A.G. Gancarski
A national championship occasions many victory speeches, as the national champion Ribault Lady Trojans found out Tuesday afternoon.
Hemming Park in Jacksonville was jampacked with hundreds of well-wishers in Trojan Blue. And the stage was no less packed, with over a dozen politicians ranging from School Board and City Council members to Mayor Lenny Curry himself.
Curry, whose affinity for sports is amply documented by now, led the crowd in exultation over the signature feat of the Lady Trojans.
“Any endeavor is about the pursuit of championships,” Curry said, calling the Ribault squad “the pride of Jacksonville.”
Curry, a very active and involved parent, brought home the true meaning of the day… which was more than a trophy.
“Without parents, families, support systems, the entire community,” Curry said, “this is not possible.”
District Councilwoman Katrina Brown noted that 8 weeks ago, a resolution was filed honoring Ribault for its state championship.
The date of presentation was agreed to be April 12.
“Everything worked out like God planned,” Councilwoman Brown said.
The stage was stacked with Ribault Trojans on the city payroll: Johnny and Reggie Gaffney, Garrett Dennis, and Reggie Brown among them.
Senator Audrey Gibson extended congratulations “on behalf of the entire legislature.”
School Board member Paula Wright, meanwhile, had the most to say.
“I am so very proud to be a Trojan… I am in awe of their intellect, talent, and skill.”
Wright noted that Ribault was the “only public school in the national championship,” before dispensing real talk about the once-perilous fate of Ribault.
“Five years ago, in 2011, we were told that Ribault was going to close,” Wright said. “But look at Ribault now.”
As onlookers peered down from the Hemming Plaza Skyway platform, Wright noted that “these young ladies’ success began at home.” When they wanted to learn how to play ball, Wright added, somebody said “yes, you can.”
Wright noted that two of the four graduating seniors will leave with more than a high school diploma; they will graduate with Associate Degrees from Florida State College Jacksonville.
Duval School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, often at odds with Wright, was in harmony on this occasion, noting that the Ribault-Raines annual parade was one of the first events he attended three and a half years ago as a new superintendent.
To him, it spoke to the sense of community shared by alumni of the two schools, something unique in Duval County.
A stirring moment of celebration was enjoyed by all on Tuesday.
Jacksonville never has enough of those.
