Thank you, Lexie

I will be the first to admit, I had a completely different column written out for this week, as I had planned on writing about the Class of 2024 as a whole and how they will be one of the most talented athletic classes to ever walk the halls of Hart County High School. While that is true and many seniors accomplished and defined what greatness looks like, someone was there through it all never got the credit they deserved. That is a girl by the name of Lexie Wheless.

I was speaking last week with the editor and publisher of The Hartwell Sun, Patrick Fargason, and he said that he was doing a column on his favorite senior, which is our intern Terriah Bush, who has done phenomenal work for us. As I began to write my original column for the week, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and it inspired me to write this column about my favorite senior who has hidden behind the camera and has not gotten the recognition she deserves.

As a freshman, Wheless competed on the softball team and played a part in the slow-pitch team that won a state championship. After her freshman year, she decided to set down the bat and glove and pick up a camera to focus on her dream of working in sports media. For the past three years, Wheless has taken photos and has captured videos of special moments of every single sport for Hart County High School Athletics. All of it was used to build up her portfolio to get accepted to the University of Georgia to continue to do photography for UGA Athletics beginning in the fall.

So why is she my favorite senior? You may have noticed many times during my time at The Hartwell Sun the name Lexie Wheless underneath a photo. That is because I have been able to continue broadcasting for WKLY during basketball season and even be the PA announcer for basketball this past year. All of that was because of Lexie. When I had to work the first Georgia Tech football game against Louisville in Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Aflac Kickoff Game, who covered to take pictures for me of the Hart County versus Apalachee football game? Lexie Wheless did. When I was sick and unable to attend a game or was at another sporting event on the road while another team was playing at home, Lexie took pictures. She has been a vital part of the success that I have had here at The Hartwell Sun. Lexie rarely ever said no, and without her willingness to help, I don’t know what I would have done.

Now she will begin her next chapter of life as she will be working for UGA Athletics this fall as she will begin capturing moments that we will probably see across UGA Athletics social media pages on all platforms. But for the past three years, the content that Hart County High School Athletics and the student led sports media group, Bulldog Sports Insider, has been able to provide, Lexie has played a huge part in that. I cannot thank her enough for all of the outstanding work she has not only done for me, but many others within the athletic community at Hart County High School. We will miss you, but we are excited about the new journey you are about to embark on!  Thank you, Lexie!