The Blue Dragons Basketball and Cheerleaders Fire up the Court

The Ron Clark Academy (RCA) is known for being a middle school that promotes innovation and inspires creativity in the classroom.  Students travel abroad and perform for dignitaries, but this school year the Academy decided to add an athletic style of performance to their curriculum.

RCA partnered with LukeSports, which operates a flag football, basketball, and soccer league for seven charter schools in Atlanta.  The mission of the organization is to use sports as a tool to enhance students’ academic performance while developing their character, attitude, and athletic skills, which are core values that mirror the mission of RCA.   These shared beliefs have inspired the birth of a new mascot for the Academy: the Blue Dragons.

At the inception, the Blue Dragons showed that they are a formidable opponent, winning their first game and ending the season with a record of 4-2.  All parents and guests who attended the games were given special Blue Dragon T-shirts with the mascot on the front. 

Lazarus Brunner, physical education instructor at RCA, also serves as the coach for the basketball team.  The team, composed of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, is a dream come true for Brunner.

“It is a tremendous honor and blessing to create an athletic foundation at a school that is academically focused,” said Brunner.  “It gives students a great balance between the expectations of academics and athletics.”

For weeks, the Blue Dragons went undefeated against schools that have been playing for years.  However, the team suffered their first defeat against Atlanta Charter and later their second with Kipp South Fulton.  Additionally, the basketball team wasn’t the only group that proved the heart of the Blue Dragons was competitive; the cheerleaders have also proven themselves as champions. 

Lakeisha Goff, mathematics instructor and transition coordinator also serves as the cheerleading coach.  She led the girls to victory and won the LukeSports Dance Competition this season.

“I really enjoyed watching the girls grow,” said Goff.  “I saw the girls put so much work in, and they should be proud of themselves.  I felt it was a deserving moment for the girls who have cheered with us for so long.”