By Marla Jones

Sports Editor

marla@southerntorch.com

DEKALB COUNTY, Ala.- Three DeKalb County Varsity Soccer teams will be competing in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Boys Soccer State Championships at the John Hunt Soccer Complex in Huntsville this week. 

On Thursday, May 12 beginning at 1 p.m., the Collinsville Panthers (18-7-0) will compete against Mars Hill Bible (16-7-1) n Class 1A/3A action. The winner will compete in the State Final on Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. 

The Crossville Lions (15-2-0) will compete against Russellville (17-2-1)  in Class 4A/5A action on Thursday, May 12 at 5 p.m. The winner will compete in the State Final on Friday, May 13 beginning at 5 p.m.

In Class 6A action, the Fort Payne Wildcats (14-7-2) will compete against Mountain Brook (23-2-2) on Friday, May 13 beginning at 11 a.m.  The winner will compete in the State Final on Saturday, May 14 at 10 a.m.

The 98th State Championships got underway at Gulf Shores Sports Complex Friday with a delayed start due to weather conditions. The wait was well worth it.

Maddox Hamm set a new AHSAA Outdoor Track State Championships record with a 17-10 clearance to win the 6A competition. He went over 18 feet during the regular season and shattered his own state record (17-00.25) he established at last year’s state meet by almost afoot.

Scottsboro’s Evan Hill crossed the finish line in 9:01.73 to win the 1,600-meter race in Class 6A – breaking the previous state-meet record set (9:01.75) in 2021 by former Scottsboro standout Cooper Atkins by 2/100ths of a second.