CSD Athletics: Bulldog News

Bulldog Families,

March is "Athletic Trainer Appreciation" Month! Bulldog Athletic Department is blessed to have DeAndrea "Dee" Hudson serving as our Athletic Trainer. Ms. Dee goes above and beyond to support or students, communicate with families, and ensure our Bulldogs are safe! While we'd like to avoid injuries, they are a part of participation, and we're lucky to have an experienced and professional Athletic Trainer to support our Bulldogs. Thank you, Ms. Dee!

We hope you will join us at this year's Decatur Bulldog Booster Bash. This continues to be a great event where all of our Bulldog families from Decatur High and Beacon Hill Middle Schools come together to celebrate, fellowship, and fundraise. See the Save-the-Date below.

As always, there is a lot to celebrate in CSD Athletics. If you have any questions or need guidance relating to our programs, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Go Bulldogs!!

Director of Activities & Athletics: Rodney Thomas

(rthomas@csdecatur.net)

Assistant Activities & Athletics Director: David Harbin

(dharbin@csdecatur.net)

Bookkeeper & Administrative Assistant: Kelli Aaron

(kaaron@csdecatur.net)

Congratulations to our Boys' Basketball Bulldogs! The Bulldogs' season came to an end on Wednesday evening in the Quarterfinal matchup against top-ranked Alexander. Our Bulldogs battled for four quarters, overcoming one obstacle after another, keeping the game within striking distance; however, it was ultimately not enough.

We are proud of everyone involved in this team, as they have each help return the Decatur Boys' Basketball program to the conversation when discussing the best teams in the state. Thank you to our Seniors who led day in and day out for years and leave a legacy for their returning underclassmen to uphold. Thank you to our coaches for pouring into our student-athletes. And, thank you to all of our Bulldog fans who showed up to support the team.

DHS Volleyball Tryouts for the 2026 Fall season are right around the corner! All rising 8th-12th graders should complete the Interest Form HERE. Tryouts will be held May 5-7 at the Beacon Hill MS gymnasium. Students must have an updated medical profile in DragonFly to participate.

Contact Coach Tigner (mtigner@csdecatur.net) and Coach Spriggs (gospriggs@gmail.com) with any questions.

City Schools of Decatur has secured discounted ATL UTD tickets for the 2026 Home Opener vs. Real Salt Lake on Saturday, March 7th at 7:30PM. All students, staff, family, and friends can purchase through this link while supplies last to secure discounted tickets with reduced fees. $3 from every ticket will also go back to support the City Schools of Decatur.

An Interest Meeting for our DHS Softball Fall season will be held on March 18. Coach Williams and our staff will meet students in A109 at 4 PM.

Congratulations to Senior Olivia Sawyer! Olivia was recognized by the Georgia Athletic Directors Association as a finalist for their Student Scholarship. This is an opportunity offered to student-athletes across the state of Georgia. Olivia has represented CSD as a stellar student-athlete on the Cross County and Track teams, in Chorus, and in a variety of clubs and organizations. We are proud to have her recognized by the GADA and representing CSD at the State level!

Our Decatur Bulldogs were well-represented on the Region 4-5A All-Region teams! Congratulations to Kendale Lanier (Fr.), Nadiya Mohamed (Jr.), Eli Beard (Sr.), Tobias Brinkley (Sr.), Bryce Howson (Sr.), and Jason Welborn (Sr.). Each of these Bulldogs had tremendous seasons individually and as leaders amongst their teammates. Great job to both teams!

Congratulations to Coach Rory Welsh, who was named Region 4-5A Coach of the Year. Thank you, Coach, for your dedication to our basketball program.

We are so proud of our Bulldogs who decide to continue their athletic pursuits at the collegiate level. We recently celebrated 6 more Bulldog Seniors who have committed to colleges and universities as student-athletes. We've reflected on and celebrated their success and cannot wait to support them as they represent the Bulldogs at the next level.

Congratulations to these Bulldogs!!

Ava Bearden - Softball - Rhodes College)

Peri Jeffers - Softball - Rochester Institute of Technology

Kennedy Hilson - Volleyball - Brandeis University

Brigit Walsh - Volleyball - Eckerd College

Tayveion Burtts - Football - Andrew College

Ronin Simms - Football - Naval Academy

Congratulations to our Beacon Hill Basketball teams. Both teams had two Bulldogs recognized on the 2026 All-DeKalb County Basketball Teams. Great job to each of these student-athletes, as well as their teammates and coaches for putting them in positions to excel!

