Guest Blog Post: Update from the Athletic Department

Dear Falcon Fans,

As the school year begins to come to an end and the athletic department begins making plans for the 2016-2017 school year, it is hard to not share some of the many accomplishments of our teams this year –

  • Of the 194 students enrolled in the middle and upper schools, 152 of those participate in at least one team sport
  • The school fielded 9 sports which made up 17 total teams
  • Six teams advanced to post-season play:

Volleyball – Class 1A State Runner-Up
Baseball – Advanced to 1st Round of AHSAA Playoffs
Golf – Qualified for the AHSAA State Golf Tournament
Soccer – Boys team advanced to 1st Round of AHSAA Playoffs
Tennis – Won the sectionals tournament and had three courts
finish runner-up in Class 1A – 3A State tournament
Track – 10 Students qualified for the state track meet in
Cullman

  • One student- athlete named the Class 1A Bryant-Jordan Scholar-Athlete in the state of Alabama
  • One head coach recognized as the Anniston Star “Coach of the Year” and one player recognized as “Player of the Year” thus far
  • One student-athlete signing a football scholarship to Berry College
  • Addition of two sports for the 2016-2017 school year: Swimming and Cross Country
  • Facility upgrades to the following:

Baseball field, football field, and practice field
Resurfacing of the track
Addition of LEAD banners to upper school gym
New flooring in girls locker room
Resurfacing upper school gym floor – Summer 2016
Replacing basketball padding in upper school gym
Replacing doors and restructuring storage areas for better
maintenance of equipment and uniforms
Painting of gym concession stand – Summer 2016

  • Purchase of equipment for volleyball, basketball, soccer, track, and baseball
  • Purchase of new uniforms for basketball, soccer, and track teams
  • Addition of a lower school program in basketball, with plans to add a running club, additional basketball opportunities, soccer, and hopefully baseball for students in lower grades
  • Implementation of a concussion management protocol for student-athletes in conjunction with CORE Sports Medicine (Dr. Clint Ray and Dr. Jeff Lawler) that was shared with Dr. Unini Nwogu for research she is conducting through Emory University.

The athletic department has accomplished a lot in a short amount of time! I am reminded of a quote that says “Individual success is an outgrowth of team success. No one ever accomplished anything without help from others.” We truly have a team of committed coaches who work tirelessly to provide the best for our student-athletes, which is why our programs have been so successful this year.

We are looking towards the future with short-term and long-term goals as we continue to offer opportunities for our student-athletes to compete, develop lifelong skills as a part of team sports, and continue to build upon the success of our programs this year.

Thank you to the board of directors, Dr. James Hutchins, and the Donoho Parents’ Association for your continued commitment to our athletic program.

Go Falcons!
Paige Faulkner
Athletic Director