AHSAA Winter Championships Set to Kick Off Busy February
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Volume 13, Number 1 AHSAA Executive Director Update Newsletter February / 2020 AHSAA Winter Championships Set to Kick Off Busy February Inside this Month’s Update Savarese Commentary Page 2 Central Board Winter Meeting Page 5 Tribute to Class of ’01 Hall of Famers Pages 6-9 Basketball All-Star Coaches Named Page 10 Charlotte Davies Retires after 33 Years Page 11 State Champs Photo Gallery Pages 13-14
The AHSAA’s Democratic Process Depends on our Schools’ Involvement In our great democracy we call provide opportunities and fair play for thousands of student-athletes. the United States of America, we This practice is a powerful responsi- watch carefully to see how our repre- bility, and Alabama is one of the few sentatives in Congress or in our State high school associations with this Legislature vote concerning national, process. state and local matters. Their votes Please use that strength from impact our lives. Just as political your vote to allow student-athletes to votes affect our lives as citizens, experience the gifts and lessons af- school votes affect our student- forded them through participation in athletes in high school sports. education-based athletics. It is not as The AHSAA is an association much about winning the games as it made up of member schools. Our is about winning in the game of life. schools have an opportunity through In the words of philosopher Ma- the AHSAA’s democratic legislative ya Angelou, “You may encounter many process to make by-laws and changes Steve Savarese defeats, but you must not be defeated. In that will affect our programs for fu- AHSAA Executive Director fact, it may be necessary to encounter the ture generations. Schools create the defeats, so you can know who you are, rules, agree to follow the rules, and cess. The schools then have the what you can rise from, how you can still expect the AHSAA to govern the month of February to study the pro- come out of it.” rules consistently. posals and vote their preferences. It This period of time is critical in In the month of February, each is imperative that each school princi- determining who we are as a state school has an opportunity to exercise pal embraces that duty and votes re- association. Now is the time to cor- its voting privilege, and those votes sponsibly for what he/she thinks is rect, change or improve our by-laws. are powerful. The outcome of the best for the entire membership. Use your vote wisely. schools’ votes can affect students In April, the AHSAA Legislative Thank you for what you do. I look and programs in the AHSAA for Council, made up of four members forward to seeing many of you this many years to come. As our schools duly elected from each of the AH- month as we head into champion- vote on proposals this month, I en- SAA’s eight districts, carefully con- ship play for our winter sports. courage our membership to find sider their own district’s opinions more ways to make kids eligible as and then cast their votes on each opposed to making kids ineligible. As proposal accordingly. For a pro- educators, our mission should focus posal to pass, it needs a two-thirds on providing opportunities for every vote from the 32-member council – student to participate in educational or a minimum of 22 yes votes. If a based athletics and not just the elite proposal passes the Council, the athlete. Dr. Martin Luther King re- Central Board of Control ratifies the minds us: “The ultimate measure of a proposal for it to become a bylaw. man is not where he stands in moments of Upon review of the AHSAA comfort and convenience, but where he Constitution, you will find that stands at times of challenge and many of the bylaws were written controversy.” almost 100 years ago. Those rules In the month of January, schools carefully crafted years ago still guide may submit by-law proposals or our thought process as we strive to changes through the legislative pro-
ALFCA Honors Dan Washburn Dan Washburn, who served as AHSAA Executive Director from 1991-2007, was honored by the Alabama Football Coaches Association with the ALFCA Lifetime Achievement Award at the organization’s recent awards banquet in Montgomery. Shown presenting the award is Jack Wood (left), the Director of the ALFCA. AHSAA Legislative Process Discussed Kim Vickers, left, discuss- es the AHSAA legislative proposal process with Ex- ecutive Director Steve Sa- varese on AHSAA TV Weekly, the association’s weekly TV Show which airs each Wednesday on WOTM TV and its cable affiliates. This segment can be seen at the following link: http://www.ahsaa.com/Legislative-Proposal-Process
