The MaxPreps Basketball Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard made a very special stop on Wednesday, April 10 in Murfreesboro, Tenn., the home of AAA State Champions,
Riverdale High School girls basketball team. The Lady Warriors completed an unprecedented 35-0 season, one in which they were recognized as the No. 1 team in the nation, heading up the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Rankings.
Tiffany Lewis, Riverdale
Photo by John Pratt
The entire student body gathered in the Warrior gym, with each grade level sitting in one of four sections of the bleachers. Teachers led each section in chants and cheers; the noise was a deafening frenzy of excitement. The Pep Band, cheer and dance squads performed several cheers and routines.
Principal Tom Noland took the mic and led the group chant by section of the gym of "National Champions!" The MaxPreps representatives had never seen a rally of this magnitude before — every student cheering as loud as they could, excited, and so glad to be a part of honoring their national champs!
Noland introduced Dean Craig of MaxPreps, who shared the process of how MaxPreps ranks teams nationwide and honors only 10 teams out of a total of 20,000 high school girls basketball programs. He reminded the audience of the Lady Warriors' perfect 35-0 record, and their current 58-game winning streak. Craig introduced Major James Ridings of the Tennessee Army National Guard to a rousing applause, and he shared how the great qualities of the National Guard were displayed by this dedicated and hard-working team.
Along with Sergeant First Class Jeremy Manning, he presented the ‘Minuteman' trophy to coach Cory Barrett, who immediately hoisted it high above his head as the team members gathered around to celebrate the moment. The team was also presented with the Nationally Ranked banner by Master Sergeant Steve Armstrong and Sergeant Tony Dooley, and posed for picture for a number of media representatives who were present.
This celebration was a fitting acknowledgment of a tremendous year for the Lady Warriors. The administration, coaching staff, parents and students were thrilled to be part of honoring their national championship team by MaxPreps and the Army National Guard.
