Lady Cougars Open Season With Win

Lady Cougars Open Season With Win
By David Gravely
After suffering through some tough times over the past several years, the Pulaski County Lady Cougars did something Wednesday night that no other team in the programs recent memory has done as they defeated the Galax Maroon Tide 3-0 in their season opener.

"I thought we did well, but we know we still have work to do" said Lady Cougar Head Coach Eric Martin.  "We passed and moved the ball well, and I thought we played solid defense.  We didn't take as many shots as we could have in the first half, but we corrected that in the second half.  The girls have come a very long way since this time last season, and we're really happy to get the win."

Pulaski started off quickly, pressuring the ball onto the Galax side of the field and keeping it there for most of the contest.  Ten minutes into the game, a Lauren McPeak was awarded a penalty kick for a Galax handball from just outside the goal box.  McPeak sent the ball into the upper right corner of the net just past the outstretched arms of the Galax goalie, putting Pulaski up 1-0.  While the Lady Cougars continued to pressure the ball, they were unable to get clear shots for the rest of the half.

The second half saw Pulaski pick up the pace even more, and the Maroon Tide goal was constantly peppered with shots.  After only putting 7 shots attempts up during the first half, the Lady Cougars attempted 18 shots in the second.  With just under 15 minutes remaining in the contest, McPeak suddenly found herself alone with the ball just 15 yards from the goal.  This time the tall senior sent the ball to the upper left side of the net for her second goal of the contest.  Just one minute later, McPeak sent a free kick into the box where sophomore Ericka Nash made an aggressive move and headed the ball into the net to give Pulaski the final 3-0 margin of victory.

Alisha Romain started in the goal for Pulaski, recording three saves.  Tori Duncan came in to relieve Romain, recording one save.  While the opening night win is a first in some time for the Lady Cougars, as was the shutout.  "We did what we wanted to do tonight, which was possessing the ball and keeping it on their side of the field" said Coach Martin.  "We passed the ball really well, but we need to make sure we take advantage of our shot opportunities more often.  Not shooting well or often enough will eventually come back to bite us.   We did see alot of good things tonight though, and we are going to continue to work hard to get better."

The Lady Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday, as they host Radford at Kenneth J. Dobson Stadium.  Junior varsity action is set to begin at 5 pm, with the varsity game getting started at 7 pm.

Cougar Soccer Survives Season Opener

Cougar Soccer Survives Season Opener
By David Gravely

Pulaski County Head Soccer Coach Mike Price had a hoarse voice by the end of his teams first game of the season, as his Cougars fell behind the visiting Galax Maroon Tide 1-0 at the start of the second half. Fortunately, they were able to put things together to start 2012 off with a 2-1 win.

"After two successful scrimmages against Marion and Carroll County, we thought we were ready" said Coach Price. "Instead, we got more than we bargained for, and had to fight hard to come from behind to win. They were fast, and we made plenty of mistakes. We've still got some things to work on."
During the first half, the ball went back and forth with neither team gaining a real advantage. The Cougars had six scoring opportunities to put the ball in the back of the net, but failed to do so. After both team pressured the goals and were denied, the half ended 0-0.

Galax came out ready during the second half, and scored just two minutes in due to a blown coverage by the Cougar defense. The Galax forward caught the Cougar defender out of position and took off on a breakaway opportunity. Zack Willard tried to charge the forward, but a well placed ball found the back of the net, making the score 1-0.

The Cougars once again had trouble finding the back of the net, but they kept pressing. Pulaski would finally get on the board when Javier Wagner sent a pass to Zack Akers who knocked the ball home to tie the score 1-1. For the next several minutes the Cougars traded shots with the Maroon Tide, with both teams missing key chances to score. With the clock winding down, Pulaski finally capitalized on a great pass from Cody Wright to Javier Wagner. Wagner received the pass from Wright, lured the Galax defender to keep close, then chipped the ball into the upper right hand corner, making the score 2-1. Galax kept pressing, but the Cougar defense was able to hold, and the game ended with the score 2-1. Zack Willard had 4 saves in the contest.

"Galax had a really fast and skilled team" said Price. "Our defense basically ran the entire game trying to cover them. We were really confused tonight on offense. We wasted a lot of opportunities tonight. Instead of working the ball, we were hasty and made poor decisions. Three or four people cannot win the game, it takes everyone. The quicker they learn that, the better off we will be. I am also disappointed in some of the hustle tonight. We were waiting for the ball to come to us instead of getting to the ball first. Our communication on defense and in the midfield is an area of concern as well."

