Shawnee State Athletics participates in 61st Annual River Days Parade

Shawnee State Athletics celebrated one of Portsmouth's and Scioto County's longest-standing traditions Saturday, as various athletic members participated and assisted in the 61st Annual River Days Parade Saturday afternoon in Portsmouth.

The headliner of River Days, as has been the case throughout its history, is the headlining River Days Pageant, which was held at Waller Gymnasium on the campus of Shawnee State University this year as has been the case recently. Wheelersburg High School's Shelby Hammond was the River Days Queen while Minford High School's Lexi Conkel was First Runner-Up and South Webster High School's Kate Mantell was Second Runner-Up. The pageant featured senior high school pageant candidates from each of Scioto County's 13 high schools, including Clay, East, Glenwood New Boston, Green, Minford, Northwest, Notre Dame, Portsmouth, Portsmouth STEM Academy, South Webster, Valley, West and Wheelersburg, who were selected to represent their respective school in the event.

Mallory Cassidy, who is pictured to the left, was a participant in the Miss River Days Pageant on Clay's behalf last year. She will be a part of the first sponsored cheerleading program. Shawnee State has had a cheerleading program as a club activity, but in 2024-25, Shawnee State will be sponsoring cheerleading for the first time.

A photo gallery of Shawnee State Athletics at the River Days Parade can be located at River Days Parade photos.