Georgia Cumberland Academy have had a rivalry against each other. This all started over a decade ago with the CAYA program and the GCA athletic program. CAYA was the university church’s sports team program that many CA students participated in, and they soon developed a rivalry with GCA. Today, for the student body, these games are the most important ones of the whole year. Students anticipate going to these games since they are so hyped up. Usually, these games tend to also be our senior night games, boosting our school spirit and pride. The communities all come together to watch and support their kids and friends while everyone argues over the question of which school is better, “GCA or CA?”
Brent Baldwin, the head of school, states: “When I came to CA, our rivalry with GCA was very unhealthy; it was about showing each other up. We want to compete and do our best, but this isn’t about stomping on anyone, it’s simply about having fun and making friendships.” As far as the origins of the rivalry, he reflected, “I think the rivalry started because they were close to us location-wise, and because we didn’t treat each other well before, but I think it’s changed now and it’s gotten better over time. In general, I think we’ve done a better job talking to the students about the rivalry, and students want to be friends with each other.” Mr. Baldwin also shared that “next year our seniors and GCA seniors are going to do things together because we want to build relationships with each other.”
Principal Travis Crawford had his own perspective on the rivalry. “I love the rivalry,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with good, healthy competition between schools as long as [when] the game is over, [we shake hands and say ‘good game’]. That’s [healthy] competition.” Many of the students know Crawford for making the rivalry a fun joke in chapel game announcements. “I make a lot of [jokes], but it’s all in good fun, and as long as we don’t do anything mean, I totally support it!”
Erik Pardo, Collegedale Academy’s athletic director has a little bit of a different take on the rivalry: “Both teams are between the CAYA team and the GCA team, and when I first came my plan and hope was to diminish that rivalry, because to me I couldn’t understand why people can be so hateful towards other teams, especially a team that was the same as ours. I wanted to show kids that how we play is a reflection of who we are, and that we are trying to represent what we believe in. In the past, there’s been egging of buses and meanness during the CAYA program, which was under the University church’s program.” Pardo then went on to talk about the fans. “ Over the years, I feel that, fans and team-wise, it’s been getting better from what I’m seeing. I hope that our kids aren’t saying things on the court that they aren’t supposed to be saying. I think competition is good, but not a rivalry necessarily because that means you dislike that team or that school.” Pardo then concludes with a positive note on how we are similar schools, and should treat each other kindly, “ In the end, they are an Adventist school that worships the same God that we do. I hope that at the beginning of the game that we are friends and that we are trying to be competitive in a positive way. When the game is over, whether we win or lose, we should have good sportsmanship. At the end of the day, we are two schools that are following the same God.”
In conclusion we can see that good competition and good sportsmanship is more important than trying to tear eachother down. As sister schools we should support each other by being friends, but a little fun competition never hurts anyone! Go CA Eagles!
