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Ben Barkley

Ben Barkley, Sports Editor

Senior Ben Barkley is a three-year member of The Prowler staff.  He is the Sports Editor.

All content by Ben Barkley
My time with The Prowler has been nothing short of amazing. From the people to the opportunities, I will forever be grateful to room 703.

Best decision ever

May 21, 2020
Starr’s Mill Lady Panther Lacrosse team celebrates their state championship win last season. Starr’s Mill was on track to defend the state championship for the second year in a row, starting 5-1 before the season was canceled due to COVID-19.

Abrupt end cannot sever bonds made

April 29, 2020
The NBA postponed its season on March 11 due to the rapidly growing COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioner Adam Silver has been left with a decision to make as to whether or not the NBA season can resume.

Opinion: NBA should return without fans, if it can return at all

April 22, 2020
Giannis Antetokounmpo has turned into the best basketball player in the world. He leads the Bucks to the top spot in my NBA Power Rankings.

Cure the basketball blues

April 10, 2020
Walker family poses for a picture while Raney signs with University of North Georgia where she will run cross country. From a grandfather who played in the CFL, to a sibling who played in the Little League World Series, the Walker Family has seen its fair share of sports involvement.

It runs in the family

April 2, 2020
For the first time in his 20-year career, Tom Brady will not be wearing a Patriots jersey. Brady signed a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday. Brady’s signing was just one of many great signings during the first week of free agency.

Free agency fever

March 23, 2020
As I stare out onto an empty Panther Stadium, I can’t help but wonder when and if spring sports will return this season. My heart goes out to all of the seniors whose last high school season has been taken from them.

Where have all the athletes gone?

March 20, 2020
Sara Evans

Sara Evans

March 13, 2020
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

March 12, 2020
Junior Sara Evans looks to get the ball down the field. Evans scored both goals for the Lady Panthers and was the driving force on offense in the 2-1 win.

Sacrifice

March 9, 2020

Coach’s Corner

March 4, 2020

On the track to retirement

March 2, 2020
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

February 27, 2020

Coach’s Corner

February 25, 2020
Senior Alice Anne Hudson drives down the lane against a Ram defender. Hudson posted 27 points in her final game as a Lady Panther. In her career, Hudson broke the single game scoring record, and surpassed 1,500 career points to become the all-time leading scorer in both girls’ and boy’s basketball.

End of an era

February 20, 2020
Senior Alice Anne Hudson looks to get around a Demon for a basket. Hudson led the Lady Panthers in scoring with 18 points. The Lady Panthers have now won 22 straight games, a streak that began on Dec. 3.

No Demons on Valentine’s Day

February 16, 2020
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

February 13, 2020
Starting next year, the Starr’s Mill athletic program will partner with Adidas. More equipment, like this soccer jersey, will be sponsored by Adidas. Adidas will send new equipment to the school for major wins, such as region and state titles.

New look coming to Panther athletics

February 11, 2020
Lady Panthers shut out Raiders in season opener

Lady Panthers shut out Raiders in season opener

February 5, 2020
Lady Panthers shutout Spalding in scrimmage

Lady Panthers shutout Spalding in scrimmage

February 4, 2020
Malachi Townsend

Malachi Townsend

January 31, 2020
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

January 30, 2020
Former Lakers guard Kobe Bryant died Sunday in a helicopter crash along with his 13 year old daughter Gianna and two additional families. Ever since I was four years old, Kobe has been one of my favorite professional athletes. He inspired me to be the best in whatever I did, basketball or not.

Mamba mentality

January 29, 2020

Coach’s Corner

January 23, 2020
Junior Brandon Allison consoles senior Camden Sutherland after a last-second, game-tying shot that rimmed out. This is the second time this season that the result of the Battle of the Bubble was a three-point loss for the Panthers. After the win, the Chiefs sit fourth in the region, while the Panthers remain in last place.

