East Lauderdale News

An East Lauderdale News interview with Haleigh Woodard, tennis coach at Lauderdale County High School. LCHS' girls tennis team won its second consecutive state championship in April. Coach Woodard discusses high-level success, managing expectations, preparations for next year and more. The interview was conducted on Thursday, May 23.

The final play and celebration following Lauderdale County's 35-30 road win over Piedmont / AHSAA playoffs, second round (Friday, Nov. 17). LCHS advances to next week's quarterfinals.

Watch: Lauderdale County High School tennis coach Haleigh Woodard discusses this week's historic state championship win by the Lady Tigers. (Transcript follows.) East Lauderdale News: "I'm speaking with Haleigh Woodard, coach of the tennis program at Lauderdale County High School, some 48 hours -- a little more than 48 hours -- after her girls team won an unprecedented championship in Mobile. Now that you've had time to think about things, if you've *had* time to think, what are your thoughts, just two days after the big win?" Haleigh Woodard: "Honestly, it still feels surreal, I'm still on cloud nine. I'm so incredibly proud of those girls and all of the hard work that they've put in. It feels like a long time coming. Being a part of the tennis program for as long as I have, I'm so grateful to see that we are finally getting some of that recognition that I feel like our program deserves." ELN: "I know you've had some success in recent years at sectionals, I believe there were a couple of individual championships last year. What kind of expectations do you have coming into a typical year, and this year, or *do* you have expectations? Do you have to see how things play out in the regular season before you start thinking of sectionals and the state tournament?" Coach Woodard: "I think it really, honestly depends. This year was a different year. I was bringing back almost all of my team. We had one senior that graduated last year, but I had a player who was out with an injury last year as well, who -- she was able to come back to us this year. So, I was bringing in what I knew was a very high-level team. And I *did* have high expectations for them. I knew that they could -- they should at least make the state tournament, if not make a racket at the state tournament, and so seeing them show up and play like they did, and battle, it really proved to me that they've done above and beyond what I asked of them." ELN: "What is the off-season like? Is there some downtime

Action resumes at 6 p.m. today (Saturday, August 13) at Lexington Motorsports Park. (Video from Friday night, August 12 / potentially loud volume/speaker alert.)

Wreath-laying ceremony at the gravesite of Medal of Honor recipient Don Leslie Michael -- Saturday, April 9, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery, Lexington, AL. Background/previously: Members of the 82nd Airborne Division Association will be at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Cemetery in Lexington tomorrow (Saturday, April 9), 11 a.m., to lay a wreath at the gravesite of Don Leslie Michael. U.S. Army Spc. 4th Class Michael was killed in the Republic of Vietnam on April 8, 1967. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the U.S. government's highest military decoration. A graduate of Lexington High School, Michael is the only Medal of Honor recipient from Lauderdale County. The public is invited to attend Saturday's ceremony. The church and cemetery are located at 8880 County Road 71, Lexington. Details and text of Don Michael's Medal of Honor citation: Don Leslie Michael Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 8 April 1967. Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala. Born: 31 July 1947, Florence, Ala. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Michael, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving with Company C. Sp4c. Michael was part of a platoon which was moving through an area of suspected enemy activity. While the rest of the platoon stopped to provide security, the squad to which Sp4c. Michael was assigned moved forward to investigate signs of recent enemy activity. After moving approximately 125 meters, the squad encountered a single Viet Cong soldier. When he was fired upon by the squad's machine gunner, other Viet Cong opened fire with automatic weapons from a well-concealed bunker to the squad's right front. The volume of enemy fire was so withering as to pin down the entire squad and halt all forward movement. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sp4c. Michael expo

Lauderdale County senior Mattie Adams scores two in LCHS' 79-46 win over Marion County. (1/29/2022)

Lauderdale County senior Ryleigh Putman scores three in LCHS' 79-46 win over Marion County. (1/29/2022)

Lauderdale County freshman Leah Childress gets her own rebound and scores in LCHS' 79-46 win over Marion County. (1/29/2022)

Lauderdale County junior Ruthie Smith wrests control of the ball, fades backward in traffic, and scores two in LCHS' 79-46 win over Marion County -- Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022.

Lauderdale County freshman Shila Marks drives to the basket and scores in LCHS' 79-46 win over Marion County -- Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022.

Lauderdale County sophomore Miles Edwards connects on a 3-point basket in LCHS' 54-35 win over Rogers in the Lauderdale County Tournament semifinals -- Thursday, Jan. 20, at Lexington.

Lauderdale County senior Katelyn Dickerson hits a 3-pointer in LCHS' 66-18 win over Wilson in the Lauderdale County Basketball Tournament semifinals -- Thursday, Jan. 20, at Lexington.

Final: Brooks 75, Lexington 50 / varsity boys semifinal #1, Lauderdale County Basketball Tournament

LCHS senior Eric Fuqua was the winner of the male Skills Competition in tonight's inaugural All-Star Saturday events on opening day of the Lauderdale County Basketball Tournament.

Lauderdale County senior Brodie Llewellyn is fouled while scoring after an assist from senior Eric Fuqua -- Lauderdale County vs. Colbert Heights, Friday, Jan. 14. (Final: LCHS 83, Colbert Heights 36)

Lauderdale County senior Mattie Adams scores on an assist from senior Ryleigh Putman -- Lauderdale County vs. Colbert Heights, Friday, Jan. 14. (Final: LCHS 77, Colbert Heights 26)

Brooks red-zone run that set up a game-tying TD in the 1st half. Halftime: Brooks 21, Oneonta 21.

Lauderdale County's Eric Fuqua runs for a TD on a quarterback keeper. Final: LCHS 28, Vinemont 6

Lauderdale County's Jaylon Byrd with a TD run from just inside the 10. Final: LCHS 28, Vinemont 6