The Clarke Central High School varsity boys soccer team stands on the field preparing for their game against Morgan County High School on Feb. 25. CCHS varsity soccer player Oscar Mejia, a senior and goalie, believes that if the season continued they would have been very successful. “Well I mean this is probably biased but I think that we would have probably won the whole (state playoffs). We actually played the reigning state champions (McIntosh High School), and then we lost them by a goal but we were beating them the whole game. So, it was just good things the whole season, positive.” Photo by Gretchen Hinger
The Clarke Central High School boys varsity soccer team was not able to finish out the 2019-20 season due to COVID-19.
With the cancellation of all 2019-20 school year spring sports on April 2 by Georgia High School Association executive director Dr. James Hines, the Clarke Central High School boys varsity soccer team has had their season cut short due to COVID-19.
CCHS head varsity boys soccer coach Chris Aiken believes that this season had the opportunity to be successful.
“I felt really good about where we were headed in the season. The last game we were able to play was a region game versus Walnut Grove (High School). I think we won 9-1 if I remember,” Aiken said. “We were in a really good place so it was unfortunate, the way that the season ended.”
For CCHS varsity soccer player Oscar Mejia, a senior and goalie, this cancellation may be the end of his soccer career.
“It is so sad (that we can’t finish the season). It sucks because (the game against WGHS) might be my last real soccer game and sometimes you just get lost in your thoughts and like you’re just like ‘Dang, I might not ever play soccer again’, it’s really sad to say,” Meija said.
Aiken is concerned about the offseason with the loss of 11 seniors going into next season.
“Obviously, we’d love to get a lot of work in the fall done, because we graduate so many seniors that we need as much time as possible to kind of work in new players to the varsity team through offseason workouts and training,” Aiken said. “Just getting as many guys on the same page prior to January of 2021 would be the best goal.”
While Mejia will not be on the team next season, he believes that the team has infinite potential.
“I think they’ll be great. I mean I think (next year’s team) just be just as good or, even better (as the 2019-20 season). They’re just a whole group of hard-working kids,” Mejia said. “I’m very proud of our younger players, how much they’ve matured because it’s not easy, honestly, and they’re gonna be awesome next year.”
