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The Cornerstone Christian Chargers celebrated their second-straight state football championship with a special ring ceremony that celebrated the unique bond and many contributors who made the title possible. (Reporter Photos/Andrew Simonson)

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

COLUMBIANA – The Cornerstone Christian Chargers continued what they hope to be an annual tradition with a ring ceremony that was anything but traditional, honoring every key contributor to their team with a special night on Friday, March 7 at Cornerstone Christian School.

“I think it was a wonderful night, especially to honor these kids and the accomplishments that they’ve done this year,” Cornerstone football coach and athletic director James Lee said. “It’s wonderful.”

After an opening prayer and remarks from offensive coordinator Sam Adams and defensive coordinator Nick Simmons, assistant coach Alan Keef remarked on the many firsts and lasts the team went through.

It was the school’s first undefeated season as they went 12-0 overall en route to the state title. However, it was also the last time that Cornerstone’s 10 seniors got to take the field, including the last time that Collin Keef and Malachi Adams got to play with their older brothers Keaton Keef and Zeke Adams.

Through all the injuries and trials though, the Chargers persevered and made their way back to the top of the mountain with their second-straight state championship, showcasing their strong bond with each other in the process.

“This is not just a team, it’s a friendship,” coach Keef said.

The rings themselves embodied multiple special elements of the team’s bond. Lee said the 10 diamonds on the top symbolize the 10 graduating seniors who led the school to its historic first two football state championships. The inside also features one of the team’s favorite sayings, “We bring the boom.”

In addition, the rings feature a gunmetal color on the sides to go with the purple and gold on top. That is by design and inspired by an unconventional request from the team: championship sniper rifles.

“We went to practice at the Cramton Bowl and we were trying to waste time before we got to our hotel room, and we went to the Bass Pro Shops (in Prattville) and they were like, ‘Coach, just buy us rifles if we win it,’” Lee said. “That’s just how crazy they are. So when we got done with the All-Star Game and I found out we could do gunmetal as a color, and I was like, ‘Definitely going to do that for them.’”

The players and coaches were not the only ones to receive rings to honor their accomplishments. For the second-straight year, Lee took the unconventional step of awarding rings to the cheerleaders and water girls, because in his eyes, they played a key role in their success as well.

Lee also honored the many other key behind-the-scenes contributors to the team, but most notably, he honored team photographer Mandy Sanders, who provides photos of each game to players and media outlets, with the first gift of the ceremony: a special pendant.

Lee said the success in football has carried over to all aspects of life both on and off the playing surface.

“It’s been a special year for them completely because they made the Final Four in basketball, most of those guys played,” Lee said. “Winning a state championship back-to-back, that’s huge. The success that all these kids have had this year, volleyball we did well, girls basketball. A lot of those water girls play basketball too. The success they’re having in softball and baseball now just carries on from what they did in the fall. It’s a huge part of it.”

Ahead of photos and a special taco dinner, Lee made a bold declaration at the podium.

“This ain’t it,” Lee said. “We’re going to lose 10 seniors, but we’re going to have another state championship trophy up here next year.”

He said afterwards that his confidence stems from the players who learned behind the Class of 2025 and those transferring in next year combined with the difficult summer schedule that he and the other coaches put the players through in preparation for the challenges fall brings.

“Because it’s a process that what these guys go through every summer,” Lee said. “I think that we put them through more in the summertime than anybody else does. I think what we have coming back, a lot of these guys got a lot of playing time. That’s why a lot of the stats of the older guys that were starters weren’t as great this year. They played a half, other guys played the other half and still put up points. What we’re running offensively, defensively, we keep everything simple, and guys coming in, that we have here, they’re playing for us next year, they’re coming back, and guys that we know that are coming in to the school. We feel like we’ve got a great chance to do this every year.”

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