By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

SPRING GARDEN – Championship celebrations are certainly nothing new for the Spring Garden girls athletic programs.

They are new, however, to first-year Alabama High School Athletic Association Director Heath Harmon to present them.

On Thursday morning, Spring Garden School rolled out the welcome mat to Harmon and Associate Executive Director Brian McRae and showed them what a championship celebration is all about.

Harmon formally presented his first state championship trophy to the Lady Panther volleyball team. They earned their second straight Class 1A state title and the program’s third overall after sweeping their way through the postseason, culminated with a 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 victory over University Charter on Halloween at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham.

Following the presentation, the six Lady Panther seniors (Ace Austin, Chloe Fennell, Maggie Jarrett, Olivia Law, Kristen Lewis and Avery Steward) unveiled the latest championship banner to be placed on the crowded walls of Dale Welsh Gymnasium.

“It was great,” Harmon said of the experience. “It was a great program, the way they had everything put together. It was really special just to see the school and community come together and rally around that team. It was really special.

“This is a very welcoming place, a lot of excitement. They’re celebrating something that’s a really big deal.”

For head coach Ricky Austin, it was a big deal for him to see Harmon make his first trophy presentation.

“We were on the bus on the way home (from the Super Regional Tournament in Hoover), and I looked at my assistant coaches and said ‘Wouldn’t it be really cool if we could get Mr. Harmon to really see the good side, the fun side, of what he wants to direct and what he wants to lead? Let’s see if we can do that. Maybe we’ll be his first to present a celebration trophy,’” Austin said. “It worked out to where it was. He seemed to really enjoy it.

“I’ve sat here with (former AHSAA Executive Directors) Mr. (Dan) Washburn, Mr. (Steve) Savarese, Mr. (Alvin) Briggs, and now him. The previous three have always come back to me at later points and talked about how much fun it was to just get away, come to Spring Garden, see our community, see how closely-knit our family is, and celebrate with us. I was thinking he needs to feel the good side of this and enjoy it as well. I think he did. I think he really enjoyed it today.”

The enjoyment that comes with days like Thursday never gets old in the Garden. In 609 days, from March 2, 2023 until Oct. 31, 2024, the Lady Panthers have captured four state championships – two each in volleyball and basketball.

“Normally I would not want to do this (celebration) on the first game of the year in basketball,” Austin said. “I’ve got a little bit of old school in me, no distractions, stay focused, but you want the kids to enjoy this moment. You want the school and community to enjoy this moment. If we don’t do it now, the excitement wears off a little bit.

“I have a group of seniors on this basketball team who has handled so much of this and they’re so humble about it. I’m not worried about them stepping out of volleyball shoes today and stepping into basketball shoes and performing at a high level. That’s just who they are. This might actually fuel the first game. There might be a little bit extra (effort). It’s a challenge changing gears, but I think we’ve handled it pretty well. They seem very eager to play tonight.”

Harmon said he wouldn’t be surprised if he makes a return trip to Spring Garden to celebrate another future title in 2025. The two-time defending state champion Lady Panthers open their 2024-25 basketball season on Thursday evening at home against Class 5A Springville.

“That certainly seems to be their expectation (with basketball),” Harmon said. “I think it’s great to have high expectations. I just appreciate the way they do it with their commitment to education-based athletics and sportsmanship. You want to be successful. You want to win. Championships are great, but the way you do it is with sportsmanship and your commitment to education-based athletics, that’s important.”