IMPORTANT DATES Feb. 1-8: AHSAA Area Basketball Tournaments (sites are at schools which earned top seeds) Feb. 5: District 5 Meeting, Hoover, 6 p.m. Feb. 7-8: AHSAA Indoor State Track & Field Championships, Birmingham CrossPlex Feb. 7-8: AHSAA North & South Section Wrestling Championships, Birmingham & Montgomery Feb. 13-14-15: AHSAA State Wrestling Championships, Huntsville, Von Braun Center Feb. 13-19: Regional Basketball Tourneys, ASU Acadome; Garrett Coliseum; JSU Mathews Coliseum; Wallace-Hanceville Drake Coliseum Feb. 23: AHSAA Medical Advisory Committee Meeting, Birmingham Sheraton, 2 p.m. Feb. 24-29: AHSAA 98th State Basketball Championships, Birmingham BJCC Legacy Arena
AHSAA Central Board Approves Adjustment to Volleyball Season Playoff Schedule The Alabama High School Athletic Association Cen- tral Board of Control approved at its Winter Board Meet- ing January 15 an adjustment to the volleyball season and post-season schedule, providing more time between area tournament, regional tournament and state tournament play. The adjustments were made at the request of the Vol- leyball Coaches Committee. Next fall, the area tourna- ments will be played the week of October 12-17 with the regional tournaments being played Wednesday, Oct. 21 through Friday, Oct. 23. The AHSAA Elite Eight State Tourney will be played Oct. 28-29. “The Volleyball Coaches Committee unanimously recommended the changes,” AHSAA Assistant Director Denise Ainsworth told the Central Board. “Volleyball’s entire playoffs have been over a 10-day period and this will give the schools more time between the different AHSAA Central Board levels. It also gets the regional off Saturday, Oct. 24, President Keith Bender which is an important ACT testing date.” Oneonta (District 8) The Central Board approved a third site for AHSAA Regional Cheer competition and approved a concept to require mandatory background checks on contest officials beginning with the 2020-21 school year. The Board also approved a transition from C2C Schools to Dragonfly Content Man- agement Software for member schools beginning with the 2020-21 school year. The Central Board reviewed legislative proposals that were submitted in January by member schools prior to the board meeting. The AHSAA Legislative Council will vote on the proposals at April’s Legislative Council meeting. Schools are being surveyed this month for their input. In other Central Board action: Approved Northside Methodist Academy of Dothan for Associate membership beginning with the 2020-21 school year. Approved expenses for the upcoming 2020 State Basketball Tournament. Reviewed football playoff comparison financial data (first four rounds). Heard a report from Daniel Smith and Michael McGreevey of Knight-Eady concerning the 2020 State Basketball Tournament. Approved financial reports for the 2019 regional and state volleyball, cross country and swimming championships and the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star football game. Approved the NFHS COS Officials registration system beginning with the 2020-21 school year. Discussed District and Central Board representation and rotation. Heard a report from the Publication Committee concerning eBook costs.
Everyone Needs a Tom Calvin in their Life By DAVID ELWELL Decatur Daily columnist (This poignant tribute to one of the AHSAA’s all-time greats is being reprinted courtesy of the Decatur Daily) I firmly believe that if everyone had a per- son like Tom Calvin in their life that the world would be a better place. Calvin, who died (January 22) at age 93, had a way of making you feel special. Part of it was his smile and that twinkle in his eye. There was also that firm handshake that pulled you into his world. Tom Calvin, shown with His wife Lenette is the same way, minus his wife Lenette the firm handshake. They were a dynamic pair for 70 years and changed the lives of so many ject his managers were running to question. I people they touched. It wasn’t just football explained who I was and they relayed the mes- players or the girls she coached in gymnastics. sage. He later came over and apologized. The They were indeed an impact couple. Both have next time I saw him he apologized again and he been inducted into the Alabama High School did several more times. He made sure I knew Sports Hall of Fame, Calvin in the 1991 Char- that I was always welcomed at Austin, in his ter Class, and Mrs. Calvin the next year in office and at practice. 