cass A.D. Nicky Moore. “Not only is she a great leader and motivator for her team, she is an excellent student with a great heart. She is a positive person who always looks for the best in people. She is truly an elite athlete that Cass High School will miss.” Academically, Bullock has a 3.9 GPA and is a potential honor graduate. She has maintained above a 90% average through all of high school and has taken at least eight honors and AP classes. Bullock plans to attend Truett-McConnell College in the fall on a soccer scholarship. Kyle Martin is the Adairsville High School Elite Athlete of the Month. A rising senior linebacker for the Tigers’ football team, he is the son of Shane and Tracy Martin. “Kyle has shown an unbelievable work ethic as evident by his GPA and great strides in the weight room,” noted Adairsville head football coach Eric Bishop. “His unselfish personality makes him a great teammate. He leads by example in the classroom, weight room, and on the field.” Last summer, Adairsville High School students had the privilege of working with former Navy Seals in leadership training and mental toughness. Coach Bishop has witnessed a transformation in Bishop as a result. “Since working with the former Navy Seals, Kyle has flourished as a leader,” said Bishop. Martin has a 3.95 GPA taking Honors and AP classes. He plans to attend college after high school and has an aptitude for the sciences. Although he has not decided on a major, he is considering the medical or pharmaceutical field. Editors Note: Photos and bios are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF by the respective schools and their athletic departments. Elite Stone Supply, LLC is the monthly sponsor. Athletes receive a plaque along with recognition during a radio feature on WBHF.

Former Adairsville standout and current NFL star Vic Beasley will host his annual youth football camp Saturday, June 16 at Adairsville High School. The Vic Beasley Football Camp is for rising 5th through 8th graders. Registration is available online at http://tiny.cc/vicbeasleycamp and sign-in for the camp begins at 8AM with the day’s activities concluding at 1PM. The former Clemson All-American was the NFL sacks leader in 2017 and a defensive leader for the Atlanta Falcons. He recently signed a contract extension with the Falcons through the 2019 season.

The Class 4A state playoffs came to an end for the Cartersville Lady Canes’ soccer team Tuesday night with a second round 4-0 loss to the five-time defending champions, St. Pius X. Cartersville keeper Kalli Scheff made several quality stops in the first half, but the Golden Lions took a 2-0 lead to the intermission on goals by University of Georgia signee Emory Wegener and an own-goal deflection off one of the Lady Canes’ defenders. Helen Cherry of St. Pius scored both second half goals. Cartersville’s season comes to a close with an 11-8 record. St. Pius X (12-6-2) will host Woodward Academy (8-10) in the state quarterfinals Friday.

Cass freshman Emily Surcey and Woodland senior Christy Turner were the top-line singles players on their respective teams this past season and both were honored recently with selections to the 2018 All-Region 7-5A team. Surcey was 8-1 at Line 1 singles in region matches this season. Turner, a Savannah State signee, was 8-2 and led the Lady Cats to the state playoffs. The Woodland doubles team of Breanna Shook and Becky Wesley also received all-region honors after compiling a 6-1 region mark this season. The Woodland boys had their Line 2 and Line 3 singles players selected to the All-Region team. Blake Bottegal and Connor Gunnell were among the five singles players chosen. Bottegal was 9-0 in region action playing at Line 2. Gunnell was 10-1 at Line 3. The Wildcats, who advanced to the second round in Class 5A for the first time ever, also had two of the All-Region team’s three doubles pairings. Alex Banta and Hayden Lusk were selected along with Max Costlow and Noah Pirkle. The Banta/Lusk duo went 9-1 in region play at Line 1 doubles. Costlow and Pirkle finished 5-2 in region action on Line 2.

