ARLINGTON — The Arlington High School Girls Softball team made history with their championship win this spring, and on Wednesday, Oct. 16, that history was recorded on the Arlington State Championship Sign, at the corner of Highway 9 and Highway 530, as the girls updated the sign recording Arlington’s wins in boys football, girls softball and girls basketball. Prior to Oct. 16, Arlington’s most recently recorded state championship win on the sign was in girls softball in 1986.

“These girls should be proud of what they’ve accomplished,” said Ashley Beard, JV coach for the team. “They got to where they are because they’re a super-talented group, they’re hard workers and they’re dedicated. They’ve played a lot of softball, and they really wanted this win, and they knew they could accomplish it if they remained driven and focused.”

AHS Principal Brian Beckley was equally effusive in his praise for the girls softball team.

“They’re just a great example of what can be achieved when people work together as a team,” Beckley said. “The payoff has been wonderful, and it could not have happened to a nicer group of young ladies. As students and as athletes, they’re excellent representatives of Arlington.”

Arlington School District Superintendent Dr. Kristine McDuffy admitted that she was relieved to see Arlington’s dry spell of state championships finally broken.

“These girls are true champions,” said McDuffy, who agreed with Beckley about how well the team had represented their hometown.

“It feels awesome to represent Arlington,” said Katelyn McDonald, the team captain, who acknowledged that Arlington’s last recorded state championship win, in any sport displayed on the sign, was well before she was born. “Arlington is not a huge town, but we showed that we could dominate as a team. We came up from rock bottom by coming together. We played well as individuals, but we overcame as a team. That’s what made this our year.”