While he was disappointed with some points of the game, Price was pleased to see his team find a way to win. "Taylor Webster had a great game for us tonight. He won many balls out of the air, and provided a spark of hustle late in the second half that led to a score. In the end though, a win is a win and I'll take it. Hopefully we can learn from this and get better. We will have to be better playing Radford back to back next week. At least we have a week to get things back on track, and play like the team I know we are."

The Cougars hit the road on Tuesday to play Radford, then return home to host the Bobcats on Monday, March 26. Junior varsity action will get underway for both contests at 5 pm, with the varsity action getting under way at 7 pm.

2012 Lady Cougar Softball: Ready To Run!!

Lady Cougar Softball Ready To Run
By David Gravely

Pulaski County Lady Cougar Softball Head Coach Gina Miano did not hesitate to say what her plans are for the 2012 season. "We are going to take a lot of chances, and we are going to let go of our fears. It's time to step things up a notch, and these girls are ready."

Coming off of a 10-9 overall record and a 5-5 River Ridge District season that found them falling in the district play in game, the Lady Cougars are returning a dangerous mix of players that combine speed, solid hitting, and a solid knowledge of the game. Six of last years starters return, as well as three other players who saw considerable action throughout the season. You can also add to that what may be one of the deepest potential pitching lineups the Lady Cougars have had in years.

"We've not been able to get past the district tournament play in game for the past few years" said Coach Miano. "We have got to get that monkey off of our back. There have been times when injuries and just plain bad luck have hurt us, but we're not going to make excuses. It's time for us to get to the next level, and the team knows what we need to do to get it done."

Two seniors start the Lady Cougars lineup this year. Outfielder Lauren Foster was hampered by an injury from an auto accident last season, but on her return she showed constant improvement in hitting and base running. At the end of the season, she was selected as the Most Improved Player from the squad. Senior Kaitlin Smith returns for her final season in the cardinal and gold after she was able to finish the regular season with 10 wins last season as a starting pitcher. With some backup on the mound this season, Smith may be able to save some of her arm strength for key games instead of having to start every game.

The junior class will contribute six members to the squad, several of which were key members of last years squad. Sara Wright, who spent most of last season on first base, may be moved to another infield spot this year due to some tough off season workouts that have helped improve her speed and agility. Brooke Hundley, who played second base last season, could also find herself in a new position in the infield as Coach Miano looks to find the best spot for each of her athletes. Jordan Chrisley returns for her third year behind the plate, and looks to provide toughness and leadership as the teams catcher. Kelli Duncan, who finished last season tied for the fourth highest batting average on the team, has had a rough start to the season as she is nursing a stress fracture that hampered her throughout basketball season as well. The player she tied with, Carli Brewer, will also be back in the outfield and looking to help Pulaski topple the districts top teams. The final two juniors are Amber Cannoy and Britta Cannoy, who move up from last years JV team. Both sisters are quick with both the bats and their feet, and can provide backup at about any spot on the field when needed.

The sophomore class will add three more members to the team, of which two saw playing time with the varsity squad last season as freshmen. Lauren Shumate looks to be one of the leading candidates for first base, as she could provide a solid glove and seems to be learning the game at a fast pace. Katie Hurst will be looking to find a home in the starting lineup as well, as she looks to be faster and more confident during the early season practices. Leah Nichols is the final sophomore on the team, as she moves up from last years junior varsity squad. Nichols could be called upon to work in the outfield, but she is currently working on recovering from a hip injury that has slowed her down.

The final two players are the babies of the team, in the form of freshmen Chelsea Golden and Callie Gregory. Golden has proven to be very athletic and shows no fear, either in the field or in the batters box. With a chance to learn the game more, she could quickly become a big part of the team. Gregory could see some time in the outfield, but her main job will be working on her pitching as Coach Miano looks to expand her threat on the mound.

"Every position is open right now" said Miano. "The good news is that we have several girls that are competing for those spots, so every day we are making each other better. We're working hard, and we seem to have really good team chemistry. These girls like each other and get along well. I think we're in better shape physically as a team than we have been before, and most of the girls have taken advantage of the physical conditioning class the school offers. We're stronger, faster, and more agile because of that. I'm still in the search mode right now, trying to figure out who is going to be best for each spot, but as time goes on I'm getting more and more excited about our chances."

