3-peat
The Pike Liberal Arts baseball team defeated Bessemer Academy in May to bring home its third-straight AISA 3A state title. The Patriots bested the Rebels 6 to 2 in Game 1 and took Game 2 in just three innings after charging to a 12 to 0 lead.
“I think last season showed them to not take anything for granted,” says head coach Rush Hixon. “Regardless of whether things are going good or bad, you just have to enjoy every day you’re out here playing this game.”
Expectations for the Patriots were high, but a difficult schedule quickly rid the team of any illusions that the season would be a breeze.
“Things were hard throughout the year, and we had to get over some humps, but they worked extremely hard, bought into each other and what we’re trying to do as a program,” Hixon says. “And they were rewarded for it.”
Making History
Head coach Matt Brown knew the Pike Liberal Arts boys basketball team was likely to face Tuscaloosa Academy again if they made it to the state championship game. The Knights not only beat the Patriots in last year’s final, but also handed them 1 of 2 losses this season.
“Our whole theme for the year was ‘the last step,’” says Brown. “Three years ago we made it to the Elite 8 and then the Final 4, and last year we were beaten in the final. We’ve been taking that step every year, and this was the last one we wanted to take.”
The Patriots cleared that final hurdle in February, holding off a late push by the Knights to win 55 to 51 and earn the school’s first AISA 3A basketball state title. “All along we were mentally preparing, so it was incredible,” says Brown.
Nationally Recognized
The Pike Liberal Arts cheerleading squads held on to their crowns, winning their ninth-straight AISA cheer state titles last November. The varsity squad won the medium division while the JV squad won the large division, with each filming their routines and sending them in for the virtual competition.
“Being up in front of people, you know what you’re up against,” says varsity cheer coach Hannah Jordan. “You can look around and see this squad might be better than us in some places so where are we going to make up for that? This year we had no idea going into it.”
Both squads followed up their state title wins with even bigger wins at the 2021 National High School Cheerleading Championship in April. The varsity squad won Small Varsity Game Day Division II, while the JV squad won Small Junior High Game Day Division II.