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Bryan County Girls Preview 

Lady Redskins Rising: Bryan County Girls Aim for Continued Success After Breakout Season

There are different ways to measure success. The Bryan County girls soccer team saw progress in the voluntary turnout of its players for the inaugural Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Soccer Media Day on Saturday, Feb. 3. 

“My first year, we won one game,” Redskins third-year coach Kristen Barnhill said Feb. 3. “We went from having six or seven kids show up every day and hoping 11 showed up for the game to everybody showing up (today), even after we found out only two of us had to be here. Everybody still wanted to come. 

“So it’s a great testament to these kids’ dedication and hard work and commitment to this program. I’m so proud of where we’re going, and I’m really excited for this season.” 

Bryan County had 13 players come to the media day, with the other two unavailable because of schedule conflicts with part-time jobs. They could have slept in on a Saturday morning, but instead boarded a bus in the school parking lot at 8:45 a.m. for the commute from Pembroke to Savannah. 

“I really wanted to come out here today and see what the setup was,” said senior goalkeeper Skylar Lee, who has signed to play softball at Georgia College & State University. “(Media Day) is a really good program for recognizing soccer.” 

Bryan County is improving as a program, finishing third in GHSA Region 3-A D-I and making the postseason for the first time in about eight years, Barnhill said. 

Two-year captain Lee is the only returning starter among four to five seniors on the roster, with standout center midfielder Haley Thomas one of about nine juniors. About four to five sophomores and zero freshmen round out the roster. 

“Overall, we have people that have a really good work ethic and will do what they can to make us get better,” Thomas said. “We have a lot of people who can pick up the speed when we need it and hustle down the field.” 

Barnhill looked at the baker’s dozen of her players in attendance. 

“I think our strength is team unity,” she said. “I think our team chemistry is great, our leadership is great.” 

Bryan County Boys Preview 

Fresh Start, New Coach: Bryan County Boys Aim to Turn the Tide

Veteran soccer coach Jason Lee is in his first year at the helm of a Bryan County boys program that is trying to build a winning culture. 

He said that the team won only twice last season and hasn’t won a region contest in several years, so the mindset is to make progress in small victories in the game within the game. 

“What I try to tell the guys this year, it’s the moments. You win the moments, you win the games,” Lee said at the inaugural Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Soccer Media Day on Saturday, Feb. 3. 

He sees excitement building for the program, with the return of key players such as sophomore center midfielder Josiah Coffey and the addition of new ones such as senior DJ Johnson. 

A member of the marching band, Johnson has competed in other sports such as cross country and volleyball but was open this spring to trying soccer. With his speed, he’s a natural for striker. 

Coffey said team strengths are chemistry and communication. 

“We all are really good friends,” Coffey said. “We know each other for a little bit. That’s really helpful for the team.” 

Johnson agreed, saying this squad has the will to fight to the end. 

“All of the guys on the team are amazing at that,” Johnson said. “Nobody quits. Nobody gives up. Never really get any whining. We just keep pushing forward.” 

Lee picked up on that, calling his players resilient and “some of the toughest kids I’ve ever worked with.” 

They can deal with adversity on the field, and Lee wants that to translate to how they handle being a student and life in general. 

“I’m very, very strict with a code of conduct with my young men because I feel like it teaches discipline,” Lee said. “Sports are great because they teach the young men how to channel their focus, how to channel their energy, but also to be able to work as a team. The biggest thing I want the program to work on is that idea of honor and integrity.”

PHOTO Credit: Optim Orthopedics marketing Department

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Optim Orthopedics is a well-known name in Savannah's high school sports community, providing crucial medical support to local high schools. Prep Sports Report basketball coverage is presented by Optim Orthopedics.   They have dedicated fellowship-trained Orthopedics Surgeons, including Dr. David Sedory for Benedictine Military, Bradwell Institute, and Liberty County, Dr. David Palmer for Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, and South Effingham, and Dr. Thomas Alexander for Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's. Optim Orthopedics's commitment to local athletes runs deep. They are proud sponsors of the Prep Sports Report, whose motto is, "Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game