White County High School (Cleveland, Georgia)

White County High School
Location
Cleveland, Georgia
Coordinates 34°37′02″N 83°47′40″W / 34.617343°N 83.794462°WCoordinates: 34°37′02″N 83°47′40″W / 34.617343°N 83.794462°W
Information
Established 1959
School district White County School District
Principal John Osborne
Staff 598
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 1143
Color(s)             
Athletics conference GHSA Div. 8A-AAA
Mascot Warrior
Rivals Lumpkin County High School
Chestatee High School
North Hall High School
Website White County High School

White County High School is a public high school located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, USA, which serves the youth of Cleveland and Helen in grades 10-12. It is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

School colors

The school's traditional colors are navy blue and white. In the early 1990s, gold trim was added to uniforms to honor the old Nacoochee High School, which merged into White County High School in the late 1950s.

History

The school opened its doors in 1959 but it has since moved and is located about five miles north of the original campus on Highway 129. In the 1950s, the 23 local community schools were consolidated into four districts. Most of the community schools only went to the eighth grade; afterwards, the students matriculated to either Cleveland High School or Nacoochee High School. Cleveland High School and Nacoochee High School consolidated into White County High School in 1959. Both the old Nacoochee gym and school still stand; the school is now a museum.

Students were segregated until 1964 in the White County School System. Prior to integration, black children went to one of three schools: Rock Springs, Oak Springs, or Bean Creek. After completing grade school, black students were bussed to nearby Habersham County to attend high school. Desegregation was accomplished in White County schools harmoniously and without much fanfare.[1] In 2010 the old high school (which had served as the middle school) was demolished to build a new middle school.

Significant events

Famous alumni

Athletics

Football

White County launched its football program in 1956 when the school was still known as Cleveland High School. The team finished 3-3-1 in its inaugural season.

Head coaches of the Warrior football program since its inception:[6]

The most successful of all Warrior head coaches was Coach Jerry Dorsey, who holds a .609 winning percentage.[7] He was the first coach to lead the program into the playoffs back in 1980.

The early to mid-1980s are considered the “golden age” of Warrior football. Between 1980 and 1987 the program boasted a 51-33-1 record with four trips to the playoffs. The 1983, 2010, and 2013 squads earned Region Runner-Up accolades. The 1980 and 2010 squads are the only squads to earn Sub-Region Championships.

The program has produced fourteen all-state/all area players throughout the years:[8]

In the 1970s and 1980s the school gained a reputation for turning out some of the best tailbacks in the state, often with the last name Dorsey or Moss.[12] During that time three players distinguished themselves from all others - Jesse Dorsey (1970s), Gary “Curly” Moss (1980s), and Glen “The Hoss” Dorsey (1980s). Jesse Dorsey still holds the career rushing record at White County.[13] Jesse Dorsey went on to play college ball at Georgia and Tennessee Tech, Gary “Curly” Moss played for Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley ,and Glen “The Hoss” Dorsey played at Western Carolina. Donnie Joe Campbell, Jr. is still the all-time passing leader for the Warriors and played for Appalachian State in college. He is now a plastic surgeon in Gainesville, Georgia, and is a top sponsor for the Warrior program.


Since the initial 1956 season the Warriors have played sixty-five different opponents,[14] with their oldest, and arguably biggest rival being the Lumpkin County Indians. As of 2013 White County and Lumpkin County have played a total of forty-six times with the Warriors holding a commanding 34-11-1 record in the series. Sadly that series may come to an end due to reclassification in 2013. In recent years the Warriors have developed a heated rivalry with the North Hall Trojans, mostly due to the inter-division match-up and proximity of the schools to one another (20 miles). As of 2013 the series is tied 21-21-0. Monumentally, the 2010 and 2013 campaigns will go down as the most successful campaigns in Warrior football history. The 2010 squad boasted a 9-3 record, a home playoff win, a Sub Region Championship and a player (Ashley Lowery) committing to a Division I school (Kentucky). Lowery joins Jesse Dorsey (UGA, Tennessee Tech) and Gary "Curly" Moss (UGA) as the only Warrior football players to sign with a FBS program. The 2013 squad also boasts a 9-3 record, a home playoff win and Region Runner-up accolades. Barron Pilgrim holds the basketball scoring record with 41 points against South Habersham, 1963. He was listed in the top 25 players in the state of Georgia in basketball.

Notable football seasons

Warrior Football Playoff Results

Playoff Record as of 2013: 3-10 (.300) [15]

Baseball

White County baseball has seen a resurgence since 2007 under the guidance of Coach John Brown. Since 2007 the Warriors have an 85-46 record and have enjoyed the GHSA Playoffs three times.

Records by Year:[17]

When the baseball team qualified for the playoffs in 2008, it was the first time since 1990 that a Warrior baseball team had made it into the post season. They were the number 4 seed coming out of Region 7-AAA.