The River Ridge District will, as always, be a tough road. Salem, Cave Spring, and Hidden Valley should all be early season favorites, but Blacksburg and Christiansburg should both be tough as well with a good portion of their teams returning. "It's always tough to play the teams we play" said Miano. "Our district usually sends a team or two deep into the Region 4 playoffs, so the competition is going to be stiff. The girls did some really good things in the off season though, so we're looking to do some damage. We should be able to hit well, our defense should be solid, and our base running should be fast paced. We're not going to hold anything back, so if you want to see something exciting come on out and check us out."

The junior varsity squad is doing a solid job of program building as well, as they are fielding the team with a mix of underclassmen and middle school players. Expect good things from Katie Akers, Courtney Beville, Shianne Buckner, Caitie Cox, Ashley Curtis, Chelsey Gravely, Kennedi Hart, Sindie Hedge, Lauren King, Sierra Martin, Maegen Memitt, Amanda Monroe, Jade Murray, Caroline Powers, Heather Prescott, and Marissa Stephens. The junior varsity team is managed by Tracy Reed and Chelsea Doss, and coached by Kim Nelson and Amanda Dishon.

The action gets started quickly, as the Lady Cougars get into scrimmage action this coming week. The varsity team will be on the road for their first scrimmage on Monday at Auburn. The junior varsity will play the Eagles at home. On Friday the varsity team will again be on the road, as they travel to Glenvar for their final scrimmage of the preseason, and again the JV team will be at home. Start time for all of these scrimmages is 4:30. The season opener will be on March 14, with the varsity Lady Cougars hosting Patrick Henry at the Lady Cougar softball field starting at 5 pm.

Lady Cougar Soccer Ready To Run

Lady Cougar Soccer Working Hard
By David Gravely
Pulaski County High School Lady Cougar Head Soccer Coach Eric Martin took over the reigns of the program last season, leading the Lady Cougars to their first wins in several years. This season he hopes to not only gain a few wins, but is looking to move Pulaski County into a more competitive frame of mind.

"2011 was a transition year for this program, but also a very successful one" said Coach Martin. "Although the numbers did not show it, we established the expectations for this program and we believe we have the girls who want to be here and who want to compete. As for this year we hope to get more wins for the program and also be more competitive in our district which is the most talented district in AA Girls Soccer. Our ultimate goal is to create an atmosphere of extreme competitiveness within each team and apply that to our games. We expect to be in every game this season until the final whistle."

This off season was a busy one for the Lady Cougars. While some play basketball or are a part of the cheer team, there were also many who took the time to get involved with other soccer related groups. "We had several players play club soccer for various clubs in the area" said Coach Martin. "We also took advantage of the new VHSL Out of Season Practice rule and used it as skill development training for the girls a couple days each week. Then from the end of November through the start of the season we conducted weight lifting and conditioning. We also had a portion of our girls play in an indoor soccer league this winter as well."

The Lady Cougars will have a strong core of senior leaders to work with this season. "We have five returning seniors with one senior who is new to the program. Lauren McPeake was an honorable mention last season in the River Ridge District and was our co-leading scorer. We expect a very big season from Chelsie Testerman, who had a very productive off-season. Chelsie may have a set position on paper, but she will be used pretty much everywhere on the field and is an excellent teammate. Casey Snider is also expected to have her best season yet. Casey brings a very positive energy to the team and she is beginning to show that in her level of play as well. Kelly Russell returns for her last season at PCHS and she too has improved. Tori Duncan will return as one of our goal-keepers, and we hope she can keep improving and end her career on a high note at PCHS. Haley Sutphin is our new senior this year, and while she is new to soccer she has a strong desire to learn and great athletic ability. She has the attitude our program needs and we hope that spreads to our younger players."

Four other returning starters will be joining those seniors to help provide direction to the program. "Ericka Nash is one of our returning starters who was second team All River Ridge district as a Freshman last season, but we have her in a different role this year. Last season Ericka anchored our back line and played fantastic. This season, we expect Ericka to continue that level of play in the midfield. We hope she can create goals for herself and for her teammates. Briana Blankenship returns to be the anchor in the back for us this season. Briana was an honorable mention for the River Ridge District last season as a Freshman she had a very productive off-season. Briana brings skill, speed, and attitude to our team, and we expect her continue improving and being a leader in the back. Kourtney Stuart returns for her junior season, and she brings a very intense level of play to our team which spreads throughout the entire group. We hope that continues, and Kourtney is learning more and more every day she trains. Lauren Dunford is returning for her sophomore season, and she brings that hard-nose attitude in our midfield and has been a very strong leader this off-season."

