Bombers Win Traffic "Bomb"

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By Lindsay Jones

BMHS Journalism Adviser

Small communities come together for an assortment of different reasons-tragedy, charity, hope, celebration--but no one expected the small community of Ballard Co. to come together to take out the competition in the first ever iHigh "Traffic Bomb."  

iHigh.com, a site developed solely for American high school sports, includes team sports Web sites, photos, schedules, videos, plus live and recorded game broadcasts, according to the website.  On Oct. 28, the Lexington-based company reached out to its nearly 2,000 high schools to participate in the "Traffic Bomb" contest.  Its goal was to generate the most traffic to its site.  The school with the most traffic in that one day was pronounced the winner. 

Ballard Memorial High School, with a student population of close to 400, annihilated the other participating high schools, which spans Florida, California and Texas.  With an astonishing 183,747 views, BMHS took out the second place winner Paul G. Blazer High School in Ashland, Ky. by a margin of 8625 views. 

The process started in August, when Multimedia teacher Korrie Purcell received word from Athletic Director Kevin Estes about the site.  Purcell and students quickly set up a conference call and Webinar with the company and the Bomber athletics website (www.bomberathletics.ihigh.com) was put on the map.  Through the site, the community is able to view ballgames live or as a past broadcast, see pictures from events and read articles submitted by various local sources.

Through the use of the media, networking, technology and a frenzied day of school with computers running at constant speeds, BMHS once again found themselves proud and prideful.  The school was just recently announced as regional winners in state math and science testing and their marching band, under the direction of Brad Hammack, received a bid to the state competition.

Senior Josh Finley, whose involvement with the site and the recording of the athletic events was vital to its success, was so happy with the victory.  "It was pretty awesome," he said.  He and senior classmate Candace Bryant are usually seen at the events, recording games and doing a live feed on the iHigh site.  The two have the huge responsibility of making sure all technology are set up correctly and working well, Bryant said.

On Tues. Nov. 3, representatives from iHigh visited BMHS to personally congratulate the school and award it with various prizes, including a banner to hang in the gym, an autographed football from the iHigh staff, t-shirts for administration and national publication on the site. 

Western Kentucky iHigh regional manager Adam Endorf and marketing associate Kameron McRay gathered with Purcell and various multimedia students and A.D. Estes in the Green Palace, where they spoke to students about the opportunities that their site offered and how proud they were to be at BMHS. 

"We want to personally thank all involved in the making of the site for their hardwork and dedication," Endorf said.  "BMHS is the best example for other schools to strive for.  They went well above everything needed to win and have used the site to their full potential.  I hope for it to keep going."

The after effects of the honor will take BMHS athletics to a new place.  Estes is excited to see it.  "This honor hopefully opens another line of communication to the community of Ballard Co. and the alumni of the great school," he said.

BMHS Principal Donald Shively knew BMHS would come out on top.  "What did it was our school pride and the dedication of our teacher, Mrs. Korrie Purcell, and her entire multi-media class.  They have done a tremendous job," he said.

Now with this under their belt, Purcell is ready to continue climbing.  "Our ultimate goal is to become an iHigh Top 10 School!" she exclaimed.

Endorf laughed.  "You probably will make it."

With the way things are going, others agree.

Estes and Bomber athletics wants to encourage everyone to continue utilizing the iHigh website for updated athletic news and events.  Be sure to tune in Nov. 6 at 7pm central for the live broadcast of the first round of playoffs, with the Bombers battling the Bethlehem Eagles in Bardstown, Ky.  Go to http://www.bomberathletics.ihigh.com/ to see it on-demand.