by D. Mark Mitchell
OPELIKA
CHEERLEADERS
Cheerleader Coach Brandy Edwards took the OHS cheerleaders to UCA Cheer Camp at Auburn University. The UCA Cheer Camp is held yearly for high school cheerleading squads to compete against other high school cheer teams across the south.
The OHS cheerleaders dominated the three days of competition. All three days, the varsity, junior varsity and mascots received superior ribbons and a spirit stick.
The varsity squad received the “ Banana Award,” which is awarded to the cheerleading team with the most spirit.
Eleven members of the team earned All-American honors, as follows:
Junior varsity cheerleaders – Alexis Beatty, Kyla Chambers, Rachel Hamilton and Kennedy Norris;
Varsity cheerleaders – Ariana Curtis, Vashti Davis, Kaleigh Murry, Alyson Tyson and George White;
Mascots – Cori Baldwin, and Carly Parker.
The team earned four “Pin it Forward” recipients (based on Individual leadership): Tori Baker, Kerri Holland Laro, Brooke Mann and George White.
The varsity squad earned first place in Overall Cheer and Sideline Cheer. The JV squad earned first place in Extreme Routine and Sideline while finishing second in overall Camp Champs and Cheers.
The program as a whole won the most prestigious award at camp, the “Tradition Award”. This is the sixth year in a row that Opelika has won this award. Carly Parker, “Lika”, won the “Up and Coming Mascot” award and the two mascots together won the “Tradition Award”.
Congratulations Opelika cheerleaders and coaches!
FOOTBALL
The Opelika High football team returned to workouts Monday after having a week off to celebrate the July 4 holiday. The Dawgs will take off next week because the AHSAA has a mandatory off week. The AHSAA calls the week of July 18-22 All-Star Week.
The AHSAA sponsors contests in every sport between teams from North Alabama and South Alabama. Student-athletes from across Alabama were chosen by coaches in each sport to represent the North or South.
The week-long event ends Saturday night with a banquet in Montgomery.
ALL-SPORTS BOOSTER CLUB
If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor or purchasing an ad in the Opelika Athletic Program, please send me a email at foxonthemark@yahoo.com.
The All-Sports Booster Club Corporate Sponsor plans range from $500 to $5000. The packages include benefits for the sponsor including reserved home football tickets and sporting event passes, an ad in the program, reserved parking at Bulldog stadium and other benefits.
ON THE MARK
You can keep up with Opelika athletics on a daily basis by listening to my morning sports show, On The Mark, on WTLM 1520 AM from 7-9 a.m. You can listen online at www.kickerfmsports.com or download the i-Heart Radio App to your smart phone. Search for WTLM.
D.Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.