Parade celebrates Atascadero’s state champion athletes
Hundreds of supporters and community members turned out to salute the accomplishments of Atascadero High School’s champion athletes at a parade around downtown on Wednesday.
The parade was held to recognize the Greyhound football team and runner Frannie Perry.
The football team won the CIF Division 6-A state championship on Dec. 11, beating San Gabriel 41-0. That followed up the Hounds’ Division 5 Central Section title over Pioneer Valley on Nov. 25.
”As much we could put things on paper and pencil and grease boards and as much film we could watch, in the end, these 40 some-odd kids had to be the ones that went out there and got stuff done. The amount of adversity that they’ve gone through this year is amazing,” Coach Vic Cooper said.
“And football is a grind, I don’t think I’ve ever had a team that was ready and willing to grind as much as this group,” he said.
Perry, a sophomore runner, won the CIF Division 3 Central Section cross country championships in Fresno, posting a time of 19.12.10 in the 5,000 meters.
“Franny spent many hours running, working out so that she could win this race in 19 minutes and 12 seconds and become a champion,” Principal Dan Andrus said. “We want to congratulate Franny today and recognize the hard work and dedication that has led her to this championship as only a sophomore. And we’ll look forward to two more years of watching you run.”
The AHS band and cheer team participated in the parade, along with the coaches, staff, team spirit people and even the bus drivers who shuttled the students to their competitions.
This story was originally published December 21, 2022 at 5:55 PM.
