Abbeville honors scholar-athletes for 2023-24

David Shelton • June 17, 2024

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Abbeville – It takes a special focus and dedication for a high school student/athlete to excel in both the classroom and the competitive sports arena.

Being able to successfully balance academics and athletics is worthy of prominent recognition and the administration at Abbeville High makes sure their top performers receive their due publicity.

Abbeville recently honored a long list of student/athletes that managed to accumulate a 3.5 grade-point-average or better. All total, more than two dozen Panthers achieved the impressive academic milestone.

The student/athletes included Carson Porter, Thomas Booth, Dawson Pursley, Jude Dowis, Angel Oliphant, Michael Bazile, Eric Burton, Tymon Thomas, Ryan Hughes, Emma Harper, Samari London, Tyler Gulley, James Pooser, Langley Light, Tori Cannaday, Coleton Price, Neveah Leach, Jordan Oglesby, Natalie Guire, Tyla Johnson, Mikelyn Bowie, Garianna Burton, Josie Evans, Ashley Adger, Brandt Scott and Chloe Mobley.

In addition to the academic awards, the school also named several other significant award winners. Thomas Booth was selected as the Male Athlete of the Year and Garianna Burton was the Female Athlete of the Year. Burton was a North-South all-star and all-state performer in volleyball and softball, while Booth played football and baseball.

Jude Dowis received the Glenn Ferguson award. Tyla Johnson received the “All About the A” scholarship and Bowie received the Panther Pride scholarship. Tae Harris received the D’Juan Sanders scholarship.

Golf team competes in state tournament

Abbeville’s boys golf team qualified for the Class AA state tournament in May, posting a 10^th-place finish in the team standings.

Maddox Isbell was the low scorer for the Panthers, posting a 36-hole total of 165. Gage Evans shot 167 and Carter Riddle shot 168.

Tyler Gulley was the fourth player to figure into the team scoring, shooting 181 over two days. Adam Beiler also competed and shot 183.

Evans and Isbell were all-region performers as well.

Football prepping for 2024 season

The Abbeville High football team is busy putting in the work this summer as they prepare for the2024 season. Abbeville finished 12-2 a year ago, losing to Gray Collegiate in the AA upper state finals. The Panthers won the AA state title in 2022, their eighth championship under coach Jamie Nickles.

The Panthers will not be contending for the AA title this fall after being reclassified to Class A by the SC High School League last winter.

The Panthers will certainly be a state championship contender in Class A with a bevy of returning starters expected to fill the roster in August. Among those expected to return are running backs Karson Norman, Altavious Patterson and Jha’Louis Hadden, all seniors.

Demarkus Leach will return at quarterback for his senior season. Leach also is an anchor defensively at safety and is an early verbal commit to South Carolina as one of the state’s top prospects.

Expected back along the offensive line are Cooper Hansen, Will New and Kadon Harrison, all seniors. Junior Kamron Jones also saw starting time in 2023.

Seniors Gage Evans and AJ Speech are returning veterans on the defensive line, and senior Gavin Calhoun returns as a starting linebacker. Justin Rollinson and Jakwon Elmore are returning as starters in the secondary, along with Leach.

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By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.