Griffin High linebacker Steven Welch signed a national letter of intent Friday to play football this fall at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala., during a brief ceremony in front of family, friends, coaches and school administrators.

By signing, Welch becomes the fifth Griffin High Bear to sign this year, joining Moses Mayes (Faulkner University in Ala.), Keith Henley (Hutchinson Community College in Kan.) and Rusty Duffee (Limestone College in S.C.) as well as Nhigel Phillips (Hines Community College in Miss.).

Locally, eight other players — all from Spalding High — have also signed. Those include: Jevaris Jones (New Mexico Military Institute), Larry McCord (Arizona Western College); and Phillip Goodrum, Devontez Carter and Ben Allen (Mesabi Range Community Technical College in Minn.); as well as Courtney Johnson, Ontario Yancey and Ronnie Owens (West Georgia Technical College in Carrollton).

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SLOAN ADVANCES TO STATE FINALS: Griffin High junior Telly Sloan (220 Division) won a match late Friday night to advance to the state wrestling finals late Saturday afternoon in Macon.

Sloan, who posted wins of 3-2 against Crisp County sophomore Kaun Daniel (40-9) and 5-2 against Stephens County senior Josh Hale (46-8) to reach the semifinals, kept a good thing going with a 3-1 decision over Gilmer County junior Tyler Bertolini (35-8) in the Class AAAA semifinals Friday.

Sloan was scheduled to face Southwest Whitefield senior Carlos Fraire (51-1) in the finals late Saturday afternoon. Fraire defeated Locust Grove senior Tyler Rapes (49-5) 5-3 by decision to reach the finals.

Win or lose, it is the furthest Sloan — who placed fourth in the Class AAA 215 division as a freshman at Henry County and sixth in the Class AAAA heavyweight division last year as a sophomore at Jonesboro — has ever advanced at state. Fraire, meanwhile, is no stranger to the state tournament either having posted a 2-2 record without placing in the Class AAA 215 division two years ago and losing by a 3-2 decision in the Class AAA 220 finals last year.

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LADY BEARS FINISH 3RD: STOCKBRIDGE — Xandria Hosely scored 13, Ashton Elliott 12 and Aurelia Mangham 10 as the Griffin High girls basketball team topped Woodland-Stockbridge 49-31 Saturday in the consolation game of the Region 4-AAAA Tournament at Woodland-Stockbridge High School.

Griffin (13-14) now advances to an opening-round state playoff game — for the first time in 11 years — at a time to be announced Tuesday at Region 1-AAAA runner-up Dougherty County High School in Albany.

Saturday’s win was Griffin’s first this season against Woodland. The two teams met only one other time on Nov. 27 in Griffin’s home opener, a game the Lady Bears lost 46-35. This time around, however, Griffin led 13-5 at the end of the first quarter, 25-14 at the half and 36-27 going into the fourth quarter.

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SHS BASEBALL: The Spalding High baseball team has three upcoming fund raisers.

The first is a BBQ plate sale Feb. 23, furnished by Huckleberry’s. Tickets, $10 each, can be picked up from any Jags player. BBQ plates can be picked up from 11 a.m., to 1 p.m., in conjunction with the team’s 100-inning game that day.

The second fund raiser is the Applebee’s Pancake breakfast from 8-9 a.m., and from 9-10 a.m., March 2. Tickets are $7 and they can be bought from any Jag players. The players will also be there serving breakfast.

The team’s third fund raiser is the team’s annual Golf Tournament on March 9th at the Griffin City Course. Cost is $200 per team. Start time is 9 a.m.

Anyone interested in buying tickets for either or both events they can contact Jags head coach Mickey Moody, booster club president Ted Harris or any Jags baseball player.

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GHS BASEBALL ALUMNI: New Griffin High School head baseball coach Kevin Mobley is looking for all GHS baseball alumni. If you played baseball for GHS or know someone who played GHS baseball (1 year or all 4 years), please get in touch with coach Mobley as soon as possible. Contact him by email (kevin.mobley@gscs.org) or by phone (678-340-5617).