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. NEW AT CHEERLEADING Pictured
are Perry Middle School Seventh Grade
Cheerleading Squad and sponsor, (back
row, from left) Shakinah Felder. Kendra
Dixon. PeTayrea Wilson. Heather Hath-
Cheerleaders learning tumbling to strengthen skits
By Torey Jolley
Home Journal Staff
Though often overlooked as a spoil,
cheering a team on to victory is tough.
It takes precision, skill, and a desire to
inspire. Two groups of girls from Perry
Middle School have the right still! to sue
eeed in the job.
According to PMS cheerleading squad
sponsor Jennifer Mashburn, “They have
worked hard. It is a definite sport. These
girls practice hours and hours. They run.
jump, and Hip. Il is definitely a sport."
While some ol the cheerleaders have
taken tumbling classes, most are learning.
"But they give it their all." said Sharon
Walker, sponsor of the Bth grade cheer
leading squad.
"We want them to be the best they can be
and we work them that way." said Mash
o** m
if i ’
SUPPORTING EIGHTH GRADERS
Here are the sponsor and Perry Middle
School Eighth Grade Cheerleading
Squad, (back, from le.ft) Coach Sharon
Walker, SaVanna Cameron. Candy
Letter
Continued from page 2B
merit and partnerships.
Specific initiatives include:
n/ working cooperatively
with senior citizens and
churches to provide addi
tional learning support for
students,
v creating a community
advisory board that will
meet quarterly,
V holding public heal
ings to solicit input on
important issues,
\ working effectively with
elected officials for the
county, state, and nation,
and
V establishing a founda
tion to provide financial
assistance to the Houston
County schools.
These are challenging
goals, but ones 1 am eonti
dent that we can achieve
with the commitment and
dedication oi our teachers,
administrators, support
staff, volunteers, business
partners, parents and stu
dents.
By working together as a
community, we can accom
plish any vision that we
can dream. We look tor
ward to another progres
sive, productive year.
Charles Holloway
County School Superin
tendent
Cjo Panthers!
<2o Ijornets!
Home Journal Photos by Torey Jolley
cock. Coach Jennifer Mashburn, (front
row) Cassie Taylor, Shawna Pettis, Ashley
Beaty, Heather Morrill, Danielle Corcoran,
and Sedra Harris. Not pictured is Amanda
Romerize.
burn.
"So far everything is pretty good." agreed
Walker.
There are 12 girls on each squad. The
try-outs were last spring. Alter a week of
training, auditions were held. The spon
sors invited judges from out of town to
choose 12 giris. The chosen 12 completed a
summer camp in July and currently prac
tice twice a week perfecting their cheers
and routines with occasional help from
some of the Perry High School cheerlead
ers.
In a course of a year, the cheerleaders
will bring spirit and enthusiasm to both
the football team and the basketball team.
Seventh grade cheerleaders support the
seventh grade athletes while the eighth
grade cheerleaders support the eighth
grade athletes.
Wright, Sabrina Bassett, Nicky Meads.
Samantha Bartlett, Amanda Middleton,
(front) Nikki Willis, Sarah Millender, Eliz
abeth Bullard. Haley Bacon. Crystal Rad
ford, and Keona Richardson.
Good Luck, Panthers!
Fight Hard, Hornets!
CL Hr \
Bank of America _
1005 Northside Drive
Perry, GA 31069
987-2405
Wed., Sept. 1, 1999, Houston Home Journal F aII Exiraclrkk ulah Aciivirits Cuidi
Learning basics of football first
goal of PMS seventh grade squad
By ALLINE KENT
Home Journal Sports
After just two weeks of football practice,
the seventh grade Panthers at Pern' Middle
School are getting into game shape.
The team is coached by Leslie Belcher,
who is entering his fourth year coaching at
Perry Middle and his 17th year overall, and
James Lattimore. a two-year coach at the
school.
The high heat and humidity that Hous
ton County has been experiencing during
August has made for tough practices these
first weeks. In spite of the weather condi
tions. according to their coaches, the
young men are giving their all and are
excited and enthusiastic about the upeom
ing season.
Thirty-six young men came out for the
team, about the same as last year's squad.
More than one halt ol the players have
never played organized football before,
leading to a lot of time being spent of fun
damentals such as tackling.
“There's no middle of the road with sev
Panther eighth grade team retut ns
from highly successful seventh grade s<?
By ALLINE KENT
Home Journal Sports
This years Bth graTlc
Perry Middle School squad
returns several familiar
starters from the highly
successful 7th made team
ol 1998, as well as some
new faces to add depth to
the program.
Forty young men came
out for the team, a real
good turnout according to
Coach Dannv Shelton, lie
said that in the past years
the Bth grade team has had
around 30 young men play
ing.
"We've got good speed
and good size." said Shel
ton, "in a game situation,
they will be good athletes.
They have been working
hare,!, especially in the hot
Wriipcryture. We are going
to see a big improvement in
running after it starts to
From one great team
to two others...
Good Luck
Panthers
Hornets;
When it’s time to take
care of your trans
portation needs, /Sagt
check out our great NSpp!l v ;*
team of sales and f jA.
service.
Ford V\^^v./ V " i
& Wayne Morris
A tough team
to have on your J
WAYNB®SMOfIfIIS
987-2411 _ I
Exit 43 off I-75 -1/2 Mile - West 341 « Perry, GA
enth graders. “ said Belcher. They ban
either played several years of roe ball ■ t
have never played before You -n't pm ; i
experienced kid up against i kid vt>o h
never tackled before. So wt sp. id tt
first weeks working on the base
That has also included pun* nap’ i .
and kicking. The 7th gmd< P,o
start this week with putting. ’ ■ r i ,
tions.
One relief to the coaches at Pen
is that the other teams in the conn tv
the same position.
' Riey don’t know what <
but bv the same token v. dot '
they have. We go into out iirst
about the quality of out opt e
look for our games to be mt"
each year as the school', < no
up their programs, BeJchet ■
The Panthers get in t
games start since then eh
week of middle seb
game will be against Mon <■
on Sept. 15.
cool off."
Like the 7th grade team,
the Bth grade Panthers
have been spending time on
fundamentals these first
few weeks.
Last year, the 7th grade
football team at Perry Mid
die School finished second
in the county. This year’s
team returns many of those
players.
Stephen Kinnas will be at
center and is doing a “good
job" according to Shelton.
Victor Johnson and Court
ney Taylor will be starting
at guard, Dexter Ragin and
Anthony Dixon at tackle,
and the ends will be Jarrell
Gary and Robert Childs.
Starting quarterback will
Tyler Lawhorn, returning
from last year's 7th grade
team, l ion Kendrick will be
at fullback. David Alford at
tailback and Jai Bowens
anil Rishawn Scon
playing at with ho
“We have a bun li I n
who are doing s <
said Shelton
"Somi■ o! din f.id !
not played helm*, so > j
now oui st.u tin s on off u <
will also h< pi.'vine o
defense, hi -m,
"When the\ don't |>l,a. oi
the 7th grad*. tht > ; t
have a lot ot tht I it to, > i
mentals >nd ’ t ' -
kids some time to etch •
Shelton continued.
“They have got to . <
into their minds thot this
a rough and fumbk gun .
but by the cud ol the
son, they've picked it m .
got some weight on and >
able to help th- ! t■ ' seb ■'
out.' Ik added
' ‘ ' Their lit st avg,him•
game of the v< it h Sept ‘ >
against Bomm• ;, d ; ddi*
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