Personal Injury Attorneyin Aiken, SC.

It was there for the seniors who had just played their final high school game. It was there for the big freshman class that was tasting postseason defeat for the first time.

It was there for the youngsters playing out of position filling in for their teammates who were hurt, and it was there for the injured ones who couldn't help out on the field.

It was there for the coaches, too, but head coach Dave Mihoulides wanted his players to embrace the tears - as he told them, tears mean that they care.

The T-Breds were out-gunned by a tough Indian Land team in a 3-1 loss, but Mihoulides didn't want to bemoan missed opportunities or point out what his players could have done better that might have flipped the result.

He wanted to brag about his soccer daughters.

"Shorthanded, and girls were willing to step into spots that they normally don't play or not spots that they get a lot of time in," he said, referring to a back line that was without three starters due to injuries. "That's what we preach. We preach that you play from whistle to whistle, and you compete. Whatever's going to happen is going to happen.

"The wins and losses, all that stuff is ancillary. We come in and we come to compete, and we look to get better as a family, we look to get better as players and individuals. That's a part of life. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose in life. These girls, they're always winners when they step off the field with me. They get compliments all the time, and these girls play the game the way it's supposed to be played."

+17 Girls' Soccer: Indian Land at South Aiken, Playoffs Round 2

South Aiken (10-7-2) took a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. An Indian Land foul set up a free kick opportunity for Madee Whittle, and the rest of the T-Breds crashed toward the net as the ball reached the keeper. Mikayla Pollina tracked down the rebound and pushed it through, and the freshman-to-freshman scoring combination put the T-Breds ahead early.

The Warriors (13-6) produced several clean scoring opportunities in the first half but couldn't put any of them away until stoppage time, sending it to the break tied at 1 apiece.

They didn't miss many more after that. Indian Land kept the same level of intensity to generate chances, and then the Warriors started burying them. They took the lead on a header a little more than 3 minutes into the half, and then a crossing pass near the net found its way in less than 10 minutes later for the 3-1 lead.

South Aiken attempted to rally, and in the final 15 minutes Kiah McDuffie was inches away from what would have been two spectacular goals. The fight was still there, but it didn't turn into scores.

That ends the season for the T-Breds, who had a first-round bye as Region 4-AAAA champions. They had a tough start to the season, with a 3-0 loss to Airport on March 12 dropping their record to 3-4-2, before winning seven of eight to lock up the league title for the second year in a row.

"I couldn't be any prouder of them, coming into the season with eight freshmen thinking that we weren't going to accomplish - a lot of people had us down as not accomplishing anything this year," Mihoulides said. "For them to step in and being able to get over the first little bit of jitters, going down to Charleston for a tournament and getting over those jitters and winning region.

"These girls are just amazing young ladies. They're amazing soccer players and always willing to learn. I give them homework, and they do the homework. So not only do they have their regular classes, AP classes, honors classes to take care of, Coach Dave gives them soccer homework. They read and they learn, and so their soccer IQ got better and their style of play got better."

Mihoulides said he looks forward to his players now moving into club soccer season and continuing to improve there, which should only make the team better next year. They're losing a talented senior class, which he acknowledged will definitely put a dent in any program. But there's more talent coming up from the junior varsity roster that's waiting to be molded and made into better players.

That's an area where the seniors' leadership was even more important this season, as they helped guide all of those underclassmen through those early-season hiccups to have them ready to compete for a region title.

"Oh my gosh, invaluable," Mihoulides said. "To have captains like that - the girls vote for who they want to be captain, and they always tend to pick the right girls to do it. They bring them in, and they serve as great mentors for them. When they need to go ahead and kind of nip it in the bud a little bit and make them work harder or make them step up their game a little bit more, they go and they do that."

With the season now over, up next for Mihoulides and assistant coach Ed Owens is to wash the dye out of their hair. Mihoulides had a bluish-purple hue to his beard, while Owens had a pink tint to his hair - Mihoulides joked that at least Owens could cover his with a hat - as bets their players made with them if they won the region title. Both coaches happily paid up on those wagers.

"We would do it all over again," Mihoulides said with a laugh. "I would shave my head if they went ahead and won a state championship. We're willing to give, and the girls give. We just look to get better every day, 1% better."

Fox Creek's season came to an end in the second round of the Class AA playoffs with a road loss against St. Joseph's Catholic School.

The Predators, champions of Region 3-AA, finish the season with a record of 9-4-1.

