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Hi, again.

Hopefully, many of you remember me, and for those who don’t, let me introduce myself. I’m Jason O. Boyd, the Sports Editor of The Washington Daily News. You may remember a column Steve Barnes wrote a month or so ago explaining how he’d be stepping back from the sports duties and how I’d be running the show now.

This is my third stop at the WDN. I was here when the newspaper won the Pulitzer Prize. I came back from a Southside baseball game and thought someone had died because there were so many flowers from the celebration earlier in the day. I was here during 9/11, one of the scariest times I’ve ever lived through … worse than Hurricane Florence and Floyd.

So is the third time a charm? I’ve thoroughly enjoyed returning home and doing what I love most, covering high school sports. I’m from Pinetown, so I’m very familiar with the high schools, businesses and places all through Beaufort County.

All of this — plus Thanksgiving — gives me pause to reflect on what the past four months have been like and what I’m thankful for on this holiday. I’m generally thankful every day for what I do, who I meet and get reacquainted with. It truly feels like home again.

So, in true David Letterman fashion, here are the top 10 things I’m most thankful for this holiday season.

10. High school sports: To me, this is the most pure of the sports out there. I’ve always enjoyed this level of competition and have really enjoyed the Friday night football games, Wednesdays covering soccer, Tuesdays with volleyball or cross country, meeting the players, coaches and parents and writing game stories and features.

9. Blasts from the past: Some of the people I work with I went to school with like Keith Boyd, Northside’s football coach. I’ve also had my mind blown at least once a week when I see, for example, that Southside soccer coach Jay Petty is married to Tina Petty … who I also went to school with. Then there’s others like P.S. Jones Middle School’s John Scott Cutler, Southside’s Misty Mooring and Northside’s Michelle Leathers, who I covered playing sports and who are now coaches.

8. Those coaches and ADs: Watching Northside’s Jared Adams help out at a Northside football game then assist the school’s flag football team as the defensive coordinator … while coaching up the boys’ basketball team and helping arrange other things that need to be done. I also think there’s two Will Tysons, Washington’s AD, after seeing him help the school’s swim team while coordinating the facilities for all the flag football games being played on the football field and so much more. Jeff Carrow is on the Southside wrestling bench, in addition to football? Amazing! 

7. Flag football: I remember when volleyball was first introduced to schools in the area and how they took to playing it. Flag football is the next big sport that’s going to be played at public schools all over the state. These ladies playing for the first time are pioneers, and it’s exciting to see where this all goes next.

6. New things: Seeing Unity Christian Academy in Chocowinity for the first time gives me lots of optimism for the success of the athletics there. The school wasn’t around during my first two tours at the WDN. I’ve heard and read about it, and it’s been exciting to see where it is now, both academically and athletically.

5. Some things don’t change: Washington High School’s football field looks the same as it did 20 years ago when I worked at the WDN. Hearing Bill Gore from the press box gave me a level of comfort since he’s been doing that job forever and has the press box named after him. Going to places like Terra Ceia Christian School and Pungo Christian also brings back memories.

4. Signees: It’s wonderful to see so many area athletes being able to continue their careers at the college level. I’ve covered three so far (Washington’s Addison Miller and Northside’s Claire Holmes and Samantha Braddy) and am looking forward to many more.

3. Those athletes: Northside cross country runner Andrew Harding can’t be real. But he is, and is an amazing runner, too. There are also tennis, soccer, volleyball and other cross country runners who have amazed me with their talents. I could never do what they do and marvel at their success and abilities.

2. Football stars: I’ve written about and seen players like Washington’s Keondrick Melton, Northside’s Sincere Columbus and Southside’s Myquan Clark. Others like Washington’s Evan Makepeace and Northside’s Max Vansant are a thrill to watch. Though the season ended earlier than we thought, it was so much fun to watch these guys and many more battle week after week.

1. What’s next: I love high school basketball. And wrestling. And swimming, softball, baseball and all the other sports. I’m optimistic the next four months will be just as enjoyable as the previous four have been.