Fellowship Athletes, Coaches Honored

From John Heid, sports information director at Fellowship Christian School:

Junior volleyball player Anna Joy (AJ) Baumann and senior football player Hunter Bryant have been named FCS Booster Club Athletes of the Month for August. Varsity volleyball coach Leah Smith and varsity football coach Al Morrell have been named Booster Club Coaches of the Month for August.

Smith and Baumann helped the FCS varsity volleyball team win 10 of its 12 games. Baumann led the Lady Paladins with 54 kills and ranked third on the team with 11 aces through the squad’s 10 matches in August.

A quarterback, Bryant completed 4-of-7 pass attempts for 104 yards to help the Paladins post a 41-14 season-opening victory over Lakeview Academy at Paladin Field on Aug. 30. Bryant connected with senior wide receiver Alex Edmonds on a 75-yard touchdown pass in that game.

It was the first win as Paladins head coach for Morrell, who has entered his 32nd season as a football coach. Morrell has guided successful programs at five schools in the greater Atlanta area during his career.

In 2012, Morrell led the Creekview Grizzlies to the 7AAAAA Sub Region Championship, averaging 35 points and 377.2 offensive yards per game. Morrell was named Cherokee County Head Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Cherokee County Gridiron Hall of Fame following the 2012 campaign.