The 13th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard passed through Georgia on Thursday, Feb. 1 to recognize
Walton (Marietta, Ga.) High School and its girls volleyball team for winning its third straight state championship and for earning a high national ranking.
Having knocked off Etowah 25-16, 25-16, 25-21 in the
GHSA Class 7A state title match, the 40-1 Raiders, who claimed their seventh state championship in eight years and 12th overall, finished the season atop the
MaxPreps' Xcellent 25 Writers' Poll and stood seventh in
MaxPreps' National Rankings! The Raiders have not lost to an instate foe since 2014.
Hundreds of students, faculty, family members and fans cheered and showed great support for their volleyball team at an awards presentation MaxPreps and the Georgia Army National Guard held at halftime of the girls varsity basketball game against Woodstock. The Walton PA announcer introduced MaxPreps representative Dean Craig, who kicked the party off by sharing the process that MaxPreps uses to determine its rankings for the Tour of Champions. Craig also discussed the many accomplishments of the Raider volleyball team before introducing Georgia Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Rosemary Kane.
SSG Kane received a rousing ovation as she congratulated the Raiders on an outstanding season before presenting the prestigious Army National Guard national ranking trophy to head coach Suzanne Fitzgerald and to the Raiders. As the Raiders hoisted their latest trophy, and the Tour of Champions nationally ranked rafter banner, the crowd erupted into loud cheers.
Following the festivities, Fitzgerald and the Raiders proudly posed for pictures at center court before gathering for interviews. Athletic director Dr. Chris Williams and Fitzgerald were appreciative of MaxPreps and of the Georgia Army National Guard for presenting the No. 1 national ranking to this wonderful group of ladies! Way to go Raiders!! Click
here to view the Walton TOC photo gallery and for more information about the Volleyball TOC, please visit the
MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.
