GHS volleyball team holds emotional dedication during ‘Pink Out’ game


Times photo/Jenny Yarger Jamie Wyman, right, owner of J’s Grill in Gainesville, is pictured here holding hands with Lady Bulldogs volleyball player Gentry Blackburn. Wyman told the crowd that Gentry’s grandmother Judy Hambelton has been a constant support as a fellow breast cancer survivor.

The Gainesville High School volleyball team hosted a ‘Pink Out’ game in honor of breast cancer awareness on Oct. 17. Players, pictured from left, are: back row: Addi Garrison, Alli Garrison, Kylie Leatherwood, Addie Alms, Lilly Winrod, Avery Gaulding and Claire Turner. Front row: Baylor Hewett, Twyla Parkison, Rylee Kowerduck, Lilly Hejdak, Lakely Anderson, Hadley Warden, Gentry Blackburn and Teagan Hathcock.

The Gainesville High School volleyball team’s annual ‘Pink Out’ breast cancer awareness game was held on Oct. 17 in true Lady Bulldog spirit. The game and ceremony hit a little closer to home this year, as the girls dedicated the event to Jamie Turner Wyman, a woman near and dear to their hearts. The Lady Bulldogs demonstrated remarkable strength on the court, but it was their deeply moving tribute to Jamie that truly showcased their hearts.

As owner of the J’s Grill food truck in Gainesville, Jamie has become an integral part of the team’s lives, not only providing sustenance to the players and other local sports teams before games, but she is also the grandmother of freshman player Teagan Hathcock. 

Jamie has been a breast cancer survivor for many years, but her cancer had been in remission. Recently, she found out that the cancer had returned. Lady Bulldogs Head Coach Kenzee Ellison said the team’s hearts have been with Jamie ever since she received the news.

“It has been a tough time, and as a team we’ve tried to rally behind Teagan as they deal with everything that comes with that diagnosis,” Ellison said. “Jamie has also been highly involved with the school. She was recognized last year for her contribution to feed athletes before games from J’s Grill... She offers discounted meals for students and student athletes. She’s also donated countless meals to students who can’t pay - or just as a donation to the program.”

As part of the ‘Pink Out’ effort, the volleyball team raised $2,000 in donations for Jamie and her family to use as she fights the battle ahead. 

“We had a hat day at school, a bake sale at the game and featured her in the ‘Miracle Minute,’” Ellison said, referencing a 60-second period of time between games when a bucket is passed through the crowd for donations. “We also took a few minutes to pray over her as a team and ask for her healing. The whole team worked hard over the last few weeks to have the special event. I’d like to specifically recognize Beth Ann Blackburn for her coordination of the event. She coordinated every aspect of it and did a marvelous job.”

Jamie said she was truly honored and humbled by the outpouring of love she received at the volleyball game from both the team and the community at large. She sent her heartfelt thanks to everyone who had a hand in planning the event. 

“As you know, I come from a large family. We have always supported each other through good and bad. My brother quoted my dad when I told him I had cancer again. Dad always said, ‘If it’s a burden, we’ll bear it. If it’s a pleasure, we’ll share it.’ The Turners have always said, ‘It takes a village.’ I am definitely honored to have that within the Gainesville community and surrounding areas,” Jamie told the Times. 

“I want to give a special thank you to Judy Hambelton, my survivor sister. She had just been through breast cancer prior to me in 2006. Of course, I was scared, but after talking to her, I had the comfort of knowing that everything was going to be okay. From then on, I decided just to turn it all over to the Lord and take one day at a time. That’s all we can do. I just want to send love and prayers to everyone who has supported me and continues to.

“I want everyone, especially the girls, to know to never give up. Be the fighter.”

The Lady Bulldogs used that fighter mentality on the court that night with the Gainesville varsity squad winning the night in a nail-biting 5-set game against the Bakersfield Lady Lions. 

“They came out strong in the first set and struggled in the second and third sets,” Ellison said. “We won the fourth set, but it was close. The competition was tight, but we fought out of an 8-point deficit to win the fifth set and ultimately the game. It was an exciting game, and we had an amazing crowd to help cheer on the girls. There were a lot of emotions at the end of the game on both sides.”

The JV girls went to three sets against Bakersfield and ended in a loss. They fought hard but fell short, Ellison said.

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