By James A. McCray III
Prince George's County, Content Manager

At every Dr. Henry Wise, Jr. High School football game there was one voice that trumped the roar of the crowd, trumped the screaming voices of the coaches, and trumped the chatter of the sidelines, that voice screaming, "sack the quarterback!"

The voice belonged to Tami Wright, mother of senior running back Anthony Wright, and one of the chief organizers of the celebration to recognize the achievements of the Wise football and basketball teams as each won its respective first-ever regional championships this past fall and winter.

"We need to always inspire our students and faculty members to encourage our kids to do even better and excel not just in sports, but academically," Tami Wright said. "I think this team was very instrumental in pushing our kids in that very direction."

And as far as watching the success of the team, she added: "That was heavenly. Even when they lost a game ... it showed that they were really working hard, and, you can't ask for more. If they did their best they knew we were still proud of them."

The evening was full of smiles, hugs, high fives, and presents awarded to the coaching staffs of both teams from parents and players in thanking each coaching staff for the successes throughout the year.

"It's a really good feeling," junior football player Titus Till said on being celebrated. " ... We have only been open for three years, so to be in this position, to be here in our building, and to be celebrated, that's a great honor."

"It feels great," senior basketball player Phil Wood said, "everyone getting back together enjoying the moment that we had a couple of months ago."

Head coaches DaLawn Parrish --football-- and O.J. Johnson --basketball-- each received team pictures with autographs from all of the members of the respective team to help cap off the night's awards.

"We're never going to forget this," Wood's teammate David Golladay said. " ... We can come in here 20 years from now, walk in the gym and see that banner and know that we were a part of that team; the first team to ever do that."

E-mail: James A. McCray III