High School Sports
BREAKING
This Sentell’s Intel rep on Georgia football recruiting has the latest with 3-star IOL Zach Lewis of North Gwinnett High School. He ranks as the nations’s No. 69 IOL and the No. 780 overall prospect for 2026 on the 247Sports Composite. The On3 Industry Ranking has him as the No. 93 IOL and No. 969 […]
This Sentell’s Intel rep on Georgia football recruiting has the latest with 3-star IOL Zach Lewis of North Gwinnett High School. He ranks as the nations’s No. 69 IOL and the No. 780 overall prospect for 2026 on the 247Sports Composite. The On3 Industry Ranking has him as the No. 93 IOL and No. 969 overall.
Zach Lewis visited UGA over the weekend and it didn’t take him long to figure out where he wanted to play college football.
It was where he always wanted to play college ball.
Lewis is from a family of Dawgs. Not just folks with the vanity license plate or the baseball caps. That family is full of those that have been barking and yelling at the TV over the years.
The wins? Glory Glory. The losses? Gutpunch time.
The fact he just publicly committed to UGA will have them barking again.
“They were stoked,” Lewis said of the silent commitment he made over the weekend. “My mom is a die-hard Georgia fan and my Dad is the same.”
Lewis, a 3-star IOL prospect at North Gwinnett High School, will carry the same team name over to his new college home.
“I knew the first day at my [official visit] that something was different,” Lewis said. “The way the coaches acted and the way the players interacted with us was different than any other college.”
“UGA had always held a special place in my heart and the fact that I can go play there and get developed there is a real dream come true.”
Lewis was offered as a center. He chose the Dawgs over strong interest in Georgia Tech, North Carolina and South Carolina, among others.
Why was it Georgia?
“What I like best about UGA is the developmental piece of the program and how they practice and play and the speed and detail they put into it all,” he said. “Also, it is very obvious that the coaching staff and support staff wants players to be successful on and off the field.”
He had other official visits planned, but those got pancaked over the weekend.
“I have cancelled all of my other OVs for this summer,” he told DawgNation.
There’s an interesting recruiting climb here. Don’t get swept up in his rankings as a prospect. Lewis has constantly been evolving as a player. The more he put on weight, the more he rose as a prospect.
It wasn’t that long ago he was a 240-pounder playing defensive line for the Bulldogs at North Gwinnett. He actually converted from the DL to the OL. Lewis will also be playing both ways for the Bulldogs in his senior season.
He’s got good feet. His prospect page on HUDL lists him with a 5.08 time in the 40, but that’s likely gone up a bit as he’s bulked up.
Check out his junior film below. That was eight months and about 20-25 pounds ago.
Lewis now becomes the 13th commitment in the class. He’s the seventh in-state commitment, the seventh commitment for the offensive side, and the second commitment for the offensive line this cycle.
The decision moves Georgia ever closer to Penn State for the nation’s No. 5 recruiting class on the 247Sports Composite team rankings for 2026. The Nittany Lions and their 19 commitments currently hold a 234.98-231.40 edge on Georgia.
3-star IOL Zach Lewis has committed to Georgia football. The 6-foot-4, 286-pound rising senior plays for North Gwinnett High School. (Courtesy photo) (Courtesy photo/Dawgnation)
3-star IOL Zach Lewis has committed to Georgia football. The 6-foot-4, 286-pound rising senior plays for North Gwinnett High School. (Courtesy photo) (Courtesy photo/Dawgnation)
3-star IOL Zach Lewis has committed to Georgia football. The 6-foot-4, 286-pound rising senior plays for North Gwinnett High School. (Courtesy photo) (Courtesy photo/Dawgnation)
Zach Lewis: What is Georgia football getting here
The newest Georgia football commit also played basketball growing up. He played for the North Gwinnett basketball team last season.
Lewis was at right tackle as a sophomore for North Gwinnett. He started there for that entire season. There is some tight end in his background and he actually caught a pass that was thrown his way during the 2023 season. It went for about 15 yards.
The unique wrinkle here is he weighed about 214 pounds back then. Georgia got on Lewis late, but so did the majority of college programs.
It was just a different evaluation seeing Lewis on film and in person as he grew from 214 to 245 to 265 to now 286 pounds.
