CSD Athletics: Bulldog News

Bulldog Families,

We're celebrating the Class of 2026 at the Senior ESPYS!

As we cherish these final weeks with our Senior leaders, we are hard at work preparing for a historic first for the Decatur Athletics Department. Graduation is approaching quickly, and to celebrate the incredible legacy of this class, we are thrilled to host our inaugural Senior ESPYS! This isn’t just your typical awards ceremony; it’s a high-energy, red-carpet celebration dedicated exclusively to the grit, the championships, and the lifelong memories our Seniors have created here at Decatur. We want to send our athletes off in style, and we need your help to make it happen!

How You Can Help: The Decatur Bulldog Boosters (DBB) are looking for gift card donations to be raffled off to our Seniors during the event. Whether it’s for dorm essentials, local dining, or travel, these gifts will help support our athletes as they take their next big step beyond DHS.

Want to contribute? Please see the links below for donation details and other ways to get involved in making this first-ever event a massive success for our Seniors!

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)

The Decatur High School Golf Team qualified for the state golf tournament through an automatic bid by finishing 2nd in the Area Tournament shooting a total score of 317 (79 scoring average). This is the first time Decatur High has ever qualified for the State Golf Tournament in over 20 years. The team was led by Senior captain, William Campbell who fired a 77, Junior dual-sport threat, Andrew Westerkom, who carded the low score of the day for the team at 76, Senior standout, Owen De Winne, who fired an 83, and junior phenom, Austin Nobles, who recorded an 81. Other golfers representing Decatur were Henry Widener, Rossi Chamberlain, dual sport standout Parker Jordan, and Jacob Pinyon.

The team will compete on May 18th and 19th at Jekyll Island Golf Club for an opportunity to win the state championship in the 36-hole stroke play championship.

Congratulations to our Boys' Soccer team! The Bulldogs advanced to the Sweet Sixteen on Wednesday night with a victory over Milton. After taking a 2-0 lead, Decatur found themselves in overtime tied 2-2. At the end of two extra 10-minute periods, the game would be decided by penalty kicks. Goalkeeper Bryson Bacon made a HUGE save on the first penalty kick, and the Bulldogs took advantage, scoring all five penalties!

The Bulldogs will play next Wednesday against Jackson County at Decatur Stadium at 7 PM. Bulldog Nation showed up loud and proud last night. Let's do it again!!

Our Track & Field program delivered a series of unforgettable performances at the Region Championships, with both the boys and girls teams securing impressive 5th place overall finishes. The meet was defined by high-stakes drama and sheer determination, most notably when the Boys 4x100 relay team pulled off a stunning upset to take 1st place by a mere 0.2 seconds. Perhaps the most heroic moment of the day came from Isaiah Guerrieri, who secured his spot at Sectionals with a literal dive across the finish line in the 300m Hurdles. The girls’ side showed incredible depth and consistency, as every single relay team—from the 4x100 to the 4x800—successfully qualified for the next round.

The momentum continues on May 2nd, as a powerhouse group of 23 athletes and several alternates travel to Rome to compete in 17 different events. Individual qualifiers representing our school include Ellie Adams, Fletcher Anderson, Isaiah Guerrieri, Josiah Holloman, Busayo Oguneye, Julianna Pittman, Sydney Powers, Mark Sanders, Liv Sawyer, Alex Udoudoh, and Seth Wilson. They will be joined by a formidable fleet of relay teams, including the Boys 4x100 and 4x200 squads and the Girls 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, and 4x800 teams. We are incredibly proud of these athletes' grit and can’t wait to see what they achieve at Sectionals!

Our Lax Bulldogs are headed to the playoffs. Come out to support our Girls' and Boys' teams as they start their State Playoff runs. Both teams finished the season earning home games next week.

Girls Lacrosse - Round 1 - Tuesday, April 28 - 6 PM

Boys' Lacrosse - Round 2 (Rd. 1 Bye) - Friday, May 1 - 7 PM

Congratulations to our Boys' and Girls' Soccer programs. The Bulldogs stacked the Region 4-5A All-Region teams with 8 nominations! Congratulations to Tyler Seim, Region Player of the Year, and to Coach Derrick Burgess, Region Coach of the Year!

All-Region First Team:

Eli Beard, Sophie Burby, Kirkland Kinley, Stefano Porcelli, Tyler Seim, and TJ Smith

All-Region Second Team:

Avery Gervin and Aiden Hovatter

Good luck to our Baseball Bulldogs! Decatur finished as the #4-seed from Region 4, and will head to Gainesville High School on Friday for Round 1 of the GHSA State Tournament. Each round is a best-of-3 series. Let's GOOO Bulldogs!

Parents! Do you need a night out? The DHS Varsity and JV Cheerleaders want to help! The Decatur High School Cheerleaders are hosting a Parent Night Out to raise funds for their program.

Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026 Time: 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Where: Beacon Hill Middle School Gym
Ages: K-5th-grade students only (students do not have to attend CSD schools to attend the PNO)
Cost: $50 (each additional sibling in a family is $10). All Parent Night Out proceeds support the DHS cheerleading program.

Register and pay at https://bit.ly/CheerPNO26

Please register and pay by Tuesday, May 5, to guarantee your child's spot. Registration will close at 6 p.m. on May 5 or when 50 students have fully registered and paid the fee. Questions? Email Coach Courtney Burnett at cburnett@csdecatur.net or Coach Crystal Evans at cevans1@csdecatur.net. Thank you for supporting the Decatur High School Cheer Program!

Decatur Soccer invites youth aged 5-13 (rising k-8th grade) to take part in our 3v3 Soccer Tournament, powered by Decatur WatchFest 26—a fun, flexible, and community-focused event that’s led by DHS soccer players and coaches. Join us Saturday, June 20th from 8:30 to 12 noon at Decatur High School Stadium with plenty of parking and just a short walk from the Decatur MARTA Station and Decatur WatchFest.

Kids can form a team of up to 5 players—whether it’s friends, classmates, or teammates—and sign up at the link below for just $75 per team (payable separately via GoFan). With no uniforms required (pennies provided) and small-sided 3v3 match play run by our DHS players, this format keeps things simple while maximizing touches, engagement, and fun for every player.

The tournament is open to girls, boys, and co-ed teams (co-ed teams will play in the boys bracket), with divisions based on rising school year: K–1, 2–3, 4–5, and 6–8.

It’s a great way to celebrate Decatur WatchFest and FIFA World Cup 26™ while supporting the Decatur Soccer program, and give your child a fun soccer experience without a big time commitment—just gather a group, register, and show up ready to play.

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.

All students interested in playing softball in the Fall should attend the tryouts for our DHS teams and our BHMS Club. See the graphics below for detailed information. DHS tryouts are open to all rising 8th-12th graders. BHMS Club Softball is open to all rising 6th-8th graders.

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.

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

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

Friday, April 24 - Varsity Baseball @ Gainesville (Playoffs Rd. 1)

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Monday, April 27 - Varsity Girls' Lacrosse (Playoffs Rd. 1) - 6 PM

Wednesday, April 29 - Varsity Soccer vs. Jackson County (Playoffs Rd. 2) - 7 PM

Friday, May 1 - Varsity Boys' Lacrosse (Playoffs Rd. 2) - 7 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"