D.C.H.S. Band Invited to State Championship

October 3, 2022
By: Bill Conger

The DeKalb County High School Fighting Tiger Band is heading to the state championship. D.C.H.S. Band is one of 25 top bands across Tennessee selected to perform at the 41st Annual Tennessee Division II State Marching Band Championship. The event will be November 5 at Stewarts Creek High School.

“First, it is an honor to be invited,” Band Director Don Whitt said. “Only 25 bands in the entire state of Tennessee are selected. This is huge for us. What it means to me before we win any awards or anything, we are one of the best 25 bands in the state. This to me, is an honor and makes me very humbled. Secondly, I feel as I am following in the footsteps of my best friend Tracy Luna, who had taken them to the State Championship in the past. One of my mentors was really noticing the way we played and marched during band camp in July, and said, “I think you may have an opportunity to play at the state championship this season” and encouraged me to get there.”

The band brought home an arm full of awards from Trousdale County on September 24. After competing in the Yellow Jacket Invitational the band was second in its class while the percussion and color guard placed first. Drum major Serenity Burgess placed second. The guard also scored number one overall.

“The color guard did a fantastic job at the competition,” Color Guard Coach Shannon Johns said. “They have put in extra time on the field and a few of them even helped write equipment work for the show. I am super proud of their performance and how well they represented DeKalb County!”

“I think we are building momentum for a wonderful year,” Whitt said. “I’m so very proud of these young students. They are learning what it takes to be successful, which is hard work and dedication. I’m very thankful for Erica Birmingham, Shannon Johns, Emily Wallace, Destiny Battaglia and the overwhelming support of the band boosters, administration, faculty, and bus drivers which makes this a successful band program.”

“Overall, the band did well. We are one band; one sound and we strive to work together as a team. Overall, the judges said it was an exciting show. One judge commented,” There is nothing boring about it.” The one focus that they said to have in every group is keeping that excitement and energy alive throughout the entire show. Which is about 7 minutes. The main thing we must do now is clean up the music and marching techniques. Everyone that saw us last year has come up to me at football games, at competitions and even Wal-Mart has told me this is a different and better-looking band than last year. I’m very happy about that. We must continue with that momentum.”

The annual Yellow Jacket Invitation Tournament also honored D.C.H.S. late band director Tracy Luna by retitling the soloist award in his memory.

October 1, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb West School students showed their colors this week for DCHS in celebration of homecoming

Thanks to Assistant Principal Thomas Cagle, DCHS organized an art contest for DWS students, and three winners were selected to be part of the homecoming game night experience. The winners were chosen among grade level groups.

“Kindergarten through second grade were in a grade band, third through fifth grade were in a grade band, and sixth through eighth grade were together,” said DWS Assistant Principal Seth Willoughby.

Overall winners were eighth grader Ben Driver who took first place for his artwork of a player, fourth grader Jaxon Murphy for his Tiger costume art, and first grader Ty Combs for his Tiger logo. Each winner received a Homecoming game pass for their families and the students got to stand on the field for the player’s entrance. The first-place winner, Ben Driver was also made an honorary captain and delivered the game ball to the official for the opening kickoff Friday night.

Willoughby said the contest was special for DeKalb West School students who don’t usually get to be included in the DCHS activities because of the distance between the schools.

“The (Homecoming) parade doesn’t come all the way to the West School, so he (Cagle) wanted to find a way to get all students involved,” said Willoughby. “He (Cagle) created this art contest for us that spanned over the whole grade system”.

“Mr. Cagle gave students three art options to pick out, color and decorate however they saw fit,” Willoughby said. “We had judges pick out the homeroom winners, and those were sent to the high school to be judged.”

Judges for the art contest included Mrs. Walteen Parker, Mrs. Betty Loeb, and Mr. Jack Loeb.

The art contest also included a category for DCHS students and three of them won for their artwork, which earned them class points for their grade level during Spirit Week. Eleventh grader Lilly Waggoner won first place for her Tiger in the spotlight, eleventh grader Topanga Patrick won second for her “Scream” depiction, and senior Ailish Munoz came in third for her Tiger with sunglasses.

Photo: Pictured from left are DeKalb West School Assistant Principal Seth Willoughby, Ben Driver, Jaxson Murphy, Ty Combs, and DWS Principal Sabrina Farler.

October 1, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Dominance!

The DeKalb County High School Tigers overpowered the struggling Livingston Academy Wildcats 48-0 Friday night in their most dominant performance of the season.

There was plenty to celebrate. The win came before a stadium filled homecoming crowd. It was the Tigers’ first shutout of the season. Star running back Colby Barnes set a new single game rushing record in Tiger football history with 356 yards on 30 carries and 5 touchdowns. Coach Steve Trapp got his 100th high school career coaching victory and the win keeps the Tigers in the hunt for a regular season Region Championship. For the season, Barnes has 1,366 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns.

DeKalb County is now 6-1 overall and 2-1 in Region 4, Class 4 A behind undefeated Stone Memorial who sports a record of 7-0 and 3-0 in region play. Macon County, who defeated the Tigers earlier in the season, owns a record of 6-1 (2-1) and Upperman is 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the region. Both Cumberland County and Livingston Academy are now 0-7 (0-3).

The Tigers have a bye next week October 7 but will be at Upperman October 14, at Goodpasture October 21, and will then close out the regular season at home against Stone Memorial on October 28.

The Tigers scored their first touchdown of the game after a blocked Wildcat punt. Trace Hamilton got the ball and scored from 3 yards out with 8:06 left in the 1st period. Juan Ortega booted the extra point and DC led 7-0.

Colby Barnes scored his first of five touchdowns of the game on a 28-yard run with 4:32 left in the 1st period. The PAT attempt was no good but the Tigers led 13-0.

Barnes put the Tigers up 19-0 on a 50-yard touchdown run with 2:44 left in the 1st period. Again the PAT attempt was no good.

A mishandled kick-off gave the Wildcats the ball at their own 2-yard line but a safety extended the Tiger lead to 21-0 by the end of the 1st period.

A 12-yard touchdown run by Barnes with 9:02 left in the 2nd period built the Tiger lead to 27-0 after another failed PAT try.

Wil Ferris scooped up a fumble and scored on a 25-yard run with 8:44 left in the 2nd period and with Ortega’s PAT the Tigers owned a 34-0 lead.

Barnes got his fourth touchdown of the game on a 7-yard run with 2:25 left in the half. Ortega added the extra point and DeKalb County held a 41-0 advantage.

The last touchdown of the night came on a 15-yard run by Barnes with 7:26 left in the 3rd and with Ortega’s PAT DeKalb County went on to win 48-0.

The continuous clock rule was enforced in the second half of the game. Under TSSAA rules, the clock continues to run most of the time when the lead reaches 35 points in the second half in football.

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