As Bethesda Academy concludes another school year this month, the Blazers’ athletic program can take stock in all that it accomplished in 2023-24.
Antwain Turner, the athletic director since 2007 at the small school of about 80 boys grades 9-12, has seen some very good teams over the years.
Bethesda captured state titles in basketball in 2012 in the Georgia Independent School Association and in 2015 after becoming a member of the South Carolina Independent School Association.
The Blazers nearly added another one this winter, earning the Region 2-2A title before falling in the SCISA Class 2A title game.
Last fall, the Blazers went 13-0 and took home the football program’s first state crown. Turner created the program and has been its only head coach for 19 seasons. The school held a celebration on Sunday, May 5, with a ring ceremony on campus.
The track and field team nearly claimed a SCISA state championship in 2018, then won the whole thing in 2019. Last Friday, May 3, Bethesda made a solid showing at the Division II meet for Classes A, 2A and 3A at Orangeburg (S.C.) Prep, including two state titles for sophomore sprinter Raleigh Wesley (100 and 200 meters).
“This has been a great year,” Turner said. “We’re still young in track and field. This has been our best year in football. We’ve had better years in basketball and track. But all together, holistically, it’s been a great year. All of our kids work hard.”
Many Bethesda student-athletes play multiple sports, which is common for such a small school. Wesley was an all-state cornerback on the football team with seven interceptions. Senior Triston Randall, who placed third in the discus (121 feet, 1 inch), was an all-state quarterback who also played linebacker, punter and kicker.
Senior Jacari McKay, an all-state and all-region basketball player, placed second at the state track meet in the 110-meter hurdles in 17.20 seconds.
Junior Israel Wright, freshman Jadon Turner and eighth-grader Jordan Turner (the latter two are Antwain Turner’s sons) all played basketball, with Wright earning all-region honors. They joined anchor Wesley on the 4x100 relay team, which placed second at state in 45.24 seconds.
Senior Jayden Holiday was third in the 400 hurdles in 1:01.75, with McKay fifth in 1:03.29.
Wesley was fastest in the 100 (11.00 seconds) and 200 (22.52). He was listed on the football roster as 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds.
“He’s not the biggest, but he has a big heart,” Antwain Turner said. “He’s determined to be great. He has a will to win. We’re very excited to have him in our program. He’s a great kid. He’s got a lot of promise and a lot of great things that await him because of his work ethic.”
Wesley also competed in football and track as freshman.
“He’s only getting better. Each year he’s improving greatly,” Turner said. “This is just the start for Raleigh. I think you’ll be seeing and hearing his name an awful lot from here on out.”
Bethesda finished sixth of 16 teams in the standings with 52 points. The Blazers also got contributions from Jadon Turner in the 100 and 200; junior Isaiah Reynolds in the high jump; sophomore Steve Mitchell in the shot put; and juniors Charles Green and Franky Jackson in the 400.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bethesda Academy Athletic Department
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