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a.*S /-> ' ' A f | . 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* Page 3B