On November 5th, 2020, The Lady Seahawk Varsity Volleyball team won the State Title. This goal that the Seahawks have been fighting for all season was finally complete and well deserved. The girls practiced safety precautions, and hard work paid off with the second of the last point, when the ball hit the ground of the court.

Kenna Mason says, “Winning states was the best feeling in the world. It felt like nothing could ever go wrong.” Kenna Mason is a sophomore and star setter on the Lady Seahawk volleyball team. She helped lead her team through an amazing season and helped end with a State Championship. Kenna states that, “the nerves of it being the State Championship did not hit me until my team stepped foot into the gym to play.” The girls were prepared and more than ready for this moment. The team would not let nerves get the best of them. The Lady Seahawks came to play and more importantly to win.

The volleyball team made sacrifices all season so they had a chance to play in the state final. Kenna Mason says, “Our team has worked so hard for this and trained all season to get to the final and win it. We even quarantined all season to stay healthy. We all wanted to give HHIHS a second state ring for volleyball and the first volleyball state ring for division 4A.” The girls were willing to do whatever it took to finish out their season with a ring.

Kenna says, “Being a state champion and winning the whole state of South Carolina for volleyball makes me feel a part of something bigger than myself.” Kenna and her teammates are excited and feel blessed that they won this title. This ring and accomplishment came from their hard work and it was more than well deserved.

The Lady Seahawks are losing a couple seniors but their team is still skilled and more than powerful. The Seahawks have more than they need to come back and defend another state title. Kenna says, “Our team should be just as good next season and we are hoping and working to win another state title.” Hard work pays off and the next season hopes to prove that message again.

Mr. Mead sits down with the school newspaper to reflect on his team’s season.

Mr. Mead started coaching the JV football team last year, making this his second year helping run the team. When discussing the process of training the boys for the season, Mr. Mead states, “We were in different circumstances with the season,” He continues, “We also changed the structure of the JV practice.”

While on the topic of the teams they played, Mr. Mead says how they usually play six to seven teams in a season, but this year were only able to play three. Although the JV boys did not get to play together as much, Coach Mead made it clear that they are a true team. He states, “I think this season was a really good season and the team dynamic was very positive.”

Mr. Mead also made sure to mention their amazing progress, “I think they grew as amazing athletes and players.” He continued, “The team showed great growth in the physical and mental aspect of the game.”

When asked if this year’s football season will affect next year’s training, Coach Mead stated, ”Yes, and as a coaching staff you learn a lot about your players, and how they worked best.” Lastly, he states, “Some of the approaches this year were better than they have been in the past.”

Mr. Mead, along with the coaching staff for the JV football team are very proud of their players and the growth shown throughout the season.

On Saturday, November 7 of the cheer season, the Lady Seahawks Cheer squad took home a victory at their first cheer competition. The ladies worked hard and ended up winning the competition. They worked hard and met their goal that they were eager to achieve.

Gracie Brannon, a competitor on the squad says, “It felt good to start the season strong with a win.” The girls cheer team worked as hard as they possibly could with the restrictions of the pandemic. Gracie says, “With Coronavirus restrictions, we were given less time than usual to prepare, but we worked hard as a team every second of the few practices we had.”

The first victory of the season was a joyous occasion for the squad. The girls loved to see their hard work pay off. They did not let the COVID-19 restrictions affect them, and they continued to do all they could to win. Gracie says, “My favorite thing about the competition was winning because I was happy to see the hard work the team put in that led us to winning.”

The Lady Seahawks cheer squad has some qualities that set them apart from the others. The hard work that the girls put in, but also, the willingness to work as one helped lead them to succeed. Gracie also says, “I think our work ethic led us to winning, and our team stands out because not all teams are able to work together to create one great team.”

The Seahawks have a strong connection and chemistry that bond them together and set them apart. The cheer squad started off strong with a win and are still working to bring home more.

The Seahawk Cheer Team won in their first competition of the season. I spoke with captain of the team Jenna Block to see what the experience was like while undergoing the new circumstances that have been applied due to the Coronavirus and she had some very interesting things to say. She elaborated that competitions are a lot different than they used to be, “ It was weird, we couldn’t watch the other teams when they went, and when it was our turn to compete, only our parents were allowed in the gym.” She also spoke to the different practices when it came to downtime during the competition, and that usually the teams can walk around, pick up something to eat, buy some merchandise from the hosts of the competition, and interact with the other teams. Instead they stayed isolated for their safety, and where to watch their competitors through a Facebook livestream. She also talked about what it was like to be captain for the first year, with a lot of newcomers on the team, she said they are learning quickly and the team as a whole is working well.

The team won one other competition and placed 8th at states this season.

Hilton Head Island High School sent their cheerleaders to their first competition of the season on November 7th. Cheerleader Holly Heins agrees to tell a bit about the competition.

Cheerleading has always been a beautiful and amazing part of Hilton Head Island High School. People love going to sporting and other events where the cheerleaders are showcasing their skills and school spirit. “My favorite thing about cheering is the people and getting to do the competitions,” she said. She talks more on how the people who cheer with her are some of the best people she has met. It is nice to see that through a school activity people can make new friends and enjoy going to school.

When people go to see a cheer competition they see the final product of everything the team has practiced. The audience does not normally see any mess ups nor accidents, even when they are more common than one may think. “In our first competition, I think we did really well, our stunts and tumbling hit and we got first place, but the second time we competed, our bus broke down and we were very tired and stressed…two of our stunts did not go as planned and our pyramid wasn't on the right counts...I think we did the best we could under the circumstances,” she said. Seeing that if you slip up a bit it will be okay is something that people quite like to see.