Fox Creek 13, Abbeville 1 (5 innings)

Fox Creek made quick work of Abbeville in a Class AA District 3 winners' bracket game, setting the Predators up to play for the district title.

Bradley Anderson pitched 4.2 innings without allowing an earned run, Devin Hillary hit a home run and drove in three runs, Lawson Lewis went 2-for-2 with two RBI, and Hank Greene, Will Fountain and Chance Weathersbee had two hits apiece.

The top-seeded Predators will host the district finale Monday against the winner of the elimination game between Abbeville and Blacksburg.

Strom Thurmond 12, Ninety Six 0 (5 innings)

Strom Thurmond took control of the Class AA District 1 bracket with a shutout win over Ninety Six in a winners' bracket game.

Kaleb Simpkins' walk-off three-run homer ended the game early, and the win sends the second-seeded Rebels to the district finale on Monday. They will host the winner of the elimination game between Chesnee and Ninety Six.

Barnwell 5, Andrew Jackson 2

Barnwell moved to 2-0 in the Class AA District District 6 bracket with a winners' bracket win over Andrew Jackson.

University of South Carolina commit Cameron Austin picked up the win on the mound, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six in 6.2 innings.

The top-seeded Warhorses will host the district championship Monday against the winner of the elimination game between Andrew Jackson and Marion.

Williston-Elko 5, Great Falls 3

Williston-Elko staved off elimination and kept its season alive by beating Great Falls in the Class A District 4 bracket.

The Region 4-A champion Blue Devils will hit the road for another elimination game Saturday against either Brashier Middle College or Dixie.

Whitmire 14, Ridge Spring-Monetta 4 (5 innings)

Ridge Spring-Monetta's season came to an end with a loss at Whitmire in a Class A District 1 elimination game.

Catawba Ridge 5, Midland Valley 0

Midland Valley suffered a road loss to Catawba Ridge in a Class AAAA winners' bracket game.

The Mustangs, the No. 2 seed from Region 4-AAAA, now face an elimination game. The Mustangs will hit the road Saturday to face Riverside.

Wade Hampton 14, South Aiken 13

South Aiken's season came to an end in an elimination-game loss at Wade Hampton in the Class AAAA playoffs.

AIKEN, S.C. (WFXG) - One local executive chef is determined to make customers' tastebuds happy with a new restaurant in downtown Aiken called The Proper Plate.

Southern mac and cheese, marinated rotisserie chicken, meatloaf and mashed potatoes and gravy are just some of the items found on the buffet.

The smell of fried chicken travels through the restaurant.

"It's like Sunday supper everyday," executive chef Jeffrey Hairston said.

The meatloaf is tender and juicy, topped with a red glaze.

Customers can get a plate with a meat and two sides for $14.

"The trick is, you make a decision and then the next day you come back and get the other thing," Hairston laughed.

Their shepherd's pie features their own pot roast, braised for four hours.

"That's got rosemary and fresh herbs and beef stock and then we take that and we chop that and we add our onions and carrots and peas. That makes our base. And then we finish off with mashed potatoes," Hairston described.

The staff churns out a lot of food out of a small kitchen in the back.

"Right now on Sundays, we're feeding somewhere around 350 to 400 people," Hairston said.

He said his staff, like Jacob make it happen.

"He came over to me from the feed sack and he has been an extremely essential part of this business and I love that he's here. He does amazing things for us," Hairston smiled.

Hairston said ham hocks and a special hot sauce you can't get in town are the two secrets behind the restaurant's collard greens, marinated in a pot for hours.

The restaurant also has a grab-and-go section where you can take home pre-made lunches or any of their veggies, casserole or their famous pimento cheese.

The restaurant is also one of just two spots in the CSRA where customers can purchase artisan Nightingale ice cream sandwiches in several flavors including key lime pie and red velvet cheesecake.

The Proper Plate is open everyday of the week from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the restaurant closes at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Come back with us next week as we EAT. PLAY. GO. our way through the CSRA.

Copyright 2024 WFXG. All rights reserved.

Amy Prosser was one of over 400 students eligible to walk across the stage in a ceremony held at the USC Aiken Convocation Center.

Prosser received an associate degree in nursing.

She added her daughter, Ansley, graduated from Aiken Tech's early college program in 2021. Prosser also said Ansley would graduate from Anderson University with a bachelors degree in nursing on Saturday.

"We're both so excited," Prosser said. "We weren't at the same school but we did it at the same time. It meant the world to both of us."