1992. I thought I had hit it lucky. I expected this I met Calvin when I was a rookie sports veteran coach to be someone who didn’t care writer at The Daily. It was in the summer, and much for distractions for his football program. he was preparing to start his fourth season at I thought dealing with the local newspaper Austin High. I lived close enough to the old would probably be a low priority. I was wrong. Austin campus that you could hear the whistles Instead we became great friends. from the football field in the morning and the Over the years I have put coaches in two band practicing in the afternoon. groups. One group is coaches that use fear to One late morning as I headed home from get the best out of their teams. The players play the office, I decided to swing by the practice their best because of a fear for what happens if field. I had yet to meet Calvin. I knew about his they don’t. Then there are the coaches who playing career at Alabama and in the NFL with care for their players so much that the players the Steelers. I knew about his coaching success want to be successful so as not to disappoint. It at Sylacauga. The plan was to watch some prac- didn’t take me long to see that Calvin belonged tice and, if I was still there when practice end- in the second group. His players loved him. ed, I would introduce myself. That season was Steve Rivers’ first year as In those days you could park on the street head coach at Decatur. The Daily’s high school right next to the practice field. I did and before football spotlight was probably shining a little I could step from the street to the grass I heard more in the Decatur direction. Calvin had been this raspy voice repeatedly yelling across the at Austin three years with just one winning sea- field for the managers to "find out who that son. As the fourth man on sports staff, most of man is." my assignments were at Austin. It took me a couple of minutes to realize CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 the raspy voice was Calvin and I was the sub-
Tribute to Tom Calvin — Continued from page 6 During school, Calvin was in his office the last period of the day. There was no football prac- tice in those days until after school. My visits would be during that last period. I would ask ques- tions about the Black Bears and just let him talk. Often he would divert to stories about growing up in Limestone County, playing football at Alabama, marrying the head cheerleader at Alabama, play- ing for the Steelers and the glory days at Sylacauga. The stories were so interesting that I would show Tom Calvin in his days at Austin High School up some days when I wasn’t work- ing on an Austin story just to hear another one. Calvin touched a lot of other lives and will Austin went 1-9 in 1981. After that season continue long after he’s gone just because of the next three years were amazing. The Black the people he touched. We should all be thank- Bears won 31 games and in 1983 advanced all ful that he passed through our lives. the way to the Class 4A championship game at Legion Field. If there had not been a monsoon Some Things You May Not that night at Legion Field, I’m convinced Aus- tin would have won that game. The wet field Know About Tom Calvin slowed down a fast Austin team. Murphy won ----------------------------------------------------- 7-0. • One of Calvin’s best friends growing up in Calvin’s career was all about relationships. Limestone County was Alabama teammate One of the most special relationships was with Herb Hannah, the father of the famous Han- Rivers, who played for Calvin at Sylacauga. nah brothers who played at Alabama in the Rivers’ father was not around much. Calvin 1970s. became like a father figure to him. Sylacauga • Calvin played at Alabama in 1949 and 1950. even won a tennis state championship with In the 1949 Iron Bowl, he scored a late touch- Calvin coaching and Rivers playing. down to cut the Auburn lead to 14-13. The After high school, Calvin helped Rivers PAT kick was missed giving Auburn the win. get a scholarship to play football at Mississippi • When Tom and Lenette married in 1950, it State. When Rivers was ready to start a coach- was the wedding of the cheerleader and the ing career, it was Calvin who told Decatur head football star. The Birmingham News covered it coach Earl Webb about him. Rivers joined with a big photo at the top of Sunday’s front Webb’s staff and that changed his life. He met page. The guests included players from both his wife Joan here and eventually became head Alabama and Auburn. coach at Decatur and later Athens. Their son • The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Calvin in the Philip has created a legacy as a star NFL quar- 25th round in the 1951 draft. He played for the terback. None of that would have happened if Steelers from 1952-1955 then left to become not for Calvin. head coach at Sylacauga.