South Georgia State pitcher Zach Mainor scattered four hits and two walks and allowed only one earned run in seven innings Tuesday afternoon as the host Hawks beat Georgia Highlands 11-1 in seven innings. Tyler Solomon and Jacob Giles combined to pace South Georgia with four hits and seven RBI. South Georgia raced to a 6-0 lead through four innings and were never really threatened. The Chargers scored their run in the top of the sixth on a solo homer by Bryson Horne to make it 6-1, but South Georgia ended the game early by mercy-rule with a run in the bottom of the sixth and four more in the seventh for an 11-1 final. Three of the Hawks runs were unearned as the Chargers committed five errors. Alex Holdbrooks (3.2 IP, 6R, 4ER, 7H, 4BB, 1K) started on the mound and suffered the loss. Noah Bryant (2.1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 0H, 3BB, 4K) and Jake Meyer (0.1 IP, 4ER, 3H, 1BB) also pitched for GHC. Skylar McPhee had two hits for Georgia Highlands. Nick Piccapietra had the other Chargers’ base hit. South Georgia State (39-15, 21-7) pulled to within one game of conference-leading East Georgia State with their win. Georgia Highlands (28-23, 11-18) has already been eliminated from a chance to make the post-season and will conclude the 2018 season at home Saturday against Andrew College.

The Cass High School girls golf team finished second at the Class 5A-Area IV Championship Tournament Monday at the par-72 Oak Mountain Golf Club in Carrollton. The Lady Colonels were led by Lauren Hale with a 112. Grace Weeks (116) and Taylor Yrabedra (130) followed. The Lady Colonels missed the GHSA state tournament qualifying score of 330 for Class 5A. PHOTO SPECIAL: (L-R) Taylor Yrabedra, Grace Weeks, Lauren Hale

College spring sports updates for Bartow County athletes competing for collegiate softball, tennis, and track & field programs. This edition includes updates for the week ending Sunday, April 29. SOFTBALL Sierrah Gani (Georgia Highlands CC Fr,. Cass) — Gani came up huge during the final weekend of the regular season. She went 5-for-5 with a double, five runs scored and an RBI in a doubleheader sweep of West Georgia Tech on Saturday. A day later, she hit the go-ahead, run-scoring double that helped the Chargers seal a spot in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, which GHC will host. The No. 3 seed Chargers open with a first-round game against second-seeded South Georgia State at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Cassidy Howren (Reinhardt Sr., Adairsville) — Howren finished 3-for-10 with a walk and three runs scored in the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament. She went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in Reinhardt's final game. The Eagles finished 2-2 in the double-elimination event. Annalyn Yantis (Samford Jr., Cartersville) — Yantis pitched two innings in relief of a loss to Furman on Sunday. She entered with her team trailing 6-0 and allowed one run on a hit and a single with one strikeout. TENNIS Peyton Gollhofer (Ball State Jr., Cartersville native) — Gollhofer was by far the most successful player for the Cardinals in their 4-0 quarterfinal loss to Toledo in the MAC tournament last Friday. Her and Victoria Sec won the Line 2 doubles match, 7-6 (7-1), but it wasn't enough to secure the overall team doubles point. Gollhofer was leading on Line 1 singles — 7-5, 5-7, 4-0 — before the match was halted after the Rockets had secured the win. TRACK AND FIELD Anna Hightower (Georgia Tech Jr., Cartersville) — Hightower finished fifth in the pole vault at the North Florida invitational, clearing 3.85 meters. NOTE: The baseball update for the week ending Sunday, April 29 was published in a separate article.

The Cartersville girls tennis team took an early lead Monday afternoon in the Class 4A state quarterfinals when Emma McCary swept to a 6-0, 6-0 win at Line 2 singles. Unfortunately, that would be the Lady Canes only victory of the day in a 3-1 loss to Columbus. Ansley Thompson was headed to a third set at Line 3 singles when the decisive match ended. All other lines lost to their Columbus opponents in straight sets. Columbus advances to face the St. Pius X / West Laurens winner in the Class 4A state semifinals to be completed by May 8.

