Commissioners honor Volunteer track team's state championship success

The Hawkins County Commission honored the Volunteer High School boys and girls track teams Monday for their state championship meet successes, including state titles and all-state honors, this past spring.

Commissioner John Gibson introduced the teams during Monday’s County Commission meeting, noting that the VHS teams had many accomplishments at the 2024 Class AA state championship. Volunteer track and field is coached by Sam Barton, Sarah Clonce, Daniel Greene and Lauren Garrison.

Volunteer qualified two girls for state: J.C. Begley and Aliah Laster. The girls finished 11th as a team at the TSSAA championship. Begley earned a state championship in the 800 meters, Laster finished runner-up in the pole vault, and both earned all-state distinction.

Volunteer qualified 10 boys for state: John Ross, Grant Winegar, Kasey Brown, Kevin McCurry, Jordyn Winegar-Collis, Roman Borghetti-Metz, Jackson Clonce, Isaac Jennings, Carter Manis and Lucas Gilliam.

The boys finished third as a team at the state meet, matching the highest team finish in school history. Borghetti-Metz won the 800 title and Casey Brown finished runner-up in the shot put.

All the remaining boys team members finished with top eight finishes in their respective events and earned all-state distinction.

State finishes

Borghetti-Metz: state champion, 800 meters.Brown: second place, shot put.Clonce: fifth place, discus.Gilliam: sixth place, high jump.Winegar-Collis: seventh place, 110 hurdles.Winegar: third place, decathalon.Ross, Winegar, McCurry, Winegar-Collis: seventh place, 4x400 relay.Laster: second place, pole vault.Begley: state champion, 800 meters.