Each sports season, the Pee Dee is represented well by high school teams playing for and often winning state championships. This spring has been no exception.
-- The Darlington Falcons swept J.L. Mann 2-0 to win the Class 3A softball state championship. It’s the first-ever state title for Darlington High in any sport.
-- The West Florence Knights won the Class 4A tennis team state championship, and Bobby Browning won an individual state title.
-- The Johnsonville Flashes lived up to their name, winning the Class A girls track and field state championship.
-- The King’s Academy defeated Florence Christian in the SCISA 2A soccer state championship game.
-- The Dillon Wildcats lost the Class 2A baseball state championship series to Gilbert, 2-1.
-- The Lake View Wild Gators lost the Class A softball state championship series to Chesterfield, 2-1.
The success of all these teams is a tribute to the dedication of the players, coaches and parents from the first day of practice through the final out of the season.
At the same time the student-athletes are studying for tests and maintaining their grades in the classroom, they’re working on their games.
At the same time the coaches are trying to develop their teams, most are educators trying to mold students into leaders of tomorrow.
At the same time parents are hauling their children to and from practices and games, most are hard-working citizens with full-time jobs.
It all makes for very long days and keeping such hectic schedules is an accomplishment within itself.
The success of all these teams is also a tribute to the strong competition each team faces in the Pee Dee week-in, week-out during the regular season. Every championship team, every individual champion should be grateful for the tough opponents that pushed them to be the best.
Athletics are excellent extracurricular activities. They’re breeding grounds for self-esteem, sportsmanship, teamwork, discipline, fitness and proper nutrition.
And when a region consistently turns out state champions and runners-up as the Pee Dee does, it means all involved are doing things the right way.
Hats off to the players and coaches who realized their ultimate goals of playing for and winning state championships this spring. And hats off to the Pee Dee for being a hotbed for athletics.
We should all be proud.
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