The more weight he put on, the more the college attention spiked.
“I’ve been telling college coaches that he’s going to fill out,” Godfree said. “He’s got a great frame. The way he plays football, he could be an interior NFL lineman one day because he is so athletic and he plays so physical and so hard once his body fills out.”
During his junior year, he played right tackle and rotated across the defensive line.
He’ll play center and right tackle this fall and grab even more first-team reps on the defensive line.
“He plays with a super-high motor,” North Gwinnett head coach Eric Godfree said. “He’s physical. It is going to be great for us him being able to snap the ball as well and him being able to match him up what would give us our best opportunity to score points and win a game.”
That’s what stands out on his junior film. He’s coming off the ball, blocking down, getting to linebackers and just getting his hands on people and finishing blocks.
“He plays the game the right with his relentless effort on the field,” Godfree said. “He plays from whistle to whistle. He is trying on every single snap to dominate the person in front of him. He plays with that amount of nastiness that you need, but then off the field he’s an incredible kid.”
“He’s a competitor. It is hard to get offensive linemen to play that physical and that hard every snap. He does. He plays that physical and that hard every snap. He wants to dominate the man in front of him every play.”
He’s a better run blocker at this stage, but he’s still a high-level pass protector right now.
There was a story that Godfree shared after his sophomore season. It was between him and the school’s athletics director. The North Gwinnett AD named two players that he said were the two that he loved to watch compete the most.
It was rare to hear someone single out an offensive lineman, but Lewis was one of the two Bulldogs that he named. Especially after he had just switched from DL to OL for that season.
“He said that just because of the way he played the game,” Godfree said. “He plays so passionately and is finishing blocks. Again, just plays the game right. … It is physical and it is nasty.”
“That story put a huge smile on my face and a lot of pride when an offensive lineman stands out like that and somebody enjoys watching them play. That’s somebody who is playing the game right.”
Look for Lewis to be a team captain this fall at North Gwinnett. He’s that type of leader on his football team.
3-star IOL Zach Lewis has committed to Georgia football. The 6-foot-4, 286-pound rising senior plays for North Gwinnett High School. (Courtesy photo) (Courtesy photo/Dawgnation)
3-star IOL Zach Lewis has committed to Georgia football. The 6-foot-4, 286-pound rising senior plays for North Gwinnett High School. (Courtesy photo) (Courtesy photo/Dawgnation)
3-star IOL Zach Lewis has committed to Georgia football. The 6-foot-4, 286-pound rising senior plays for North Gwinnett High School. (Courtesy photo) (Courtesy photo/Dawgnation)
Have you seen this week’s “Before the Hedges” weekly recruiting special on YouTube yet? Check it out below
SENTELL’S INTEL
(Check on the recent reads on Georgia football recruiting)
High School Sports
2025 Kentucky All
MileSplit is proud to present the 2025 All-State Track & Field Honors for Kentucky. As part of a nationwide initiative, these honors recognize the top high school athletes in each city based on verified performances from the outdoor season. Athletes have been selected through a data-driven process to highlight excellence across every event, grade level, and team […]
MileSplit is proud to present the 2025 All-State Track & Field Honors for Kentucky. As part of a nationwide initiative, these honors recognize the top high school athletes in each city based on verified performances from the outdoor season. Athletes have been selected through a data-driven process to highlight excellence across every event, grade level, and team tier – from First Team through Honorable Mention, as well as All-Freshman to All-Senior teams. Congratulations to all of the athletes who took their performances to the next level this season.
High School Sports
Watch as former NFL coach Jon Gruden praises Tupelo football, Ty Hardin
AI-assisted summaryFormer NFL coach Jon Gruden praised Tupelo High School football and coach Ty Hardin at the Manning Passing Academy.Gruden highlighted the importance of high school coaches and called Hardin one of the best.Former longtime NFL coach Jon Gruden gave some praise to Tupelo football and Golden Wave coach Ty Hardin. While at the Manning […]
AI-assisted summaryFormer NFL coach Jon Gruden praised Tupelo High School football and coach Ty Hardin at the Manning Passing Academy.Gruden highlighted the importance of high school coaches and called Hardin one of the best.Former longtime NFL coach Jon Gruden gave some praise to Tupelo football and Golden Wave coach Ty Hardin.
