By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Bamberg – The 2024 track and field season for the Bamberg Ehrhardt Red Raiders ended in fine fashion as both the boys and girls teams finished in the top ten of the class A state meet. The boy’s finished in sixth place while the girls wound up in fifth place and with several returning runners, jumpers, and throwers returning they will be looking to move up into medal contention this season. Junior Ezariah Williams was the top finisher for BE as she brought home the only gold in the Discus with a personal best of 112.40. She also throw the shot and the Javelin with personal bests of 33.66 and 91.24, respectively. Keshauria McMillan, a sophomore, captured a silver at last year’s state meet in the shot put. Her personal best is 35.82 which she put at the state meet. The Red Raiders also brought home a silver medal in the 4x100 relay and were fourth in the 4x400. They have several sprinters returning and will be threat to be in the top three again this year. The top returning sprinter is freshmen Daisha Etheridge . She runs the 100, 100 hurdles, the 400 hurdles and the relay events. She finished ninth in all three events at last year’s state meet. She has a personal best in the 100 of 12.91. Also, back is arguably the best athlete at Bamberg Ehrhardt Miss Raven Brown. She was recently named to the class A All State basketball team by both the HSSR and the SCBCA for the second year in a row. She runs 200 and 400 meters as well as a leg on the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. Seniors Jade Moody and Shaleah Flowers are back in the 100 and 400, respectively. Sophomores Keshauria McMillan and Carmyn Folk are also back as well. McMillian puts the shot while Folks runs the 100 and 400 hurdles and long jumps. The boys team has an outstanding junior class led by reigning silver medalist Levar Miller in the triple jump. He had the only elite performance at last years lower state meet when he hopped, skipped, and jumped 45.93 feet. Junior class A All State football players Marcus Cann (WR) and Jaylen McGraw (LB) are back. Cann runs the 200 and the 400 while McGraw is a high jumper. Senior Kewanni Brunson throws the Javelin finished fifth at last years state meet while junior Jalen Willis brought home a bronze medal in the 400 meters with a time of 51.42 which was a personal best. Willis also runs the 800 meters. The Red Raiders won bronze in the 4x100 and 4x800 relay’s last season. Both teams were senior heavy but the they have the young talent to be competitive against this year.

Noah Seguer throws heat for Ashley Ridge.

Ashley Ridge senior Skyla Tuthill was named the 5A Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Photo by Roger Lee 

Senior Kaylin Brown is one of eight lettermen back for the Ashley Ridge Girls Basketball team this season.

Summerville sophomore running back Keshon Washington

Ashley Ridge co-captain Reece-Bellush

Gaffney's Jaiden McDowell on the carry.

Senior running back Jayden Acosta chewed up a lot of yards for Ashley Ridge on Aug. 16 during the annual Dorchester County Showdown.

Coaches Jeff Tate and BJ Bellush strategize prior to kickoff for a 2023 AR Football Game.