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Demopolis football coach and Athletic Director, Lance Tucker was the speaker for the Jan. 10 Rotary Club meeting. Tucker discussed the wrap-up of fall sports and the upcoming spring sports.

The volleyball team had a record of 17-13, and made an appearance at the Super Regionals in Montgomery. Sarah Helms and Jenn Shipman made the All-Area Tournament Team, and two others signed to play volleyball at the college level.

“You can see how our volleyball is progressing. We had two girls get full scholarships to play at the next level. That’s a great accomplishment,” said Tucker.

The football team finished the 2023 season with a 10-3 record and a third round playoff appearance. Tucker said as the coach, he thought Demopolis should have gone to the semi-final round.

“I say as the coach, if one of twenty different plays goes our way, we win the football game. But sometimes it’s just not meant to be this year,” said Tucker. “But overall, we had a great year, and I was proud of our kids.”

The cross-country team competed in eight events, and competed in the 5A Section Meet. Three athletes from the team qualified for state in Richard Lessman, who came in 13th in the state, and became Demopolis High School’s first All-State Cross Country athlete. Hattie Hurst and Chandler Hutton were two other athletes going on to play at the college level at Shelton State.

At the time of the Rotary Club meeting, the boys basketball team was 9-3 on the season, and the girls’ basketball team was 4-6.

Looking ahead to spring sports, the boys’ baseball team comes off a semi-final appearance last season, and are looking to advance further for the 2024 season. For the track team, a new track surface will be laid down either near the end of spring or during the summer.

“As the athletic director, if I had to prioritize what our athletics needed, it’s a new track. Anyone who has been to the track in the last couple of years can agree that we need a new one,” said Tucker. 

Tucker said that Demopolis finished fourth in the state last year in golf, and that most of last year’s team will return for the upcoming season.

Tucker said that all the sports Demopolis has is because of the community giving back to the school system.

“Thank you all for everything you do for our kids. It means a lot,” said Tucker.