While at the Manning Passing Academy in June, Gruden was shown talking with Hardin after the program posted a video on X on July 7. The Golden Wave are coming off a MHSAA 7A state championship where they beat Brandon 28-16.
Gruden asked what went into Tupelo becoming state champions.
“Our best players were the best people,” Hardin said. “That was it. Best players, are the best people. The players ran the team. Easy job.”
Gruden lauded the job that Hardin has done in Tupelo and the importance of high school coaches, citing Hardin as one of the best.
“Coaches, make a difference. This guy, he’s one of the best we got,” he said. “Look at all these kids that are out here playing, and they want to play for this guy right here.”
Tupelo begins its season on Aug. 29 with a three-hour trip down south to face Brandon in a rematch of the MHSAA 7A title game. The Golden Wave ended its season with a 14-0 record and won its first title since 1992.
Gruden was hired by Barstool Sports in November of 2024. He spent 28 years as a coach at the NFL and collegiate levels. He coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Super Bowl XXXVII title after the Bucs beat the Oakland Raiders, 48-21, in January of 2003.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.
High School Sports
Florida high school softball
High school softball on the First Coast has produced highlights by the hundreds throughout the 21st century. During the seasons from 2000-01 to 2024-25, Northeast Florida high school softball has crowned several state champions, produced countless future college standouts and paved the path for an Olympian to Team USA. The next question: Which of these […]
High school softball on the First Coast has produced highlights by the hundreds throughout the 21st century.
During the seasons from 2000-01 to 2024-25, Northeast Florida high school softball has crowned several state champions, produced countless future college standouts and paved the path for an Olympian to Team USA.
The next question: Which of these players is the best of the quarter-century across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida?
Here’s your chance to vote for the top high school softball player in Northeast Florida from 2000-01 to 2024-25. Participants can vote once per hour. The poll will remain open until 10 a.m. Saturday, July 12.
We reserve the right to disqualify a candidate or declare a vote “no contest” if tampering such as bots or offering to pay for voting is evident. Please respect the integrity of the vote the way these athletes respect the integrity of the game.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
High School Sports
Huntington's Jack Kennedy advances in Wimbledon juniors
Huntington’s Jack Kennedy, 17, advanced to the third round of the juniors singles tournament at Wimbledon on Tuesday by beating Jan Kumstat of the Czech Republic, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8). “[I’m] feeling a little tired, not going to lie,” Kennedy told Newsday via text. “But really pumped to get through this one, especially against such a […]
Huntington’s Jack Kennedy, 17, advanced to the third round of the juniors singles tournament at Wimbledon on Tuesday by beating Jan Kumstat of the Czech Republic, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8).
“[I’m] feeling a little tired, not going to lie,” Kennedy told Newsday via text. “But really pumped to get through this one, especially against such a great player.”
Kennedy, the No. 8 seed, will face American Ronit Karki, a Stanford University-commit, in the next round. Kennedy will attend the University of Virginia.
In the junior doubles bracket, Kennedy and partner Keaton Hance defeated Luis Miguel and Ziga Seska in the first round on Monday, 7-6 (5), 3-3 (retired). The duo reached the semifinals at the French Open last month.
Rockville Centre’s Noah Rubin won the Wimbledon junior singles title in 2014.
High School Sports
South Dakota Junior Golf highlights from Mitchell and Watertown
MITCHELL — Gabi Olson, who will be a junior this fall at Watertown High School, put herself in the state record book on the way to winning the South Dakota Golf Association-Sanford International Series event at the Lakeview Golf Course on Monday, July 7, 2025. Olson of Watertown fired a 3-under par 68 to win […]
MITCHELL — Gabi Olson, who will be a junior this fall at Watertown High School, put herself in the state record book on the way to winning the South Dakota Golf Association-Sanford International Series event at the Lakeview Golf Course on Monday, July 7, 2025.
Olson of Watertown fired a 3-under par 68 to win the girls division title by five shots.
She made her mark on the back nine at Lakeview, shooting a 7-under par 28. According to SDGA officials, it’s certainly the lowest nine-hole score in South Dakota Junior Golf history and maybe in the entire history of South Dakota golf. Olson birdied the first six holes and added another birdie and two pars down the stretch.