With some holes to fill in the lineup, Coach Martin has had his eyes open looking for players that want to seize the opportunity. "We had several players who have stepped it up during the off season who we expect to contribute to our program instantly. Riley Chitwood is a freshmen who has a high level of fitness and her skills are getting better at a very fast pace. Ciara Sarver is a returning sophomore who we expect to contribute in our midfield. Ciara is a great teammate and we expect her play at a higher level and more consistent this season. Other players who are expected to contribute to our team this season are Alisha Romain, Kristiana Simpkins, Breanna Lowles, and Caitlin Lovell. Alisha will be one our goal keepers and is one of the best athletes in the district. Kristina is a freshmen who is a very intelligent soccer player. We hope to get her injuries sorted out so she can show everyone what she can do. Breanna and Caitlin are both sophomores who we expect to contribute to our program in various spots. Both have a lot of potential and are great teammates."

For the past few years, the Lady Cougars have been plagued with injuries and other issues that have kept them from being competitive. This year, the hope is that all of that is in the past. "We earned a little respect from our opponents last season, and now we want to show them we can compete and be in any game we step into. Our motto this season is "All In." We want our players to completely buy into what we are teaching them put everything they have into what hopes to be PCHS Girls Soccer's best season yet. We hope anyone that watches this group play will see a team that will finish every game and can see a team who will compete for the entire 80 minutes."

The future is looking brighter for the Lady Cougars, as this season has found a large group of eighth graders from both of our counties middle schools involved throughout the off season in hopes of earning a spot on the junior varsity team. As of this time, there are eleven eighth graders on the JV team (Kaitlin Edwards, Michelle Hernandez, Mariah Hinton, Alexis Hurst, Erin McPeake, Morgan Midkiff, Ashleigh Powers, Morgan Ratcliff, Maria Ruvios, Mackenzie Sadler, and Madison Surber), who will be led by four freshmen (A’me Baber, Madison Jones, Casey Reese, and Jamie Vasquez), and three sophomores (Judy Cid, Tabitha Cressell, and Autumn Miller).

The Lady Cougars will travel to William Bryd for a preseason jamboree on Saturday, and have other scrimmages scheduled as they prepare for regular season action. The official opening game will be a home game on March 13 against the Galax Maroon Tide. Junior varsity action is set to begin at 4:30, with the varsity contest set to begin at 7 pm.

Cougar Soccer Expecting Big Things

Expectations High for Cougar Soccer
By David Gravely

The Pulaski County High School boys varsity soccer team was able to win some tough games last year, but this season they are expecting to make a strong showing in the always tough River Ridge District as they return all but one member of last years young team.

"We started off strong last year, but we couldn't close out the season" said Cougar Head Coach Mike Price. "We only lost one senior from last year's squad, so I'm excited about having all the guys back. This is my tenth year as coach, and I can honestly say that not many of the past teams are comparable to the talent of this team. I am expecting more out of these guys. We have 15 seniors on this squad, so I'm looking for many of them to provide leadership."

While having 15 returning seniors is never going to be a bad thing, Price also has plenty of other younger players to work with. "Even though we a senior heavy team, I think we have a good mix. My job is to try and bring them all together, so the first couple of scrimmages and games are going to be crazy trying to find out the most effective lineup. We have a deep bench this year. Basically we have 17 guys who could start, so when we have to make substitutions, we won't lose a step. We have been conditioning since January, so the boys are chomping at the bit to play their first game."

Offensively, the Cougars look stronger than they ever have. Up front, the forwards are junior Zack Akers, sophomore Andrew Powers, senior Josh Dalton, sophomore Austin Talbert, and junior Javier Wagner. Akers is a returning starter who was named to the River Ridge District second team last year, and led the team with 10 goals.

