Sports

Pomonkey High School Homecoming Court, 1933

Dodgeball, Volleyball, Basketball (for girls and boys) Softball and later Football were all available in African-American schools in the Charles County School System between the years 1900 and 1965.

Most of the time students played among themselves, especially at the elementary level, which included grades 7Th and 8th. Once they reached high school the games were more organized and competitive, but often the equipment needed was not available unless parents or a charitable group donated equipment or the money to pay for them.

Pomonkey High School yearbook photo

Girls Volleyball team

These hardships did nothing to extinguish the spirit of sport in the students.

"Never being a real sports enthusiast, I was usually one of the last called for sides in softball and basketball. However volleyball was my game. On the court I excelled!"

Doris Marshall Terry
Pomonkey High School
Class of 1953

"A new cinder block elementary school building was built having all classrooms on the ground level. To my knowledge at that time, we did not have adequate playground equipment. During recess we formed two teams; then raced to insert or withdraw drinking straws from two crates filled with empty soda bottles, while other played jump rope, dodge ball or "here we go round the mulberry bush" I was the tenor soloist with this choir (acapella Choir) Here, though I played a little football, my favorite sport was volleyball."

Rev. French W. Myers, Jr.
Pomonkey Elementary and High School
Class of 1952

 

In 1937 Pomonkey High School students won the State Soccer championship.

Pomonkey High School yearbook photo

1937 State Champions soccer,
Pomonkey High School

Sporting competitions were also held at Field Days. Several schools competed against each other in a variety of sports with the winner taking home nothing but the thrill of victory. These sporting events were often learning experiences in and of themselves.

"Through competition at the annual county fair, the May-Day celebration and the practices to perfect the wrapping the "May Pole", the daily games of dodge ball, relay races, and other in-school activities, we learned the value of sharing and team work while developing leadership skills through participation and practice. We made do with what we had and had fun doing what we did. We were oblivious to the world that was around us."

Patricia Hackerson Wheeler
Pomonkey High School
Class of 1967