Southside brought some hardware back from this past weekend’s state track and field championships in Greensboro. It also marked the end of the high school athletic calendar.

The year started off on a rough note. Washington’s football team, just two years removed from an appearance in the state championship, squeaked out just three wins. The offseason had an eventful beginning too, as the Pam Pack lost its head coach. Northside and Southside did pick up the slack to make the football season an exciting one.

Fall turned into winter, and things were still relatively quiet. A second-straight state championship for Washington’s swim team and a four-round playoff run by the Pam Pack soccer team saved what would have been, all things considered, a disastrous first half of the year.

Elsewhere in the county, Northside and Terra Ceia provided plenty of compelling basketball. But when the sun came back out and it got warmer, it was the Pam Pack’s time to shine again. From baseball and softball to tennis and girls’ soccer, Washington pieced together an incredible spring to finish the year strong.

This year has provided plenty of memories for fans and athletes alike. In the process, local competitors and their coaches have set an example for the next generation of Beaufort County athletes.

Summertime is exciting because Babe Ruth and American Legion teams are like looking into the future of area baseball and softball teams. Beneath them, though, will be all-star teams loaded with some of the best players in the county.

It’s a time for local children to spend their days outdoors, developing themselves into varsity-caliber athletes that, one day, will make the memories soon-to-be high-school graduates will carry with them for many years to come.

The journey starts now for those who wish to represent the Pam Pack, Seahawks or Panthers. Get involved with the county’s recreation programs this summer to make the next step toward improving as an athlete.