Congratulations to the Bainbridge High School Bearcats and Lady Cats soccer teams on making the Region 1-AAAA playoffs.

Bearcats coach Jamie Ard, whose team won their second-straight Region 1-AAAA South Sub-Region championship, and Lady Cats coach Chip Ariail , whose team also had a strong season, began Region 1-AAAA playoff action on Tuesday. Unfortunately, those games weren’t completed by press time, but coverage will be included in our Saturday, April 21, issue, and online at www.thepostsearchlight.com.

The Bearcats hosted the Nortside-Columbus High School Patriots at Centennial Field and the Lady Cats traveled to Warner Robins to take on the Warner Robins High School Lady Demons.
Among the Bearcats top performers are Emilio Hernandez, Daniel Provence, Carlos Becerra, Emiliano Rivera, and goalkeepers Dominic Douglas and Keyanni Hention.

Leading the way for the Lady Cats are senior midfielders Savannah Cook and Charlton Reynolds, defender Tiffany Hand, defender Caitlin Cato and goalkeeper Brianna Williams.

The foundation for the successful soccer programs we have at Bainbridge High School today were influenced greatly by a young football and soccer performer, Dan Provence, who moved here from Atlanta as a high school senior.

His late father John, who bought the old Bainbridge Motel and Restaurant and went on to become a member and strong advocate of the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, was a dear friend of mine.

At that time, soccer was not yet among the competitive sports at Bainbridge High School.
Dan and his lovely wife Bonnie’s two children, Aubrie and Daniel, are both outstanding soccer players.

Aubrie, who played two years at Middle Georgia College, will be playing next season at Oglethorpe University. Daniel, who is a Bainbridge High School sophomore, is also the placekicker on the Bearcats football team.

Joe Crine is the sports editor of The Post-Searchlight. You can email him at joe.crine@thepostsearchlight.com.