2026 DeKalb All-County Team:

Lydia Robillard, Stella Rucker, Charles Hunt, and Isaiah Welsh

Our DHS Cheerleaders haven't yet wrapped up the 2025-2026 season, and already, it's time to start preparing for 2026-2027!! See the graphic below for important information about the Interest Meeting in March and tryouts in April.

Decatur High School students without a smartphone have the option to email our Athletic Director, Mr. Rodney Thomas, or our Principal, Dr. Duane Sprull, to make ticket arrangements. Communication must be at least 48 hours before the event.

Please note: This process will not apply to GHSA Playoff events hosted at Decatur High School.

We’re excited to welcome everyone to our events this year, and we are committed to ensuring every fan feels both safe and welcomed at our athletic events.

To streamline entry and support a positive experience, here’s what to know:

• Weapons detection systems will be in use at the gates to enhance safety and peace of mind.

• Bag guidelines: Only clear bags are allowed—either a clear bag up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ or a small clutch (around 4.5″ × 6.5″). Exceptions are made for medically necessary or diaper bags, which will be subject to inspection.

• Faster entry is easier entry: Bringing fewer items helps everyone move through the screening process more smoothly and swiftly.

Thank you for your cooperation, and for helping us create a welcoming and secure atmosphere for Bulldog Nation.

Grab your crew and join us on Saturday, March 21st for an unforgettable night of great food, drinks, music, and Bulldog pride -- all while raising funds to support Decatur Athletics. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and you won't want to miss it.

Score $5 off your ticket through February 22 with code EARLYBIRD5. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS!

Our Decatur Bulldog Boosters have something for everyone when it comes to Bulldog Swag. Start 2026 off right in your new Decatur Bulldog Spirit Wear. All proceeds go to support our BHMS and DHS Bulldog Student-Athletes!

Click the image above to browse the Shop

Many of you have been asking about Run With the Dogs, and we’re happy to share an exciting update. For the past 21 years, Run With the Dogs has been a beloved Decatur tradition, bringing our community together in the best way: on the run, for our schools.

This year, we’re trying something new. We’re thrilled to partner with the Decatur Education Foundation to add a one-mile dog run component to another hometown favorite: the amazing Tour deCatur, happening on March 14. It’s a fun new way to keep the spirit of Run With the Dogs alive while teaming up with a longtime community partner.

And looking ahead - if you’re passionate about Run With the Dogs and would love to see it return to its traditional January race format in the future, we’d love your help. We’re looking for a volunteer to lead that effort and help shape what’s next. If that sounds like you, please reach out to shawnamikes1@gmail.com.

Decatur events thrive because of community energy and leadership, and we’re excited to keep building together. 🐾🏃‍♀️

Learn more about how you can become a Bulldog Sponsor for the 2025-26 school year by clicking the button below.

We are a community of parents and guardians dedicated to enhancing the athletic experience at both DHS and BHMS—and we want you involved! Joining us is a great way to meet other families and directly impact your student's season. We meet the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the DHS Performing Arts Center (PAC) hospitality suite. Mark your calendars for our upcoming 2025-2026 meetings.

• Remaining 2026 meeting dates: Mar. 9 | Apr. 13 | May 11

Stay in the know on all things Boosters by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

@Decatur Bulldog Boosters

@rwtd5k

@decaturbulldogbash

Thursday, March 4 - JV/Varsity Girls' Lacrosse vs. Lakeside - 5:55 PM

Thursday, March 4 - 9 Boys' Soccer vs. Lakeside - 6:00 PM (Legacy Park)

Thursday, March 4 - Varsity Tennis vs. Chamblee - 4:00 PM (Agnes Scott)

Thursday, March 4 - Golf vs. Parkview (Stonemont)

Friday, March 4 - Golf vs. Chamblee (Stonemont)

Friday, March 4 - Varsity Baseball vs. Woodward - 5:55 PM

Friday, March 4 - Varsity Soccer vs. Campbell - 5:45 PM

Friday, March 4 - BHMS Soccer vs. Sutton - 5:15 PM

---------------------------

Monday, March 9 - 9 Soccer vs. LaGrange - TBD

Monday, March 9 - BHMS Soccer vs. Howard (Ebster) - 5:15 PM

Monday, March 9 - Tennis vs. Shiloh (DeKalb Tennis Center) - 4:30 PM

Tuesday, March 10 - Golf vs. Brookwood (Stonemont)

