Sydney Eaker ready to fly with the Fleet Lady Tigers nab North subregion crown
For more than a year, Heritage soccer player Sydney Eaker has been patiently waiting for the day when she could finally sign her name on her college letter of intent.
That day finally arrived last Wednesday as the senior defensive standout officially signed to become part of the program at Erskine College.
“I’m very excited,” she said, moments before signing on the dotted line. “I’ve been committed (to Erskine) since my junior year so for this day to finally get here, it’s been a long time coming. It’s been my dream since ever since the beginning of my freshman year when I really got serious about soccer, so this day means a lot to me.”
Erskine, located in tiny Due West, South Carolina, is a member of NCAA Division II’s Conference Carolinas. They also have one of the more unique college mascot names, the “Flying Fleet”, a moniker given to the football team by a sportswriter in 1929 and eventually adopted by the student body.
“It’s about four hours from Chattanooga,” Eaker said. “It’s a small town, but that’s what I like about it. I went to a camp there and just fell in love with it. I loved the campus and how small and intimate it was. Plus, they have a great medical program that I’m looking forward to going into.”
“Ever since her sophomore year, I’ve been looking at her as being a captain one day,” Heritage head coach Desiree Robinson said. “She’s always been a leader and she’s always working hard, on and off the field and in her academics. She’s really stepped into the role as a vocal leader as the years have passed by.
“I’m really expecting a lot out out of her this year as a senior captain and the leader of the team. She’s incredibly determined and aggressive when it comes game time and that’s what we need out there. I think she’ll be super successful at the collegiate level. She’ll be a good addition and I know Erskine will be happy to have her.”
Eaker said she plans to study biology and chemistry and wants a medical career.
Last week was a banner week for the Ringgold Lady Tigers.
The Blue-and-White won three games, all on the road, to clinch the Region 6-AAA North title. The subregion championship also earned them a bye to the semifinals of the region tournament and the automatic Class AAA state tournament berth that comes with it.
And, for the icing on the proverbial cake, Friday’s regular season finale was the 20th win of the year for the team and the 400th career coaching win for head coach Margaret Stockburger.
Ringgold will now
wait to find out their opponent in Friday night’s 7 p.m. semifinal at Calhoun High School.
Ringgold girls 56, North Murray 31
Last Monday, in a game which was a make-up of an originally scheduled game from earlier in the season that was postponed by inclement weather, the Lady Tigers thumped the Lady Mountaineers behind 18 points from Rachel Thomas and 14 from Kiwi Dale.
Karoline Sholl hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter and added 10 assists to go with her six points. Rachel Akers had four points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Ringgold girls 42, Coahulla Creek 40
The Lady Tigers narrowly avoided an upset at the hands of the Lady Colts last Tuesday.
Thomas had 14 points, followed by Sholl and Dare Schley with seven each. Sholl also collected six steals and five assists. Dale and Infiniti Foster had six points apiece with Foster pulling down eight rebounds.
Ringgold girls 57, Murray County 23
There was no such drama on Friday as Ringgold led 30-11 at halftime and poured it on the third quarter to win going away.
Thomas had 16 points, followed by Foster with 12 points and Schley and Dale with seven each. Sydney Pittman helped out with five steals, while Sholl dished out seven assists.
North Murray boys 63, Ringgold 50
The Tigers were feeling optimistic after holding the Mountaineers to just two points in the opening quarter. But the home team erupted for 25 points in each of the next two periods to win going away.
Drake Starks and Davantae Kimble had 10 each for Ringgold, while Logan Hullender and Blake Goldsmith dropped in six each.
Coahulla Creek boys 47, Ringgold 42
In the night’s final varsity contest, Tyler Phillips had 24 points for the Colts and went 8-of-11 from the free throw line, including making 5-of-6 in the fourth quarter.
Kimble had 11 points for the Tigers. Starks and Chandler Chastain had eight points apiece, while Cade Nayadley added seven.
Ringgold boys 67, Murray County 52
The Tigers got four 3-pointers from Kimble, who finished with 14 points in a win over the Indians. Ammon Murphy had 12 points for Ringgold (10-14 overall), while Jackson House added 11.
The Tigers will begin their region tournament at 4 p.m. on Tuesday against Haralson County. With a win, they would face the Adairsville-Murray County winner at 5:30 on Wednesday. Two straight wins would put Ringgold in the state tournament.
The boys’ region tournament will also be played at Calhoun High School.