HAVANA, Fl. (WTXL) - Last month, the new consolidated high school in Gadsden County got a new name and a mascot. The name? Gadsden County High School, where students of West and East Gadsden High Schools will attend come fall. The sports teams will retain East's mascot of the Jaguar.
So new school, but the same work ethic. Head coach Joey Striplin notes the guys have been lifting weights and running since a week after school let out for the summer. Since taking over the reins of the new high school's team, he's focused on getting the kids stronger and bigger, and so far he's liking what he sees.
The new Jags are in a unique situation, they get to define a legacy, and they're working hard to make sure this first season together is one to remember.
"The kids are fired up about that. The kids are meshing well, we have a good group, a mix, in here from both schools," he said. "The West and East is now kind of just a mute point because now it's all Gadsden County High School. We go up in the sand pit and they're working in there. We have a workout that gets the competition, so everything's pretty much built on competition. Practice, weights, running, so they really get after it when it comes to that."
Gadsden County High School opens the regular season on August 24 on the road at Leon.
