BRIDGEPORT – The best of the Bulldogs are recognized among the best in the Valley and will be playing on the field and cheering the Buckeye State team during the Rudy Mumley OVAC All Star Game July 18 at Wheeling Island Stadium.
Bridgeport High School’s own Jaki Threet was selected to join the seniors making up the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference football team, and Ariel Bennett-Rush earned a spot with top area seniors on the cheerleading squad. Meanwhile Bridgeport High School’s cheerleading coach Kaylynn Yates was tapped to coach the cheerleaders.
Only seniors are eligible for the football and cheering teams. Both Jaki and Ariel have impressive athletic careers to their names.
Jaki was the quarterback for the Bulldogs team and led them in impressive victories as well as attaining some personal bests, finishing his season with more than 1,500 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Ariel and her fellow cheerleaders also brought home a series of triumphs through their competitive season, and they made school history with two OVAC championship wins in back-to-back years.
Yates is in her third year of coaching and has gotten accolades for her work guiding the cheer team to success. She was named Ohio High School Cheerleading Coaches Association Coach of the Month for November
From here, Jaki and Ariel will prepare for the match. When they arrive at Wheeling, they will meet their respective teammates and practice through the week, then hit the field for the big game that Saturday.
Jaki heard the news of his selection earlier in March.
“It was pretty cool, because it’s been something I was looking forward to since I was a little kid and it’s a big game in the valley. Everyone’s coming to watch you. It’s the last time that you can play for your school and it’s really exciting that I’d be able to be part of such a great tradition.”
He is already in training.
“Going to the field whenever I can. I’ve been sticking around the football team a little bit down at Bridgeport, just getting some reps, making sure I’m still crisp and everything, not really losing a step.”
Jaki looks forward to meeting his teammates.
“It’s definitely going to be fun,” he said. “It’ll be cool to see where we match up to kids from bigger schools, especially coming from a small school like Bridgeport. It’s always fun to see how I would match up to a kid from a bigger school.”
As always, Jaki will bring maximum effort.
“You only get a week to prepare, put in all these new plays and stuff, so making sure I learn them.”
He also looks forward to the pep rallies and other events leading up to the game.
“I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Ariel tried out for the team Saturday, March 21 and on March 22 she learned she was selected.
“I’m excited to cheer one last time for someone else in my school, Jaki Threet. I’m excited to cheer him on one last time,” she said. She looks forward to the opportunity to meet other top cheerleaders from the area. “I think it’s a big achievement because it’s the one last time I get to cheer for a football game.”
Cheering at the championship game is becoming a family tradition. Her older sister Abbie Bennett-Rush was part of the OVAC cheer team last school year.
“She came home from camp last year and told me all about her experience and it seems really fun,” she said.
Ariel was also happy to learn her coach would be in charge. She and Yates already work well together. Ariel credits Yates’ high standards for team’s success.
“I’m happy that she got accepted for that,” she said. “She came when I was a sophomore and I’m now a senior. She’s changed cheer a lot at our school. She’s made it so much better. She’s all around just a really good coach. Really good when it comes to technique and being strict, but when it’s time to have fun she knows how to have fun with us.”
Jaki and Ariel reflect back on their school careers and the community and athletic program that helped them reach their potential
“It’s awesome,” Jaki said. “I don’t think I would choose another place. The community buy-in is wonderful. I feel like the staff and coaches all really have my back and they all support me in everything that I do. The school as a whole is a great place to be. It’s good to be a Bulldog.”
Yates is also preparing for her first time coaching at the OVAC event.
“It’s pretty exciting that I get to go and cheer and coach one more time with one of my squad members.”
She learned she had been selected March 22. She and Ariel shared the news with each other.
“She messaged me first, saying that she got on the team, and an hour or two later I got a message saying I got it, so I was able to share with her,” Yates said. “I’m super-excited just to be able to meet the other girls from other schools and seeing all of their talent brought together as one big squad.”
Yates said having a Bulldog on the field will make the match extra special and she would enjoy watching the pair have one last game to top off their student athlete careers at Bridgeport High School.
“I’m just super-proud of both of them for earning their way to where they deserve, and I’m excited to share this memory with them.”
Bridgeport High School Principal Jack Fisher said they would represent the state with Bulldog pride.
“It’s a great achievement.”
