Thomasville High School will be welcoming competition cheerleading back for the 2021-2022 school year. In a four-year rebuilding mode, the Bulldogs focused on garnering interest and participation in the program. Discussions and plans for the program's resurrection began in the summer of 2019 when Thomasville High School hired Jamie Richardson.
Richardson, a 2010 graduate of Thomas County Central is a former member of both the
competitive and spirit cheer squad. Upon graduation, she attended Ohio Wesleyan University,
where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Kinesiology, with an emphasis in Sports
Management. After completing her undergraduate degree, she served four years as a professor
and Head Cheerleading Coach at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas, before
accepting the same position at Garden City Community College. At both stops, she was
instrumental in rebuilding the schools' competitive cheer programs. In 2017, Richardson earned a
Master's Degree in Education with a focus in Sports Management.
Richardson's vision for the program is for the team to be competitive against other
programs within the area. Richardson said her primary focus is for "competition cheerleaders to
maintain a 3.25-grade point average or higher." Richardson believes that her first responsibility
as a coach is not only to develop a great athlete but produce multi-skilled athletes that maintain
high academic standards. The essential lesson she wants to instill into each competitive
cheerleader is "heart and determination can take you anywhere."
Thomasville High School Athletic Director Chris Merritt said, "we are extremely thrilled
to welcome back competitive cheerleading at Thomasville High School." Merritt continued, "our
coaches (Emma Pierce, Jamie Richardson, Kameon Hadley, and Angie Brooks) have worked
diligently over the last four years to increase interest and participation. At this point, we believe
we are ready to make a return back to the competitive arena." Merritt added, "we believe with
Coach Richardson's experience at the collegiate and high school levels this will prove beneficial
to our student-competitors as they grow and develop within the program."
Richardson was raised in Thomas County and is the daughter of Layne and Georga
Richardson. Richardson said the "Thomasville City School family has welcomed me with open
arms since my arrival. I cannot say enough about the administration and the school and for them
giving me this opportunity." Richardson concluded by saying, "I love watching students grow
academically and athletically while becoming all-around individuals."