Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

- From "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, published in 1916 in his collection "Mountain Interval." Mitchell Parham, assistant principal at Gleason High School, used this poem to inspire the Gleason High School Lady Bulldogs basketball team.-

GLEASON

The championship Gleason High School Lady Bulldogs basketball team paved its glory road right here.

Several orange signs dotted the road along Tenn. 190 on Sunday. Signs separated by several feet read, "Welcome Home State Champs!," "Clean Sweep!," "#1 Coach!," #1 Cheerleaders!" and "#1 Miss Basketball."

"We Are the Champions" played in the background as the girls' basketball team entered the Gleason High School gym carrying the coveted golden ball trophy. Gleason beat Oliver Springs, 46-36, to capture the 2007 Class A championship title Saturday in Murfreesboro.

"We wanted to go where few teams have gone," said Lady Bulldog Kayla Hudson, who was named Miss Basketball for Class A during a Sunday victory celebration.

"We may have to add 'Title Town' to the name of Gleason," said Richard Horn, a member of the Gleason City Board.

Long tables in the gym held two sheet cakes decorated in orange, black and white for the Lady Bulldogs.

"I was calling all around at 11 (at night) trying to get cakes ordered," said Stacy Trevathan, secretary of the Booster Club. Supporters started decorating the gym at 10 a.m. Sunday in preparation for the team's arrival.

Fans, friends and family packed the Gleason High School gymnasium, applauding and giving a standing ovation to the team, who had a long road to victory.

"First, I'd like to thank God. Without him, this would not be possible," Coach Randy Frazier said.

Mitchell Parham, assistant principal at Gleason High School, said the team refocused after its loss against Lake County and "these girls didn't accept no for an answer."

"Nobody gave them a prayer at the beginning of the season," Parham said.

Parham said it was at a rally in Union City that he was reminded of the words in the Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken." He started to read the last four lines of the poem to the girls' team to encourage them that the road not yet taken, their victory road, was still in sight.

Parham pumped his fist and led the crowd in a Gleason chant. "G-L-E-A-S-O-N. Gleason, Gleason, Gleason!"

Parham also placed an orange and black striped tie that he wore for good luck throughout the season near the trophy. The tie also will go in the trophy case.

Frazier said in his 21 years of coaching, this is the closest team he's ever coached in terms of the bonds and genuine caring among the girls.

"It's been a great ride. We've had a tremendous amount of fun this season," Frazier said. He said the Lady Bulldogs played with the confidence and determination of champions. "Being a Lady Bulldog is not easy, but it is rewarding."

Frazier looked toward his team and said, "I just want to say, 'Hats off!'"

Larry Hudson, Kayla Hudson's father, literally took his hat off and asked all the girls on the team to sign it.

Larry Hudson said Kayla has always wanted to play in a state championship. Seeing her win "couldn't feel much better," he said.

Kayla started to show an interest in basketball at 2 years old, he said.

"She shot for hours on end at the baby sitter's," he said. She has talked about playing in a state championship game since the third grade, he added.

She would practice and pretend there were three seconds on the clock at the state tournament.

Kayla's sister, Haley, said she is very proud of her sister. "This is all she's ever wanted."

Kayla Hudson thanked everyone for their support of the team.

"Y'all don't know what it means to run out there and see orange everywhere," she said. "This week has been a dream come true."

One of the supporters in the audience was David Dunning, a 1984 graduate of Gleason High School. Dunning, who retired from the Navy after 20 years, was an all-state football player in 1983.

Dunning kept up with the sports teams at Gleason as best he could while in the Navy.

"Of course, you don't see that on ESPN," he said with a laugh. He was grateful that he and his wife, April, who now live in Medina, were able to come back to Gleason to celebrate the state championship win.

"My blood still runs orange," Dunning said.

Jeff Hatley said the support in Gleason is unlike any other place.

"It's just amazing that the whole town supports us. It's just indescribable. It ain't like going to church, but it's close to it. Overwhelming!"

Hatley's daughter, Kelly, is a freshman cheerleader at Gleason.

Many area businesses spelled out their congratulations to the Gleason team on their marquees.

The celebration also spilled over into McKenzie. Congratulations for the Gleason team could be seen on the marquee of Hig's Restaurant, "The Catfish King."

"We put that out last night when we heard," said Lisa Lowry, supervisor at Hig's.

Grant Hubbard, the owner of Hig's, lives in Gleason.

"He's been rooting for them. He's been following it on the radio," Lowry said. "It's kind of hard when you have a business to get away to go to a game."

One thing's for sure: The girls don't have to worry where their next meal is coming from.

Lowry said: "(Hubbard) wants them to come and eat a free meal."

- Wendy Isom, 425-9782. Source: Jackson Sun

The Gleason Lady Bulldogs listen Sunday as Coach Randy Frazier speaks about their efforts this season that led up to winning the Class A State Championship.

Above Pictures:

From left, Kayla Hudson, Candance Green and Kim Reynolds carry their team's State Championship trophy up the steps of Gleason High School for a victory celebration Sunday afternoon.

Mitchell Parham, assistant principal and athletic director at Gleason High School, cheers for the Lady Bulldogs during a victory celebration Sunday.