Redskin Rally
) Manual basketball player Chrishawn Hopkins (second from left) was presented the McDonald’s All-American award by marketing manager Debbie Gilliland (at right). Looking on are Chrishawn’s mother (left), Tamika Slaughter, grandmother Sharon Watson (barely seen), Manual principal Rocky Grismore (third from right) and athletic director Chris Walker (second from right). Photo by Mike Alexander
Manual alums cheer All-American Hopkins and Redskins to victory
Manual High School and the Southside rose again.
About 1,500 — most of them alums — painted a sea of red in the Richard C. Cummins gymnasium Friday of last week.
They were there to pay honor and maintain tradition to the school, second oldest in Indianapolis behind Shortridge.
And they were there to cheer on the Redskins to a 65-62 overtime victory against city rival Arlington. It was Manual’s sixth victory in 18 games.
Honored was Manual senior guard Chrishawn Hopkins, who was presented the McDonald’s All-American basketball team award at halftime. Debbie Gilliland, McDonald’s marketing manager, presented the award, with Chrishawn’s mother, Tamika Slaughter, and grandmother Sharon Watson, school principal Rocky Grismore and athletic director Chris Walker looking on.
Hopkins didn’t let the home crowd down, scoring a season-high 36 points, 10 above his average. With quick, silky smooth moves and giant leaping ability, Hopkins showed why he was among the top 90 high school all-stars selected from across the nation by McDonald’s.
Hopkins, a 6-3, 175-pound guard, has accepted a full scholarship to play for Butler University next fall.
Coach Jim Meslie kept the after-game talk brief so the players could return to the gym and thank the alumni for their support.
“The alumni stayed to the end,” said athletic director Walker. “No doubt our kids will talk about this (outpouring of support) for the rest of their lives.”
Gordon Durnil, a 1954 Manual graduate, organized the alumni gathering event, following the successful turnout for the school’s Christmas Spectacular concert in mid-December. Durnil was Republican state chairman during 1981-88.
Durnil said alumni need to keep showing Manual students “that we care about them and support their goals of pursuing success in high school and life.”
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