"Zack provides us with a strong physical presence up front, and he is actually good at feeding the ball to others" said Price. "Andrew Powers saw considerable time last year as a freshman, and has a solid shot and great placement. Andrew is so unselfish with the ball, always wanting to set up others. This year I want him firing away a bit more. Dalton is the lone senior of the group, and was responsible for 2 goals last season. Talbert came up big for us last year in big games, and was one of our scoring leaders. He has great breakaway abilities, and will also contribute in the midfield. Wagner is a transfer student who had to sit out last year. He is very skilled with the ball, has a great shot, and is hard to contain. All these guys are unselfish with the ball, and they all will be expected to contribute. No matter who is in at the time, all these guys can find the back of the net."

Further back on the field, the good news keeps on coming. Key returners who started last year are senior Tyler Trussler, senior Cody Wright, senior Cory McDaniel, sophomore Tye Saul, and senior Taylor Webster. Rounding out the midfield are senior Trevor Hedge and senior Dylan Reichner, along with newcomers sophomore Daegan Friend, senior Christian Fore, and junior Jordan Reed. 

"Tyler will be one of our center midfielders and may play on the left side at times" said Price. "The left footer was second team River Ridge District last year, and he can pass well, has well placed free kicks. He is good at keeping the ball at his feet. Wright was named to the district honorable mention team last year, and will be in the center the majority of the time. Wright also has a strong left leg, can provide accurate crosses, and will handle many of our corner kick plays. McDaniel will work on the right side. Cory plays defense very well in the midfield, and we are wanting him to drive the ball down the right side this year. He will also work out of the other center midfield spot at times."

"Taylor Webster will handle our "stopper" duties, which is basically a defensive midfielder position. Taylor's size and height help him stop offensive runs before they start. He also does a great job winning balls out of the air and has a strong leg. Saul saw considerable playing time last year as a freshman. Tye is very good with the ball, and likes to set other up. He will move around the midfield a lot. Friend was a starter for the JV squad last year. Daegan has improved a great deal from last year. He has speed and determination that will come in handy. He may also play up front at times. Christian is a transfer from North Carolina, but originally played at Pulaski County as an 8th grader. He gives some size and height to the midfield. Hedge has shown dramatic improvement in the off season, and Reichner hustles all the time. Reed moves up from the JV squad this year."

While the offensive and midfield players look strong, the Cougars defensive players may be one of their strongest groups. "Defensively, we have more players this year than last year" said Price. "Returning starters from last year include senior Gabe LeBlanc, senior Cody Linkous, senior Brandon Brock, and senior Jordan Taylor. We also have senior James Crandall and senior Cooper Stephens returning for a successful senior year. New to the team this year are senior Kevin Powell, junior Arman Cruise, and junior Ryan Pfeiffer. LeBlanc was named to the first team All District last year. Gabe's size, determination, and leadership were key for us, and we're counting on it again. He is responsible for marking the other team's offensive threats. Linkous was named to the River Ridge District's honorable mention team. Cody plays center back for us, and he brings speed and hustle. Taylor returns to the right side, and he also gives us speed and the ability to bring the ball up out of the defense. Brandon is one of the quickest players on the team. He can recover quickly, and is not afraid to get physical. Crandall and Stephens can bring a change of pace and they both never give up. Crandall will work on the right side with Stephens working on the left. Cruise was a starter on the JV squad last year. He is an intelligent player who uses the sideline well. Powell is a quick and powerful player. We will use him to beef up on some players, and he definitely has some defensive abilities. Pfeiffer is a dedicated defender that can be physical as well. Overall, we have the speed and size to slow down many teams."

The final piece of the puzzle is the goal keeper. Zack Willard returns to try and best his first team River Ridge District and Region IV honorable mention accomplishments from last year. "Zack is a phenomenal goalkeeper, one of the best I have ever seen. His kicks and punts are instant offense, and his diving ability is impressive. He cuts angles well, and he takes a lot of balls out of the air. When Zack is having a great game, it is hard to score on him. He kept a lot of balls out of the goal last year, and had 4 shut outs to his credit. Zack has the ability to keep us in games if things aren't going as planned. If the defense and Zack are clicking, a lot of teams will have a hard time getting off quality shots."

With the official start of the season drawing close, Coach Price is hoping that all the hard work from last year and during the off season will pay off. "I am excited about this year, and I am demanding the best out of these guys. Ricky Wright has been working them hard the whole off season. I honestly would be lost without Rick. He does so many of the behind the scenes things that helps keep things running smoothly. We have a great system in place, and I hope all the hard work pays off. These guys have the ability to do something special, but they will have to continue to work hard and stay focused to get it."

