By Cole Tomlin, News Editor

Due to COVID-19, many sports teams have faced changes in scheduling, including the men’s soccer team, which recently kicked off its season in late January as opposed to the regular fall months. The talented team still plans to make a deep playoff run this season – as soon as the season can resume.

After playing just two games, the Nighthawks were forced to quarantine for 10 days – from Feb. 1-11 – with no practices or games after one of their players contracted COVID-19 despite the team’s efforts to follow COVID-19 protocols. 

Before this 10-day quarantine period, the team was doing everything possible to eliminate the spread of COVID-19, practicing social distancing whenever possible, wearing masks during practices and games, and getting temperatures checked before each practice and game.

“Beyond following CDC guidelines, our team makes sure we all fight the spread of COVID-19 by staying absent from practices and games if there is even a low possibility of infection,” senior Jude Sproul said.

Luckily enough for the men’s soccer team, only two games were missed during the quarantine period, and those will likely be made up at a later date. One of the games missed was supposed to be against rival Manteo; however, the players still hope to have the chance to play their neighbors this year to prove who’s the better team.

“I’m still hopeful that we will have a full season because we’ve had more games canceled due to weather than COVID-19,” junior Colin Byard said.

Though restrictions such as wearing a mask are very limiting to the players’ breathing and stamina during practices and games, they are still looking forward to putting on a good show for the First Flight community.

“I’m looking forward to playing with all of my teammates and making the state playoffs,” senior Tanner Bouker said. “Hopefully we can finally bring that state championship back home this year.”

Senior Cole Tomlin can be reached at 21TOMLINCO11@daretolearn.org.