Tiger MVP, MVC named
The 2015 DCHS Tiger football Most Valuable Player was announced at the annual football banquet in January, held at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center and sponsored by Liberty State Bank.
The coveted award went to senior A.J. Mooneyham this year.
In presenting the trophy, Coach Steve Trapp said Mooneyham had been a solid player in several positions during his high-school career. "He started out as a running back, then moved around and did a lot of different things for us, but for his career he rushed the football 108 times for 540 yards and 11 touchdowns,” Trapp shared. “Keep in mind he got moved around a lot. He wasn't solely a running back for his whole career. He had 39 receptions for 351 yards and four touchdowns, return yardage. He had 13 punting and kickoff returns for 266 yards. He did a lot of different things for us in his career. He had 209 total tackles, including 19 for a loss, one safety, seven interceptions, five deflected passes, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and four blocked extra points or field goals.”
Mooneyham was also named Second Team All-District in 8AA, was selected by his team as DeKalb County High School Defensive Back of the Year. He was named First Team All-District in 8 AA, and was named DCHS Linebacker of the Year in 2014. In 2015 he had 11 receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 57 times for 239 yards and seven touchdowns. He received All Upper Cumberland Second Team Defensive Back, All Region Most Outstanding Defensive Back and First Team All-Region for Region 4AAA as well.
Senior Carlee White took the Most Valuable Cheerleader Award at the banquet. Cheer Coaches Amanda Fuller and Sonya House presented the award.
"She was an All American for two years,” Fuller said of White. “She received the highest score for two years. She helped us plan every single pep rally. She has a true gift for choreography, putting together dances and putting things to music. Cheerleading is her life. She has done this competitively. She knows what she is doing and works as hard as everyone else. She did something this year that has never been done before. She was nominated for the TSSAA All State Cheerleading Team. You have to be selected to even try out for this team. She was selected to try out and was one of only eighteen cheerleaders in the state of Tennessee chosen to cheer for the Tennessee East-West game. She is extremely talented. She is driven. She has great determination and work ethic. She is just a wonderful example of what a cheerleader should be.”
Lady Saints claim state championship
The DeKalb Middle School Lady Saints claimed the Class AAA state championship after defeating Avery Trace Middle School at the James C. Haile State Tournament on Jan. 30. After opening the tourney with a win over White House Heritage on Jan. 18, then a slight delay for a few snow days, the Lady Saints returned to action on Jan. 28 to take down Macon County. The win against Macon put them in the championship game against Avery Trace Saturday night. Julia Curtis, Mya Ruch, and Emme Colwell received all-tournament honors.
Chew signs with Bryan College
Scores 1,000th point against Upperman
DCHS senior Lady Tiger standout Ashli Chew signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Bryan College in February.
The signing came the day after Chew broke the 1,000 career-point mark against the Upperman Bees.
Lady Tiger Coach Joe Pat Cope pointed out that Chew reached the 1,000 point mark despite an injury that sidelined her for most of her sophomore year.
“She tore an ACL her freshman year and was out her sophomore year,” Cope shared. “Otherwise she would probably be at 1500 points now. She has worked so hard to battle back from that. It looks like she has a good chance to be the Valedictorian this year with a 4.9 grade point average. As far as her work ethic, nobody surpasses it. I called her Saturday to talk about the signing and she was with a personal trainer in Smyrna working on her game. That's just the kind of kid she is. Ashli is constantly in the weight room, working or shooting, and that is why she is at this level.”
Chew said that she was honored to be in the company of the few Lady Tigers to reach the 1,000-point milestone.
"That is really awesome. I think there have only been seven females in DeKalb County that have ever gotten 1,000 points, so that in itself is substantial,” Chew said. “As Coach Cope said, I had a knee injury as a freshman and I was released in the middle of my sophomore year. When I returned I was rusty, and knew it would be really hard to get my 1,000th point. I just have some awesome teammates and coaches who really push me. It's just a really big honor to be part of it," said Chew.
Bryan Head Coach Jason Smith praised Chew for her attitude and work ethic.
"We're excited about Ashli,” Smith said. “I guess I could say what is not to like about Ashli? She is an all-around great kid and great student. She has a great work ethic and is a great basketball player. She is a great fit for Bryan College in what she stands for in her personal life, spiritual life, and athletic life.”
Lady Tigers break 17-year losing streak against Cannon
The DCHS Lady Tigers’ 17-year losing streak to the Cannon County Lionettes was broken in a spectacular fashion in February when DeKalb pulled out a 46-45 win with less than a second on the clock.
The Lady Tigers wrapped up their regular season with a tooth-grinding win against Cannon, biting and scratching all the way to the final nanoseconds of the game. The two teams fought for the lead for the entire match, seldom more than three points apart on the scoreboard.
DeKalb County trailed by only two after an 11-9 first period, but a second period battle put them ahead 22-19 at halftime after outscoring Cannon 13-8 in the period. DeKalb clung to a 35-33 lead going in to the third period.
