Spring Sports are Starting their Seasons
The Panther Creek Athletics Program had a great season this fall, but it is now time to move on and support all the spring sports that are making their 2023 debut.
As winter comes to an end, the sports fields that surround campus are just beginning to be used. With the weather making a turn toward spring, the following sports have kickstarted their seasons; softball, baseball, women’s soccer, track and field, tennis, and lacrosse. PCNN reached out to players of their respective sports to share their thoughts about the budding sports season.
The PC softball team is a powerhouse in our school’s athletics program; they have previously been ranked one of the top teams in both North Carolina and the nation. The teams played their first games on Monday. Layla Lamar, a senior who has committed to playing at the University of Florida next year, shared that she was most excited “to get back on the field with all the girls.” As far as goals for the season, Layla recognized that “we have a couple new faces this year” but still wants to surpass the goals the team achieved in the 2021-2022 school year; “last year we made it far in the playoffs so we’re hoping to get back there”.
Also sharing these sentiments is Varsity women’s soccer player Jess Middledorf. Jess is looking forward to “getting closer as a team”. She would also like to beat Green Level this season with her twin sister by her side: “We play opposite [positions] so it’s nice to have a goalie and a forward.” Another pair of sisters, Kamryn and Khamani Spencer, also made the Varsity roster this year. It is great to see siblings and teammates alike have each other’s back on the pitch. The PC community will be keeping an eye out for what is sure to be a great season for women’s soccer this spring.
Also on the charts for a good season? The Panther Creek Lacrosse teams. Both men’s and women’s lacrosse have started their training. Logan Burns, a Varsity men’s lacrosse player, thinks a great string of games are on the horizon; “Our team has a lot more skill than last year… I like our chances against the teams in this conference.”
Addison Lombardi spoke to PCNN on behalf of the women’s team, sharing that they are most excited about facing Green Level. “We have a really big rivalry against them,” she said, “and [Coach] Sopko has family over at Green Level so we’re getting our rivalry started.” While she admits it may be a challenging game, as Green Level is known to have aggressive players, Lombardi thinks that she plays an important role in “making sure everyone knows it’s just a game and to not get too overwhelmed about it.”
This mindset can and should be applied to all sports beginning their seasons this week. The rosters are out, the coaches are prepared, and the players are ready. Good luck to all sports programs this spring; Let’s Go C
