Sports Staffer David Wang explored how CCHS fall sports have fared this far into the season.
“It’s our job to get the crowd hyped and (strengthen) the overall morale at the games. We are the cheer squad. When we get to games, I tell the girls, ‘We are at work.’ From the time we arrive until the end of the game, we are working. It’s our job to keep the (football players) up to par, motivated and encouraged, as well as helping the crowd add to that.”
– Sophia Campbell,
CCHS head varsity football cheerleading coach
In preparation for the 2025-26 season, the Clarke Central High School varsity football cheerleading team participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Cheer Camp at Emmanuel University and Urban Cheer Experience camps at CCHS. This also allowed them to prepare for the 59th Classic City Championship on Aug. 16, where they led the cheer for CCHS varsity football players in tight situations. Since the start of the 2025-26 school year, the team has participated in daily practices where they run laps and practice dance and stunt skills. This year’s cheer squad is the largest CCHS head varsity football cheerleading coach Sophia Campbell has ever led, with 28 varsity cheerleaders. At the varsity football team’s first region matchup against Jackson County High School on September 19, the cheerleaders debuted new CCHS merchandise to boost crowd energy and participation.
““It’s our job to get the crowd hyped and (strengthen) the overall morale at the games. We are the cheer squad. When we get to games, I tell the girls, ‘We are at work.’ From the time we arrive until the end of the game, we are working. It’s our job to keep the (football players) up to par, motivated and encouraged, as well as helping the crowd add to that.””
— Sophia Campbell,
CCHS head varsity football cheerleading coach
“(At practices,) we do two workouts a week and a long run, and then the other days are just regular runs where we’ll go out and do whatever mileage is right for us. On workout days, we’re still focused on building that base of endurance, so we’re not necessarily running really fast. Instead, the workouts are very long, where we’re running at a quicker pace for a long time, but not sprinting.”
– Waylon Vaughn,
CCHS boys varsity cross country co-captain
The Clarke Central High School varsity cross country team’s season started with the North Oconee Twilight Invitational on Aug. 29, where the boy’s team placed 12th with an average time of 18:26 and the girl’s team placed 11th with an average time of 23:37. At the Piedmont Cross Country Festival on Sept. 5, varsity boys cross country co-captain James Daniel, a senior, placed first in the boys 3,000-meter, with four of the top five spots going to CCHS athletes. After the boys team placed second in Georgia High School Association Region 8-AAAAA State Championships during the 2024-25 season, this year’s teams are hoping to make it to this year’s Sectional and State meets, which will both be held in November.
“(At practices,) we do two workouts a week and a long run, and then the other days are just regular runs where we’ll go out and do whatever mileage is right for us. On workout days, we’re still focused on building that base of endurance, so we’re not necessarily running really fast. Instead, the workouts are very long, where we’re running at a quicker pace for a long time, but not sprinting.”
— Waylon Vaughn,
CCHS boys varsity cross country co-captain
“I know it sounds cliché saying it’s a family atmosphere, but it really is a good group of kids and coaches. We love being around each other when we do get that opportunity. We only see each other once a week, but we get a lot of productivity done because (of) the excitement of being together, and we do have fun every single night we see each other.”
– Julius Hooper,
Head adaptive handball head coach
The Classic City Dawgs adaptive handball team, which creates athletic opportunities for Clarke County School District K-12 students, both with and without disabilities, is heading into its second full year of practices. The team practices once a week during the school year in CCHS’ James Crawford Memorial Gym, each practice usually lasting two-three hours. Players work on fundamentals such as throwing, catching and stunting drills, while also building team chemistry through scrimmages and mini-games like Sharks and Minnows. The team’s first games of the season was held in the CCHS James Crawford Memorial Gym on Sept. 20. As of Sep. 25, Classic City Dawgs record is 1-1-0.
“I know it sounds cliché saying it’s a family atmosphere, but it really is a good group of kids and coaches. We love being around each other when we do get that opportunity. We only see each other once a week, but we get a lot of productivity done because (of) the excitement of being together, and we do have fun every single night we see each other.”
— Julius Hooper,
Head adaptive handball coach
““I think our team is going to be a strength (because) we can mold it and be able to use their talent for the next four years, that will definitely carry them into the following seasons after we lose our seniors. We have a great senior class (that) was actually a part of the inaugural flag football team, so we know the expectations. We are motivated to win state this year and want to leave the program in a better place than when we started it.”
– Sadie Miller,
varsity flag football wide receiver and linebacker
During the summer, the CCHS varsity flag football team played three practice games against Jackson County, Oconee County, and Salem High Schools. The team also trained with speed workouts on Sundays and two “four-on-one” sessions a week, where four athletes worked with one coach for 30 minutes. Since the regular season started on Sept. 8, practices now run two hours a day, five days a week. The team’s first scrimmage of the season took place on Sept. 22 against Hebron Christian Academy and Greenbrier High School, with the first game set for Oct. 2 against Gainesville High School, where tracking of the team’s official record will begin.