Prosser said when people learn that she'll graduate the same year as her daughter, they often ask, "Was she okay with that?"

"She was just so excited and she was so proud of me," Prosser said. "She kept pushing me. She said, 'mama, this is what you are meant to do.' She is proud of me."

Prosser added she was inspired to seek her associate degree in nursing after her other daughter, Carly, died in 2021.

"I had another little girl who was sick so I stayed home with her," Prosser said. "In 2021, my 9-year old, Carly, passed away. Three months later, I returned to school and here I am."

Prosser added she watched the nurses take care of her daughter and wanted to become a nurse even more. She said she graduated from the licensed practical nurse program in 1996.

In total, the 400 students that graduated Tuesday evening received around 430 associate degrees, certificates or diplomas.

Midland Valley High School senior Antonio Gomez graduated from the early college program.

Gomez said he wants to study aerospace engineering at the University of South Carolina's flagship campus in Columbia and wanted to participate in the program from his earliest days at Midland Valley.

"It's definitely helped me to prepare for what's coming in the future," Gomez said before the ceremony. "It's helped me to save a bit of money as well, having an associate degree out of the way."

Ronald Rhames, the retiring president of Midlands Technical College in Columbia, provided the commencement address.

Rhames, who graduated from Midlands Tech, is the first South Carolina technical college graduate to serve as president of the school he graduated from, Joe Lewis, president of Aiken Tech's governing board, said as he introduced Rhames.

"It is traditional to offer a challenge to the graduating class to mark the new beginning in your lives," Rhames said.

Rhames challenged the graduates to celebrate their accomplishments so far, embrace change as an undeniable necessity of lifelong learning, to find their unique calling and special purpose in life and to be a leader.

Aiken Tech President Forest Mahan and Dara Glass, president of the school's foundation, presented faculty member and staff member of the year awards during the ceremony.

Kate O'Hara-Goergen of the technology department was the staff member of the year.

Rob Collins, engineering and industrial maintenance department chair, was the faculty member of the year.

Both winners received a plaque, a gift from the foundation and a challenge coin for going above and beyond in their duties.

Dr. Maureen Simpson, artistic director of the Aiken Choral Society, will present a program of "Great American Musical" numbers at St. John's United Methodist Church.

“Choral programs are not always classical in nature, and we can satisfy the tastes of a variety of audiences," Simpson said. "We are offering the CSRA a rollicking good time.

"We are expecting laughter, swaying with the music, maybe a little humming and singing along and overall, just a great afternoon of fun. Our repertoire includes songs from 'Wicked,' 'Oliver,' 'West Side Story,' 'Hair' and many more.”

The Aiken Choral Society has realized more than 30 percent growth in membership this past year, Simpson said.

“We are excited to add new singers over the age of 18. Presently, our singers range from the ages of 21 to 84 and all in between. We have 13 new singers this season, and then we have those who have been with us from 13 to 25 years, making us truly representative of the greater Aiken community over the years.

"We are comprised of music educators, professional singers, orchestral musicians, theater actors/singers as well as local church choir members — all who enjoy getting together to sing.”

John Bland, recently elected president of the Aiken Choral Society's Board of Directors, said that “the audience has grown about 25-30 percent as well this past year."

"The Aiken community is catching on that Director Simpson keeps it fresh in offering varied programming as we look forward to our Christmas Around the World Concert on Dec. 15, and Andrew Lloyd Webber and Friends concert slated for next spring," he said. "As a symphony orchestral tuba player, I know how engaging it is when you can perform different genres of music.”

The Great American Musical concert is May 5 at 3 p.m. at St. John’s United Methodist Church, located at 104 Newberry Street, NW in downtown Aiken.

“Music at St. John’s is pleased to have the Aiken Choral Society perform in our concert series," said Dr. Matt Caine, director of traditional music at St. John’s United Methodist Church. "St. John’s has a long history of having an outstanding church music program and of opening our doors to the entire CSRA community for excellent musical performances such as the one you will hear by the Aiken Choral Society. You are in for a real treat."

Bland thanks “Music at St. John’s” for opening its doors to the Aiken Choral Society. “Given that St. John’s is ADA compliant, it opens the opportunities for those who love to sing to join us regardless of any physical requirements. Joining forces with other performing arts groups, makes us better together.”

Additionally, the Aiken Choral Society plans in the fall to launch a new education initiative. The Aiken Youth Chorale will be a SATB performance choir for ages 12-18 in Aiken and surrounding counties.

