It was a busy weekend in the Charger nation. The OHS volleyball and swim teams fought for a state championship while the cross country teams fought for a region championship. All three teams experienced some form of success in this 48 hour period that started at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28.

Swimming

The Chargers sent 16 athletes to Tupelo to compete in the MHSAA Class II State Championship swim meet. All their hard work led them to successful seasons. The girls finished seventh overall and the guys thirteenth overall.

“I’ve never seen us work this hard before,” senior swimmer Thomas Hoskins said about the championship meet.

OHS had some big races that day, one of the main highlights of the meet came from a third place finish in the girls 200 meter freestyle relay composed of Lucy Chiniche, Kate Byars, Caki Field, and Anna Dennis. It was the first time in five years that Oxford had medaled in this event. The 200 and 400 meter freestyle relay teams both finished with All-State honors. Chiniche also recorded a 57.36 second 100 meter freestyle time, finishing fourth overall and getting second team All-State honors.

On the boys side, six swimmers received All-State honors along with Hoskins: Jeffery Wang, Graham Norris, Will Carrington, Cole Moore, Harrison Tann, and Bryce Gozkowiscz.

Cross Country

The OHS boys and girls cross country teams competed in the Region 1-5A meet in Saltillo on Saturday, October 29. The boys finished first overall and the girls second overall. This meet showed signs of good things to come in the state championship meet.

“I saw a lot of drive, a lot of determination and a lot of effort,” head coach Chris Patton said about his team.

For the boys race, 12 runners finished in the 5A top 25 and three Oxford runners finished in the top five: Kyle Rock (16:58.60), John Owen Yoste (17:17.85), and Malik Lawson (17:23.54). Rock, Yoste, and Lawson finished second, third, and fourth respectably. Jonathan Tyler and Owen Bruce earned times of 17:53.20 and 17:56.42 respectably.

The Girls had eight racers finish in the 5A top 25. Addie Thompson (20:35.81) and Swayze Elliot (21:05.37) cracked the top 10, finishing second and seventh respectably.  Right behind Thompson and Elliot were Ally Shinall (21:58.98), Katelyn Rock (22:09.68), and McCall Mullins (22:10.64).

OHS will compete Saturday, November 5 in the MHSAA Class 5A State Championship meet at the Mississippi College Choctaw Trails in Clinton. The boys are looking to avenge last season’s second place finish to Saltillo last season while the girls are looking to win their first state title since 2000.

Volleyball

On Friday, the 28th, The Lady Chargers volleyball team traveled to Millsaps College in Jackson for the MHSAA Class II semifinal game against the Ridgeland Lady Titans. A strong first set paved the way for a clean sweep of the Lady Titans, winning 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-17). The win would mean that Oxford would have to come back to Millsaps College the next day to play for a state championship.

The stage was set the next day for the MHSAA Class II State Championship game against the defending state champion Lewisburg Lady Patriots. Just like the previous day against Ridgeland, the Lady Chargers dominated the first set and never looked back. Eventually, the Lady Chargers swept the Lewisburg 3-0 (25-11, 25-19, 25-15), the 18 year championship drought finally came to an end.

“These girls have worked so hard,” OHS head coach Tara Ross said about her team. “Our whole goal this year was mental strength and toughness. I feel like they they’ve done nothing but show that. Im just beyond proud for all of them, every one of them.”

“That was the funnest game of my life, I have never had that much fun playing the game that I love,” Hobson said. “I’m so pumped for my team.”