Athens High School is the only high school in the Athens City Schools System. It is located on US Highway 31. The mascot is the Golden Eagle. Current Principal: Chris Bolen
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Football is the soul of Athens High School. Currently, Athens High School has three alumni that were a part of the Alabama Crimson Tide National Championship team in 2010: Rob Ezell (WR, Jr.), Alfred McCollough (OG, So.), and William Ming (DE, Fr.). These three were also a part of the 2006 state championship team that beat Eufaula, 10-7. Rob Ezell was named MVP of that team and later went on to win 5A Back of the Year, and 5A Player of the Year. Ezell also finished runner up for Player of the Year (all classes). Ezell also holds the records for all-purpose yards by any player in 5A for a career. Alfred McCollough won 5A lineman of the year in 2006. Athens has had many coaches make history over the years. Athens has a total of three state championships [1975,1976,2006]. Lee Vickers, alumni, plays for the Washington Redskins. Phillip Rivers, Quarterback of the San Diego Chargers, played at Athens High School. He later went on to play for the North Carolina State Wolf Pack. At the end of his career at NC State, Rivers was third on the all time passing charts (NCAA).
In 2005, the Lady Eagles won area competition and went on to the state championship where they took home third place in 5A play. In 2010, the Golden Eagles won the state championship, scoring two upsets over top-ranked Mortimer Jordan High School in the finals.
In AHS Basketball, there are very talented atheletes. they are more noticed by there huge student section in basketball. they are willing to take the title in biggest and loudest basketball student section in Alabama. Keith Askins is a retired NBA basketball player for Miami heat. Also, more recently, Richard Hendrix is a NBA power forward for the Golden State Warriors from Athens High.
In 2010, The AHS golden eagle Marching band won state in there Hayden Competition. also they won every trophy in there second competiton and 7th in there third against many 6A bands. in 2011 they placed second in the Hayden divison, but Ben Williams won the Best soloist award and won a Scholorship. they also won second in there second competition and second again in there third competition. They also have a Drumline consisting of 5 bases, 4 snares, and 3 tenors and a pit. The drumline also has an indoor drumline in 2011 consisting of 4 bases, 2 snares and 2 tenors and a pit. The Band also has a color guard, rifle team and majorettes. 2010 and 2011 drum major is Hannah Flannagan. Band Instuctor is Steve Williams and assistant is Roy Adams.
Every year during homecoming week, a very interesting tradition is upheld. The annual Egg Wars is a battle between juniors and seniors in order to claim bragging rights for the next year. In the days preceding the battles, students begin to covertly stock eggs in preparation for the week ahead. There are three scheduled battles, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Since the Egg Wars are frowned upon by some of the faculty, the location is usually on private land with little police interference. Many times the location is kept hidden until the day of the fight. On the night of the battle, the teams will choose sides of the field on which to start. The teams alternate turns on who will pick first depending on the night. While the fight is usually between Juniors and Seniors, several other students will also join in (this is how most freshmen end up hurt). As custom, the seniors usually always win, but on rare occasions the Juniors have been known to win. One of the most notorious acts of Egg Wars is the pre-battle freezing of the eggs. However, when throwing the frozen eggs, one must remember that the frozen one do not break and are then reused by the other classes. And, those caught with frozen eggs usually face somewhat severe ridicule, and specific targeting by both teams. Also, some use even spoiled they bought weeks before the battle and leaving them on there front porch to rot, then use in battle.
Athens High School gained momentary fame from the Egg Wars when senior varsity cheerleader Ashley Crutcher wrote to MTV and told them about the school's yearly Egg Wars. Mtv agreed to come down and film the Egg Wars for the popular MTV program High School Stories: Scandals, Pranks, and Controversies covered the annual war. The Senior Class of 2005 and the Senior Class of 2006 were the Senior Classes highlighted.
The Athens High School Junior Reserves' Officers Training Corps (JROTC) Program achieved the Honor Unit with Distinction title on its formal inspection held on April 22, 2010. This title is the highest achievement that a JROTC unit can receive. The program was under the leadership of Senior Army Instructor, Colonel Eli Ballard (Retired), Army Instructor, Chief Warrant Officer IV Darlene Gibson (Retired), and Battalion Commander, Cadet Major Gregory Hacker. The program was placed in the top 5 of JROTC units in the State of Alabama, and has been the recipient of various awards forthcoming of a JROTC program for both activity in both JROTC-related events (Rifle Team, Drill, Color Guard) and activity within the community.