“I think our team is going to be a strength (because) we can mold it and be able to use their talent for the next four years, that will definitely carry them into the following seasons after we lose our seniors. We have a great senior class (that) was actually a part of the inaugural flag football team, so we know the expectations. We are motivated to win state this year and want to leave the program in a better place than when we started it.”
— Sadie Miller,
CCHS varsity flag football wide receiver and linebacker
“For this upcoming show, we have to know how to play an instrument. So, I worked on my piano skills a lot, and worked on my voice and acting skills. I’m newer to acting, so I worked hard on that all summer. Just practicing piano at least once a day and learning songs that I can sing while I’m playing piano.”
– Mabel Fezekas,
“Once” lead actress
This season, the CCHS One Act team is preparing for competition with “Once,” a bittersweet story that marks the program’s first entry of a musical in the one-act format. Currently, roles have been assigned and the cast and crew are in the rehearsal process, which includes incorporating live music, and blocking – planning the physical movement and positioning of actors on stage, and cast coordination. In late October, they will start community shows for middle schools, and the GHSA Region 8-AAAAA competition will take place at Jackson County High School on Oct. 30, which will determine whether the team moves on to the 2025 GHSA State One Act Play Championship on Nov. 22.
“For this upcoming show, we have to know how to play an instrument. So, I worked on my piano skills a lot, and worked on my voice and acting skills. I’m newer to acting, so I worked hard on that all summer. Just practicing piano at least once a day and learning songs that I can sing while I’m playing piano.”
— Mabel Fezekas,
“Once” lead actress
“Prior to (students) taking the safety and fundamentals test, there’s probably eight to nine modules they have to go through to learn the basics. So, there’s a lot of training that goes into teaching basic rifle marksmanship, like breath control, sight alignment, sight picture. It mirrors what you see at the Olympics in the three-position, 10-meter air rifle competition.”
– First Sergeant Antione Clark,
CCHS head riflery coach
After its inaugural 2024-25 season, the CCHS riflery program, an official Georgia High School Association sport, is back for its second year with high hopes for improvement. Running from September through March, riflery is one of the longest fall sports at CCHS. The team is currently practicing in the JROTC building on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Members are required to score 100% on the safety and fundamentals tests before participating to prevent injuries and avoidable risks with firearms.
“Prior to (students) taking the safety and fundamentals test, there’s probably eight to nine modules they have to go through to learn the basics. So, there’s a lot of training that goes into teaching basic rifle marksmanship, like breath control, sight alignment, sight picture. It mirrors what you see at the Olympics in the three-position, 10-meter air rifle competition.”
— First Sergeant Antione Clark,
CCHS head riflery coach
“I’m excited to see how we do in our region. We’ve had some tough losses, but I believe we can pull through and show our best in these upcoming games. Right now, me and a freshman, Emery Hope, are the only pitchers on the team, so part of my focus is on helping her develop since she’ll be one of the main pitchers next year. We also have some JV players coming in, which will give her more support.”
– Alexandra Ozuna,
CCHS varsity softball pitcher
The CCHS varsity softball team is currently made up of a large group of freshmen and sophomores, a change after graduating five key players in the 2024-25 season. During the summer, the team practiced in the CCHS Weight Room starting at 7 a.m., four days a week. Now that the season has officially started on July 28, practices are held four to five times a week from 4- 6:30 p.m. The team’s season began with a loss to Loganville High School on Aug. 28 with a final score of 1-9, which gave CCHS a batting average of 0.263 and an on-base percentage of 0.300. Since then, they stand at an overall record of 6-8 and a region standing of 0-7 after most recently beating Central Gwinnett High School with a score of 11-1 on Sept. 24.
“I’m excited to see how we do in our region. We’ve had some tough losses, but I believe we can pull through and show our best in these upcoming games. Right now, me and a freshman, Emmy Hope, are the only pitchers on the team, so part of my focus is on helping her develop since she’ll be one of the main pitchers next year. We also have some JV players coming in, which will give her more support.”
— Alexandra Ozuna,
CCHS varsity softball pitcher
“This year, you can really see the chemistry (in the team). Everybody really gets along and wants to be around each other. We all encourage each other a lot. Last year, I feel like we lagged in that area a little bit, and that positive energy has helped us play a lot better (this year).”
– Iayah Edwards,
CCHS varsity volleyball right side
The CCHS varsity volleyball team opened its season with a focus on unity and competitive practices after taking part in Yellow Jacket Volleyball Camp at the Georgia Institute of Technology during the summer. Since the start of the school year, the team has held mornings from 6:15 to 8 a.m. Practice begins with three laps and balance exercises, followed by a team warm-up with passing, setting, swings and serving and concludes with position drills and six-on-six play. The team has a current record of 0-9 for Region 8-AAAAA with an overall ranking of seventh after two consecutive losses to Habersham Central and Winder-Barrow High Schools on Sept. 25.
“This year, you can really see the chemistry (in the team). Everybody really gets along and wants to be around each other. We all encourage each other a lot. Last year, I feel like we lagged in that area a little bit, and that positive energy has helped us play a lot better (this year).”
— Iayah Edwards,
CCHS varsity volleyball right side
