SHELBY — The Shelby community showed up in a big way this week.
From parents and grandparents to former players and lifelong fans, Whippet Nation filled our inbox with messages of pride and encouragement.
Below is a collection of heartfelt messages from Shelby fans celebrating this once-in-a-lifetime team.
As the Whippets land in Canton for their first state title appearance, we hope they feel the full force of the support behind them.
Jill Humphrey
Resident, alum, grandparent
Let’s Go!!! ❤️🩶🏈
You are all beasts and you’ve got this!
Deserae Gray
Shelby football Senior Parent
Congratulations Boys!!! You have made all of us so proud!! Finish strong! We are all cheering for a victory!! #Shelbywhippets #AGTG
Alisha Dorsey
Parent to #25
I’ve watched you all grow into the toughest, tightest, most loving brotherhood I’ve ever seen. You’ve fought through injuries, losses, long practices, and every kind of adversity together, and here you are—one game away from bringing home the state championship. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because you play for something bigger than yourselves.
This Friday the stadium will be bio, the crowd will be louder, and the stage will be the biggest any of us have ever seen. But remember who you are: sons, brothers, hungry hounds, and most importantly, young men who love Jesus and love each other like family. Play with fire in your hearts, joy on your faces, and zero fear—because the God who brought you this far is the same God walking onto that field with you.
Clear eyes. Full hearts. All glory to Him.
We are so proud of every single one of you. My son is blessed to call you teammates, and I’m blessed to call you my boys too. Leave it all out there Friday night—every snap, every block, every tackle—and when that final whistle blows you will know you have your everything for each other.
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Now go finish the story He started.
We love you. We’re praying hard and cheering loud!
Go win it all!
Adam and Jill Sexton
Senior Whippet Football Parents
It has been an honor to watch these boys grow up together! The Brotherhood that is established on this team is something that will be remembered a lifetime!
We are proud of all of you boys, especially #71!!
Let’s go WHIPPETS!!!
R. Wert
Former middle school student and Uncle to #15
Light em up boyz and bring home the W. Memories that will last a lifetime for the players and for Richland County.
Justin Sampsel & Joleen Roberts
Shelby Parents
Hey Whippets! We just wanted to say what an honor it has been to watch this Senior class grow up and play together since all the way back to Flag. Your love and dedication to this sport and each other is unmatched, and that’s why you have achieved all you have and will continue to do so. So go out there and play the game, have fun with your brothers, and know that you have the utmost support of not only your family and friends, but the entire community. We can’t wait to celebrate with you on the flip side! #AGTG #22 Go Whippets !!!
Moomoo( Sandy Sexton)
Grandparent
Kolt I am so proud of you and all your teammates! Stay strong, focused and give it all!
Pawpaw and Pa would be have been at every game being the proudest grandpas!
Remember Pa predicted this State playoff since you were a freshman.
Love you always,
MooMoo ❤️🩶🏈💪🏻🙏
Carolyn Helbert
Mom of Coach Gabe Helbert, wife of Coach Steve Helbert and aunt of Coach Jon Amicone.
NO REGRETS! PLAY YOUR GAME AND LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD! You all have made this the most exciting team that I have watched in 40+ years of high school football. Let your greatness shine Friday morning and beat the Tarblooders!!
Love the Whippets!!!
Julie St Clair
Shelby Alum
I want to wish the Shelby Whippets “Good Luck”, and bring home the gold. You guys deserve this, and worked so hard to get this so far. Everybody will be rooting for you, and I know the fan base will be really loud.
Knipp Family
Shelby Resident
LETS GO SHELBY!! We are so proud of you all!!!! GO #29 & #78!!! Our favorite kicker & favorite center!!! GO WHIPPETS!!!
Kaylin Slone
Shelby Alumni
Shelby Whippets, you’ve made history—now go finish the job. Play with heart, trust each other, and leave it all on the field. Your town is behind you. Go Dawgs! 🐾❤️
The Eysters
Shelby parent and fan
What a year! We are so very excited and proud of you all. It has been an absolute pleasure to watch. One more game! Go Whippets, and go #5!!!
Gilger Family
Shelby Resident, Students and Teacher
We are incredibly proud of you all! This season has been so much fun to watch. Play your game and Go Whippets!
Cassandra stairs
Resident, parent, fan
Take in this moment. You boys did this!! You have an entire town rallying behind you always!! We are all so proud of every single one of you!! #65 you make us all proud every single day! Believe in yourselves now and forever! LETS GO DAWGS!!!!!
Lauren Browning
Fan
Let’s go, boys! Give 100%. Leave it all on the field. Your community is behind you and loves the season you have given us. 4 more quarters. Do it.
Ashley R
Shelby resident/parent
Win or lose you boys have made history! I make sure to put the games on tv for my 2 little boys to watch every week. My 4yr old chants “Shelby Whippets” going into school and talks about how he is going to be a football player one day! You have so many admirers, the town is so proud of you boys. Have fun and enjoy the moment, give it your all.
Jaxton Lamb
4th grade student
Shelby is gonna WIN this! Good luck all the way from Disney, we’ll be watching no matter what! Let’s go Whippets!
Aunt Mitzi & Uncle Jeff
Fan from another city
Congratulations to each and everyone of you on the Shelby Football team.
You have done such an amazing job up to this point.
Good luck Friday, we know you will bring home the state championship.
We are so proud of you, Quinton Albert.
We know your dedication and work ethic has gotten you to this point.
Good luck to you and the team on Friday.
We will be in the stands rooting you on.
We love you and are so excited for you!!
Aunt Mitzi and uncle Jeff
Leslie Zehner
alum
You guys have worked so hard and electrified this city with football fever!!! Keep doing what you’re doing, give it your best, and leave it all out there on that field!! You’ve prepared and you’re ready to bring home that championship!!! Best of luck to you all!!
Jess Albert
Parent
So proud of you boys, LETS GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
John Hartge
Let’s go kick some Freakin Ass 👍👍
Kate Albert (age 5)
Kindergarten Student
Good luck football team! Especially number 54! I hope you have a good time and get really sweaty! ❤️
Natasha Ostrander- lunch lady!
Alum, resident, fan, staff
Good luck boys!!! I’ve never doubted your talent and dedication on that field. My seniors, you were only freshman when I started working at the high school. I have enjoyed watching every moment of it! Since going to Sacred Heart to work, I’ve missed your faces so much! But i am extremely proud of this team! Can’t wait to see history made, on Friday! DAWG CHECK!
Coach Green
Fan
This will be the last time you get to play with these guys as a brotherhood. Leave it all on the field with no regrets.
Coach Green is proud of each and everyone of you all! God Bless and Go Whippets!
Andi Slone
Shelby resident, Shelby Alumni, parent, fan
One more! Just one more win away from walking away with it all! All of your blood, sweat, pain and tears are what got you this far! You didn’t come this far just to come this far! You got this! Trust your coaches and trust your brothers. Give it everything you’ve got and end your season with no regrets. We love you and can’t wait to cheer you guys to victory one more time! Go Whippets! ♥️🩶🏈🐾💪🏻
Love Tim and Andi Slone
