An open letter to the area’s high school senior spring sports athletes — all of them
Dear spring sports seniors,
This letter will be unsatisfying. Words alone always are.
A letter can’t bring back this season. It can’t make up for lost time, nor can it turn double plays or score hat tricks. It won’t break records or recreate the family-feel of a team huddle.
This letter can’t describe how crazy that feeling actually is — the one you’ve rehearsed all your life — when the ball is in your hands, or at your feet, or in the air as time runs down.
You know the feeling.
Your parents, your coaches, your friends. They know that feeling too.
They’ve imagined it for you. That’s why your friends understood when you went to practice, or to an out-of-state tournament, instead of a school dance. It’s why your parents acted like they were asleep, even if your hours dribbling a soccer ball with your bare feet in the backyard or throwing a lacrosse ball against a wall kept them awake.
All this letter can do is record history.
It can recall highlights, like when Great Falls’ softball team won its first and only game in 2020, coming off a winless season. Or when Harrison Wilson threw the first-ever no-hitter at Catawba Ridge. Or when Garrett Hawkins became the leading goal-scorer in Clover lacrosse history, and 13th all-time in South Carolina.
But this letter will still make you remember what wasn’t. On March 16, in accordance with Gov. Henry McMaster’s order to close schools, the South Carolina High School League announced that the state’s spring sports season would be suspended until April 2 due to the growing threat of the coronavirus. Then, in late April, schools closed for the year.
And no one knew what to say.
It’s only sports, you’ve probably heard. Just a game. And that’s true. Compared to what else the coronavirus has caused, losing a sports season is trivial.
But it’s also true that sports give us a common ground. That high school sports, specifically, open a window of shared experiences between strangers. They unite us, even when other parts of life would pull us apart.
And you were part of that uniting force.
I know sports have given you priceless memories and forever friends. They’ve made the field, or the court, or the track, feel like a second home. But you’ve given your communities much more.
I just wanted to tell you that.
Thank you for uniting and inspiring us. We miss you. Stay safe.
Sincerely,
Alex
List of spring sports athletes
Here is the list of spring sports seniors, provided by each high school.
If you have any memories, thank-yous, or goodbyes you’d like to share with The Herald, please email us at sports@heraldonline.com. With your consent, they may be posted to our website and printed in the paper. Thank you again.
Rock Hill
Baseball: Peyton Williams; Cole Bitting; Jeffery Patterson; Nick Petit; Jordan Thurmond
Boys’ golf: Manning Sloop; Zach Reuland; Hinson Perry; Jackson Berry; Trey Fairbairn; Henry Sharpe; Jeremy Deller
Boys’ soccer: Kaleb Crochet; Skyler Fields; Jack Hudson; Hayden Jordan; Lorenon Moore; Jose Mora; Kyle Myers; Claudio Ortiz; Nathan Pearce; Challen Stowe; Manny Velasquez
