Ernest Ward Cheerleaders Need Your Help To Get To National Finals
January 26, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders are headed to Orlando next month to compete for a national title, and they could use a little help from you.
The EWMS cheerleaders took first place in the Universal Cheerleaders Association West Florida Regional in November at Tate High School. That qualifies the girls to head to Orlando for the national championships February 5-9.
Ashley Salter, EWMS cheerleading sponsor, says that the girls still need about $1,500 to make the trip. The girls have completed several fund raisers, including a pecan pie sale and a volleyball tournament, raising about $5,000 so far.
If you would like to help the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders make their trip to the national finals, you can drop your donations off at the Ernest Ward office.
For a “sneak peek” at the EWMS cheerleaders’ national finals routine, click here for a photo gallery from a recent practice.
Pictured above: (front row, L-R) Hannah Gibson, Katelynne Calloway, Madison Arrington, Reagan Bell, Paeton Hadley, Morgan Ward, Mariah Albritton, (back row) Lana Clayton, Raven Weaver, Ariel Holland, Ali Martin, Cheyenne Godwin, Angel Mitchell and Ashley Mooney. Pictured left: The EWMS cheerleaders at a recent pratice. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Football Legend Carl Madison, 77, Returns To Coaching
January 23, 2009
Legendary football coach Carl Madison is returning to sidelines as the offensive coordinator for the Tate Aggies. From his first coaching job at Ernest Ward High School at age 26, Madison went on to become one of America’s most winning coaches.
Madison, age 77, is 326-129-7 over a 45 year coaching career, making him number two on Florida’s all-time coaching victories list and in the top 30 in the entire nation. He coached Tate to a state championship in 1980, and took the Pine Forest Eagles to two state championships in 1987 and 1988. The 1988 Eagle team was named as national champions by USA Today, and Madison earned the title of the National High School Football Coach of the Year. All in all, he coached at five different Florida High Schools including Ernest Ward, plus three out of state schools.
His football days began early at Escambia County High School in Atmore where he played tailback under Coach Herbert Barnes from 1945 to 1947, making him one of Atmore’s semi-famous “Barnes Boys” with 30 straight wins. After a stint in the Army, from 1950 to 1952, Madison played college ball for Texas Tech and Troy State Teachers College in the mid-1950’s.
Fresh out of college, Madison coached for four years beginning in 1957 at Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill. He moved to Milton High in 1961, coaching them to a state championship and 34 straight victories. He then took a coaching job at a Georgia High School, losing a state championship game in 1968.
Madison joined the coaching staff at Tate in 1971 on his way to winning that 1980 state championship. He left Tate in 1983, heading to Pensacola High for a couple of years. Then it was off to Pine Forest and those back-to-back state championships. He coached at an Albany, Georgia, school, another 10 years at Milton High and another short period at PHS during the period from 1989 until 2002.
In 2002, he took the head coach job at the small Jackson Academy in Alabama. The 71-year old took over a team that had gone 0-10 prior to his arrival. He lost his first two games at Jackson, but he went on to win the state championship. The following year, Jackson was undefeated and won another state championship.
Madison will continue to live in Atmore. On March 1, he will begin working with the Aggies, which finished with a 4-7 record last year.
New Football District For Northview: NHS And Jay Now Both In 1A
January 17, 2009
The Northview Chiefs and the Jay Royals might just become big football rivals now that the two teams are in the same football district.
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has released the final district alignments for both the 2009 and 2010 football seasons.
In preliminary district alignments released in December, Northview remained in District 1-2B. Under a FHSAA rule that allows schools to “play down” one district, the Chiefs requested to be moved down one district to District 1-1A, the same district as the Royals.
“I’m excited for our kids and our program,” Northview Heach Coach Cody Keene said after the FHSAA district announcements Friday. “There will not be as much travel, and I think that will be good for our program.”
In addition to Northview, District 1-1A also includes Baker, Bozeman (Southport), Freeport, Holmes County (Bonifay), Sneads, South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach) and Vernon.
“Some of the schools are still a good distance, but it will be better for us,” Keene said. “We will be able to focus more on football. It will be a very competitive district.”
Keene said that he hopes Northview can develop a few strong rivalries within the district, like the Jay Royals.
Class 1A is Florida’s smallest, comprised primarily of schools with 521 or fewer students. Northview had 544 students during the October week used by the FHSAA to determine the new classifications, but schools in the lower 10% of the population breakdown of each classification have the option of playing down one classification if it is deemed more suitable for district travel reasons.
Football fans in Pensacola will likely see a few more rivalries develop under the new classifications. District 1-4A will include Crestview, Escambia, Milton, Pace, Pine Forest and Tate. Class 4A includes schools with 1,740 to 2,014 students.
Volleyball Tournament Benefits EWMS Cheerleaders
January 4, 2009
A nine team coed volleyball tournament was held Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. All proceeds from the tournament will be used to help the Ernest Ward Middle School Cheerleaders attend the national finals
For a photo gallery from the tournament, click here.
Pictured above and below: Action from a volleyball tournament held to benefit the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Teams Still Needed For Coed Volleyball Tournament
December 29, 2008
At least four more teams are needed for coed volleyball tournament to raise funds to help the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders travel to the national finals early next year.
The volleyball tournament will be Saturday, January 3 at the First Baptist Church of Bratt Family Life Center. The tournament is for four person teams, with a $10 per player entry fee. All the proceeds will go to the EWMS cheerleaders.
To signup, or for more information, contact Amy Holland at (850) 327-4744 or (850) 516-8400 as soon as possible.
New High School Football Districts Finalized; Northview Joins Jay In 1A
December 16, 2008
The FHSAA announced new football classifications Monday, with Northview and Jay remaining in the same classifications.
