By Gary Lloyd
GARDENDALE — Hewitt-Trussville is no longer the lone high school in Alabama with Huskies as the mascot.
The new Helena High School will also be the Huskies, though their colors will be silver, black and blue.
Helena High School is set to open its doors for the first time Aug. 7. Helena head football coach Watt Parker and two players were on hand Monday for Jefferson and Shelby County High School Football Media Day in Gardendale. Parker said there will be just 11 or 12 seniors on this year’s football team.
The Helena Huskies logo
Parker said success in the program’s first season means playing as a team, being mentally tough, having high character and put a product on the field that fans can be proud of, win or lose.
“We’re really going to measure off that criteria,” Parker said.
Helena will be a Class 5A, Region 4 school. Parker said he believes Helena will ascend to Class 6A in two years, when the new reclassification occurs. He said Helena could grow to a Class 7A school in 10 to 12 years.
Parker referenced Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, saying Helena will focus on the process in Year One.
A Hewitt-Trussville Huskies logo
“We’re going to be all about developing our program,” he said.
Senior linebacker Reed Henderson said he’s always lived in Helena and played for Helena through middle school. He chose to go to the new high school instead of Pelham High School because it was an opportunity that excited him.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing for a Helena High School,” he said.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
