State Champions in Rockmart is the top story for 2017 prep sports.
The goal of Cedartown and Rockmart sports teams this season: get to the top, and stay there. At least one of those programs made the tough climb up the mountain of other teams in across the state.
Rockmart had their baseball, softball and football programs all make it to the state playoffs, with the Lady Jackets able to keep atop the heap and claim state gold for the first time. Cedartown sent programs to state as well this year, with the Lady Bulldogs competition cheer team coming up just short of a second state title and finished as runners-up.
Here’s a rundown of some of the big sports stories from 2017:
Rockmart girls win state championship
The Rockmart Lady Jackets only lost two games through a big season for the softball squad, who went 35-2 and won a state championship under head coach Steve Luke.
After winning a second region championship in a row, the team went perfect through the playoffs and finished off Monticello in a 9-7 win. It was the first state title win ever for the Lady Jackets softball team. They also beat the program’s record for the most number of wins in a season, and went on a 17-0 stretch through to the final win.
The State Championship also put Emily Loveless at the top of the AllArea rankings for the Rome NewsTribune in November.
“She’s simply a complete player,” Rockmart coach Steve Luke said for the RN- T All- Area announcement of her as player of the year.