Instant classic

January 20, 2020
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

January 16, 2020
Senior Alice Anne Hudson drives down the lane for a layup. Hudson led the Lady Panthers in scoring with 17 points. She also kept the aggression on the defensive end, posting five blocks and three steals.

Battle of kingpins

January 13, 2020
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

December 15, 2019
Gavin Necessary

Gavin Necessary

December 13, 2019
Student section cheers on the Panther football team. “Gameday Takeaways” provides analysis of the most recent Friday Night Lights game, while also talking about key players that made the final score of the game possible.

Gameday Takeaways

November 26, 2019
Student section cheers on the Panther football team. “Gameday Takeaways” provides analysis of the most recent Friday Night Lights game, while also talking about key players that made the final score of the game possible.

Gameday Takeaways

November 25, 2019
Sophomore Barrett Schmidlkofer tackles an opposing Longhorn. The Panther defense played one of their best games all season, only allowing 361 total yards in the 45-28 victory.

Horns down

November 24, 2019
Student section cheers on the Panther football team. “Gameday Takeaways” provides analysis of the most recent Friday Night Lights game, while also talking about key players that made the final score of the game possible.

Gameday Takeaways

November 24, 2019
Sophomore Barrett Schmidlkofer looks to tackle an opposing Tiger. The Panther defense had one of their better performances this season, only allowing 163 total yards.

Gameday Takeaways, Week 11

November 19, 2019
Senior Kalen Sims breaks free from a Tigers defender and looks to score. Sims redeemed himself after last years’ injury against New Hampstead, rushing for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

Tigers aren’t so scary

November 17, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

November 15, 2019
Senior Ardit Hoti prepares for the next play against McIntosh. After the Georgia High School Association announced reclassification assignments, the Chiefs and the Panthers will continue to compete in the same region in AAAAA through 2022. The two county rivals will be joined by Whitewater, Griffin, Northgate, Harris County, and Northside in Region 2-AAAAA.

Not going anywhere

November 13, 2019
Panther football team raises their helmets in celebration after the win. Starr’s Mill used a dominant offense and a lockdown defense to defeat Fayette County 49-7 en route to winning their fourth-straight region championship.

Gameday Takeaways, Week 10

November 13, 2019
Senior Jack Barczak rings the victory bell and holds up a four on his hand. The Panthers have now won their fourth-straight region championship, tying them with Sandy Creek for the most overall region championships in Fayette County history.

The rest is history

November 10, 2019
Senior Karsen Kalen looks to beat a Riverdale defender for a big gain. Riverdale has a big game this Friday against Griffin that will determine the number two seed and home-field advantage for the first round of state playoffs.

The final countdown

November 6, 2019
Senior Jeff Tiller blocks an opposing Raider. The Panther offensive line had another outstanding game, blocking well and allowing the backs to accumulate 289 rushing yards.

Gameday Takeaways, Week 9

November 5, 2019
Senior Kalen Sims looks to break through Riverdale defenders for a big gain. Sims had another tremendous game on the ground, rushing for 150 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

It ain’t over ‘til it’s over

November 3, 2019
Hailey Ross

Hailey Ross

November 1, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

October 31, 2019
Senior Kalen Sims runs the ball against Sandy Creek. Sims and senior Ben Bodne have combined for 1,424 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season. The rest of the backs have to continue their strong play over the last two games in order to beat Riverdale for the region championship. Defensively, the team needs to keep their momentum against a tough Raider offense that’s averaging 37 points a game.

The home stretch

October 30, 2019
The defensive line gets ready for their next play. Starr’s Mill had their best defensive game all season against the Chiefs, only allowing 89 total yards and producing five sacks.

Gameday Takeaways, Week 8

October 24, 2019
Sophomore Barrett Schmidlkofer looks to break free and tackle an opposing Chief. The Panther defense held the Chiefs to just 89 total yards while also sacking sophomore quarterback Hayes Herzog five times.

