Yes, I know school officially starts on Tuesday morning. I know because I have two kids and a teacher for a wife.
But in the sports world, school started this past Friday.
Face it. Opening Night of high school football is what brings communities together for the first time.
Look up at that photo. East Rowan came out in force to cheer on the Mustangs in their 7-0 win over North Rowan. Just like the fans showed at South. Just like the fans traveled to Central Cabarrus with West. Just like they did when Carson went to Hickory Ridge.
So while the Rowan Legion team’s run to a third-place finish in the World Series is still in everyone’s mind, it is now in the back of everyone’s mind.
Football rules now, with soccer, golf, cross country, volleyball and tennis playing Monday through Thursday.
Enjoy it all.
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What have we learned already about Rowan County sports as kids prepare to climb on those buses and head for homeroom for the first time?
– Carson’s volleyball team is undefeated at 3-0.
New coach Kelan Rogers, an East Rowan grad, came over from West Davidson where he won everything in sight. He inherits a team, which includes nine seniors, from Trish Hester. Most of those seniors have started throughout their careers.
Guess who else is undefeated going into this week? That’s right, Jan Dowling’s South Rowan Raiders.
If you’re going to just one volleyball match this season, be at South on Sept. 15 when these two neighbors meet.
– Cross country loves the letters, “p-r-e.”
On Tuesday at Dan Nicholas Park, the season gets under way with the annual pre-Rowan County meet.
And don’t forget the pre-NPC meet on Sept. 15.
– Also on Tuesday, county soccer champion Salisbury travels to East Rowan.
– Want to see the best tennis team in the county? Go to Salisbury on Wednesday as Chris Myers’ Hornets play host to South.
And then we go back around to football on Friday. All six of Rowan’s teams play within the county borders.
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Get ready for a good dose of college football in your Sunday paper for the rest of the year.
Both of our local colleges open Saturday.
There is expected to be some mighty curious fans from all over North Carolina heading to a high school field in Raleigh to watch Catawba play Saint Augustine’s.
Cam Sexton, who was used to playing in front of crowds in the neighborhood of 60,000 at North Carolina, has transferred to Division II Catawba. His crowd Saturday will probably be 58,000 less than he’s used to.
That game’s at 1 p.m., so you’ll have time to hurry back to Salisbury for Livingstone’s home opener at 6 p.m.
We thought we’d get a sneak preview of Livingstone on Saturday but lightning halted the scheduled scrimmage.
Coach Lamonte Massie did report he would’ve had 58 Blue Bears going through 30 plays. Now, we wait until Saturday night.
It’s a packed scheduled this week.
Get used to it. School’s starting tomorrow and the weeks pretty much play out this way through May.
The Post will be around for it all.
Will you?
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Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4287 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com.