Due to declining enrollment, Pensacola’s Catholic High School dropped into Northview’s District 1-2B. Besides Catholic, it will be another season of long road trips for Northview’s away district games. Other teams in District 1-2B of the Florida High School Athletic Association include Bozeman (Southport), Chipley, Marianna, South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach) and Walton (Defuniak Springs).
Class 2B includes schools with 522 to 1014 students. Northview had 544 students during the October week used by the FHSAA to determine the new classifications.
Jay remains in District 1-1A with Baker, Freeport, Holmes County (Bonifay), Sneads and Vernon. Class 1A is Florida’s smallest, with schools with 258 or less students.
Football fans in Pensacola will likely see a few more rivalries develop under the new classifications. District 1-4A will include Crestview, Escambia, Milton, Pace, Pine Forest and Tate. Class 4A includes schools with 1,740 to 2,014 students.
The FHSAA staff prepared an eight-district plan for Classifications 6A through 3A as passed by the Board of Directors in November. But an FHSAA release said there was extensive travel within this plan so the FHSAA staff made a unanimous decision to change to the new 16-district format. If the eight district plan had been approved, several districts would have teams making multiple trips in a single football season from Jacksonville to Pensacola or Niceville.
Schools will have until noon on January 9, 2009, to submit written requests for reassignment to a different classification and/or district if they believe the change is warranted. Schools have the option of playing in its assigned classification or one classification higher. Schools in the lower 10% of the population breakdown of each classification have the option of playing down one classification if it is deemed more suitable for district travel reasons.
The final football district assignments will be made on January 16 of next year.
Northview, Atmore Schools Score Cash With FNB&Trust Points Club
December 12, 2008
The First National Bank and Trust in Atmore distributed Points Club funds to area schools Thursday afternoon, paying out cash for points that three area schools earned at each home football game.
Each football program received $50 for each touchdown and $25 for each field goal scored during a home football game. Escambia County High School received $700; Escambia Academy earned $450. Northview High School was awarded $350.
Pictured above: Northview High School Head Coach Cody Keene receives a $350 Points Club check from the First National Bank and Trust Thursday afternoon. Pictured (L-R) are: Jessica Peebles, Tracy Hodgen, NHS Coach Cody Keene, Jean Nisewonger, Kathy Holland and Brandon Johnson. Pictured below, left photo: Tracy Hodgen presents a check to Escambia Academy Coach Heath Gibson. Pictured below, right: ECHS Principal Harvey Means (L) and Coach Kyle Davis recieve a check from Andrea Lassitter. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Challenger Award Presented To Area Football Players
December 9, 2008
Several North Escambia area football players were among those honored Monday night at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Challenger Award Banquet.
Luke Killam from Northview High School, Samuel Mize from Flomaton High School, Blake Kirk from Escambia Academy, Jake Sasser from Jay High School and Everette Lockman from Tate High School each received one of the 23 Challenger Awards presented by the FCA.
The 40th annual event, held at the Pensacola Civic Center, hosted members of 23 football teams from across South Alabama and Northwest Florida, including the Northview Chiefs. About 1,500 people attended the annual event.
R.V. Brown, president and founder of Outreach to America’s Youth was the keynote speaker.
Pictured above: Northview senior Luke Killam, one of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Challenger Award Winners. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Northview High School Holds Cross County Banquet
December 6, 2008
Northview High School recently held its Cross Country Banquet at the school.
Winners included the Junmi Ross Winner Jessica Bloodworth and the Jim Ross Winner Clint Davis, and the MVR (Most Valuable Runner) Coty Chance. Coaches Award Winners were Blake Luker, Dustin Lewis and Dixie Carnely.
Pictured above: The Northview High School Cross Country Team. Pictured inset above: MVR (Most Valuable Runner Coty Chance. Pictured below: Coaches Award Winners (L-R) Blake Luker, Dixie Carnely and Dustin Lewis. Pictured bottom: Jumni Ross Winner Jessica Bloodsworth and Jim Ross Winner Clint Davis. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
A Fun SEC Championship Weekend: Local Husband Is Florida Gator Fan; His Wife Is Alabama Fan
December 5, 2008
Saturday’s SEC Championship Game will pit the Crimson Tide against the Gators, and Amy against Wayne.
Around the Holland household in Bratt, football is a big deal. Wife Amy Holland is a die hard Alabama fan, and husband Wayne Holland is a Florida Gator fan through and through.
And that, as you might guess, has made thing interesting around the Holland home this week.
“You know the Gators are going win,” Wayne said. “They are going to spank ‘em. Florida has the total package.”
“Bama will win,” Amy said, “and get another coach fired. We’ve got three coaches fire so far this year, and we are going to get another one.”
“That coach thing isn’t going to happen,” he said.
An Alabama flag is flying outside their home this year. That’s because Alabama is the only undefeated Southeastern Conference team, she said.
Wayne admits that he OK with Amy’s loyalty to the Crimson Tide. They attend a few Alabama games during the year simply because they are closer. “I support them as long as they don’t play Florida,” he said.
There is a friendly little bet on Saturday’s game.
“Whoever wins, the other one has to take them out to eat,” she said. “It’s a win, win situation for both of us.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I haven’t decided where I want to eat yet.”
They will start watching the game together on TV. But then Amy will head to Atmore to ride in the truck pulling the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders’ float in the Christmas parade. She’ll listen to the end of the game on a headphone radio.
“I’ll be the crazy woman in the truck screaming things out the window about ‘Roll Tide’,” she said.
Pictured above: Wayne “The Florida Fan” Holland and his wife Amy “Alabama” Holland.