Girls’ soccer: Skyla Bordeau; Vilena Hrebar; Madison Lambert; Kendal Merrell; Yisell Salgado; Joy Stringfellow
Softball: Reese Therrell; Tonie Bogan; Paris Gallman; Sara Cunnup
Boys’ tennis: Jesus Aguilar; Michael Patrick DeBorde; Joshua Ludlum; Tommy Nguyen
Track and field: Alyssa Flink; Tayla Cuthbertson; Alyssa Flink; Tayla Cuthbertson; Jessie Strickland; Amyra Wise; Darvae Williams; Eliel Cuesta; Griffin Hollingsworth; Samuel Williams; Anthony Jackson; Zy’Quon Edwards; Thomas Rainey; Alex English; Gabriel Peter; Hinson Perry
Northwestern
Baseball: Jory Kleparek; Reed Garland
Boys’ golf: Payne Gettys; Garrett Jackson; Banks Wright
Boys’ soccer: Fernando Aguilar; Bryan Funes-Ferrera; Alexis Salazar; Chris Sanders
Girls’ soccer: Isabella Padillo; Janica Lane; Carmen Ferrera; Zevi Gibson; Ansley Rentz; Sonia Long; Camryn Guest; Madisen Campbell; Allison Parker; Sophia Kemp
Softball: Kapri Cherry
Boys’ tennis: George Barbery; Adam Husted
Track and field: Will Bramlet; Caleb Brown; Ger-Cari Caldwell; Hugo Cervantes; Jarius Crawford; Anton Davis; Jailyn Ervin; Joseph Fagua; Daylin Fewell; Jailon Good; Russell Holley; Darius Howze; JayVion Johnson; JonTomas Lewis; Cyncere Long; Ahmad Miles; Amanda Padillo; Anthony Padillo; Austin Simpkins; JT Sims; Avionce Smith; Michael Walkup Jr.; Virginia Walkup; Mark Walsh; Jayshon Williams; Austin Williamson
South Pointe
Boys’ golf: Corey Craven; Grier Gettys; Andy Gilles
Boys’ soccer: Carson Gaynor; Cam’ron Wood; Matthew Shoaf
Girls’ soccer: Zoe Kennedy; Lexie Bolton; Anne Kiser; Areli Rubio
Softball: Kayt Houston; Madison Doster; McKenzie Stevenson; Kenyate Sanders; Nevaeh McGuinness; Emily Hedstrom; Hannah Berberich; Christiana Scott
Track and field: Rontarious Aldridge; Morgan Galusha; Rafael Galusha; Melvin Ahmed Hall; Joseph Illenz; Devontae Murphy; Joshua Richardson; Ry’drekus Shelley; Sebeion Williams; Raina Andrews; A’Dayzia Bowman; Jamaria Culp; Indongesit Ekanem; Jaliyah Gaiton; Nyah Marshall; Shaude Williams
Legion Collegiate Academy
Baseball: Ryan Beam; Blake Sherrill; Steven Yarab; Luke Wright; Kolby Crepeau
Boys’ golf: Logan Craig
Lacrosse: Carson DePass; Dillon Lanum; Webber Moore
Girls’ soccer: Ashley Burns; Emma Shelton
Softball: Lydia Beard; Isabel Shellnut
Nation Ford
Baseball: Magdiel Cotto; Keith Feeley; Josh Frazier; Justin Kelso; Trevor Krupke; Brandon Stancil
Boys’ golf: Logan Johnson; John Moss
Boys’ lacrosse: Nate Antley; Chris Cost; Ben Doyle; Cam Fields; Luke Halcom; Josh Hartke; Gabe Lavigne; Nick Lynch; Brayden Mize; Nick Noto; Alex Oppel; Zach Skidmore; Trevor Tom; Matthew Young
Girls’ lacrosse: Rania Belaid; Maddy Doan; Natasha McNeil; Ella Miller; Jordan Pounds; Dalisa Salgado; Taryn Samons; Ruth Weber; Sarah Winters
Boys’ soccer: Josue Garcia; Frank Martinez; Andrew Meachem; Conner Ross; Luke Thronsen; Petey Tuipulotu; Nate Warren; Kyle Wells
Girls’ soccer: Caroline Chapman; Leitzia Dallatomasina; Winther Dechert; Olivia Giles; Chloe Johnson; Ashton Parsons-Thompson; Rayna Simmons
Softball: Amaya Hush; McLauren Sarvis; Caroline Sunderlage
Track and field: Apryl Beck; Andrew Berkeland; Haley Bishop; Karina Black; James Chenault; Anthony Frattarolli; Skyler Holmes; Jasmine Hope; Niah Johnson; Alex Loser; Eli Macchi; Aaron Nicholson; Kaitlyn Richmond; Chris Singleton; Luke Smithhisler; Miles Stallings; Michael Strilka; Jalen Suber; Morgan Werner; Justin Williams
