By Alicia Couch Payne
Just because school is out for the summer does not mean that Buford athletes stop competing and perfecting their craft. Quite the contrary. They continue to train, join summer leagues, attend camps far and wide, go for college visits, and some even commit to a college over the summer. Buford athletes work hard all year long. Here’s a quick insight into some of Buford’s top athletes’ summers so far.
Buford Girls Track has an extremely talented list of athletes who are making a name for themselves. Rising sophomore, Trinity Rossum competes with AtlZoom Athletics when not competing for Buford. This summer she’s on the road competing in the 2018 New Balance Nationals Outdoors at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, NC. Trinity set a meet record in the Freshman 100M with a time of 11.73 in the Prelims. She placed 2nd in the finals for the 100M.
Trinity Price, also a rising sophomore and fellow AtlZoom runner had her hamstring acting up and still managed to make it to the finals at the New Balance Nationals in the 200M. Talk about grit! Alexa Rossum, sister of Trinity Rossum did not compete at the NB Nationals but had a personal best time this summer of 23.43 in the 200M.
Kimberly Harris, while a fellow Buford track star, instead competes for Jackrabbit Track Club and was also at the New Balance Nationals. Kimberly placed 2nd place in the 400M with a time of 52.54. She placed 1st in the prelims for the 100M Emerging Elite and 4th in the finals.
Coach Ford and his team have been training on and off the football field all spring and now summer as well. During the spring, Buford was swamped with visits from college coaches. His players are busy reaping the fruits from those visits. Many players have been busy going on their official college visits to colleges trying to recruit them to play for their school. Buford 2021 QB Aaron McLaughlin has been all over the map with visits to Arkansas, Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Ole Miss, and more visits are planned this summer.
Several rising senior stars have already committed to the colleges of their choice. Offensive lineman Harry Miller recently committed to Ohio State University. LSU snagged long snapper Quentin Skinner. FB/LB Jack Scroggs announced recently that he has chosen to play for Wofford College in the fall of ‘19. Monday, 3 star offensive lineman Carter Colquitt announced that he has chosen to commit to Ole Miss. Offensive Guard, Riley Simonds is swamp bound to play for the Florida Gators after Buford.
Buford Football recently took part in the Corky Kell 7 x 7 tournament. They claimed the victory against opponents Kell, Norcross, and Mill Creek. Their lone pool loss came to Monroe Area. In the quarterfinals, the Wolves went up against Marietta powerhouse and were unsuccessful. The day was long and hot. Even though they may not have won the tournament, Coach Ford felt good about the way his guys played and that they got better. He was proud of their efforts. Buford fans far and wide cannot wait to see their Wolves take the field this fall in Tom Riden Stadium.
Buford High School has been host to some eleven youth league camps at the school this summer where the high school athletes and their coaches mentored the younger players. Former Lady Wolves Softball player and member of the FSU National Softball Champion team, Tessa Daniels stopped by the Buford Softball camp to tell the young ladies about her experience and even gave each girl a bracelet.
Buford athletes start training young and continue to train with a work ethic second to none. Their work ethic pays off and the results speak for themselves.
