With the city of Mount Pleasant getting ready for the crosstown high school football rivalry between the Wando Warriors and the Lucy Beckham Bengals this coming Friday, the community is looking to celebrate this newer rivalry by creating a new tradition that will last for the years to come.
In honor of this rivalry, Mount Pleasant’s Mayor, William Haynie, has decided to implement a significant title to this game, that includes an award. The game has been referred to as the “Sweetgrass Bowl”, which includes a life-size football trophy, made out of sweetgrass. This award will be presented every year, and the winner of the bowl will keep the trophy, up until a week before the two teams play again.
Knowing that it takes much time and skill to make a trophy like this, given the fact that it is also made out of sweetgrass, many people wonder who made this monumental trophy and how long it took them to make it.
Former Wando graduate of 1982 and local of Mount Pleasant, Lynette Youson, has been involved with sweetgrass community for over 50 years. But, for this project, it took a long amount of time, which consisted of thinking and praying, for Youson to create the blueprint of this art piece.
“I’ve tried so many different things, but at first the things I did, wasn’t a football. But I sat down, concentrated, and prayed that the lord blessed me with an idea, and eventually, I got it,” Youson said.
For a striking art piece, it takes much time and dedication to go from scratch to the finished product, which Youson took much of in order to sculpt this trophy.
“I would say over two months, but there was so much more that I was trying to do,” Youson said.
Outside of a business perspective, Youson expresses the nervousness she felt while doing so impactful for her former school, but is thrilled and proud that Wando is admiring her hard work.
“It makes me a little nervous, but it’s priceless. I never thought that I would even come back to something like this, and for my school to appreciate something like this, it’s special,” Youson said.
Lynnette also takes pride in this from a cultural point of view as well.
“This is something that came over along with our ancestors over 320 years ago, and here it is today. Not only that, but me, let alone me, is doing something for our school, your school, and my school, it’s priceless,” Youson said.
Due to the Mayor’s unfortunate absence, Mount Pleasant Town Council Member, Jake Rambo, stepped in, and alongside Youson, presented the award. Rambo, sees this game as an opportunity to highlight the players who have been participating Mount Pleasant football since they were young.
“I think what is important is that all of these players, they grew up playing in our recreation department, from flag football to tackle football, and now they are on the big stage, so it is a way to honor them,” Rambo said.
In terms of the origin story of the title, the “Sweetgrass Bowl”, Rambo says that the community wanted to come up with something that related to the representation of Mount Pleasant.
“We were like, ‘all right, what can we do that aligns with the heritage of Mount Pleasant?’,” Rambo said. “And what’s more unique to the heritage of Mount Pleasant than sweetgrass baskets?.”
Off the field, Wando and Lucy Beckham look forward to utilizing this bowl game to bring the two schools together. Principal of Wando, Chas Coker, and Principal of Lucy Beckham, Anna Dassing, look forward to carry on this game within the community for as long as possible.
“I think that it is a very tangible way to show the support of the community for these two fantastic high schools,” Dassing said.
“I believe that it is great for the town of Mount Pleasant, just to have a friendly crosstown rivalry, really brings the community together,” Coker said.
Alongside this newly found tradition, Mount Pleasant can expect a hard fought game between two solid teams. Warrior’s Head Coach, Isaiah Perrin and Bengal’s Head Coach, Jamel Smith. Are excited to bring a competitive matchup behind the sentimental value of this bowl game.
“I think that this is a chance for us to put a staple on our season. We have progressed so much since I’ve gotten here, and I believe that this game is important for both teams, especially with playoffs coming up,” Perrin said.
“We look forward to staying focused, Paying attention to the little details. Not only that, but hard work, making sure that we give full effort, from the beginning of the game to the end,” Smith said.