Athens High School (Alabama)

Athens High School is the only high school in the Athens City Schools System. It is located on US Highway 31. Its mascot is the Golden Eagle. Current Principal: Chris Bolen

Sports

Soccer

The Lady Golden Eagles have gone to the final four five years in a row and went on to win second in the state in 2012. They also won the 2013 tournament.

Football

The school won the 2006 state championship, the third in the school's history (also 1975, 1976).

Softball

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.

Basketball

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.

Swimming

In 2011, the Women's 200 yard Freestyle relay took home third place at the Alabama High School Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships. The relay came in with a time of 1:41.85, finishing behind the women's relays from 6A school Hoover and fellow 5A school St. Paul's Episcopal.

At the 2012 Alabama High School Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships, Mallory Underwood placed first and second in the 200 yard Individual Medley (2:07.17) and 100 yard Breaststroke (1:07.24), respectively. The Women's 200 yard Freestyle relay took home third place in the state with a time of 1:41.66 as did the women's 200 yard Medley relay with a time of 1:52.39. Overall, the Lady Eagles finished 7th in the state of Alabama.

At the 2013 Alabama High School Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships, the Lady Eagles secured runner-up status with a 2nd place finish overall. The 6A High School girls' team of Auburn finished first.

Mallory Underwood placed first and second in the 100 yard Breaststroke (1:04.16), and 200 yard Individual Medley (2:06.23), respectively. The Women's 200 yard Medley Relay (Kobie Melton, Mallory Underwood, Katelynn Melton and Ellen Haapoja) took home second place in the state with a time of 1:49.29, surpassing the existing state record of 1:49.50 but falling short in the finals to the Auburn Lady Tigers. The Women's 200 yard Freestyle relay (Kobie Melton, Lindsey Martin, Ellen Haapoja and Mallory Underwood) finished 1st with a time of 1:38.50, breaking Bob Jones High School's 2007 state record in the event.

At the 2014 Alabama High School Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships, the Lady Eagles placed 7th overall in the 6A/7A, second only to Spanish Fort High School in the 6A class. The 7A High School girls' team of Auburn placed first.

Kobie Melton secured first in the 200 yard Freestyle and broke the Alabama High School record with a time of 1:49.97 she also placed third in the 100 yard Backstroke with a time of 56.61. Mallory Underwood also secured a first place finish for the Lady Eagles in the 200 yard Individual Medley with a time of 2:06.87.

Athens' Lady Eagles claimed third place in the 200 yard Freestyle relay and the 400 yard Freestyle relay finished 11th.

Wrestling

The wrestling team is the most successful team in school history. Winning six state titles the first coming in 1988 and the last coming in 1998. The last state champion was JT Young winning the state title at the 135 pound weight class in 2010.

Band

In 2010, The AHS Golden Eagle marching band won state in the Pride of Hayden Marching Festival. Also, they won all trophies in their second competition and 8th in their third at Jacksonville State University. It was against many 6A bands. In 2011 they placed second in the Hayden division. Euphonium player Ben Williams won the best soloist award and won a scholarship. The band also won second in their second competition of the year and second again in their third competition. They also have a drumline consisting of 5 basses, 3 snares, 2 tenors, and a front ensemble. The drumline also had an indoor drumline in 2011 consisting of 4 basses, 2 snares, 2 tenors, and a pit. The band also has an auxiliary section, including color guard and majorettes. The band instructors are Steve Williams, Roy Adams, and Ryan Nix.

JROTC

Athens High School is the only school in Limestone County to have a Junior ROTC program. They have a Saber Honor Guard, Rifle Team, Drill Team, and Raider Team. Founded in the mid-1970s, it has grown to be a very illustrious program led by U.S. Army Colonel Eli Ballard (Retired, Special Forces), who is the Senior Army Instructor (SAI); Chief Warrant Officer IV James Chambers supports COL Eli Ballard as the Army Instructor (AI).

Notable alumni

External links

Coordinates: 34°48′14″N 86°56′53″W / 34.804°N 86.948°W