Mason Lee of the Cass High School boys golf team shot a 77 Monday to lead the Colonels to a fifth place finish at the 15-team Class 5A-Area IV Championship held at the par-72 Oak Mountain Golf Club in Carrollton. Lee’s score also earned him an individual berth in the 2018 Class 5A State Championship Tournament as Area Medalist runner-up. Hogan Ingram of Rome High School edged Lee by two shots Monday to win Area IV medalist honors. Carrollton won the team championship with a team score of 327. Riverwood was the runner-up team at 355. Those two teams also earned trips to the State Tournament. The 36-hole event will be held at Planterra Ridge Country Club in Peachtree City, May 21-22. Decatur finished third at the Area Tournament with a team total of 355. North Springs was four at 358 and Cass rounded out the top five with a 372 total. Spots six through ten went to East Paulding, Villa Rica, Rome, Grady, and Paulding County. Heath Chatham (91), Joel Shepherd (93), and Cody Knight (111) had the other scoring rounds for the Colonels.

Georgia Highlands softball clinched a spot in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament by splitting a Sunday doubleheader with East Georgia State. The Chargers suffered a tough 3-2 loss in the first game despite a 2-run home run by Kindell Reeves. GHC responded with a 2-1 victory in the second game. Sierrah Gani (photo) delivered a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to break a 1-1 tie. Micayla McCoy pitched all fourteen innings allowing three earned runs in the opener and no earned runs in the second game. The Chargers (33-22, 17-11) are the 3-seed and will take on second-seed South Georgia State (29-15, 20-8) Friday afternoon at 1:30pm in both teams’ tournament opener. Georgia Military (45-14, 23-5) is the top seed and will play 4-seed East Georgia State (27-14, 16-12) in the other opening round game. The four-team, double-elimination tournament will be hosted by Georgia Highlands at Stars Field located at 2200 Joe Frank Harris Parkway Friday through Sunday.