All-State Players:[18]

Gainesville Times All-Area Player:[19]

Gainesville Times All-Area Team:[20]

In addition to being named to the Gainesville Times All-Area Teams, both Luke Crumley and David Sosebee inked letters of intent with the University of Georgia's baseball team.[21] Sosebee was also drafted in the 48th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox.[22]

Women's Basketball

The White County women’s basketball program was the only program to bring a State Championship to the school prior to the 2010 softball team. Notable final state rankings for the Lady Warriors:[23]

On Saturday March 14, 1981, at Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum, the Lady Warriors, led by guards Frankie and Jeanette Dorsey, forward Anne Smith and center Sonya Thomas, downed the East Hall Lady Vikings 46 – 39 to claim the school’s first state championship. The game was a see-saw battle until the fourth quarter. Coach Loudermilk decided to triple team East Hall’s All-State player, Brenda Hill, and essentially shut her down for the majority of the contest. When Hill left the game for a break, Coach Loudermilk employed a tight zone defense. With their leading scorer effectively neutralized, East Hall had trouble scoring and became more demoralized as the game went on. After the game Coach William “Wicky” Loudermilk was asked how he felt by a Gainesville Times reporter, to which he replied “Fine, fine.”[24]

During the late 1970s and early 1980s the Lady Warriors' biggest rival were the East Hall Lady Vikings. In recent years the Lady Warriors have had a heated rivalry with the North Hall Lady Trojans.

Lady Warriors Softball

The White County Lady Warriors softball team is the latest team to bring a state championship to White County. Prior to 2010, it had been 29 years since a White County sports team had clinched a state title (women's basketball 1981). In 2007 Coach John Brown took over the program and since that time the Lady Warrior softball team has had a 90-27-1 record and playoff appearances each year. On October 30, 2010, the Warriors defeated Allatoona High School 12-11 for the state title. The Lady Warriors were undefeated throughout the tournament, hitting a staggering 23 home runs, outscoring opponents 83-21, and setting a new record for home runs in a single game during the Class AAA state playoffs with 6 against Thomson High School.[25] The Lady Warriors softball team has a pre-game tradition of applying temporary tattoos to their forearms for good luck.

In 2011 Beth Kimsey became Head Coach of the Lady Warriors.

Marching Band

The marching band is directed by Michael Pickett and has 140 members. The band performs at halftime of varsity football games, as well as other functions.

White County High School Athletic Hall of Fame

In May 2012 White County High School had its inaugural Hall of Fame recognition ceremony.[26] The 2012 inductees were:

GHSA Literary Competition

In 2007, White County High School won its first GHSA Literary State Championship. After two first place finishes at the Gainesville regional competition, the Wyszynski sisters advanced to the Annual State Literary Festival in Warner Robins. Senior Lindsey Wyszynski placed second in Dramatic Interpretation, and sophomore Whitney Wyszynski placed first in Extemporaneous Speaking.[27] Whitney Wyszynski continued to place first in Region for her remaining two years of high school. She would later win a State Runner-Up title and a final State Championship title in Extemporaneous Speaking.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "In the shadow of Yonah, Garrison Baker 2005
  2. ↑ "In the shadow of Yonah, Garrison Baker 2005
  3. ↑ "In the shadow of Yonah, Garrison Baker 2005
  4. ↑ "In the shadow of Yonah, Garrison Baker 2005
  5. ↑ "In the shadow of Yonah, Garrison Baker 2005
  6. ↑ Georgia High School Football Archives
  7. ↑ Georgia High School Football Archives
  8. ↑ Georgia High School Football Archives
  9. ↑ Atlanta Journal Constitution 1/9/2011 Ed.
  10. ↑ Gainesville Times 12/25/2012 Ed.
  11. ↑ ajc.com 12/27/2012 Ed.
  12. ↑ Gainesville Times 1985
  13. ↑ White County News/Telegraph
  14. ↑ Georgia High School Football Archives
  15. ↑ Georgia High School Football Archives
  16. ↑ White County News 11/13/1980
  17. ↑ GHSA Archives
  18. ↑ GHSA Archives
  19. ↑ Gainesville Times 6/18/2011
  20. ↑ Gainesville Times 6/18/2011
  21. ↑ White County News 6/2/2011
  22. ↑ Max Preps website
  23. ↑ Georgia High School Basketball History Website
  24. ↑ Gainesville Times March 15, 1981
  25. ↑ White County News/Telegraph November 4, 2010
  26. ↑ White County News 4/26/2012 Ed.
  27. ↑ http://www.ghsa.net/node/1195
  28. ↑ http://www.ghsa.net/2009-2010-ghsa-state-literary-meet-results-class-aaa

External links