Then after a frantic final period in which the lead was traded back and forth like a hot potato, DeKalb found themselves in possession of the ball, trailing 45-44, and with nine-tenths of a second to do something about it.
And they did.
The three senior members of the squad teamed up in an artful finale to the season that had the crowd on its tiptoes. Morgan Pedigo set a backscreen while Jailyn Bolding passed the ball inbounds to Ashli Chew, who calmly dropped the winning two points in for the win.
All-District selections include several local players
District 8 AA basketball All-District selections have been announced, and several Tigers and Lady Tigers made the grade.
Lady Tiger standout Ashli Chew was named to the First Team All-District, while Jailyn Bolding received an All District Honorable Mention, and was selected for the All-Defensive Team. Joannie Robinson and Macy Hedge were chosen for the All-Freshman Team.
Tanner Poss was picked for the Boys All Freshman Team, while Marshal Evins and Gentry Harpole took All District Honorable Mentions.
The Lady Tigers wrapped up the regular season with a 22-12 overall record and were 5-9 in the district.
The Tigers finished the regular season 13-19 overall, and a 1-13 district record.
Lady Tigers place third in district
The DCHS Lady Tigers slipped by Smith County in a 51-50 game to clinch third place in District 8AA basketball at Hooper-Eblen Center on the Tennessee Tech Campus in Cookeville in February.
While the Lady Tigers jumped out to an 18-12 lead by the end of the first quarter, the Lady Owls outscored DeKalb 13-10 in the second. DeKalb County held on to a 28-25 lead at halftime.
Smith County again outpaced the Lady Tigers in the third, scoring 16 points and allowing DeKalb only 10. SCHS took a 41-38 lead at the end of the third period.
DeKalb came back to life in the fourth, but the Lady Owls presented quite a challenge. DCHS scored 13 The DCHS Tiger basketball Most Valuable Players, as well as the Most Valuable Cheerleader for the 2015-16 season, were recognized at the team’s annual banquet Thursday night.
Tiger basketball MVPs, MVC named
The DCHS Tiger basketball Most Valuable Players, as well as the Most Valuable Cheerleader for the 2015-16 season, were recognized at the team’s annual banquet in March.
Senior Noah Parsley took the Tiger MVP award, Senior Jailyn Bolding was named the most valuable Lady Tiger, and Senior Chloe White received MVC honors.
Parsley also went home with Best Defender and Best Passer awards, as well as the Hustle Award. Bolding, who received an All District Honorable Mention and was named to the All-District Defensive Team this season, took the Hustle Award for the Lady Tigers, and was recognized as Best Ball Handler and Defensive MVP.
White not only took the MVC award, but was the recipient of the Most Spirit honor as well.
Record Brook Trout caught
He caught it on April Fools’ Day, but Sasa Krezic has a fish tale that has been verified and placed in the record books by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. It is no joke!
A new northern brook trout state record was on the Caney Fork River near Smithville by Krezic, a resident of Nashville. Will Collier, a TWRA fish biologist, verified the record weight at 4 lbs., 12 oz.
The old state record was set in 1973 by Jerry Wells while fishing the Hiwassee River near Chattanooga. It weighed 3 lbs., 14 oz. and stood the test of time over 43 years and during millions of fishing trips.
Tigerettes celebrate 30 years
Tigerettes past and present gathered at Danny Bond Field in April to celebrate 30 years of fast-pitch softball at DCHS. Diondra Foster presented Coach Danny Bond an anniversary cake while Tigerettes old and new look on. Bond, now retired, had coached the team since its inception in 1986.
Chew named to All-State Team
DCHS basketball standout Ashli Chew is one of only 16 female players statewide to be chosen for the Tennessee Sports Writers Association 2015-16 Girls All-State Team.
Chew scored 1150 points during her high-school career despite missing most of her sophomore year sidelined because of an ACL and MCL tear that required surgery to repair. With hard work and determination, she came back strong in her Junior Year and was named MVP.
She led her team to the first win over Livingston in 31 years by sinking two free throws with only three seconds left on the clock, and to a win over Cannon County for the first time in 17 years, scoring the winning points with .9 second left on the clock. The Lady tigers finished in third place in the District 8-AA tournament, and made an appearance in the Regional Tournament.
In her senior season Chew led her team in scoring with 619 points, and led in rebounds with 255, an average of 16.9 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game. She shot 70 percent from the free-throw line in her senior year, and hit 176 of 251 shots attempted.
Ashli was selected to the All-Freshman Team in District 8-AA, to the third Team All District, Upper Cumberland Honorable Mention, and Junior Girls three-point Shooting Champion in her junior year. She was named First Team All-District; All Upper Cumberland 2nd team, District 8AA All-Tournament Team and All State Basketball Team for AA in her senior year.
The Black & Gold is back! (and old)
Tiger Alumni give Cannon a 32-0 beating
It was not the man running across the field being chased by police that caused such excitement at May’s alumni game, it was truly Tiger Pride!
The DCHS Tiger Alumni gave the Cannon County Alumni a 32-0 beating in Woodbury.
