The following are area high school athletic highlights from 2008:

FOOTBALL

Union County finished the season with a 5-6 record, losing 21-17 to Woodmont in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs. The Jackets were 3-2 and third in Region III-3A. Lamont Edney led the way with more than 1,000 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns.

Whitmire finished the season with a 6-5 record, losing 42-20 to Williston-Elko in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs. The Wolverines were 3-1 and second in Region II-A. Marcus Lindsay was named the conference player of the year, rushing for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns, and passing for 648 yards and six touchdowns.

Back in February, Whitmire’s Michael Ruff (Presbyterian), Union County’s Sam Hammond (SC State), Marcus Lott (Coastal Carolina), Josh Lowery (Newberry) and Joe Smith (Newberry) signed to play college football on National Signing Day. Tishawn Dawkins signed to play with Livingstone, Dwight Brannon with SC State and Marcus Whitener with Coastal Carolina in May. Whitener was named Union County Male Athlete of the Year.

NOTES: The first UCHS Black & Gold Game, pitting the offense against the defense, was held in May ... Jonesville Middle played the last game at historic E.H. Roberts Field.

BASKETBALL

Whitmire’s varsity girls’ basketball team finished the 2007-08 season 15-6, eliminated in the second round of the Class A playoffs. Kim Geyer led the team. The boys’ team finished with six wins and lost in the first round of the playoffs. The 2008-09 teams play in a new gym.

Union County’s varsity boys’ basketball team finished 16-9 and fell in the first round of the playoffs. Devin and Darrion Booker were team leaders. Darrion signed to play with Spartanburg Methodist. Devin recently signed to play with Clemson. Coach Joe Pitt picked up his 500th win this month.

The Jacket girls’ team finished with five wins, Rhonisha Tucker was named UCHS Female Athlete of the Year and signed with Spartanburg Methodist.

Union Christian Day’s girls’ team made the playoffs and finished with a winning record, 8-4. The boys’ team finished with four wins.

MORE SPORTS

BASEBALL: Union County’s baseball team made the playoffs and finished with an 18-7 record. Whitmire’s baseball team had four wins and missed the playoffs. Desmond Harp signed to play college ball with Florence-Darlington Technical.

SOFTBALL: Whitmire’s softball team finished with nine wins, falling in the district title game. Terrin Reel was a team leader. After 18 years, Joey Haney retired as coach. He went out a winner, coaching in the North-South Game.

Union County also had nine wins and made the playoffs. Nikki Young signed with Spartanburg Methodist.

TENNIS: Union County had 10 wins. Christian Adamo and Matt Glenn signed to play with Spartanburg Methodist. UCHS’ girls’ tennis team was 12-5 on the year. Whitmire’s girls’ team was 13-5 and made the playoffs.

GOLF: Hunter Allison qualified for upperstate and signed with Spartanburg Methodist. UCHS started a girls’ golf team.

SOCCER: Neither UCHS soccer team qualified for the playoffs.

VOLLEYBALL: Union Christian Day’s boys’ team competed for the state championship and Preston Bennett was named volleyball coach of the year. The girls’ team missed the playoffs. Union County and Whitmire volleyball teams failed to make the playoffs.

WRESTLING: Yellow Jackets’ Dylan Lawson and Clay Alexander qualified for the state wrestling tournament.

TRACK: UCHS’ Jessica Hall (100M hurdles) and Kevin Dillard (400M hurdles) competed at state. Dillard finished seventh and Hall fifth.

CROSS COUNTRY: Both Union County’s girls’ and boys’ cross country teams finished 14th at state. Seniors were Ben Green, Marvin Howell, Josh Cain and Hobie Moore.