The White County School Board has officially proclaimed Friday as Warriorette Day to celebrate the high school girls basketball team finishing as the Class AAA State Tournament runner-up.
White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the school system wants to acknowledge the hard work and effort of the coaching staff and student-athletes. Faculty and staff will celebrate the season by wearing blue jeans along with maroon and grey colors.
“We’re just really proud of them for who they are as young people, as young ladies in our school system, the way they carry themselves and the way they perform in the classroom, let alone the great success that they’ve had on the court,” Dronebarger said.
White County High School Head Girls Basketball Coach Michael Dodgen said every senior player on the team will graduate with honors this year.
“It just shows a great representation from our school board and them appreciating the accomplishments that these kids not only do on the floor but but off the floor and inside the community and it’s a great appreciation that they have for these kids and White County High School,” Dodgen said.
Dodgen said the players are entrenched in the community by volunteering with Sparta Youth Basketball and the Special Olympics. Younger fans brought posters to the state tournament at the Murphy Center and asked the players to sign them.
“Well, I think this day and age so many people there’s so much negative that goes on and you know a lot of people don’t praise the positive,” Dodgen said. “And we have a lot of positive at White County High School, not only with our teachers but with our kids.”
Dronebarger said the football program has made the playoffs the past few years while the softball team has gone deeper into regional tournaments. The archery team also recently finished third in the state and had an individual state champion.
“So yeah, I think that rising tide raises all ships,” Dronebarger said. “And so we’re excited for that success and to see how it’ll help our other programs as well.”
School Board Chairman Bob Young officially announced the decree establishing the March 27 celebration.