Fort Mill
Baseball: Steven Neese; Cabe Christopher; Mikey Tepper; Brady Stone; Patrick Matthews; AJ Jaworowski; Kyle Kolas; Trey Adamek; Nic Curtis; Dylan Honaker
Boys’ golf: Mike Wheeler; Anthony Clark; Carter Copeland
Boys’ lacrosse: Mike Debbout; Zach Terry; Spencer Evans; James Hyland; Connor Sponheimer; Ben Elia; Cole Carrigan; Ethan Fuhrman; Jacob Stuart
Girls’ lacrosse: Sawyer Wilcox; Paige Wasiela; Sydney Zeimer; Janessa Williams
Boys’ soccer: Sinjin Shivers; Jack Burroughs; Grayson Woodard; Calvin Chernyatinskiy; Reece Harnett; Braden Held; Andrew Parker; Jared Salazar; Noah Shirley
Girls’ soccer: Lexi Barrowclough; Madison Reading; Meaghan Cadieux; Vanessa DeRado; Hannah Miller; Izzy Giarrizzi
Boys’ tennis: Taylor Bogucki; Ethan Barger; Ian Rimmer
Track and field: Olivia Hernandez; Gabrielle McCarthey; Lilleigh Wright; Daphne Clish; Carmen Graham; Abby Dawson; Jeremiah Harper; Tristan Kitchens; Grayson Witaker; Logan Tisdale; Steffen Merkle; Noah Stoudemire; Lucas Nicholson; Elliott Peters; Jacob Henley; Reese Key; Luke Griffin; Dalton Jones; Ben Allen
York Comprehensive
Baseball: Josh McSwain; Peyton Reel; Seth Franklin; Hall Crocker; Dylan Smoak; Lamar Petties; Ashton Shannon
Boys’ golf: Bryson Benfield
Boys’ soccer: Beck Johnston; Josh McKown; Fernando Aguilar; Maximus Haynes
Girls’ soccer: Alandria Pendergrass; Megan Ashley; Stef Amezcua; Izzy Dozier; Mercedes Beasley
Softball: Bailey Wallace; Joanna Howell; Autumn Walden
Boys’ tennis: Blake Williams; Cody Benfield; Jackson Montgomery; Jay Witherspoon
Track and field: Debo Anderson; Zyel Bernabe; Will Boggs; Allen Burns; Brannon Burns; Chase Dickinson; Khalil Ellis; Brandon French; Ahmad Hinton; Breanna Black; Lauren Childers; Aniah Hardin; Kayla Lanier; Keirsten McFadden; Moriah Smith; Brittney Starnes; Jada Walker; Diamond Worthy
Indian Land
Baseball: Jonathan Adams; Tanner Chassereau; Chase Dougherty; Thomas Mills; Maddox Morrison; Kyle Raynor
Boys’ golf: Alex Sims
Boys’ soccer: Nicolas Arias-Parra; Nicolas Alava; Jerrett Beilke; Gavin Dunlop; Addison Guild; Jordan Perry; Brandon Vera-Sanchez; Tristan Vindel; Lucas Watt; Randal “Tex” McCarver
Girls’ soccer: Audrey Remien
Softball: Gracie Hensley
Boys’ tennis: Grey Reeves; Jackson Reeves
Track and field: Katie Bowling; Kendall Griffin; Blakely Hardin; Kaitlin Mohr; Ethan Geiger; Deshon Harris; DeVonte Harris; Maxwell Lauer; Walker Reeves; AJ Jefferson; Austin Reeves; Michael Rosacco
Clover
Baseball: Ryan Welch; Hayden Johnson; Christopher Tribble
Boys’ golf: Bryson Wisnant; Karson Finnerty; Jaiven Boutsady
Boys’ lacrosse: Garrett Hawkins; Luke Zimsak; Matt Courtwright; Barrett Faulkner; Dalton Mooberry; Aron Senn; Connor Walsh
Girls’ lacrosse: Ariana Donaldson; Reagan Gooch; Savannah Harris; Calista Laird; Madysen Santiago; Anna Baker; Catherine Levy; Bailey Crisp; Sara Kate Dixon
Boys’ soccer: Cameron Malcolm; Brandon Malcolm; Ethan Stevenson; Christian Erwin; Carson Onoszko; Matthew Lerner; Devin Jones; Derrick Karsch; Austin A. Clark; Austin Clark; Mitchell Clark; Connor Jaramillo; Alec Nelson