Tuesday, March 10 - JV Baseball vs. Midtown - 5:55 PM

Wednesday, March 11 - Varsity Girls' Lacroose vs. Bremen - 6:00 PM

Wednesday, March 11 - 9 Soccer vs. Denmark - 6:00 PM

Wednesday, March 11 - Varsity Baseball vs. Dunwoody - 5:55 PM

Wednesday, March 11 - Varsity Boys' Lacrosse vs. Mount Vernon - 7:45 PM

Thursday, March 12 - JV Baseball vs. Grayson - 5:30 PM

Thursday, March 12 - Varsity Soccer vs. Arabia Mountain - 6:00 PM

Friday, March 13 - Golf vs. Brookwood (Sugar Creek)

Friday, March 13 - JV/V Girls' Lacrosse vs. East Forsyth - 5:55 PM

Friday, March 13 - BHMS Soccer vs. Paideia (Ebster) - 5:15 PM

Saturday, March 14 - JV Baseball vs. Paideia - 12:00 PM

Saturday, March 14 - Varsity Boys' Lacrosse vs. Lakeside - 1:00 PM

We often view physical skills—like a perfect free throw or a fast sprint—as things we need to practice every day. However, we sometimes treat mental skills like confidence, focus, and composure as traits we either "have or don't have." This episode from "The Sports Psychology Coaching Podcast" emphasizes the importance a resilient mindset.

To help our student-athletes reach their full potential, we want to encourage a shift in perspective: the mental game is a skill that can be trained. Just as you wouldn't expect to improve your strength without hitting the weight room, you can't expect to improve your resilience without consistent mental "reps."

In this video, mental performance coach Eli Straw outlines a foundational 20-minute daily routine to help athletes take control of their mindset:

• Journaling (5 mins): Write one page to process frustrations, understand your motivations, and build self-awareness.

• Self-Talk (2 mins): Read a list of 10 positive, encouraging statements aloud to "reprogram" your automatic thoughts.

• Mindfulness Meditation (10 mins): Practice focusing on your breath to build the skill of staying present and noticing when your mind drifts.

• Visualization (3-5 mins): Imagine yourself succeeding in clutch moments to strengthen your belief in your skills.

By incorporating these exercises into a daily habit—ideally in the morning to set the tone for the day—our athletes can build a mindset that matches their physical talent.

The 2026 Winter Olympics provided us with countless unforgettable moments—from record-breaking runs on the slopes to the display of pure grit on the ice. But beyond the medals and the highlight reels, these Games offered a masterclass in the many lessons that sports provide as an unparalleled educational and character-building opportunity.

One of the most resonant messages came from Olympic skier Eileen Gu. She argues that the true power of sports is how they provide evidence over affirmation.

While it’s common to try to "talk ourselves into" being brave, Gu explains that real self-trust isn't about telling yourself a "chipper little line" at the last second. Instead, it is the result of the radical honesty of training—knowing you showed up early, stayed late, and gave 100% when no one else was watching.

At its core, this is why we value the student-athlete experience so highly. Sports are a laboratory for character; they teach our students that confidence isn't a feeling they have to wait for, but a muscle they build through a "decade of hard work".

Whether in the classroom, the lab, or future career paths, confidence through sport is something we hope all of our Bulldog student-athletes gain and utilize in every pursuit. It is the quiet, internal knowledge that they can handle the pressure because they have already done it, time and again.

When we sign up for sports, we sign up for to skill development, competition, and fun. Also included in the mix are frustration, mistakes, and disappointment. Some of the most lasting and impactful growth happens in these difficult moments and it is important to be thoughtful in our approach as supportive adults. This Positive Coaching Alliance article provides good advice for supporting athletes to in these tough moments.

How Parents/Caregivers Can Support Their Athletes Through Tough Moments

The role of an athlete's parent is challenging for many reasons! Finding opportunities for your child to participate, encouraging them to take risks, celebrating their accomplishments, supporting them through various challenges... It adds up and can take a toll. This resource from the Positive Coaching Alliance emphasizes the importance of building a partnership with your child's coach and provides helpful strategies to do so. There are many valuable lessons our students can learn through sports, many of which are not fun or easy to learn, and having adults who are working together makes the challenging times beneficial!

Tips for a Positive Parent/Caregiver-Coach Partnership

This year, the Bulldogs are partnering again with the Positive Coaching Alliance to enhance the experience of our students, coaches, and Bulldog families. The PCA has a vast number of resources that can help us make the most of our experience.

This resource is an activity we shared last year that aims at helping students and their families determine what their goals are as student-athletes. This exercise can spark some important conversations about how families decide to navigate this experience. Making sure everyone is on the same page about what desired outcomes can help to create a positive experience!

"What are YOUR Youth Sport Goals? Parent/Caregiver 100 Point Exercise"