Pioneer Becky Dickinson was Queen of High School Volleyball By BEN THOMAS Alabama Media Group (This poignant tribute to one of the AHSAA’s all-time greats is being reprint- ed courtesy of the Alabama Media Group) Legendary McGill-Toolen vol- leyball coach Becky Dickinson died January 14 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 83. Alabama High School Athletic Association Executive Director Steve Savarese has called Dickin- Dickinson is shown here with son the “queen of volleyball in the some of her prize pupils state.” Indeed, she helped propel the sport – and women’s high school athletics – to new heights during her sports programs in the AHSAA are so out- nearly 30 years coaching at McGill-Toolen. standing today,” Savarese said in Dickinson coached at the Mobile Catholic an AL.com story one year earlier. “She was a high school from 1970 through 1998. pioneer, who, through hard work and deter- She won 20 state championships – 14 in mination, paved the way for what the student volleyball, three in girls’ basketball and three -athletes are enjoying now.” in boys’ tennis, making her one of the state’s Bayside Academy Coach Ann Schilling, most successful coaches of all time. Dickin- who played for Dickinson at McGill-Toolen son has been credited with lifting women’s and was inducted into the same Hall of Fame sports to a level never achieved before in Ala- in 2018, said it’s hard to put into words exact- bama and was the first woman inducted into ly what Dickinson meant to women’s athlet- the Alabama High School Sports Hall Fame. ics in the state. “She paved the way for coach- She was selected as a member of that Hall’s es like me,” she said. “She broke the barriers, inaugural Class in 1991. Title IX and all that. What is really incredible “She’s the lady who broke all the glass ceil- is the hurdles she had to face early in her ca- ings,” current McGill volleyball coach Kate reer and then the incredible success she had Wood said. “Her stories are some of the most that followed.” remarkable things you can hear. I’ve won- Current McGill-Toolen basketball coach dered to myself if I could have been as relent- Carla Berry also played for Dickinson. less as she was during those years, fighting for “She lived an amazing, purpose-filled life that everything. It had to be exhausting.” had an impact on so many, especially the Dickinson was the first volleyball coach at young women she coached,” Berry said. "She McGill-Toolen with a regular-season sched- often implored us to ‘leave a place better than ule. She was the first girls’ basketball coach at we found it.’ By the grace of God, that was the school – period! her remarkable gift. “Her passion and leadership are key rea- CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 sons why the sport of volleyball and all girls’
Becky Dickinson — continued from Page 8 “She exponen- tially changed for the better whatever and whoever in her reach – McGill- Toolen, gender equality, wom- en’s sports and the landscape of Alabama high school athletics. But most im- portantly, her girls. I thank God for her presence in my life and imprint on it.” When Dickinson retired from coaching in Schilling said Dickinson left a legacy larg- 1988, her overall volleyball coaching record er than life. “I’m very grateful that I had (1,274-127) and winning percentage (90.9%) her in my life for as long as I did,” she said. ranked her as the nation’s winningest high "I owe her a lot for what she taught me on school volleyball coach. She led the Dirty and off the court. She fought tooth and nail Dozen to 14 state crowns, including unde- against this disease all the way. feated seasons in 1978, 1980 and 1985. She “We got her a hospital bed, but she resist- compiled a 397-112 basketball coaching ed getting in it because she knew once she record with the 1988 team finishing 29-0 lay in that hospital bed, it would be the end. and ranked sixth in the nation. She saw 267 She was avoiding it like the plague. She put of her players at McGill-Toolen go to up such a good fight.” college.
