WARNER ROBINS -- Kellie Starvetsky followed in her older sister’s footsteps long enough.

“I wanted to make my own pathway,” Starvetsky said recently. “Separate from my sister.”

As with older sister Jennifer, soccer is part of Starvetsky’s earliest memories. The two occasionally played as part of the same team, including a season with Northside High School. But while Jennifer continues her collegiate soccer-playing career at Georgia Southwestern University, Kellie chose to attend at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. She accepted a scholarship to play soccer and continue her education at the Tifton institution.

Starvetsky still counts playing with her sister among her favorite high school memories. In addition, she cited this year’s wins over city rivals Houston County and Warner Robins high schools among highlights she won’t soon forget. Head coach Ryan Burkhart said Starvetsky’s contributions to the Lady Eagles’ program will endure, as well.

“Such a great leader,” Burkhart said. “In how she prepares and how she practices, (Starvetsky is) a perfect example to the younger girls coming up in the program.”

The daughter of Leo and Shiri, Starvetsky said she plans to study nursing in college. She mentioned careers as a registered nurse or a physician’s assistant as possibilities for her future.

“I like studying anatomy and it comes easy to me, so I felt that was the field for me,” she said.

GHSA boys state track

Several local athletes placed at the GHSA boys state track and field meet May 10-12 in Jefferson.

In Class AAA, Veterans High School junior Malik Broughton cleared 6-feet, 4-inches in the high jump and finished third. His teammate Ronald Collins ran eighth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 40.88 seconds. Jimmy Mehserle of Perry High School finished eighth in the 3,200-meter run in 9:53.71. Peach County High School’s 1,600-meter relay team finished seventh with a time of 3:26.60. The Trojans were represented by Malcolm Lowe, ZaCorey Hart, Blease George, Tyler Gibson, Jakari Schofield and Jonathan Neisent.

Team championships went to Brookwood (Class AAAAA); Kell (AAAA); Carrollton (AAA); Putnam County (AA) and Athens Christian (A).

Area barrier

The local high school soccer season came to an abrupt end last week. The boys and girls teams from Veterans High and the boys of Houston County High all fell in second-round matches. Each of the defeats came to schools that played the 2012 season out of GHSA Region 7.

Based on historical precedence, the losses weren’t surprising. With the possible exception of a 1994 quarterfinal match between the Warner Robins High boys team, no boys or girls team out of Houston County has ever won a playoff soccer contest against a team from Region 5, 6, 7 or 8.

NCCAA Baseball champs

Toccoa Falls College, featuring two former Northside High Eagles, won the National Christian College Athletic Association Division II World Series on May 12 in Mason, Ohio. Toccoa Falls lost to Florida Christian in a winner’s bracket semifinal. The Eagles worked their way back to the title bracket and defeated Florida Christian twice to earn the championship. Northside High graduate Justin Key was the winning pitcher in the decisive game. Jordan Couillard had a hand in Toccoa Falls rallies in each of the past two games. It was the second straight NCCAA Division II championship for Toccoa Falls.

GISA baseball continues

Facing elimination after a 4-3 loss at John Milledge Academy, defending GISA Class AAA state champion The Westfield School fought back to win the series and advance to the semifinals of the 2012 tournament. The Hornets will host Bulloch Academy in a semifinal series beginning Friday.

GHSA baseball ends

Houston County and Veterans high schools lost in the second round of their respective GHSA state tournaments.

The Bears lost a pair of games at Johns Creek while the Warhawks were swept at home by perennial power Cartersville.

Contact Chris Deighan at cdeighan@cox.net.