Holly was also asked the question “How did you feel after you and your team won?” Holly replied with “I personally felt happy and proud, I know we all had worked really hard for that moment, and although the rewards were virtual...I think that everyone else reacted the same way I did, especially our coaches.” As you can see, Holly and her team have been working hard and by the emotion displayed, they are glad it is paying off.

Emilie Fister, a freshman at Hilton Head Island High school, talks all about basketball for the 2020-2021 season. Emilie discusses tryouts, Covid-19 precautions, and her own experiences in the sport.

With winter sports starting back up, basketball tryouts were held recently. Just like the other sports, covid-19 protocols are the same. Emilie says they are the same protocols as a game or practice would have been. The tryouts consisted of mainly drills, and she says it felt more like a practice than a tryout. They were held over three days and were about two hours long with 15 other students. With not having played the sport for long, it felt different, but familiar to her.

As the fall season wraps up, covid-19 protocols for the season remain the same. Everyone will show up and leave practices with a mask, but masks are not required while playing. Temperature checks are required as well. So far, Emilie has had two practices, and she is working hard to come back to the court after so long. Because it is still off season, conditioning is a main point of focus for the team right now. Drills take up a lot of the practices. Another main focus for the team is shooting and working on offensive and defensive playing.

Due to covid-19, the off season has changed, so Emilie does not know her game schedule yet. Besides practices, which are almost everyday of the week, on November 17th there will be a scrimmage at Effingham against Effingham High School that she is looking forward to playing.

Emilie has been playing basketball since middle school and has excelled in the sport. “It is more advanced and more technical to play at this school,” Emilie says. She has only ever played at her middle school, but can tell that the sport is more elaborate at a higher level.

After months of not playing basketball, the hardest part about coming back is the conditioning, running, and the cardiovascular work. Emilie says her stamina is low for such an active sport. She played on the Junior Varsity Volleyball team this fall, but basketball consists of more running, although both sports are highly challenging and very competitive.

Covid-19 may seem to limit the team, but the coaches and advisors have a plan and will help keep students active and motivated.

With the spring season coming up, some sports are coming up as well, for example Soccer. Covid hasn’t really affected the soccer season. Since soccer is outdoors and running around players really wouldn’t be together so no one can really be exposed.

Soccer tryouts will be starting in February, with Varsity tryouts on February first lasting 3 days and JV February fifth also lasting 3 days. All boys interested are invited to try out but must register with coach Olivetti by email or see him in his office, he has to verify your physical, parent consent, and GPA.

The coach for varsity will be coach Miguel Lopez, assisted by Peter Savarese. Coach Lopez graduated from Hilton Head High School and played for the Seahawks- including being a team captain his senior year. He is currently a director and coach for Tormenta FC. For JV the coach will be Coach Savarese, he is also from Hilton Head but he played for Pinewood Prep in Charleston and then for Erskine college. As said before soccer will be mostly unaffected by COVID, but the coaches will be taking precautions to keep players as separated as possible.

Both Coach Lopez and Coach Savarese have been successfully coaching club teams over the past year so they have experience with protocols that minimize the risk of exposure to players. The high school season is very short- starting with tryouts in February and ending with the state playoffs beginning may 4th.

The boys Varsity team will be announced late on Wednesday, February 3 and the JV will be announced late on Friday, February 5- and both teams play their first scrimmage on Tuesday February 9th. Thereafter both teams will have at least one match every week until playoffs begin. Both JV and Varsity will practice after every school day, unless they have a match. The JV and Varsity will practice at the same time each day, but at different sites due to limited field space school. The Varsity will practice at Barker field and the JV will practice at our practice field-affectionately referred to as the swamp. As with tryouts, we have incorporated protocols into our practices and match day procedures to minimize the risk of exposure and/ or transmission of COVID.

Our athletic Director, Coach Monmonier is constantly evaluating how sports matches are conducted to ensure that we are meeting or exceeding the precautions necessary to protect our students, families and fans from risk to exposure- so procedures change constantly. But at this time, family and fans are invited to matches as long as they practice safe distancing and wear protective masks while in the stadium. Tickets are available through the school app, but can be purchased at the match as well. No concessions are available at the stadium.

At Hilton Head Island High School, conditioning has started for spring sports. This includes girls soccer. Ninth grade student Kenzie Jacoby has been attending these sessions. HHIHS and many other schools use conditioning for sports to get the players in shape for the upcoming seasons.

So far the soccer girls have had four conditioning days a week for a little over a month. The first practice was on November 30th. Kenzie says, “Each day is a bit different.” On Mondays and Wednesdays the girls are in the weight room. Running and fitness are on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the soccer girls. Monday is leg day for the soccer players. This means they do squats, lunges, and calf raises with heavy weights. Arm day is Wednesday so they do upper body exercises with weights.

Each conditioning practice is forty five minutes long. This time period gives the coaches and players enough time to do their exercises. Kenzie says, “around twenty to thirty people,” attend the conditioning sessions. The sessions are also free.

When asked if she has noticed any changes since conditioning started, Kenzie replied with, “ yes, I have noticed a little difference.” These conditioning practices are highly beneficial to the upcoming season and it looks like the soccer girls will have a great season!

“After each volleyball team finishes their season, we usually have a postseason plan to keep the team on track,” says the co-captain of the 2020 JV Volleyball team, Lola Gallager. Lola Gallager is a tenth grade student who attends the Hilton Head Island High School. The JV Volleyball team had to weave their way around the season with COVID-19 in the way, but they made it through using the right precautions. The coaches use the postseason as a time for the team to continue to work hard and stay prepared for the next season. On a regular basis, players will come to school to the workout room on Mondays and Wednesdays. Players stay until 5:30 p.m.. During the workouts they will do a warmup then follow an assigned workout. Lola explains how, “The coaches have us do this so we stay active and fit.”