Local minor league baseball players Sam Howard and Connor Justus close out the first month of their 2018 seasons and collegiate seasons move into the finals weeks of the regular season and into post-season at some levels. MiLB SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (5th-year pro; LHP; Triple-A, Pacific Coast League; Colorado Rockies’ organization; Georgia Southern University; Cartersville HS)… allowed only one run and four hits with no walks and seven strikeouts but was tagged with the pitching loss as Albuquerque fell at home to Las Vegas last Wednesday, 7-0. The 51’s scored a run in the top of the first off Howard before he settled in for five shutout frames. He is now 1-3 on the year with a 5.68 ERA in four starts and 19 innings. Albuquerque (9-15) is tied with Las Vegas for third place in the PCL’s Pacific Southern Division, seven games behind the first place El Paso Chihuahuas. The Isotopes start a four-game series at Tacoma Monday through Thursday and host a four-game set with El Paso Friday through Monday, May 7. CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears (3rd-year pro; MIF; Double-A, Southern League; L.A. Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… was 2-for-13 at the plate in five games this past week at home against the Mississippi Braves and on the road at the Montgomery Biscuits. Through 20 games and 61 at-bats, the middle infielder’s batting average is down to .197 with 11 walks and four RBI. Defensively, Justus has a .900 fielding percentage in 90 total chances across 19 games. The BayBears (12-11) are currently in second place in the Southern League’s South Division, two games behind the first place Biloxi Shuckers. Mobile completes a five-game series at Montgomery Monday morning before opening a five-game home series with the Chattanooga Lookouts Wednesday through Sunday. COLLEGE BASEBALL BRANDON ALLEN — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., OF, Woodland HS)… went 1-for-3 in a trio of pinch hitting appearances last week against against conference-leading East Georgia State. As a result, his season average improved to .324 in 22 games played with a homer and 11 RBI. The Chargers (28-22, 11-17) were swept in a four-game series last week by the Bobcats and eliminated from GCAA playoff contention. GHC will close out their season with games Tuesday at South Georgia State and at home Saturday against Andrew College. ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (So., LHP, Cartersville HS)… faced four batters Thursday night in an eighth inning relief appearance at top-ranked Florida. Anderson allowed a hit, a walk, and struck out one with no runs allowed. Florida won the game 3-1 and took two of three in the weekend series. Anderson is 5-0 in 18 appearances this season for the Tigers with a 2.81 ERA and 28 strikeouts. Ninth-ranked Auburn (31-14, 10-11 SEC) hosts Vanderbilt Friday through Sunday in another Southeastern Conference series. BRANDON ETHERIDGE — Limestone College (Sr., OF/RHP, Cass HS)… finished his career with a 2-for-7 performance in two games at the Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament this past weekend in Burlington, NC. The Saints lost to 2nd-ranked and eventual conference champion North Greenville in the opening round and fell to 25th-ranked Mount Olive in the tournament losers’ bracket. Etheridge finished the season with a .263 batting average in 48 games and 152 at-bats. He had one homer and eight extra base hits. He also walked 23 times. Etheridge made four pitching appearances this season, working 9.1 innings with a 9.64 ERA. He walked seven and fanned 12. LANE GRIFFITH — University of West Georgia (Soph., C, Adairsville HS)… went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI and a sacrifice bunt Saturday in a start at catcher as the Wolves defeated Auburn-Montgomery 9-4. UWG had a 4-0 week with a three-game sweep of AUM and a mid-week win over Emmanuel College. The Wolves (31-16, 17-13 GSC) open the Gulf South Conference Championship Tournament Saturday as a 6-seed against 28th-ranked and 3-seed University of West Florida. The Tournament is being hosted by top-seed and nationally 3rd-ranked Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. SEAN McDERMOTT — Mercer University (Jr., 1B, Adairsville HS)… had one hit in six at-bats this past week in starts at No. 1 Florida Tuesday and at home against VMI Friday. The Bears defeated the Gators for the third straight year in a 6-4 decision as McDermott contributed a double and one RBI. He was 0-for-2 in a 4-1 loss to VMI. Mercer was 3-1 for the week winning two other games with VMI. The Bears (31-15, 10-8 SoCon) have a three-game conference series at UNC-Greensboro Saturday through Monday. HARRISON OSBORN — Point University (Fr., RHP, Cartersville HS)… was one of nine Point pitchers to work one inning each last Wednesday in a 7-5 home loss to NAIA top-ranked Faulkner (AL). Osborn needed only 12 pitches to retire the three batters he faced. He struck out one. He also worked two innings of scoreless relief in an 8-1 win at Montreat (NC) Friday as the Skyhawks swept a three-game conference series over the weekend. Point (29-22, 16-11 AAC) begins the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament Wednesday in Kingsport, TN. HUNTER REAID — Shorter University (Fr., C, Woodland HS)… started the final game of a home, three-game series with Lee University Sunday as the Hawks lost 6-3 to the visiting Flames. Reaid was 1-for-4 with a first inning RBI and a stolen base. Reaid appeared in 20 games this season with 14 starts. He hit .319 in 47 at-bats with one double and five RBI. He also walked nine times for a .429 on-base percentage. Shorter finished the year 23-25 overall and did not qualify for the eight-team Gulf South Conference tournament with an 11-19 conference mark. GRANT ROBINSON — Central Alabama CC (Soph., 3B/RHP, Woodland HS)… made a one inning scoreless appearance last Tuesday in a 7-4 loss at Coastal Alabama-North CC. The Trojans also won three of four games with Snead State during the week. CACC (20-30-1, 10-17-1) hosts Chattahoochee Valley CC Tuesday, plays a doubleheader at Wallace State CC-Hanceville Thursday, and hosts a doubleheader with WSCC-Hanceville Saturday to conclude the regular season. MASON ROBINSON — Louisiana Tech University (R-Jr., OF, Woodland HS)… went 1-for-2 with a walk last Tuesday in a 9-4 home loss to Louisiana-Lafayette. In a three-game conference series at Western Kentucky, he was 4-for-14 with his fifth homer of the year, two runs scored, one RBI, a sacrifice bunt, and one hit by pitch. The Bulldogs won two of three over the Hilltoppers. Louisiana Tech (31-15, 15-6) hosts Middle Tennessee in a three-game Conference USA series this weekend. SAM SEAMAN — Gordon State CC (Fr., Inf/OF, Adairsville HS)… had a pinch hitting appearance and drew a walk Tuesday as the Highlanders routed Andrew College 21-4 in Cuthbert. GSCC (29-22, 15-12) have clinched a conference playoff berth and will finish the conference regular season this week with home games against conference-leading East Georgia State Tuesday, West Georgia Tech Thursday, and South Georgia State Saturday. NOTE: Young Harris College with Bartow County players Bailey Campbell, Tristin Smith, and Tyler Washington did not play this week. The Mountain Lions’ scheduled doubleheader at Tusculum last Tuesday was cancelled. YHC (25-22, 15-15 Peach Belt Conference) will play in the PBC Championship Tournament May 11 through May 13 in St. Augustine, FL.