All-Star Coaches Selected for 30th Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Games Coaches for the upcoming 30th annual Alabama- Mississippi All-Star Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball Classic to be played in Mississippi March 13 have been selected. Jamie Lee, Director of the Alabama High School Krystle Michael Darrell Audwin Athletic Directors & Coaches Johnson Rivers Barber Howard Association (AHSADCA), an- nounced Hoover High School’s ing between Florence and Mis- (230-51), who graduated from Krystle Johnson will serve as sissippi for the first 12 years. Central-Hayneville High School, head coach for the Alabama The Classic moved to Pelham is in his ninth year as the head girls’ all-star squad and Pinson Civic Center from 2003-2011, coach at Central-Tuscaloosa. He Valley High School’s Darrell moved to ASU in 2012 and be- led the Falcons to a 28-3 record Barber will serve as head coach gan the Alabama-Mississippi last season and the 5A state title. for the Alabama boys. home-and-home rotation once Central is currently 22-3 this sea- Central-Tuscaloosa’s Mi- again in 2013. Alabama’s All- son. chael Rivers will be the girls’ all Stars are 1-2 in their three games Barber coached Midfield’s -star assistant coach and Weno- in Mississippi since then. Ala- boys to state titles in 2012, 2014 nah’s Audwin Howard will be bama’s boys are 4-1 in games and 2017 and directed Pinson assisting Barber with the boys’ played at ASU and the Alabama Valley to the Class 6A state squad. Administrative coaches girls are 3-2. crown last season. Now in his will be Tammy West, head Alabama’s boys won last year 11th season as a head coach, Bar- coach at Cold Springs (girls); 107-90 at Alabama State Univer- ber, who attended John I. Leon- Mountain Brook assistant coach sity’s Dunn-Oliver Acadome, ard High School in West Palm David Good and recently retired and the Alabama girls won 101- Beach (FL), has a 253-165 career Carver-Montgomery coach 82. Both squads hold a slim 15- slate. His Indians are 16-3 and James Jackson will serve as the 14 edge in the overall series. handed previously undefeated boys’ administrative coaches. Johnson, a 2001 Hoover Lee-Montgomery its first loss of Lee said the two 15-member graduate, has played on a state the season last weekend, 83-82. team rosters comprised of 2020 championship team, coached as Howard (123-65) attended seniors will be announced at a an assistant on a state champion- Birmingham’s Jackson-Olin later date. ship team and has served as a High School. Now in his sixth The AHSAA and its coaches’ head coach on a state champion- year as Wenonah’s head coach, wing AHSADCA work with the ship team, all at Hoover. Her he guided the Dragons to a 31-5 Mississippi Association of team won the Class 7A state record last season and their sixth Coaches (MAC) to produce the championship last season and boys’ state crown. It was the first games annually. finished 34-1 and is currently state title in his coaching career. The Alabama-Mississippi All- 25-1 in 2020. She has compiled a Wenonah is currently 15-9 this Star Classic began in 1991 rotat- 216-51 career record. Rivers season.
AHSAA News … Charlotte Davies Central NFHS School Retires after 33 Broadcast Team to Years of Service Produce State Track Charlotte Davies, who has The NFHS Network has an- served as the administrative sec- nounced that the Central-Phenix retary at the Alabama High City High School NFHS School Athletic Association for Network School Broadcast the past 33 years, has announced Program will produce the her retirement, which will be ef- AHSAA State Indoor Track & fective March 1. Field State Championships at the Mrs. Davies was hired by Her- Birmingham CrossPlex Feb. 7-8. man L. “Bubba” Scott, contin- Central’s Network supervisor ued her role with Dan Washburn Tim Loreman will be the exec- and has been serving in the same Charlotte Davies utive producer for the two-day role for current Executive Direc- event. Set to serve on the pro- tor Steve Savarese since 2007. so much more than just how to duction team are Central stu- Savarese said Mrs. Davies has do my job. They taught me dents Brett Fleaman, Jordyn been an integral part of the AH- about life and how to handle the Gossett, Haley McDoanald SAA staff for a long time. trials that come with that life.” and Caleb Parham. “We wish Charlotte the best She said she really loved Central’s broadcast program is as she moves into this next working at the AHSAA – and recognized as one of the best in phase of her life,” he said. “We especially developing so many the nation with Loreman’s team thank her for her faithful service friendships with those she was of students handling numerous to the AHSAA for the past 33 able to serve. “I really enjoyed live-streamed broadcasts over years, and we want her to know working with the Hall of Fame, the NFHS Network for Central we all love her and will miss meeting the inductees, hearing each week. The program pro- her.” their stories and sharing their duced the North-South All-Star Mrs. Davies said working at memories.” events last summer during the the AHSAA has been an im- She is looking anxiously at AHSAA Summer Conference portant part of her life. what God has in store for her and All-Star Sports Week. “It has been a journey, a great now. Track Wrestling, a partner journey,” Mrs. Davies said. “I will miss my family at the with the NFHS Network, will “God has blessed me with em- AHSAA. They will always have a handle all AHSAA Section (Feb. ployment at the AHSAA for 33 big piece of my heart,” she said. 7-8) and State Wrestling live- years. I have totally and joyfully “I must now travel onto the next streams (Feb. 13-14-25) with enjoyed my job to the fullest. I season of my life that God has each match being shown over have learned so many things prepared for me. I will truly be the NFHS Network platform. from the Executive Directors indebted to my AHSAA family WOTM TV and a host of oth- Mr. Herman L. “Bubba” Scott, for their friendships for as long er NFHS Network school Mr. Dan Washburn and Mr. as I live.” broadcast programs will live- Steve Savarese. They taught me stream basketball playoff events.
