Members of the 2015 Priceville High football team sign autographs and shirts for the students at Priceville Elementary during a recent assembly. | Special to the Enquirer

On the last Friday in the month of April a couple of events changed the atmosphere in the Priceville community.   The high school students were allowed to tour the new high school, and many saw a new beginning of sorts, while the senior class must have felt the changing of the guard.  You know that anxious feeling you get when you are ready to be done with high school, but not really sure what is next or what that will look like?  Someone was going to be the “first last” at the old school. This senior class has held together and ushered in a new era at Priceville in fine fashion.

At about the same time, just down the road from the new school, the elementary was having an assembly for 700 or so students.  Ms. McCain, the principal, had gathered them in the gymnasium for a pep rally for the PCRA. (Priceville Community Recreation Association)  The PCRA is part of the Morgan County Parks and Recreation system, providing youth league sports for the entire county.  While Tee ball, softball and baseball is ongoing; football, soccer and cheer are right around the corner.  The PCRA has a new emphasis on football, with a new representative in Bo Eubanks.  Bo was raised in Decatur, and played high school sports at Austin High.  John Crater, who is also from Decatur, will assist Bo.  John was a star football player for Decatur and went on to play for Memphis.  Both men have lived in Priceville for many years and each has two children at the elementary school.

The event was charged with excitement for the young kids as if their super heroes were going to arrive.  A select few of this year’s Priceville Bulldogs, Region Champion football team were welcomed with applause, cheering and screaming.  The six players; Kaleb Barker, Aaron Cartee, Drew Colbert, Heath Mann, and Trea and Elijah Cole walked in the gym while being announced by name.

The connection of these boys to the school, to PCRA and to each other is pretty special.  Over 10 years ago, several of these young men and other seniors played sports in the PCRA.  Their early success is known throughout the county and recorded in record books.  Some would say, “well that was just “rec” league”, but to most, it is obvious that those relationships in the early years shaped a group of young men to be who they are today and they have brought honor to Priceville.

This select few, from that varsity team, were honored to sign footballs, shirts, hats, arms and foreheads for the future students and athletes of Priceville.  One of these players stands out as a shining example of the PCRA.  Kaleb Barker started playing competitive sports at the age of 3 in PCRA Tee ball.  At age 4 he played flag football for Priceville.

“We started him early because he seemed ready for it,”  his father, Todd Barker said about Kaleb.  At some point, Kaleb played every sport offered through PCRA, and he and his friends won many county championships along the way.  Kaleb has signed a football scholarship with Troy University.

“I am hoping to inspire more young kids to dream about what they can do,” Barker said.

Bo Eubanks planned this event to gather momentum from the success of this past season.  In this upcoming PCRA season, Eubanks plans to stress the importance of relationships between the players, and between the coaches and players.  “Those are the memories that will live on past winning and losing ballgames,” Bo said before the rally.  Bo quoted a friend to say, “you show me your friends and I will show you the next 10 years of your life.”

Note these dates and times for signups. Prospective coaches for football, soccer and cheer sponsors, must sign up “in person” at North Park in Priceville, May 17th from 6-8 p.–m.

Players and cheerleaders can sign up online at Quickscores.com/pcra from May 17 through June 4th.  Signups in person will be held on May 17th, from 6-8 pm, May 21st from 10-12 noon and May 26th from 6-8, all at North Park.

Soccer offers teams from age 4-13 years of age, football and cheer has teams from 5-12 years of age.  Children do not have to attend Priceville schools to participate.  Children may participate in PCRA if they live in Priceville, attend PES, are home schooled, or attend a private school out of the area, that does not offer recreational sports.

For more information, concerning membership, safety and policies contact PCRA at www.priceville-pcra.com.