Anna Towry (senior) holding game ball
Powderpuff is a flag football competition at Vestavia Hills High School and one of many fundraising events for the SGA fall charity, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The CFF leads the world in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis and supports a wide variety of research initiatives to defeat cystic fibrosis as efficiently as possible.
Powderpuff is certainly an event students look forward to each year. This competition is a three-game tournament between the female students at VHHS. Each team is led by volunteer coaches, who are boys from each grade. This year the senior coaches were Lane Whisenhunt, Harris Mitchell, Ward Harris, Thomas Waudby, Morgan McCinnis, and Tucker Smitha. The junior coaches included Charline Ingram, Chapman Newsom, and Loftin Shepard. The sophomore coaches were Chase Kaiser and John Micheal Sullivan. Finally, the freshman coaches were Rush Harper, Aiden Metsky, Harry Smith, Walker Hogue, and Baker Stewart. Referees were brought in to VHHS to make Powderpuff an official competition.
Immediately following the 6pm kickoff, Camden Preskitt (senior), made a three-yard rush touchdown against the freshman team. The seniors also successfully completed the two-point conversion but were met by a quick touchdown made by a freshman player. At halftime, the score was 8-7, with the freshmen only one point behind. Mary Katherine Meeks (senior) set an extremely successful pick for Anna Towry (senior), laying the path for Anna to run a touchdown. The senior girls confidently moved forward to the next round of the competition.
Shortly after, the sophomores battled the juniors for the spot against the seniors in the final round. By halftime, the sophomores were winning 8-6. In the second half, Lauren Slupe (junior) ran the ball into the endzone with the impressive protection of fellow junior girls. After a great fight, the sophomores scored one final touchdown before the game ended, confirming a spot for their team in the final game against the seniors.
Just before the final game, special guest Mary Chandler Brewer made an appearance. Mary Chandler is a second grader at Dolly Ridge Elementary. She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was young and has faced many medical difficulties throughout her life. She expressed her gratitude for the money the VHHS fall charity was raising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She explained how these funds go towards research to find medical improvements for and a cure to cystic fibrosis. She thanked VHHS students for all of their support and was greatly applauded by all the Powderpuff participants and bystanders.
As the final game began, questions were raised as to if the seniors would defeat the juniors and win Powderpuff as they had done the previous year to the class of 2022. Right off the bat, Anna Towry charged through the entire junior defensive line and scored the first touchdown of the game. Tensions between the teams remained high throughout the game, especially when a “dog pile” instance occurred. Clara Williams (senior) fought to keep the ball in the possession of the seniors and successfully revealed herself from the pile with the ball. The teams remained neck and neck throughout the game until finally, the clock ran out with 20-8 on the scoreboard, securing the title of 2022 Powderpuff Champions for the senior team! The senior girls and coaches gathered to celebrate the accomplishment. Anna Towry was crowned the clear MVP of the game and given the game ball. Powderpuff 2022 was certainly a success, and we look forward to seeing what each grade will put their unity and determination towards next!
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