The Cougars kick things off this Friday, as they host Marion in a scrimmage at Kenneth J. Dobson Stadium. JV action is set to get underway at 4:30, and the varsity matchup is scheduled to begin at 7 pm.

Spartan Coach Comments Questionable

Spartan Coach Comments Questionable
By David Gravely

While I normally don't get into the battle of words that some coaches seem to want to constantly get into, a recent story in the Roanoke Times caught my attention more than any has recently.

Let me show you what was said first.  From the Roanoke Times article:
But(Salem Coach)Harrell's joy was muted because his star player, junior Tay Taylor, was not named district player of the year. That honor was awarded to co-winners Tyler Evans of Hidden Valley and Sydney Anderson of Pulaski County.
"[Tay] averaged 17 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals for us this year," Harrell said. "Plus she's already gotten 10 offers from colleges to play at the next level, and no one else around can say that. I'm disappointed; I'm upset. She's not getting recognized the way she should be."

I would suggest that while Taylor is certainly a fine athlete and well deserving of the attention she is getting, Evans and Anderson are also in that class, and while I don't have Evans stats on hand, Anderson can certainly boast comparable if not better stats.  Let's also face the fact that they are also getting those stats on teams that are not as well balanced as Salem is this year, and they get their stats in games where most of the times the opponent can focus on them, making those stats even more impressive.  If Taylor was the lone standout player for the Spartans, I would suggest that she may not have those impressive numbers.

And for the record, in the three meetings that Pulaski and Salem have had this season:
Anderson had 22 points in game one, 12 in game two, and 19 points in the last meeting.
Taylor had unknown in game one, 7 in game two, and 17 points in game three.

Anderson is averaging 18.7 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, and 3.9 steals per game.  She doesn't get as many assists (.7 per game), but her presence on the court does free up the other players for their shots.

Salem is winning this year because they have a very balanced team and can attack you from many spots.  If Taylor finds an opening, she'll drive the lane for the layup.  If not, she can drive and dish it off to the next girl for the layup, or pass it back out for one of Salem's other effective shooters to hit the deeper ball.  Defensively they play tough as nails, and they have very good team speed and athleticism. 

At the high school level, when you have that many fast players with good ball handling skills and decent shots, you're going to be a hard team to handle.  Salem has proven they have that this season, with an unblemished River Ridge District record.  They won the regular season and tournament titles.  They didn't do that BECAUSE OF Tay Taylor, they did it WITH Tay Taylor and her talented teammates.

Nobody is trying to say that Tay Taylor isn't a fine basketball player who will do well at the next level.  BUT, if she wasn't on the floor for the Spartans, they would still be balanced and athletic enough to make a run at things, while Pulaski would be hard pressed to replace Anderson. 

The Award "RRD Player of the Year" is not only for the best basketball player, but for the player that also best carries the load for their team.  It's for the player that takes on the position of team leader and assumes the responsibility to take their team to the next level.   I would suggest that the selection of Anderson and Evans not only validates the award, but it gives respect to Salem for having such a balanced team this season.

Shame on you Coach Harrell, for disrespecting not only the two young ladies who were selected for the award, but for disrespecting your entire team and their commendable accomplishments this season with your comments.

Win A Car With Cougar Soccer
By David Gravely

The Pulaski County High School Cougar Soccer team has been working hard to raise money for their upcoming season, and in the process of that they have teamed up with the Shelor Motor Mile to raffle off a new car.

The Cougars, along with other teams from around the area, are selling tickets for $1 each. All money made from the ticket sales is to be used by the particular team selling the tickets. Also, anyone buying a car from Shelor can participate in their "Growing the Future" program. For each vehicle sold, the buyer can fill out a donation card, and the participating school will receive a $100 donation from Shelors as part of the program. The individual schools PTA/PTO organizations are distributing these cards. There are currently two schools from our county participating in this program, Pulaski County High School and Pulaski Middle School, and donation cards can be picked up from the main offices of these schools.

The official drawing will be held in the fall, right before the start of the new school year. The winner will get a new compact car donated by the Shelor Motor Mile. The dealership has also set up a scholarship fund, which awards $1000 scholarships to graduating seniors each year. Since the start of this program a decade ago, over $110,000 has been awarded to local youth.

For more information about the Growing the Future program or how you can help support Pulaski County High School athletics, contact Mark Hanks at 643-0747, or Dede Stone at 382-2981.