Bubble popped

October 22, 2019
Junior Cole Bishop gets tackled after an interception. Bishop led the Panther secondary in the win over the Wildcats, forcing three of the teams four interceptions.

Gameday Takeaways, Week 7

October 17, 2019
Senior Ben Bodne crosses the goal line for a touchdown. Bodne had another monster game last week, rushing for 103 yards and three touchdowns. On the season, Bodne has 566 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

Blowout in the Jungle

October 15, 2019
Hunter Lawson

Hunter Lawson

October 11, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

October 10, 2019
Senior Kalen Sims runs the ball against Griffin. Sims returned to his former self against the Bears, rushing for 195 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown.

Gameday Takeaways, Week 6

October 8, 2019
Senior Kalen Sims looks to score against the Bears. Sims had his best game all season against Griffin, totaling 195 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown.

Fourth quarter, Panther quarter

October 6, 2019

Coach’s Corner

October 2, 2019
Senior Hunter Lawson throws the ball against Jonesboro. This loss marks the first time the Panthers have lost a region game since September 29, 2017, when Griffin bested them 29-28.

Gameday Takeaways, Week 5

October 1, 2019
Senior Kalen Sims runs the ball against Jonesboro. Sims had another strong performance on the ground, totaling 119 yards on 25 carries, and one touchdown.

Heartbreaker

September 29, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

September 26, 2019
Sophomore Barrett Schmidlkofer looks to tackle an opposing player. Defense has been a strong suit, but two high scoring offenses in Jonesboro and Griffin will challenge this young defense right out of the gates.

Who runs this show?

September 25, 2019
Senior Hunter Lawson prepares to call another play for his offense. The Panther offense, despite a loss, had a strong run game that should post big numbers come region play.

Gameday Takeaways, Week 4

September 23, 2019
Senior Patriot Rashad Amos runs the ball against the Panthers. Amos, a Western Kentucky University commit, ran for 84 yards on 11 carries and three touchdowns.

Hard loss on the Battlefield

September 22, 2019
Senior Hunter Lawson gets under center, preparing for a new play. Lawson preached the pass game in the 28-21 loss, throwing for 147 yards and two touchdowns along with one interception. The question is, how will he fare against a Sandy Creek defense that has only given up 10 points in the team’s three wins?

Gameday Takeaways, Week 3

September 17, 2019
Senior Hunter Lawson throws the ball against Chapel Hill. Lawson found great success from the air in the loss, completing five of his nine pass attempts for 147 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

Friday the 13th fiasco

September 15, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

September 12, 2019
Senior Ben Bodne celebrates with junior Joseph Rampey after a touchdown. Bodne was the driving force in the 28-0 win over Northgate, totaling 140 yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns.

Gameday Takeaways, Week 2

September 10, 2019
Senior Ben Bodne runs the ball against Northgate. Bodne picked up right where he left off against Mt. Zion, running for 140 yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns.

Sweet revenge at Valhalla

September 8, 2019
Junior Cole Bishop pursues an opposing Bulldog. The Panthers made defense a priority in the win over Mt. Zion giving up only 273 yards in the 14-8 win.

Gameday Takeaways, Week 1

September 5, 2019
Senior running back Kalen Sims drives the ball down the field against Mt. Zion. The Panthers used a strong defense to limit the Bulldogs to only one touchdown, while running the ball constantly on offense.

Loyalty in their DNA

September 2, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

August 29, 2019

Coach’s Corner

August 20, 2019
Tessa Laney

Tessa Laney

August 16, 2019
Sophomore Lilli Backes pitches against McIntosh. Backes threw a one-hit complete game shutout, including 15 strikeouts and four walks. She also performed well offensively, adding two RBIs on her 1-4 batting night.

