See, Coach Edwards and I grew up and went to different schools 🏫 together, so it is a natural thing that if she is going to ” Run it Back “, then I will assist her in any way possible.

Tryouts are set to start in the first week of August ! August 3rd – 7th

I’m sitting at my gate two hours early as I head out to Everett, Washington and it feels like enough time ⏲️ to connect some dots in regards to my recent proposal to boost our Carroll County High School Soccer ⚽️ programs.

Before I go forward, let’s visit the original plan roll out from a few weeks ago.

Yes, I am going to use a Coastal Plains League Baseball ⚾️ game to officially role out my vision of Soccer ⚽️ inside the borders of Carroll County !

Now, let’s see 👀 if we can go forward and answer some questions for our friend, Martin McKenzie!

Abingdon High School 🏫 just completed the first ever Girls Trifecta by winning each of the Big 3 State Championships (volleyball, basketball, and softball) in the same season. The Falcons are not the only powerful obstacle in our region, just the easiest example. Not only did they sweep the Big 3, but they also ended the dreams of Adrienne Harris McGuire and Casey Burcham this spring.

We simply cannot outspend the schools we need to get past as we look to move forward in high school athletics. We have to be smarter !

The past three seasons, I have spent every available moment I had in the spring over at Tommy Thompson Field in hopes of assisting our soccer teams. I see a glaring need and now want to offer my opinion on what we can do to assist Forrest and Adrienne.

Both of our head coaches are Top Shelf and are very aware of the challenges they face in trying hard to grow the sport that they love.

The next natural thing to mention is that prior to this past spring, I was not aware that each of our head coaches is responsible for their own game day operations. In the past five years of announcing the various sports, I thought that I was helping Darrin Mathews and Kevin DeHaven. This came as a bit of a surprise for me, and it made me reflect even further in our Soccer needs.

The goal is to provide the soccer players and coaches to do what they do best – play and coach. By creating a Game Day staff, we would do just that !

It was during a conversation with Ashlynn Smith that I realized that Martin McKenzie was already teaching our students a great deal of what I had dreamed of six years ago when I moved here.

Across the three ➕️ years of announcing Field Hockey 🏑 games at App State, I became very familiar with this process as while I was the voice, there was a dozen or so students who all had assignments in hopes of making sure that the experience for the fans and players was as enjoyable as possible.

Martin is the key 🔑 to this one because even if the powers to be sign off on it, I would have to have a dance partner. In the past, it was Tammy Quesenberry that was there to assist me with new ideas 💡but this time around, it would require outside assistance.

The fact that Martin’s younger daughter is currently playing the sport helps a great deal, but so does the fact that he is a stand-up person who has a SKILL SET designed for this ! He is personable, wicked smart and can relate to the youngsters.

The number one takeaway from the past month of the World 🌎 Cup Soccer has been the pageantry involved on game day. We have made some progress both on and off the pitch, and we have the right people in place to jump-start things.

Programs, concessions, flag waving, and interviews are just some of the things that would be addressed immediately.

As has been the case in the past, I am only as effective as the people who are involved with me on a project.

Speaking 🔊 of Tammy, maybe Quez would like to play Soccer !

The money 💰 involved with this would be at Martin’s disposal, and it would give us an opportunity to create Magic 🎩 16 to 20 times next spring.

I’m as sure about this as anything that I have suggested up to this point, but per the norm, it takes a team !

Questions or concerns about this project are welcomed !