The first match of its kind between former DeKalb and Cannon players included Tigers who graduated as far back as 1993. The teams went all out in a full-contact game of football.
While the Tiger defense held the Lions scoreless in the game, 2010 graduate Hunter Poteete led the Tiger alum to a win with four touchdown passes, hitting Justin Poteete (2009), Kevin Kijanski (2011), William Johnson (2005), and Lucas Phillips (2013).
Poteete hit his brother, Justin, with a seven-yarder with less than two minutes on the clock in the first to put DeKalb up 6-0. A successful two-point conversion by Jason Miller (1998) put the tigers up by eight.
Kijanski hauled in a two-yard toss with 9:16 left in the second to give DeKalb a 14-0 advantage. Another conversion by Miller gave the Tigers a 16-0 lead.
Poteete fired a 52-yard missile to Johnson with seven minutes left in the third to take the score to 22-0. Chris Chapman (2013), took the ball in for two more, and the Tigers took a 24-0 lead.
DeKalb capped the game with a 27-yard pass to Lucas Phillips (2013) with eight minutes left in the contest. Tiger Coach Steve Trapp himself (1996) took the two-point conversion in to bring the final tally to 32-0.
Tigerettes take district championship
The Tigerette softball team took the district championship in Baxter in May, squeaking by Livingston Academy in a pitcher’s battle that resulted in a 1-0 win for DeKalb, and saw Kayley Caplinger finish the tourney without allowing a run to be scored against the Tigerettes, striking out 28 opposing batters in the process.
DeKalb scored one run on six hits, and committed no errors. Livingston booked four hits and committed no errors. Caplinger struck out 14 Lady Wildcats in the contest.
Shortstop Tyra Graham made the only significant move against the losing pitcher, Lady Wildcat Sidney Pennycuff, lifting what proved to be the game-winning homerun out of the park in the third inning. While Joni Robinson ripped a long double in the fifth, and Caplinger, Lexi Bates, Katie Hall and Dani Meadows hit a single each in the game, the Tigerettes could not get a rally going.
Tigerettes finish fourth in state
The DCHS Tigerette softball team’s season ended with a final four finish in the TSSAA Class AA Girls Softball Tournament in May. A 5-2 loss to White House Heritage at the Murfreesboro Starplex brought an end to the season for the Tigerettes.
The ladies from DeKalb opened the state tourney with a win over the #1 ranked team in the state when they battled past Dyersburg in a 5-3 game on May 24.
The Tigerettes had a harder time with Waverly Central, taking a 6-2 loss to the team on May 25.
The loss sent DeKalb to meet Chester County in a fight to get out of the loser’s bracket. The Tigerettes were not letting go easily, and took the Lady Eagles down 5-1.
The win put the Tigerettes in the top four teams in the state, and in line to play the White House Heritage Lady Patriots.
The Tigerettes ended the 2016 season fourth in the state in the AA division with a 35-6-1 overall record.
End of an era
Bond retires as Tigerette coach after more than 30 years
DCHS Tigerette Softball Coach Danny Bond retired from coaching in June after more than 30 years with the program.
DCHS Principal Kathy Bryant announced that Bond will take over the Alternative Learning Center Director left vacant by the retirement of Marshall Ferrell. Bond’s career in education began more than 35 years ago. He started as a P.E. teacher at DeKalb West School in 1980, where he started the school’s first P.E. program, as well as serving as DCHS Tiger Basketball Coach Harold Luna’s assistant until 1984.
He left DeKalb West in 1985 to become P.E. teacher at DCHS. He took over the position of head coach of the Tiger basketball team, and became coach of the newly-formed Tigerette softball program the next year. Bond left his position as boys’ basketball coach in 2002, but continued to oversee the softball team.
In 31 seasons coaching the Tigerettes, Bond had an overall record of 680-258-1 (a .725 average). His district record stands at 293-56 (.840).
During his tenure with the Tigerettes, the coach also compiled
•17 Regular Season District Titles
•15 District Tournament Titles
•24 Region Tournament Appearances
•6 Region Tournament Titles
•12 Sub-State Appearances
•8 Sub-State Titles
•8 State Tournament Appearances
•1 State Final Four Appearance
•11 District Coach of the Year Honors
•1 Mid-State Coach of the Year Honor
•1 T.A.C.A. Coach of the Year Honor
•District 8-AA Softball Hall of Fame (2006)
•DCHS Softball Field Named in his honor (2014)
Kennard named Lady Tiger coach, then quits
A new girls basketball coach was hired at DCHS in June.
Nathaniel Kennard, a U.S History and World History at the high school, replaced former Coach Joe Pat Cope. Kennard, a Rickman resident who had just finished his first year at DCHS, was Tiger Basketball Coach Lynus Martin’s assistant last season.
The new coach tendered his resignation within a few days of the beginning of the school year, however, to return home to Livingston Academy.
Danny Fish, who had recently been named to take Tigerette softball coach Danny Bond’s job after his retirement from coaching after 30 years, was hired to replace Kennard as the new girls head basketball coach as well.
