Clarke Central High School senior Montavious Cunningham thanks his family for support as he announces his decision to play football for Georgia State University. On Wednesday, eight CCHS athletes announced their decision to play a sport at the collegiate level. “Without question this has been the most trying year, and there’s just not a lot of opportunities like there have been in years past, so many college football teams didn’t play this season, (and) extended a year for all those kids that wanted it, so the spots just weren’t available like they’ve been in years past. (I give) my credit (and) congratulations to all of our players,” head CCHS football coach David Perno said. Photo by Dalila Tejada
To announce their commitment to play sports at the collegiate level, eight Clarke Central High School athletes came together with families and coaches for a signing day ceremony on Wednesday.
CCHS athletic director Jon Ward opened the event, thanking families for their support of the student-athletes who were about to sign their letters of intent to colleges.
“We are excited about the opportunity to celebrate with several of the gladiator football seniors who will make their college announcements today. These young men have earned the opportunity to attend college and play football in the fall of 2021 as a result of their hard work on the field, and in the classroom. But it’s also a result of support of their family during their tenure at Clarke Central,” Ward said. “We want to say thank you to the mothers and fathers, family members and support groups that have helped each of these young men to achieve what has been a lifelong goal.”
Gallery by Luna Reichert and Dalila Tejada
CCHS football player Justin Hodges, a senior, announced that he signed with Limestone University at the event and felt emotional.
“I’m excited, sad, (it’s a) bittersweet feeling. I don’t want to leave but I have to,” Hodges said. “It was a hard decision. At first I was committed to Concord University and they’re 7 hours away. I wanted to find somewhere that was close to home, so I went with Limestone.”
Maggie Talley, mother of CCHS senior Walker Bradberry, who will be a preferred walk on at Georgia Southern University, attended the event along with some of his other family members.
“We’re super excited and proud that he’ll be close to home and that he has this opportunity,” Talley said. “He worked hard. This is something he’s done on his own. I know nothing about punting a football. He’s done really well and he goes out and works hard and does his own thing and he’s been practicing and so we’re really excited for him.”
CCHS head track and field coach and assistant football coach Justin Jones attended the event to support the athletes he’s coached.
“I know it means a lot to them that a lot of the hard work and sacrifices that they made, some of them over the past eight, nine years- it’s a long process. It just shows them that hard work truly pays off and they can accomplish something (in their) next step in life, (they can) look back (and say) ‘I’ve done this, I can do something else,'” Jones said.