Choral and band directors of Aiken County schools will be involved in nominating candidates for this vocal performing ensemble. Home schoolers and private school students are also welcomed.

The Aiken Choral Society will work with the local business community and community at large to raise support for this initiative. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.aikenchoralsociety.org.

For those interested in auditioning for this chorale, email aikenyouthchorale@gmail.com.

What is the best internet provider in Aiken?

AT&T Fiber is Aiken’s top internet provider largely due to its local fiber internet coverage, fast download and upload speeds, straightforward pricing and record of high customer satisfaction. AT&T Fiber offers plans ranging from 300 to 5,000 megabits per second, the fastest in Aiken. All plans are contract-free and include free equipment rental and unlimited data.

The only drawback to AT&T Fiber in Aiken is availability. Around two thirds of Aiken residential addresses aren’t serviceable for AT&T Fiber, according to the FCC. In areas where AT&T Fiber is unavailable, Breezeline, Xfinity and T-Mobile Home Internet are leading broadband alternatives.

Breezeline and Xfinity offer the cheapest internet in Aiken with service starting at $20 a month. You’ll get a bit more speed with Xfinity (150Mbps compared to 100Mbps from Breezeline), but equipment costs may be higher with Xfinity and a 1.2TB data cap may apply.

Our methodology

CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Aiken across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.

Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: certain addresses may qualify for different tiers of service, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider's website.

Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, while the text is specific to what’s available in Aiken. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions might be available as well, for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services.

To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.

Best internet in Aiken, South Carolina

3 Internet providers

Best internet provider in Aiken, SC

Our take - AT&T Fiber stands out for its fast, symmetrical speeds, stable pricing and favorable service terms. There are no set price increases, and all plans come with free equipment and unlimited data. The speeds, reliability and straightforward pricing helped AT&T Fiber earn and maintain a leading record of customer satisfaction.

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Connection

Fiber

Speed range

300 - 5,000 Mbps

Price range

$55 - $250 per month

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Broadest coverage in Aiken, SC

Our take - Many Aiken residents may remember this cable internet service as Atlantic Broadband. Breezeline is the largest wired ISP in Aiken, offering max download speeds of 100 to 1,000Mbps to nearly 98% of local households. As a cable provider, Breezeline doesn’t have the same speed potential as AT&T Fiber, but all plans include unlimited data and free equipment rental for 24 months.

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Connection

Cable

Speed range

100 - 1,000 Mbps

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Best fixed wireless internet in Aiken, SC

Our take - Fixed wireless internet, like that of T-Mobile Home Internet, is the most practical alternative to traditional cable and fiber connections in Aiken. Service isn’t the speediest, with downloads ranging from 72 to 245Mbps, but the simple service terms (no equipment fees, data caps or contracts) make it an option worth considering.

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Connection

Fixed wireless

Speed range

72 - 245 Mbps

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Aiken

The best internet deals and the top promotions in Aiken depend on what discounts are available during that time period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Aiken internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including AT&T Fiber, Breezeline and T-Mobile Home Internet run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of deals, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Aiken, South Carolina

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds, and also take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Aiken, South Carolina FAQs

What is the best internet service provider in Aiken?

AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Aiken. Though not the outright cheapest internet provider in Aiken, AT&T Fiber presents the best overall value by offering fast, symmetrical speeds and service that's free of contracts, data caps, equipment fees and set price increases.

Is fiber internet available in Aiken?

According to the most recent FCC data, approximately 32% of Aiken residential addresses were serviceable for fiber internet as of June 2023. Serviceability is greatest in the Pinecrest and Aiken Estates communities, though fiber internet is available in random neighborhoods throughout the city. AT&T Fiber is the largest fiber internet provider in Aiken while Breezeline has a small fiber presence in the area as well.

What is the cheapest internet provider in Aiken?

Breezeline and Xfinity share the lowest starting price for internet in Aiken at $20 a month. Xfinity offers a bit more speed with max downloads of 150Mbps compared to Breezeline’s 100Mbps. Despite the speed difference, Breezeline’s cheapest plan is the better deal as it comes with free equipment rental for two years and unlimited data. Xfinity, on the other hand, has a $15 equipment rental fee (optional) and 1.2TB monthly data cap.

Which internet provider in Aiken offers the fastest plan?

AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet in Aiken with max upload and download speeds of 5,000Mbps. AT&T Fiber and Xfinity offer a 2,000Mbps plan in Aiken, though Xfinity’s max upload speeds are significantly slower at 200Mbps.

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