Chloe Attema of Harrisburg took second with a 73. Aberdeen golfers Olivia Braun (tied for third at 74) and Claire Crawford (tied for fifth at 75) each added top 5 finishes in the girls division.
Asher Dannenbring of Mitchell won a one-hole playoff over Tyson Blom of Sioux Falls to win the boys division. They each shot 4-under 67s.
Jaden Solheim of Watertown and Jonathan DeBoer of Twin Brooks each tied for sixth with 69s.
The tourney inluded 28 girls and 66 boys.
SDGA Junior Tour
WATERTOWN — Ninety-seven golfers (21 girls and 76 boys) competed on Monday, July 7, and 96 (24 girls, 72 boys) on Tuesday, July 8, in South Dakota Golf Association 2025 Junior Tour events at Watertown’s two courses.
The golfers played Monday at the Prairie Winds Golf Club and Tuesday at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in SDGA Junior Tour Northeast Division tournaments.
The 9-and-under and 10-11 divisions featured nine holes of play each day. The 12-13, 14-15 and 16-18 divisions included 18 holes each day.
The final Northeast Division event of the 2025 SDGA Junior Tour is scheduled for Monday, July 14, at the Lake Region Golf Course at Lake Poinsett. The SDGA Adult Junior Championship is slated for Sunday, July 20 and the SDGA Junior Championship Monday through Wednesday, July 21-23 at the Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell,
The SDGA Junior Tour Cup will be held Monday, Aug. 4 at the Hillsview Golf Course in Pierre. It features the top two points leaders (boys and girls) in each age group, except 9-and-under), for the Southeast, Northeast and West Divisions of the SDGA Junior Tour.
- 14-15 Boys — 1. Braxton Holland, Siou Falls, 72 (even par); 2. Jack Johnson, Vermillion, 73; 3. Seth Lesnar, Webster, 75; 4. Tate Stoeser, Fort Pierre, 76; 5. Jeran Carr, Vermillion, 77; 6. (Tie) Brecken Jungen, Watertown, and Lincoln McInerney, Brandon, 81; 8. (Tie) Hayden Liebl, Aberdeen; Riley Randall, Watertown; and Aiden Hernandez, Abrerdeen, 84; 11. Kooper Wookey, Clark, 85; 12. Matthew Gerlach, Aberdeen, 86; 13. (Tie) Jackson Ahmann, Watertown; Braxton Yackley, Selby; and Kaden Wookey, Clark, 87; 16. Ridgly Wasem, Aberdeen, 88; 17. Liam Heiberger, Brookings, 89; 18. Huntre Bushkofsky, Egan, 90; 19. Blake Bjorgaard, Aberdeen, 91; 20. (Tie) Hudson Palmquist, Watertown, and Owen Dravland, Harrisburg, 93; 22. Judah Fargher, Eureka, 97; 23. Lincoln Olson, Onida, 100; 24. Kroix Larson, Brandon, 101; 25. Noah Hansen, Brookings, 103; 26. Gus Mack, Watertown, 106.
- 16-18 Girls — 1. Josephine Bertrand, Brookings, 80; 2. Aryn Roering, Sioux Falls, 84; 3. Olivia Knox, Doland, 87; 4. Abbie Westra, Sioux Falls, 92; 5. Addison Kaltved, Sioux Falls, 93; 6. Carmen Bertrand, Willow Lake, 107.
- 16-18 Boys — 1. (Tie) Will Lockner, Brandon, and Quinton Hollan, Sioux Falls, 78 (6-over); 3. (Tie) Seth Hettick, Roscoe, and Kaiden Weinreis, Doland, 81; 5. (Tie) Easton Schelhaas, Yankton; Max Kees, De Smet; and Jesse Hernandez, Aberdeen, 82; 8. (Tie) Joshua Fargher, Eureka and Grayson Rehder, Aberdeen, 86; 10. Keegan Fossum, Marshall, MN, 87; 11. Sam Baruth, Alpena, 90; 12. Wyatt Kiesz, Aberdeen, 93; 13. Wyatt Rahm, Turton, 101; 14. Jayden Schwan, Groton, 104.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
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