Girls’ soccer: Caroline Ringler; Kristen Cole; Hunter Akins; Angelica Castro; Addison Partin; Brooklyn Gunn; Kalee Warluft
Softball: Allison Clapp; Dakota Peters
Boys’ tennis: Michael Pletniewski; Tyler Doan; Michael Vanderlip; Austin Smith; Isaac Parker
Track and field: Christopher Bessman; Zion Robbins; David Hall; Jaylin Lane; Zachary Blanchard; Amari Duncan; Asa Lassiter; Zacchaeus Davis; Blackmon Huckabee; Malik Earl; Andy White; Elijah Diaz; Robert Butts; Hannah Self; Adalis Bowser
Great Falls
Baseball: Jordan Ramsey
Softball: Allie Martin; Alyssa Amos; Daja Holmes
Track and field: Anaya Canty; Quay Bowser
Chester
Baseball: Preston Kirby; MIchael McDaniel; Kendrick McAbee
Boys’ golf: Josiah Hinson
Boys’ soccer: Brandon Lawson; Ray Murphy; Corey Wade; Noah Gaddy; Jourdan Ward-Simpson; Justin Chisholm
Girls’ soccer: Totiana Dixon; Shy’Destiney Dunham; Oshayanna Sanders; Anna Hardin; Quanesha Davis
Softball: Monique Griffin; Hailey Rivera
Track and field: Jacobe Reid; Ly’Terrence MIlls; Jordan Coleman; Ta’Rajay Bowie
Lewisville
Baseball: Jalen Clyburn; Braxton Elms; Chriss Flynn; Porter Fudge; Luke Harris; Russell Noland; Zack Santner
Boys’ soccer: Anthony Foos; Raymond Gonzales; Ryan Graddy; Trai’Quan Mobley; Javius Ramirez; Jadon Scott; Hector Sandoval
Girls’ soccer: Taylor Cherry; Destini Simpson; Tequoia Gaston
Softball: Riley Coyle; Ivy McCall; Abby Thomas; Faith Thomas; Ashley Wood
Track and field: Jada Fossett; Alaysia Gaston
Lancaster
Baseball: Zac Blackmon; Evan Eudy; Steven Ledbetter; Josh Klein
Boys’ golf: Caleb Griffin
Boys’ soccer: Russell Baker; Russell Baker; Colby Cauthen; Kelvin Espinoza; Ernesto Guevara-Alcantara; Oswal Paz-Alvarez; Aydan Saldana; Romeo Stevens; Juan Pablo Valencia Gonzales; Jordan Wade
Girls’ soccer: Gabby Alberto; Sydney Blackmon; Kristen Catoe
Softball: JaNay Thompson; Kennedy Johnson
Track and field: LA Thompson; Ty’Kezious Benson; Immanuel Bush; Janard Clark; Geekezious McCain; Deshaun Robinson; Quintavis Roseborough; Edwin Shaw; Ezekiel Sowell; RJ Stevenson; Dareon Steward; Jalen Truesdale; Kendric Watts; Keenon Woodard
Andrew Jackson
Baseball: Chas DeBruhl; Rylan DeBruhl; Colby Jackson; Landon Jordan; Conner Killough; Dillon Kirk
Boys’ golf: Jordan Collins; Trey Cox; Hunter Hinson
Boys’ soccer: Rhett Bowers; Brock Kennington; Caleb Myers; Nolan Plyler; Will Reinman; Ross Miller-Brown; Matteo Vedani
Girls’ soccer: Ismary Alvarenga; Waverly Bundy; Bella Caldwell; Zoe Helms; Taylor Lundy; Kinzie Medlin; Abby Lane Polson; Lindsey Waldo
Softball: Makayla Cairnes; Abby Brewer; Anna Hinson
Track and field: Osha Black; Riley Forsythe; Miracle Jones; LaKyra McIlwain; Sara Mungo; Tyleik Elder; Cedric Samuel; Bryson Ussery
York Prep Academy
Baseball: Justin Fernando; Tyler Teachout
Girls’ soccer: Chloe Gross; Kristin Paul
Boys’ soccer: Justin Crimm; John Mugabe; Zachary Watson
Westminster Catawba Christian
Baseball: Parker Inkelaar; John Corley
Girls’ soccer: Tanya Henderson; Loren Wagner
Is there a name missing? If so, please email us at sports@heraldonline.com, and we will confirm and fix it right away.
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 9:38 AM.
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