The Journey for the Ring is Over!

Head Coach Shell Dula

Margie Blalock 18.MAR.07

The ring ceremony for the Greenwood High School Eagles State Champion Football team was held tonight in the GHS auditorium, 7pm.

“The Race for the Ring” was written and read by Josh Norman to open the ceremony.

“All of you played like champions; acted like champions; worked like champions; handled yourselves like champions; and today……YOU ARE CHAMPIONS!” quoted head coach Shell Dula. “These guys never dropped their heads” he told the audience.

The ring ceremony was for the whole ‘TEAM’…..not just the football players.  Everyone that was part of the team was honored:

· the cheerleaders

·        chain gang/crew

· the ticket master

· the announcer at the games

·        statisticians/scorekeepers

·        trainers/managers

· coaches

·        spouses of the coaches

·        landscaping crew for the field

· administration

· assistants(to the coaches and team)

· those who organized and fed the team after a victory.

As the ceremony progressed, Dula stressed how this group of winners is “the epitome of a team; more than any group of athletes that I have ever been associated with.  Therefore, I am going to ask that no one open the ring box until everyone has gotten theirs….we won as a team, we have done everything else as a team, and we will open the rings as a team….together!”

One by one, each honoree walked up the steps on the right side of the stage, received a tiny, square, white box and a larger, flat, white box.  They would then exit down the stairs on the left.  Coach Dula made sure that he shook the hand of each and every ‘Champion’ as they crossed the stage.  Thanking them one by one.

Forty out of the 88 members listed on the program received a Perfect Attendance Award.

The only individual awards that were given tonight were the scholastic awards.  “In the 9^th grade we had a two-way tie and on the JV team, we had a three-way tie.  This is the only award that we don’t break the tie” stated Dula. He continued to stress how these players have worked hard and earned this award and deserve the honor and recognition.

Scholastic Award Winners:

9^th grade:

• Brian Adams
• Colby Thorpe

JV:

• James Festa
• Albert Hemphill
• Richard Sellars

Varsity:

• Ixavier Higgins(who has won every year of his high school career)

To close the ceremony a poem entitled “The Race for the Ring is Over” was read.

The entire 2006 Division II AAAA State Football Champions took the stage one last time as a team, and sang the song- their team song…..the one they have sung since the first date in the weight room back in January 2006:  “What have you done for me?”

Those in attendance responded with a standing ovation, tears, laughter, and pride.

Congratulations Eagles!