The Gainesville High School Varsity Academic Team won the North Georgia Academic championship in a sudden death final question against South Forsyth High School. In so doing, the team defeated Stephens County, Franklin County, Lambert, Habersham Central, West Forsyth, White County, North Forsyth, Flowery Branch, Dawson County, Lumpkin County, West Hall, Pickens, Chestatee, Gilmer and South Forsyth. These high schools represented the school finalists in the North Georgia six regions.

They will advance to state finals in January.

Pam Michelsen, Sally Jackson and Elie Viviant are the faculty sponsors

Team members are:

Cody Stephens, Isaac Hopkins, Patrick Kelley, Charlie Bryant, William Morris, Ahn Nguyen, Alex Longoria, John Lee Givogre, Brenda Dang, Katie Schmid, Chris Kelley, John Stenzil, Jorge Gonnzalez and Martha McKinnon.

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At the Turf Bowl competition hosted by the Georgia Golf Course Superintendent's Association held on Nov. 7, North Georgia Technical College's team dominated against four-man teams from UGA and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and walked away with top honors, including overall highest individual award for Joe Podany of Cleveland.

Participating from NGTC were students from the Turf and Golf Course Management programs: Podany, Keats Walker of Murphy, N.C., Carson Turner of Flowery Branch and Ryan Harper of Hartwell.

The Turf Bowl consisted of a timed event in five categories including plant protectants, irrigation, pest identification, turf math and pesticides. The NGTC team won with individual scores placing first, second, fourth and sixth.