By Tasha Oxendine

Rowland Middle School joined in the Super Bowl celebrations on Sunday with a 200 cupcake party, posters and Super Bowl shirts to show Vonta Leach their support.

School principal Shanita Wooten said the school wanted to show Vonta how proud the school is of him and that they are supporting him. The staff and students ordered special shirts for the Super Bowl celebration and put up Vonta posters throughout the school. Some of the shirts say “The Cobras Got his back 44”. The Rowland Middle School mascot is the Cobras. The shirts started a trend as people throughout Rowland and all across the county started to order them. On Thursday, 20 of the shirts were taken to New Orleans by Vonta’s mother, Jackie.

Teachers at South Robeson High School and Southside Ashpole also joined in the celebration with shirts. Vonta is from Rowland and attended all three of the Rowland Schools through his school years.

Principal Wooten said Vonta is a hometown hero and the school wanted to show him that they are proud of him and supporting him. “He has made donations for sports, uniforms, a safety ID machine, and educational software programs this year,” said Wooten.

The Rowland educators and students planned to celebrate throughout the weekend and hold a victory celebration on Monday.