Clayton-Bradley Academy had it's fourth graduating class walk across the stage and become official graduates on Thursday June 4th. Amongst these eleven graduates were members of the school's first Volleyball team, the first High School Boys Basketball team, the first Tennis team, the first High School Cheer team and Cross Country team. Also in this group were the President and three members of the school's first, student initiated, Athletic Council. The first athletic individual and team victories and record holders come from the Class of 2021 through CBA's first eight years as a school. So, they are leaving behind a legacy to say the least!
These student athletes were a part of CBA Athletics before the school even had a gym to call their own. They were leaders amongst the student body during one of the craziest times that this country has seen, using the lifeskill of flexibility to participate on the courts and fields during their Junior and Senior years. They had 6am practices, dealt with injuries, weather, travel, did individual workouts, held on during coaching changes, had moments of tears, questions and anger. But, they also encouraged each other, kept coming back to work, brought in new classmates to participate, went out and got sponsors and stayed the course with a growing school that was figuring athletics out. Because of them, all of the programs that there were a part of are coming off of their winningest seasons that they have ever had and participation numbers are at an all time high.
These graduates are also all continuing on the CBA legacy of getting college academic scholarships. 100% of them will be going to different parts of the country to further their education. Their test scores were amongst the top in the state of Tennessee. So, they were more than just athletes. They were excellent students first, who were also involved in athletics. This will always be the case at Clayton-Bradley and they helped to prove that to be true. They are the perfect example of what young people can do and become as Trailblazers.
The future of what Clayton-Bradley Academy Atheltics will be is because of the foundation that these graduates helped lay. One example could be that for the 2021 school year, between Elementary, Middle and High School, there will be more than 50 girls playing Volleyball. The responses when hearing this, from two of the graduates who played Volleyball were, "That warms my heart so much and makes me excited for the future of the program," and "That is amazing. When I heard that it made me cry."
We are so thankful for who you are and what you have done. We know that you are going to continue blazing the trail wherever you go. We cannot wait to see you back for Homecoming nights and other events.
Go Blazers!