Winning a championship is never easy.
It takes work in the offseason, belief during the grind, and composure when the moment is biggest.
In 2025, Savannah-area schools showed exactly what that looks like.
Savannah-area athletes and programs from the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA), Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools (GAPPS), and South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) delivered memorable championship moments.
These moments took place on the track, cross-country course, football field, basketball court, baseball diamond, wrestling mat, golf course, flag football field, and even on the national stage in clay target shooting. These are moments worth celebrating for years to come.
Let's take a look at some of the top championship highlights and memorable feats in this Prep Sports Report 2025 Year in Review.
Basketball
The Savannah High School Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets captured the GHSA Class A Division II State Basketball Championship with a 58–52 win over McIntosh County Academy. It marked the program’s 12th state title and its first championship since 1998—a long-awaited moment for the school community.
St. Andrew’s School Basketball
St. Andrew’s School added another championship to its program history in 2025, winning its third state title in four seasons.
The Lions defeated Brookwood 54–43 in the state championship game at Columbus State University to close out the title run.
Baseball
Calvary Day School Baseball
Calvary Day celebrated championships and playoff runs across multiple sports.
GHSA Private State Baseball Championship: The Cavaliers won the GHSA Class 3A-A Private State Championship in May 2025, their third title and first since 2007.
Clay Sports
National Champions: Forest City Gun Club Juniors
Some programs don’t just win—they dominate like the Forest City Gun Club Juniors Caly Sporting team.
The Forest City Gun Club Juniors won their sixth straight Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Championship in July 2025.
GIAA Clay Sporting State Champs and HOA Awards
Benedictine Military School won the 2025 GIAA Clay Target State Championship at Forest City Gun Club, pulling away from the field with a dominant team performance in sporting clays, skeet, and trap.
Senior Mills Hollis earned High Overall (HOA) honors with a 286 score, leading a deep lineup that delivered across all disciplines.
It marked Benedictine’s fourth state title in six years, built on depth, experience, and consistency.
Savannah Christian Preparatory School Individual HOA
SCPS senior Emaline Haddad captured her third GIAA Female Individual State Championship at the Forest City Gun Club, continuing a standout career in clay target shooting.
Cross Country
Savannah Arts Academy
Savannah Arts Academy enjoyed one of the area’s most memorable seasons on the cross-country course and track.
Girls Cross Country: The Panthers claimed their third straight GHSA Class 2A State Championship. They placed four runners in the top 11 at the state meet.
Individually, Frances Tedder added to the banner year by winning the GHSA Class Track 2A girls 3200-meter state championship in 11:43.65.
Football
Football: State Champion
Bethesda Academy completed a perfect 12–0 season and won the SCISA State Championship, defeating Pee Dee Academy 54–15.
Other Notable Football Performances
Three other Savannah-area football programs reached state championship games in 2025 through discipline, toughness, and consistency.
Benedictine Military School advanced to the GHSA Class 4A State Championship game, finishing as runners-up after a hard-fought 42–39 loss to Creekside.
Calvary Day School reached the GHSA Private State Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They finished as runners-up after a 28–21 loss to Hebron Christian.
H.V. Jenkins High School reached the school’s first-ever GHSA Division 2 Flag Football State Championship game, finishing as runners-up.
GOLF
Golf: Individual State Champions
Golf success required patience and composure.
Bear Dollander (Sophomore, Benedictine Military School)
Class 4A boys individual state champion
Finished 10-under par over two rounds
Ledger Conley (Junior, Richmond Hill High School): Class 6A boys individual state champion. He finished 5-under par. Hayden Price (Habersham School) was the GAPPS state champion.
Hayden Price (Habersham School) won the GAPPS girls’ individual state golf championship.
Quentin Brooks (Bethesda Academy) won the SCISA boys individual state golf championship.
Tennis
Habersham School Girls Tennis
The Habersham School girls' tennis team won its fourth straight GAPPS State Championship in 2025, continuing one of the state’s most consistent championship runs.
Swimming
St. Andrew’s School
Sophomore Jossy Thompson won the individual gold medal GIAA state title in the 100-yard breaststroke and earned two silver medals. One in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle.
Track
Savannah-Area Track & Field Gold Medal Winners (2025)
Track season showcased speed, power, and clutch performances by Savannah-area athletes.
Coray Stafford (H.V. Jenkins, Class 3A)
State champion in the 100 meters (10.43), 200 meters (21.13), and 4x100 relay (41.12)
Blessed Diogo (H.V. Jenkins, Class 3A)
Girls triple jump state champion (38-4)
Jaidyn Hayes (Liberty County, Class 3A)
Discus state champion (133-6)
Kendrick Joshua (Richmond Hill, Class 6A)
300-meter hurdles state champion (36.33)
Benedictine Military School (Class 4A)
Benedictine dominated the relays, not just winning medals.
4x100 relay state champions (41.33): Stanley Smart, Stephen Cannon, Chris “Bubba” Frazier, Eron Mallard
4x200 relay state champions (1:26.97): Stanley Smart, Chris “Bubba” Frazier, Stephen Cannon, Cole Henderson
Harrison Crofts (South Effingham, Class 5A)
High jump state champion (6-8)
Jacoby Pasley (Bradwell Institute, Class 5A)
400 meters state champion (48.79)
Winning two gold medals set one standard: finish strong.
Bethesda Academy: SCISA Track & Field Champions
Bethesda Academy’s boys track and field team won the 2025 SCISA Division II State Championship. The meet was held on May 2 in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
Team score: 126 points (1st place overall)
Key Performers
Raleigh Wesley: High Point Champion (40 points)
100 meters (10.65)
200 meters (21.57)
4x100 relay (43.56)
4x100 Relay Team: Raleigh Wesley, Assir Best, Malachi Jadon Turner, Jordan Turner
Assir Best Long jump champion (20-7.5)
Christopher Wright
110-meter hurdles champion (16.72)
400-meter hurdles champion (1:01.74). Isaiah Reynolds was the high jump champion (6-2). 4x400 Relay Champions (3:35.82): Franky Jackson, Malachi Morris, Jordan Turner, and Raleigh Wesley.
Bethesda closed the meet the right way by finishing first.
Wrestling
Wrestling Excellence: South Effingham High School
South Effingham’s wrestling program continued to set the standard in Class 5A.
South Effingham produced three individual state champions in the same season. This was a first in school history.
Individual Champions
Brandon “Moose” Bringer (157 lbs): State Champion | 67–2 record | 229 career wins
Emilio Santana (126 lbs): State Champion | 52–4 record
Tahrik Bailey (113 lbs): State Champion | First freshman champion at that weight
Coach’s Final Take
Championships don’t happen by accident.
They happen when athletes train, teams trust the process, and programs uphold standards. In 2025, Savannah-area athletes and teams lived this one rep, race, and round at a time.
That’s how championship banners are raised and celebrated.
And once a standard is set, the work is to keep it there.
Follow Prep Sports Report on X @PrepSav and Instagram @savannahsportsreport.
To share scores, information, or story ideas, email kdemasi@prepsportsreport.com or text 912-507-9158.
Corrections or additions regarding state championships are welcome and may be sent to the same contact.
