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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
As Spring sports begin to dwindle down, as a Sports Editor I would be remiss if I didn’t take the time to congratulate all the local Carter County athletes for returning to the fields, the tracks, and the courts after enduring a 2020 year that saw their seasons taken away from them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anyone that has ever missed a season of competition knows how difficult it can be in getting prepared both physically and mentally to get back to work, but hats off to all the coaches and the players for their perseverance and dedication to representing their respective schools and communities.

Also, each fan should also be commended for coming out during a time when there were so many things still required due to COVID restrictions from having temperature checks to wearing face coverings at the events taking place.

I realize that it meant a lot for these student-athletes to look up in the stands and see fans sitting there as they participated in the sports they loved.

A special thanks to the administrations of the Elizabethton and Carter County School systems for allowing these athletes to get back to a sense of normalcy while there are still states across the country where sports are still on ice.

Each athlete has represented their team and their school with pride and no matter whether they won one game, one match, or one race, these athletes are to be commended for giving it their all.

Most people who have been around sports have heard the adage that it’s not if you win or lose – it’s how you play the game that counts.

Every athlete and every coach can hang up their equipment after the 2021 Spring sports season and know in their heart that they have given their best effort to their school in representing their school colors.

There are a few that are still participating in sports as the 2021 Spring Fling in Murfreesboro takes place next week with track athletes Conner Johnson (shot put) and Kaiya Simmons (100 meters) from Elizabethton will be competing for a state title along with Happy Valley freshman Marcida Moore (100-meter hurdles and possibly 300-meter hurdles) and Cameron Cochran in the discus will also be competing for state titles.

Skyler McCurry could also receive an at-large invitation in the pole vault as well for the Warriors.

On the softball diamond, the Elizabethton Lady Cyclones have earned a sectional bid and with a win could also find themselves in Murfreesboro.

So, just a final word of congratulations to every athlete and coach who made the 2021 Spring sports season an entertaining one. We were so happy to see you back in action regardless of the outcome.