When the Emerald Belles formed its first 26-girl squad in 1963, Dina Mathews was amongst the first to join as a freshman and continued to perform throughout her high school career. Little did she know her formative group became part of an extraordinary legacy that would only grow over the next six generations. Following the Belles’ 60th anniversary celebration on Sept. 1, a reminiscent Dina tells the story of how it all came together and blossomed into one of the largest, most renowned drill teams in the nation.
I WAS INSPIRED TO JOIN THE EMERALD BELLES BECAUSE... it was new, something that hadn't been done before, and it seemed like a nice way to represent our school and participate in Friday night football games. Never in a million years would I have imagined what the Emerald Belles would have grown into. I was so proud watching them on ‘America's Got Talent’ and thought they were so incredible and talented.
MY FONDEST MEMORY IS... the camaraderie between the girls, the team and their acceptance of me. We would go through practice working on everything, and then at Friday night halftime, I can vividly remember lining up and seeing the girls, captain and lieutenants in front of me and thinking ‘Here we go — this is what it's all about.’
MY BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS... setting the bar and getting things started so [the Belles] could develop into what they've become. Back then, there weren't many schools with drill teams, so it was special to have acceptance from the school and even the opposing teams. We felt pride, recognition and accomplishment every time we performed.
WHAT MAKES THE EMERALD BELLES SO SPECIAL TO ME IS... it gave me the groundwork to have confidence and be a stronger person for the rest of my life. One of the best gifts I received from being a part of the Emerald Belles drill team was the trust and respect I felt from each and every one of my sister Belles. I still wear a charm bracelet that's very meaningful to me because it came from the girls. We were truly a family and loved each other as such.
THE ROUTINES TODAY ARE... so much more advanced. The original drill team was very structured and fun to watch, but it did not compare to how much it has matured. It’s more of a dance group, in my opinion. People still enjoyed watching halftime back then, so that hasn’t changed, but it’s far more evolved these days. Seeing how renowned the drill team is now creates a lot of pride and joy.
IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE... that all these years later, I’m alive and still kicking. While the kicks aren’t as high as they once were, the privilege and pride of being a part of the Emerald Belles will never grow old.
BEING A BELLE MEANS... memories — they're way more important when you get a little older. You don't realize how much the things that you did, said or participated in would influence the rest of your life, and hopefully, you did a good job and you were happy. That's what I treasure about it, because it's all good memories. There was no animosity, and I don't have any bad memories.
TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF BELLES... be dedicated, and keep up the legacy. Be proud of what you're doing, and be a very positive part — always do your best. Superintendent Jack Johnson was quoted, ‘Once a Dragon, always a Dragon.’ For me, it's ‘Once a Belle, always a Belle.’