Photos from Saturday's GHSA track and field state sectionals. (click on photo to enlarge) L-R starting at top row: Tavarus Varnum (Cass, high jump); Vanna Beach and Kayla Carpenter (Cartersville, 800M). 2nd row: Varnum (Cass); Stephen Smith (Cass, pole vault). 3rd row: Smith (Cass); Nick Bebko (Cartersville, pole vault). 4th row: Carpenter (Cartersville); Kyler Trouten (Cass, high jump). 5th row: London Shaw (Cartersville, discus throw); Chanelle Clemmons (Cass, shot put). 6th row: Bebko (Cartersville); Shaw (Cartersville, shot put). 7th row: Varnum (Cass); Carli Clymer, McKenna Trapheagen, Tess Cochran, Lindsay Scifers. Local state qualifiers: Results from Saturday’s State Sectional Qualifiers: Class 5A - State Sectional A Starrs Mill High School Woodland top 8 finishes: Girls 800M — 5th — Carli Clymer (2:24.81) Girls 1600M — 6th — Carli Clymer (5:20.69) Girls 3200M — 2nd — McKenna Trapheagen (11:21.73) Girls 3200M — 8th — Lindsay Scifers (12:03.61) Girls Pole Vault — 4th — Karson Norris (9-06) Girls Pole Vault — 6th — Brooke Cooper (9-00) Boys 800M — 8th — Jonathan Holloway (2:05.05) Boys 4x400M Relay — 8th — Jeven Reliford, Demarcus Williams, Jonathan Holloway, Markal Brown (3:26.79) Boys Pole Vault — 5th — Tommy Duke (12-00) Boys Long Jump — 8th — Markal Brown (21-02.5) Cass top 8 finishes: Girls High Jump — 2nd — Kyler Trouten (5-02) Girls Shot Put — 3rd — Chanelle Clemmons (40-03.5) Boys High Jump — 2nd — Tavarus Varnum (6-08) Boys Pole Vault — 3rd — Stephen Smith (12-06) Class 3A-B Sectional at Bremen High School Adairsville top 8 finishes: Boys 100M — 7th — Daylon Bailey (11.34) Boys 4x100M Relay — 8th — Daylon Bailey, Travon Branch, Ethan Belcher, Derrick Simons (44.07) Girls Discus Throw — 3rd — Nakiyah Washington (106-08) Josie Summerville — 2nd — Josie Summerville (36-06.25) Girls Shot Put — 5th — Nakiyah Washington (33-03) Class 4A-B Sectional at Kinnett Stadium, Columbus Cartersville top 8 finishes: Girls Shot Put — 2nd — London Shaw Girls Discus Throw — 5th — London Shaw Boys Pole Vault — 2nd — Nick Bebko Girls 800M — Kayla Carpenter NOTE: Photos shared by local track and field coaches via social media. Submit additional photos using our "Contact" page.