Southern Local sports kicked off with community events
Members of the Southern Local High School cheer squad and football team and many other youth tried to follow the directions of Cheer Coach Nikki Kellogg in one of the games led by the squad during the Back to School Bonfire held by the Southern Local High School Touchdown Club and the Highlandtown Volunteer Fire Department at the department’s picnic grounds on Thursday. (Submitted photo)
Local youth enjoyed passing a football and other games at the Back to School Bonfire held by the Southern Local High School Touchdown Club and the Highlandtown Volunteer Fire Department at the department’s picnic grounds on Thursday. (Submitted photo)
Members of the Southern Local High School cheer squad and football team and many other youth tried to follow the directions of Cheer Coach Nikki Kellogg in one of the games led by the squad during the Back to School Bonfire held by the Southern Local High School Touchdown Club and the Highlandtown Volunteer Fire Department at the department’s picnic grounds on Thursday. (Submitted photo)
Local youth enjoyed passing a football and other games at the Back to School Bonfire held by the Southern Local High School Touchdown Club and the Highlandtown Volunteer Fire Department at the department’s picnic grounds on Thursday. (Submitted photo)
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SALINEVILLE - The Southern Local Schools community cheered on the many athletes in the school district's fall sports programs and its cheerleaders and marching band at two community events Thursday.
Many local residents gathered at Southern Local High School's Wigwam Stadium to meet members of the Indians football team and youth participating in all other fall sports, from kindergarteners on the Bantam Indians team and up.
Attendees also got a peak at the half-time performances planned for the high school's cheer squad and marching band.
After that, everyone was invited to a back to school bonfire held by the Southern Local High School Touchdown Club and Highlandtown Volunteer Fire Department on the latter's picnic grounds.
Under the leadership of Chief Jeremiah Cole, a member of the school board, the firefighters capped off the evening with the lighting of the bonfire.
Before that, attendees could purchase snacks from a handful of area food trucks or partake of free cookies and drinks served up by the Touchdown Club.
The group is comprised of parents and other supporters of the high school football team and cheer squad.
Under the direction of cheer coach Nikki Kellogg, children and teens participated in games that included a Simon Says-style contest involving the cheerleaders' pom-poms and a water balloon toss.
An impromptu line dancing session also occurred when attendees of various ages joined the cheerleaders in moving to music played through an outdoor speaker.
Kristi Kellogg, the Touchdown Club's president, said the group works to provide various clothing and gear to the cheer squad and the football team with support from parents and many others.
It's also among groups that provide food to the football players before games and after Saturday morning practices.
"We've had a lot of people donate stuff and a lot of parents helping out. It's really nice," said See, who is aided by Brandee Wilson, vice president; and her husband, Gary, who serves as treasurer, in leading the group.
Gary said a golf scramble held by the group earlier this year was successful, with 24 teams competing, and there are plans for other fundraisers and community events.
One idea they are mulling is a Track or Treat event at which local children could collect Halloween treats at stations along the high school's athletic track.
There also are plans to again offer Indians supporters the opportunity to "egg" others' yards. The fundraiser involves volunteers placing many plastic Easter eggs in the yard of an unsuspecting person.
"A lot of the participants were grandparents doing it for their grandchildren," noted Gary.
He said the group's goal is to instill pride in the young athletes through knowing they have the community's support.
Mary Alice Sigler, who joined the school district as superintendent in July, said it was good to see the community coming together and was happy to see so many attending both events.
(Submitted Material)