There's no doubt that the year 2020 has been chaotic and tragic in so many ways. The Middle Tennessee area has seen everything from floods and tornadoes, to riots and a worldwide pandemic. With all the turmoil through much of the year, sports and entertainment took a back seat to safety and the wellbeing of its fans and players.
Locally, many high school seniors had their hopes and dreams crushed as their final school season playing sports were delayed or cancelled altogether. At a time when memories were supposed to be made on the field, or on the court, students instead discovered new terms like social distancing and virtual learning.
While 2020 will forever be remembered by its hardships, there were quite a few triumphs and victories made throughout the year. Here are a few of the highlights of the tumultuous year of Covid-19.
Jan. 10 - DCHS Lady Tiger basketball player, Emme Colwell, became a member of the 1,000 point club. Colwell, a senior, was recognized at halftime during the Tigers game with Cannon County. Roy Nelson Pugh of Liberty State Bank presented a plaque to Colwell for her achievement.
Jan. 23 - DCHS softball player Kenzie France signed a letter of intent with Cumberland University of Lebanon to play collegiate ball. France, a senior, was joined by members of her family, coaches, and fellow players for the occasion.
Jan. 25 - DCHS Football Tiger Isaac Cross, a senior offensive lineman, team captain, and Tennessee Tech signee, was named Most Valuable Player of the 2019 DCHS Tiger Football Team during the annual Awards Banquet. Cross also received the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award for the second year and he was named the All Region 3 Class 4A’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
Katherine Malone, a senior and cheer captain, received the Most Valuable Player Football Cheerleader Award.
Feb. 14 - The DeKalb County Lady Tigers secured fourth place district finish with a 45 to 32 win at Smith County. The Tigers were in seventh place after losing to the Owls 61 to 33. The Tigers completed the campaign at 6-21 (3-11 in the district), while the Lady Tigers finished 15-13 (7-7 in district play).
Feb. 18 - The DCHS Basketball Tigers' Dallas Cook made the all-defensive team for the district while joining Dakota White on the boys’ all-district honorable mention team. Elishah Ramos was named freshman of the year for the district.
Lady Tiger Kadee Ferrell was named one of the district’s best by being named to the first team all-district. Mya Ruch and Emme Colwell made the third team all-district. Ruch was also named to the district all-defense team.
Feb. 25 - The DCHS Lady Tigers claimed third place in the District 8 AA Basketball Tournament at Tennessee Tech by beating York Institute 39 to 38 in a consolation game. Macon County, the number one team in the state, won the tournament crown with a 58 to 44 victory over Upperman in the championship game.
Feb. 28 - The 2020 DCHS Tigers Baseball and Tigerettes Softball schedules were announced, while DeKalb County native Tad Webb began his first season as head coach of the DCHS baseball team. Both teams' seasons would be cut short soon after due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mar. 10 - Spring sports began to ramp up and the DCHS Tigerette Softball Team was ready to hit the field running. The team had been working hard in the preseason and was striving to regain their spot as top in the district.
Mar. 17 - Bill Miller, a senior at DCHS and star Tiger soccer player signed a letter of intent with Milligan College to play collegiate soccer for the Buffaloes.
April 21 - Governor Bill Lee announced all schools to be closed for the remainder of the school year. With that, all remaining TSSAA events for 2019-20, including all spring sports, and the postponed BlueCross Basketball Championships, were cancelled.
April 28 - The DCHS Tigerette Softball Program received a check from Florence & White Ford of Smithville in the amount $6,000. The check was presented to DCHS Softball Coach Danny Fish by Jimmy White of Florence & White Ford. The funds were raised in a Ford Test Drive Event held in March.
May 11 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District announced that the Center Hill Recreation Area, located adjacent to Center Hill Dam, was once again opening for public use. Center Hill Recreation Area had been closed since 2008 as a result of construction activities related to the Center Hill Dam Rehabilitation Project.
May 26 - DCHS Tigers soccer player Alan Munoz was interviewed by the Smithville Review, about the season being cancelled. He said that though he was disappointed to have not gotten that final year of play, he was proud of the time he spent on the team.
June 8 - Hilton Conger got a hole-in-one on hole four at the Smithville Golf Course.
June 22 - The DeKalb County High School Tiger Football Team was preparing for their upcoming season, despite concerns that the season may be delayed or even cancelled. The COVID-19 pandemic all but destroyed the 2020 high school spring sports calendar, and it was yet to be seen how the fall school year will be affected.
To be continued in next week's issue of the Smithville Review.
