Lake Oconee Academy’s athletic program capped off the 2025-26 school year with another successful campaign, as several teams advanced to the GHSA Class A Division II state playoffs.
LOA athletic director Chris Ingle said the most recent school year was “one of the strongest and most exciting” in the school’s history.
He noted the school captured its fourth consecutive Directors Cup, earned the Region Sportsmanship Award, and collected several Player and Coach of the Year honors. Ingle was also recognized as the Region 8 Athletic Director of the Year.
“(Last year), LOA won three state championships and 11 region championships. Our student-athletes, coaches, and families continued to build a culture centered on excellence, accountability, and representing the school the right way,” Ingle said. “We saw success across multiple sports, outstanding academic achievement from our athletes, and tremendous community support at our events.”
Ingle reflected on the spring season, noting that it featured “an incredible postseason” and saying the success was a testament to the hard work athletes and coaches invested throughout the year.
“Watching multiple teams make deep playoff runs and compete at such a high level was exciting for our entire school community,” Ingle said. “It also demonstrates that LOA is becoming a consistent contender across a wide variety of sports, not just in one or two programs. We are proud of every student-athlete who represented our school on that stage.”
One of the biggest changes facing LOA athletics this year is GHSA’s reclassification process following the reinstatement of Class 7A. As a result, the Titans will compete in a unified Class A beginning this school year, as GHSA has eliminated the split between Division I and Division II.
The Titans’ region will feature several familiar opponents, including Greene County, Lincoln County, Taliaferro County, Towns County, Warren County, and Washington-Wilkes.
Ingle said the alignment includes several schools with strong athletic traditions and should create highly competitive contests across multiple sports.
“We embrace that challenge because competing against quality opponents helps our student-athletes grow and prepares them for postseason play,” Ingle said. “We expect continued rivalries and outstanding competition over the next two years.”
Ingle said Lake Oconee Academy has several notable developments planned for the upcoming academic year, particularly within its middle and high school athletic programs. He said the department hopes to enhance the overall student-athlete experience through stronger communication, leadership development, and increased community engagement.
“Our department will continue emphasizing academic excellence alongside athletic success, ensuring that our students are prepared for opportunities beyond high school,” Ingle said. “With the new GHSA alignment and another talented group of returning student-athletes, we believe LOA Athletics is positioned to build on the momentum of an outstanding 2025-26 year and continue competing for championships across multiple sports.”
Looking ahead, Ingle said he is especially excited to watch a larger senior class make its final run through the athletic program. He said the group is filled with student-athletes who have distinguished themselves both on and off the field.
“This class will leave a great legacy of hard work and dedication that should have tremendous results in 2026-27,” Ingle said. “It is filled with outstanding young men and women who excel in the classroom, in athletics, and in the community.”