Three Columbia County high schools battled at the Columbia County Fair grounds in the annual demolition derby on Monday, Nov. 7.
Students from Evans, Grovetown and Harlem high school’s welding and automotive classes spent the last several months constructing and getting their vehicles ready for Friday night’s derby.
According to Grovetown Automotive Instructor Kris Norris, the building process for the schools can take up to a few months with the car they find or get donated. Norris says the hard work he and the students put in is all worth it once it is time for the derby.
“This a great community involvement event,” he said. “The kids get behind it, the parents get behind it and stands get packed on Monday night when the high school event happens. It’s good community awareness that our programs exist, and the kids are excited about it with the skills they learned to be able to create these projects.”
Colin McGowan, a junior at Harlem High School, says he loves being apart of this event and it helps him prepare for a possible future career.
“I love it. This is kind of my field. I love the automotive section, and it is one of the things I want to do when I’m older,” McGowan said. “I just love being a part of it, and it is a cool experience to go through it. It teaches us to work hard with what we got.”
Norris said this project they do every year teaches the students many things and brings both the welding students and automotive students together to work on the vehicle.
“You’re looking at basic and heavy mechanical, suspension and steering, electrical, not to mention the fact it is a split project and the welding program. It is a group program and both sides had to come together to make it work,” Norris said.
Two good friends and former coworkers at the Columbia County Sheriff’s office represented Evans and Harlem High School as drivers.
Matthew Murell worked 13-years as a Columbia County Police Officer and now is a Law and Safety teacher at Harlem High School. He was excited to represent Harlem High School and compete.
“I have always wanted to do it and it has been on my bucket list,” Murell said. “These kids are getting more than being able to come out here and watch us, they are learning, this is a job type stuff. They are getting the job industry ready and that is what’s awesome about this too.”
Murell was happy to be competing against his friend, former coworker, and current Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Police Officer William McCall. McCall represented Evans High School and was competing in the derby for his second time.
Grovetown High School 2019 graduate Matthew Barfield represented and drove for the Warriors. Barfield said he wanted to do it when he attended Grovetown, but was not old enough, so he was glad they asked him to do it.
“It’s pretty awesome for me,” he said. “They could have chosen anybody, but they chose me to do it.”
All three of the drivers had the same idea and same strategy in being the last car standing.
It came down to the two police officers battling it out as Grovetown was knocked out of the competition early. McCall and the Evans Knights won the derby heat battle between the three high schools.
“We had a good time,” McCall said.” “I tore this car slap up and they trying to get it ready for the final. The group last year was wonderful, and this group is just as wonderful.”
The Columbia County Fair will have another demolition derby on Friday, Nov. 11.
