Sports
August 17, 2022 by Alan Sloan
Going only 6 miles to find their new varsity boys basketball head coach, Farragut High School brass chose a young man with no head coaching experience.
However, FHS principal Dr. John Bartlett and athletic director Donald Dodgen spoke glowingly of J.P. Burris, 31 — having lured away their new Admirals skipper from rival Hardin Valley Academy.
“When we found out coach (Jon) Higgins was resigning, I started reaching out to people I knew in the basketball community,” Bartlett said to the basketball players, who gathered in the school’s library to hear and meet their new coach Thursday afternoon, Aug. 11. “I got names from different people. Coach (Dodgen) did the same, different people.
“And one of the consistent names from everybody sending names was J.P. Burris,” he added. “One thing they said was, ‘He fits your culture, he fits Farragut, he fits what you believe. ...’
“He stands for what I believe in, OK, so he’s a coach from my heart. He knows basketball and he knows it well. And he knows young men.”
Under Burris, “He’ll demand you be the hardest-working basketball team on the court, no matter who we play,” Bartlett said. “When the ball’s loose, we’ll be down first to get it.”
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August 17, 2022 by Bill Howard
It looks to be a rebuilding year for Farragut High School’s volleyball team because of heavy losses from last year.
However, third-year head coach Jo Madden is expecting big things from her girls.
“I’m very excited about the new season,” Madden said. “We have a lot of young girls who are eager and ready to learn. I’m excited to see what my senior McKenzie Turner’s gonna do. We’re expecting a lot of power from her this season.”
Turner, a 6-foot senior captain who plays outside or middle hitter, will anchor the Lady Admirals’ offense. Trying to set her up for a kill will dominate their offensive set.
“This season is going to be a great one,” Turner said. “Our team has already grown so much since preseason workouts, and I’m excited to see where our progress takes us. I’m ready to get out there ...”
“She can hit anywhere in the front row,” Madden said. “She’s our big person that’s gonna have kills. She’s a powerhouse.”
Most Turner kills likely will come from passes made by sophomore setter Tori McNair, who was named Freshman of the Year last season in District 4-AAA.
“She’s a phenomenal setter,” Madden said of McNair. “She ran our 5-1 last year. She’s coming back this year to run our 5-1. She’s one of the best setters around here.”
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August 17, 2022 by Staff Reports
The opening week of the Farragut-area high school football season finds Eddie Courtney’s FHS Admirals hosting Hendersonville Beech, a perennially strong Class 5A program.
With Courtney’s boys looking to avenge a loss at Beech last season, opening kickoff is 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 19.
Hardin Valley Academy and new head coach Jeff Miner travel to rival Karns to open 2022. Opening kickoff is 7 p.m., Friday.
As head coach Dave Meske begins his 38th and final season as Webb School of Knoxville’s highly successful head coach, the Spartans look to avenge a loss at Carter last season, hosting the Hornets. Opening kickoff is 7 p.m., Friday.
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