Lady Saints Ready for Soccer
By Chris Tramel
Preparing a soccer team for an upcoming season is a tough job all on its own, but as everyone knows 2020 has been anything but normal. Delays for practices, health screenings, and even the how a team can practice is the new normal for this summer. But the Lady Saints have been working hard, and are ready to start the upcoming season right where they left off last year.
Last week, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps announced that DeKalb County Schools would not begin as scheduled on August 3rd, after a school employee tested positive for COVID-19. Schools would instead reopen Monday, August 17, a two week delay. The announcement not only delayed the first day of school, but also preseason games for the Lady Saints.
"We've been practicing, but the start of school has been delayed for two weeks, so we had to cancel a preseason tournament we were going to be in," Head Coach Justin Nokes told the Smithville Review. "Everything else is scheduled to play under the TSSAA guidelines."
Even before the announcement of the delay, the Lady Saints have had to deal with the affects of Coronavirus. "Here until last week TSSAA was not allowing us to have drills where there would be contact," Coach Nokes said. "So, we've been doing a lot of agilities, a lot of conditioning, and some skill work. We tried to limit our lines so we didn't have to have the team together. My assistant coach does a great job with them, so we split the team in half, then he does a drill while I'm doing a drill. That way we were able to limit a lot of interaction."
Coach Nokes said that the team goes through temperature checks before each practice and as long as the player is below a certain temperature they can participate, but there are also other differences to practices of the past. "We used to have a water cooler, where they could get water, but unfortunately this year they've had to bring their own water to practices. That way we're not sharing from a cooler."
As far as the team's prospects for the season, Coach Nokes said the team is in great shape. "Last year we had our best season, as far as tournament wise. We ended up in second place in our conference, which is a very competitive conference. This year, we did lose some key pieces that we're going to miss, but we have a lot of familiar faces. We have 28 total on the team, and I think 15 of those are eighth graders. I'm expecting to be right back where we were. As long as we keep working and remain positive, and as long as this Covid stuff doesn't get in the way, I'm hoping we're right back where we were last year, playing for a trophy."
Coach Nokes wants everyone in the community to support the soccer teams, but reminds everyone that the new guidelines for games is not just for the players. "All spectators will be mandated to wear a mask, and there will be temperature checks as well. We might not always agree with the guidelines, but if we want to have soccer, and want to have a season, we have to follow what they tell us. These girls have been working in the heat all summer, and if we want to see them be successful of the field we've got to ask our spectators to follow those mandates."
Another bright spot for the Lady Saints, as well as the Lady Tigers, is the new soccer field. Coach Nokes said he has received many compliments on the field that is still a work in progress. "Coach Kleparek has put in countless hours to make it what it is. Last year, even with it being our first year on the field, I had one coach come up and say that it's the best field in the district. That was a very big compliment to hear about our new home."
"We still got a ways to go," he continued. "We want to add a press box, dugouts, and a concession stand with restrooms. The big priority right now is getting lights, so we can have games later in the day. The high school and middle school both have JV games, so it's hard to get two games in before it's dark. It's an obstacle, but we realize it's a process. We can't have everything at once. We're just thankful that we have what we have, and have a home field now."
The first scheduled home game for the Lady Saints will be Tuesday, August 18, at 4:45 PM.
2020 Lady Saints Soccer Schedule
Tues. Aug. 18 Thurman Francis 4:45/JV Home
Thurs. Aug. 20 Upperman* 6:00 Away
Mon. Aug. 24 Jackson County 5:30 Away
Tues. Aug. 25 Fentress County 5:30 Home
(8th Grade Night - Begins at 5:00)
Thurs. Aug. 27 Avery Trace* 5:00/JV Home
Mon. Aug. 31 Smith County* 5:30 Home
Thurs. Sept. 3 Cumberland County* 5:00/JV Home
Fri. Sept. 4 Warren County* 5:00/JV Away
Thurs. Sept. 10 Algood* 5:30/JV Away
Tues. Sept. 15 Macon County * 5:30/JV Away
Thurs. Sept. 17 Prescott* 5:30/JV Away
Tues. Sept. 22 Overton County* 5:00/JV Home
*Conference Games
Postseason
Mon. Sept. 28 First Round TBA TBA
Tues. Sept. 29 Semifinals TBA TBA
Thurs. Oct. 1 Championship TBA Overton Co.
All dates and times subject to change
2020 Lady Saints Roster
# NAME GRADE
1 Carly Thomas 6
2 Emily Robinson 8
3 Elizabeth Sanchez 7
4 Zoe Keys 8
5 Kylee Savage 8
6 Zoe Bennett 6
7 Rowan Miller 7
8 Tatum Young 7
9 Katherine Knowles 8
10 Larissa Mooneyhan 7
11 Catherine Ortega 7
12 MaKinzy Jenkins 8
13 Averi Hopkins 8
14 Yoselyn Garcia 7
15 Charlotte Paladino 8
16 Rosio Godinez 7
17 Addison Hale 8
18 Livi Gilley 7
19 Kinsley Savage 8
20 Layla Newby 8
21 Katie Ellis 8
22 Kloe Davis 6
23 Delia Quintero 8
24 Shaelee Foster 8
26 Vanessa Coffman 8
28 Addison Miller 8
29 Nancy Balderas 7
30 Hailee Merriman 7
Head Coach Justin Nokes
Asst Coach Cameron Lester
Managers: Aiden Malone, Jeremy Mooneyhan, and Maddie Tobitt
