Special to GUIDON

Waynesville High School football players, coaches and cheerleaders from 1959 to 2011 will be recognized during every home game of the Waynesville football season in celebration of the final season of varsity play on Slaughter Field.  

“Five decades of players, coaches and cheerleaders have dedicated countless hours at the football field and to building Tiger pride through the decades,” said Rick Vernon, WHS head football coach. “As we finish our last season on this field, we wanted to recognize them for all their contributions to the program. We felt this was a great to end our last season on this field.”

As part of the Waynesville High School Completion Project, 24 new classrooms, a large lecture hall and additional internal renovations will be completed, along with a new athletic complex that will include a football field, track and field houses.

Before each home game this season, a pre-game reception focusing on a specific decade will be held at 6 p.m. in the Waynesville Middle School cafeteria (formerly the high school). Guests and their families are invited to gather for a casual social time, enjoy light snacks and mingle with their former teammates and coaches.

“So much practice, hard work, preparation and planning go into a game,” Vernon said. “Lifetime friendships are built during those two-a-day practices and at cheer camps when practice never seems to end.”

Each game will be dedicated to a decade of players, coaches and cheerleaders to reunite those who played and cheered together.

“We hope that everyone returns with their favorite memories and stories to share,” Vernon said. “If individuals are not able to attend the date assigned to their decade, we want to encourage them to come out on another night. We’re all Tigers.”

Waynesville’s home opener is scheduled Aug. 24, with the game dedicated to participants from 1959 through 1969. Future home games and dedications are scheduled Sept. 7 (1970-79), Sept. 21 (1980-89), Sept. 28 (1990-99) and Oct. 12 (2000-2011).

Admission prices for the 2012-2013 school year are $4 for adults and students for varsity contests, and $3 for sub-varsity contests.

Sports passes are available for purchase in the WHS Athletic Office for admission to all school athletic events. Individual season passes are $15; an individual annual pass is $35; family season passes are $30, and family annual passes are $70.

In addition, WHS is selling reserved seating for home football games this year. Reserved seats are $10 per seat for all five home varsity games (not including admission). WHS is offering seats to last year’s reserved seating ticket holders now through Aug. 24. Any remaining reserved seats will be sold on a first-come, first served basis beginning Aug. 27.

For more information, contact the WHS Athletic Office at 573.774.2850.