While Meet the Mustangs is typically a fun night for fans, family and friends of Center Hill High School to kick off the football season, the event was ultimately bittersweet for the Class of 2018.

“I’ll miss everything,” said Niyah Odom, a senior who has been on the CHHS dance team for three years. “The family bond that the team has on the dance team, it’s just the bond that Center Hill has. It actually means a lot to me, and I’m gonna miss it.”

Katie Youngblood is one of the marching band’s two drum majors and a senior, said she was excited for “the freshman to have that experience of being in front of their peers.”

Youngblood described her last Meet The Mustangs as “bittersweet,” as she’s ready to go to college, but said she’ll definitely miss being a drum major.

Camaryn McClelland is a senior cheerleader who’s been cheering since seventh grade. She said she loves the freshmen cheerleaders.

“They have a lot of potential to make this team really great,” she said.

CHHS English teacher Meredith Smith was also at Meet the Mustangs to support her son, Bradyn Smith, who is a senior football player.

“I’ve been here every year to see him, so I gotta see him again,” Smith said. “I’m very proud of him. Super duper proud of him.”

Tri Nason, assistant football coach, had some advice for his players who are among the Class of 2018.

“I hope they remember the virtues we try to teach them: work harder than everybody else, be a great teammate in everything you do, and don’t forget what’s most important,” he said. “Hopefully they walk away from CHHS being great sons, become great men, and make some lucky lady a great husband one day.”

Meet the Mustangs was held Aug. 10 at the football field. The event featured performances by the cheerleaders, the dance team, and the marching band and color guard. The football players were introduced at the event, which also included a scrimmage by the 9th-grade and JV football teams.