Charles Henderson High School will celebrate its championship legacy on Friday, as the school’s newest state championship team is honored at halftime of the football game.

The Champions Night is the second in a row for the school and is an evolution of the annual baseball alumni night activities.

“After the 2013 state championship, we thought it would be special to invite the 2004 baseball team and the 1980 football team – both of them state champions – to be a part of the celebration as we honored the 2013 team last fall,” said head baseball coach Derek Irons.

The tradition continues for this year, as the 2014 Class 4A baseball championship team is honored.

“The three previous state championship teams are sort of welcoming the 2014 team into that fraternity,” Irons said. “Members of those teams will actually present the rings to the players and coaches during halftime” of the CHHS vs. Davidson game. Prior to the game, baseball alumni and members of the honored teams will gather for a meal at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.

“We had a pretty good turnout last year from the 1930 and 2004 guys, and I’ve already heard from several of them about this year,” Irons said.

Irons began the baseball alumni nights six years ago, when he came to Charles Henderson.

“It’s great to be able to recognize the accomplishments of all those prior teams and it’s good to reconnect with those guys,” Irons said. “Personally, I really enjoy getting to see those guys again and getting to spend time with the guys I didn’t coach.”

More important, he said, the gatherings give the current players a sense of the Trojan athletic legacy.

“It helps our players who are part of the program now to understand all the traditions and people who have come before them and who have worked to get the program to the level it is now,” Irons said. “It shows them there are a lot of people who care about this program and want to see them do well.”