March On Campus: Gray Collegiate Academy War Eagles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a combination of old and new developments in West Columbia at Gray Collegiate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adam Holmes has served as head coach and athletics director since Gray Collegiate Academy's inception in 2014. He enters his 10th season at the helm with 15 seniors seeking their second Class 2A title in three years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"The good part of it is we've got a big senior class," Holmes said. "We've got about 15 seniors. They're all part of our program last year. They got beat in the second round (by Saluda) and some of them were here for our state championship run so they understand what it takes to get back to that level."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holmes and school officials are also overseeing the final stages of construction of on-campus athletic facilities. This includes a 3,000-seat football stadium, an upgraded weight room, a 1,500-seat basketball arena called The War Zone and baseball and softball fields expected to be ready for the 2024 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"It's going to be huge,," said Holmes about the home improvements. "People always said we don't have facilities here on campus. We had to play out at Midlands (Sports Complex), stuff like that. But now, we''ve got a brand new turf field. Seats over 3,000 people. We have a brand new gymnasium. Our weight facility is second to none. Baseball, softball, everything is here on campus. So, I see nothing but good things coming for Gray as we move forward in athletics."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["139316"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"rn tu003cliu003eThe 5'9, 170-pound senior is one of the War Eagles' top playmakers on both sides of the football His 35 receptions for 487 yards was second on the team last season to go with five touchdownsu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eExudes confidence both on the field and addressing others. Credits playing against future Division I players at higher classifications and having older brothers for instilling him with a high belief in his abilityu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eBelieves playing both wide receiver and defensive back gives him an advantage over any player matched against him on either side of the footballu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHis prowess in kick returning (5 touchdown returns last season) makes him a u0022triple threatu0022 in all three phases of the gameu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHas improved his 40-yard dash time to 4.45 secondsu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eCampbell, Charlotte and Limestone has offered Offord. 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He's also a stickler for ball protection.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHis lower body strength (has squatted 435 lbs.) makes Montgomery difficult for one defender to tackle.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHas no problem getting vocal on the field to encourage teammates","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":721324,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='997269' first='Kaine' 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defensive side of the football.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eFinished the regular-season with a team-high 145 tackles.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHas benefited greatly from the expanded weight room at Gray Collegiate with a bench press of 295 lbs. and squat of 455 lbs.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eSees himself as a u0022coachu0022 on the field at middle linebacker in getting teammates in the right position as well as leading the way on tackles.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eBelieves he can increase his total tackles with improved technique, especially in bringing down offensive players in the open field.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eVisited Coastal Carolina, was invited to Junior Day at Mercer College and hopes to visit Furman and Wofford this spring","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":721358,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='997302' first='Justin' last='Pauling']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Gray Collegiate 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Exhibits leadership skills through his play.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHas demonstrated a greater commitment to the weight room and looks to improve on his 4.6 time in the 40-yard dash","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Blaine Redmond","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Gray Collegiate ","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"u003culu003ern tu003cliu003eA two-sport athlete (he's currently a pitcher and outfielder for the defending Class 2A Upper State champions), Redmond saw significant time on both sides of the football as a quarterback and linebacker.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003ePressed into a starting role during the season for an injured [player_tooltip player_id='119009' first='Riley' last='Staton']. Showed a strong arm and is a physical runner out of the backfield.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eWith Staton transferring to Greenville, he's expected to compete with sophomores Dre'Von Dopson and [player_tooltip player_id='402511' first='Tyler' last='Waller'] for the starting job","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641a4df160637"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->