Strikeout queen

August 15, 2019

Coach’s Corner

August 15, 2019
The football team practices in Panther Stadium. Improvement is priority number one for the Panthers after a shocking first round exit in the GHSA State Playoffs. Players from the class of 2020 can become the first class in school history to win the region championship all four years of their careers. The journey toward school history begins at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 against Mt. Zion.

Back to school, back to work

August 8, 2019
Track and field head coach Chad Walker accepts the Hawthorne Wesley Coach’s Dedication Award. The Starr’s Mill track team had a great showing this season, breaking nine school records en route to Walker earning this honor. The Atlanta Track Club’s highest coaching award can only be earned once in a coaching career.

‘D’ is for ‘Dedication’

June 8, 2019
Lea Duben

Lea Duben

May 24, 2019
Nick Nyman

Nick Nyman

May 17, 2019
Senior Michael Lantz rings the victory bell as the rest of the team celebrates. The Panthers defeated Johnson 2-0 after losing to them 4-0 in the Final Four last year. This win sets up a Battle of the Bubble against McIntosh for the AAAAA GHSA State Championship.

Same opponent, different result

May 15, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

May 14, 2019
Senior Michael Lantz saves an attempted goal off a penalty kick. Lantz was a big part in the 2-0 win, saving all eight shots on goal by the Indians. With this win, the Panthers have yet to be scored on in the postseason, outscoring their opponents 14-0.

He’s a keeper!

May 10, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

May 9, 2019
Senior Noah Pavel fights for possession against a Woodland defender. The Panthers kept the ball on their side of the field for the majority of the game, shutting out Woodland 4-0.

Another shutout win sends Panthers to Elite Eight

May 5, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

May 2, 2019
Sophomore Daniel Courtney pitches against the Gators. Courtney pitched a complete game and threw five strikeouts in the 3-2 victory in game two. He also went four for four at the plate.

Pitching powers Panthers past Gators

April 29, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

April 25, 2019

Coach’s Corner

April 24, 2019
Kayden Parker

Kayden Parker

April 19, 2019
Junior Beau Gardner pitches against the Wildcats. Gardner struggled on the mound, allowing seven of Whitewater’s 13 hits in the game. He also allowed five of the visiting team’s nine runs.

So close, yet so far

April 17, 2019
Victoria Fuller

Victoria Fuller

April 12, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

April 12, 2019
Sophomore Thad Ector runs toward first base. The Panthers were down 4-0 after the first inning. However, an offensive onslaught saw them take over the game and force a mercy rule victory 14-4.

Panthers force mercy rule despite hot start from Bears

March 28, 2019
Senior Ryan Henderson takes a swing at the plate. Panther hitting, despite a slow start, was a key factor in the comeback 8-7 victory. Henderson and senior Brian Port had three hits each.

Panthers avenge game one loss, take region lead

March 24, 2019

Coach’s Corner

March 20, 2019
Panther players celebrate after a goal. The Mill never let up on the offensive end against Whitewater as they scored 16 goals, their second highest goal tally this season. Juniors Cameron Herd and Christian Sparkman for over half the team’s goals, scoring four and five respectively.

All around performance helps Panthers top Wildcats

March 15, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

March 14, 2019
Junior Garrett Meunick fights for possession during a faceoff. Meunick went a perfect 16 of 16 on faceoffs in the win against Northgate, giving the Panthers an automatic advantage on the offensive end.

Despite slow start, Panthers shut out Northgate

March 7, 2019
Sophomore Jacqueline Broderick looks to pass the ball. Good passing and communication allowed the Lady Panthers to blow out Dutchtown 19-1 for their first win of the season. The Mill’s offense overpowered the Lady Bulldogs’ weak defense by breaking down the field fast, and winning the majority of the face-offs to keep the ball on Dutchtown’s side of the field.

Reigning state runner-up victorious in season opener

March 1, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

February 28, 2019
Collin Kasler

Collin Kasler

February 13, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

February 8, 2019
From the Panther Pit

From the Panther Pit

January 31, 2019
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