You could tell that they were simply happy to be able to be out on the court. The Fort Campbell Lady Falcons traveled to University Heights Wednesday night for an 8th District volleyball match. While UHA won the match in four sets, the real winners, if you judge by the looks on their faces, behind their masks, were the Lady Falcon players.
Remember back to when the KHSAA gave the clearance for fall sports to go, and that was all fall sports. Except, that it ended up not applying to all fall sports at Fort Campbell.
Cross country and golf were allowed to proceed. Volleyball, soccer, and football were not. The DoDEA made the decision that these sports were still too risky for the students at both Fort Knox and Fort Campbell. This is not a judgment of the DoDEA decision, because the communities of the two military installations are greatly involved in national security matters, so a virus running wild on post brings an entirely new set of issues.
However, it still had to be quite the downer for the student-athletes at the two institutions.
The DoDEA decision allowed the sports to condition and practice, but not to participate in competition. So, it appeared as it would be a long fall for the Lady Falcons volleyball team.
Then in a bit of a reversal, a few weeks after the initial ruling, the DoDEA gave clearance for volleyball to begin play at both high schools. There was no such good news for football and soccer. The volleyball team at Fort Campbell quickly got things together and was ready to play in the All A Classic.
The Lady Falcons even went to Hopkins Central this week and came away with a straight-set win.
While they may have ultimately not won the All A Regional, and while UHA took the four-set win Wednesday night, if you just look at the faces of the Lady Falcons, behind their masks, even on the court, you can tell what it means for them to be able to compete again. Especially for some very talented seniors on their team.
Additionally, we should also always remember what these kids must deal with in terms of one or both parents being deployed in service to their country on occasion. So, the chance to compete on the field of play for these kids can give them something good to focus on, when life is a bit worrisome.
They did lose the match to UHA Wednesday night, but if you ask players like Jasmin Jones, Trinity Beaty, and others, in one aspect they won by having the chance to play once again. And, with some of their classmates who participate in fall sports not having that chance, that is a pretty special win.