AHSAA News … AHSAA TV Weekly Looking for Highlights As many of you know, the AH- SAA produces a weekly TV show on WOTM-TV called AHSAA TV Weekly. To see the coverage map in your area visit the link on our homepage at http:// www.ahsaa.com/Portals/0/ WOTM-Coverage-2019_1.jpg. One of the segments on the show is highlighting performances and players with video highlights. The show features some the AH- SAA’s Top Plays of the Week. Our plan is to make this feature the Top 10 highlights each week. We need your help. If you have a special perfor- mance or highlight you want recog- nized or have video of a play wor- thy of being recognized each week, we encourage you to send it our way through Dropbox, Google Drive, or any downloadable link to dholtsford@ahsaa.com. Please be sure to identify the name of the player to be highlighted and the con- MILLER NAMED SAMMY DUNN AWARD RECIPIENT test (including opponent) -- and be G.W. Long baseball coach Drew Miller, left, is congratu- on the lookout each week for AH- lated by AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese; SAA’s top 10 plays of the week! AlaBCA Director Barry Dean and AHSAA Assistant Director Brandon Dean for being named the recipient of Rules Tests Open for the Sammy Dunn Award at the 2020 Alabama Baseball Soccer, Track Coaches Coaches Association Hall of Fame and Awards banquet January 17 in Birmingham. Coaches still needing to complete the AHSAA Rules Test for soccer and outdoor track still have the oppor- tunity to take the rules tests online at www.ahsaa.com. The Soccer rules rest will close Feb. 6 and the track rules test will close Feb. 27. For questions concerning rules tests, please contact Mark Jones or Ken Washington at 334-263-6994. Rules tests for softball and baseball also opened in January and will close Feb. 13.
2020 AHSAA State Bowling Champions GIRLS: Southside-Gadsden Panthers: Coach Zachary Blume BOYS: Thompson Warriors: Coach Chris Hollingsworth
2020 AHSAA Wrestling Duals Champions CLASS 1A/5A: Arab Knights (36-2): Coach Michael Pruitt CLASS 6A: Gardendale Rockets (16-5): Coach Brian Brasseal CLASS 7A: Thompson Warriors (19-5): Coach Shawn Weltzin
AHSAA SPORTSMANSHIP PHOTO OF THE MONTH HOKES BLUFF BOWLER Carly Wood congratulates an opponent for an outstanding roll during the first round of the AHSAA State Bowling Championships at Pel- ham’s Oak Mountain Lanes. That example of sportsmanship, which was captured on camera by Alabama Media Group high school sports director Josh Bean, was displayed by numerous participants — a major reason bowling is one of the fastest growing sports in the AHSAA.
Contact Us Alabama High School Athletic Association 7325 Halcyon Summit Dr. Montgomery, AL 36117 MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 242367 Montgomery, AL 36124 (334) 263-6994 Visit us on the web at www.ahsaa.com and follow us on Twitter Former Theodore High School standout Lamical Perine was honored by his #AHSAAUpdates high school prior to participating in the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl at Mobile. The Florida running back was named South Offensive MVP in the game and and see the latest the South’s most outstanding running back during the week. Shown present- AHSAA news at ing Perine his framed high school jersey is Bobcats assistant coach Vincent www.AHSAANOW.com Norvell. (Photo courtesy of al.com / Steve Kittrell) Thank You AHSAA Corporate Partners!
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