The winter sports season saw a few Beaufort County squads cement themselves as some of the best in the area. Terra Ceia’s basketball team won 25 games. The Washington boys’ swim team repeated as 1-A/2-A state champion. The Pam Pack wrestlers had a strong showing in the dual-team playoffs and had four place at last weekend’s state championships.

It wasn’t a great season for others, though. Only three of the six basketball teams between Northside, Southside and Washington made it into the playoffs. Those three that did make it were promptly eliminated in the first round.

A lot of athletes, especially young ones, couple success with championships. Yes, a conference or even a state-championship team is successful. However, only a handful of players can earn that title.

Success can be relative. In some way or another, all local teams had to overcome adversity at some point during the last few months. For example, Washington’s boys lost their basketball coach. Lady Pack coach Ralph Biggs took over the two boys’ programs. The boys took to Biggs instead of letting the season continue to fall to pieces. They kept working and were able to earn a win under their interim coach.

The girls had been doing well until the conference stretch came around. However, things came unraveled from there. Biggs being stretched thin may have contributed to it, but everyone recovered to earn a postseason berth.

The Panthers were able to endure losing freshman phenom Rashod Smith for a chunk of the season. Southside’s clubs were thrown right into conference play, but the Lady Seahawks still managed to make the playoffs.

That season has ended. Now it’s time for spring sports to get going. As athletes prepare to take the diamond, track or soccer field, remember that as coveted as a state championship may be, success is still success.