By Cameron Piland, Staff Writer

Every sports season is full of some ups and downs, wins and losses, the adrenaline rush and determination of the players and loud cheers from the fans. Here is a look at how the fall sports seasons are going:

Soccer

The varsity soccer team has had a heck of a season this year. Through mid-October, the Nighthawks were 9-2-2. In conference games, they have won eight out of nine games this season, tying only once. 

“They have gotten better throughout every single game they have played,” assistant coach Billy Folkes said. “One of the first games of the season we played Cape Henry and lost 4-1 and made some mistakes. But then we played them two weeks later and tied them.” 

The varsity team will continue its push toward the state playoffs in November as it continues to improve.

“The game against our biggest rival, Manteo, was very emotional,” head coach Juan Ramirez said. “It’s our sister school and they play hard. It was very physical, very emotional, and we ended with a tie.”

But after the 1-1 tie in the first meeting, the Nighthawks won 2-1 in overtime in the second meeting.

The JV team has also had a great season so far, with a record of 4-1-2. Freshman Sam Sabora said the biggest obstacle for JV players is “probably having the stress to not mess up.” Winning close games and dealing with injuries also has been a challenge.

Girls Cross Country

“For the girls, cross country season has been amazing,” senior Tatum Dermatas said. “We have been showing the top three contenders in the state. With the girls team especially, every person I talk to wants to better themselves so we can reach our goal: being on the podium at states.”

Being top three in the 3A championship in November would be amazing because, as Dermatas said, “the girls didn’t even qualify for states last year.”

Morgan Miller won conference runner of the year honors and has been a top finisher all season along with Dermatas. The Nighthawks also welcomed back Lucy Stecher from injury, and staying healthy will be important in the final few weeks.

“We have been lucky so far, but some people have nagging injuries or are getting sick, which is common,” Dermatas said. “Knock on wood, everyone is healed right now and all the girls are running healthy.”

Boys Cross Country 

After a slow start to this season, “We are improving steadily, and we have a good chance of making it to regionals and states,” senior Jack Brown said.

Injuries also are a concern for the boys team. Shin splints – when you overuse your legs and get pain in your shin – have sidelined a couple of FFHS runners for multiple weeks this season. But even with the injuries, the team has been getting better and landing different runners in the top five at multiple meets.

“We’ve had some tough competitions, but I think we have enough people willing to put in the work to get better times than the other teams,” senior Jackson Hannon said. Added junior Judah Lacroix: “The practices are pretty intense. We run 30 to 40 miles a week just to get ready for states.”

Tennis

The tennis team finished the regular season as co-conference champions, losing a very close match against Edenton in the first meeting but winning the rematch. The team playoffs and individual regional and state tournament began in mid-October, with the Nighthawks excited to keep their season going as long as possible.

One of the team’s biggest challenges this fall didn’t involve another team, but the resurfacing of the tennis courts.

“Our biggest obstacle throughout the season has got to be the limited court space at the beginning of the season,” coach Aly Dashiell said. “Trying to find out how we can best help everyone individually while still meeting the needs of the team as a whole, having to work with everyone’s schedules, and trying to coordinate as many people being at practice and matches as possible.”

The senior starters, Heather Snyder and Maura Trivette, as well as the team as a whole have fought hard to keep their season successful. 

Football

Through mid-October, the football team was still looking for its first win of the year, but continued to play hard and fight each week. At Edenton, for instance, the Nighthawks were down 40-0 at halftime, then exploded for 25 points in the third quarter alone. 

“The season hasn’t been going the way we wanted, but I think everyone has had a fun time,” junior Carson Hahne said. “I think we are going to win the last few games, if I’m being honest with you. These last three teams are at the bottom of our conference and I think we can pull out a W.”

Injuries also have been a big problem for the football team this year. Starting linebacker Caden Hedges and quarterback Az Simpson are just two of the many Nighthawks who have had to battle through injuries, but other standout players such as sophomore running back Everest Oullette and sophomore quarterback Alex Bryson have worked hard to put points on the board.

Volleyball

Volleyball “has been doing well but has gotten a lot better, team culture has improved tremendously,” head coach Anna Zappulla said. “We are coming together as a team more because athletically we are at the top of our conference, but mentally we needed to overcome a few things. I think we have overcome what we needed to to finish out the second half of the season.”

Senior starters, Emma Gibbons, Stella Bryson, Mackenzie Edwards and Emma Braithwaite have been crucial to the success of the varsity team this year. In addition to seniors, many underclassmen have helped lead the team to victory, including sophomore Abby Edwards, who has over 200 digs for the season. 

JV and varsity volleyball players also enjoyed a big win off the court with their fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. Players sold T-shirts in a partnership with Manteo and Cape Hatteras and ended up raising more than $1,500 for The Outer Banks Hospital.

Cheerleading

The cheerleaders have had fun trying to get a pep in the step of every Nighthawk so far this year.

“I want to have everyone participate to wear the theme, to yell, to shout and jump up with joy because, First Flight Nighthawk pride!” senior captain Mayson Ogburn said. 

It might not show on their smiling faces and in their amazing stunts, but the cheerleaders face plenty of obstacles in their path to a successful season. They just flip over them and keep on rolling.

“Some of our people have been out with Covid-19 and have put a strain on our practice time, but we still get what we need to get done,” junior Alayna Jester said.

Sophomore Cameron Piland can be reached at 25pilandca25@daretolearn.org.