Sports

Sportsmanship is a fundamental aspect of competitive athletics, standing as a large part of sports culture. The issue of poor sportsmanship has been brought to the forefront, with many high-profile athletes and teams facing criticism for their lack of ethical behavior on the court, emphasizing respect and fair play.

One example of an athlete who has been criticized for their lack of sportsmanship is Draymond Green, a power forward for the Golden State Warriors. Green is notorious for his aggressive playstyle, trash-talking, and tendency to kick other players on the court. Although he is strong in his leadership skills and intensity, these positive abilities have been masked by his lack of sportsmanship. He has been criticized by many, with some arguing that his aggressive style of play is unacceptable making him a controversial figure in the league.

Another example of criticism for lack of sportsmanship are the Detroit Bad Boys, a group of players from the Detroit Pistons, known for their aggressive and physical playing style in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Bad Boys were known for their “take no prisoners” approach to the game, often engaging in physical altercations with opposing players. While the Bad Boys were successful on the court, winning back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, their style of play was heavily criticized by many, who argued that their behavior was both unethical and dangerous.

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark in this year’s Women’s March Madness tournament sparked controversy regarding the sportsmanship debate as well. The two engaged in trash talk and taunting gestures, such as John Cena’s “You can’t see me” and pointing at their ring fingers. Clark says these actions “should never be torn down or criticized because I believe that’s what makes this game so fun. That’s what draws people to this game”(CBS). This raises the question of what actions are acceptable before celebration and emotional expression turn into a lack of sportsmanship. 

As poor sportsmanship has continued to grow, rules regarding them have evolved. For example, flagrant and technical fouls play a significant role in maintaining fair play and upholding sportsmanship standards. Flagrant fouls are severe offenses that involve excessive force, intentional harm, or unsportsmanlike behavior, and are typically met with severe penalties, such as ejections, suspensions, or point deductions. For example, deliberately tripping in basketball and other actions that pose a threat to participant’s safety and well-being would receive this foul. On the other hand, technical fouls are less severe in nature and serve as a means to maintain order, respect, and fair competition within the sporting event. They punish actions such as disrespectful conduct towards officials or opponents, or excessive celebration. Consequences for technical fouls often involve penalty shots, free throws, or temporary removal from the game. Some argue that officials have become too strict in penalizing athletes, leading to an environment that limits the excitement and emotional expression that fans and players love. Finding the right balance between maintaining discipline and allowing for genuine expression is crucial to preserving the essence of sportsmanship.

Sportsmanship is a critical aspect of competitive athletics. While the pursuit of victory is a central goal of any athlete, it is equally important to consider the impact that their actions have on others and on the broader sports industry. Poor sportsmanship has negative effects on the game and on the player’s overall image. A lack of sportsmanship can distract from the player’s skills due to the focus on their negative actions. Recognizing the importance of sportsmanship and working to create a culture of fair play can lead to a more positive sports environment.

For the past 5 years the Carolina have been searching, and looking for their face of the franchise, their superstar, their quarterback and have continually found failure. Since 2019, The Panthers have started 7 different quarterbacks, from former #1 pick Baker Mayfield, to XFL star PJ. Walker, but they have not seen any results with the Panthers last winning season being 2018. The Panthers selected Quarterback Bryce Young with the #1 overall pick after they secured the pick in the Draft via a trade with the Chicago Bears. The Panthers hope they have finally found their missing piece in Young. 

In recent years, there has been one common thread between successful teams in the NFL: quarterbacks. The defending Champions, The Kansas City Chiefs have what some would say the best quarterback in the league:  Patrick Mahomes. The Cincinnati Bengals have Joe Burrow, who led them to their first superbowl appearance in over 30 years. Both of these teams took gambles by drafting a quarterback in the NFL draft and are now soaking in success. However, drafting a quarterback in the NFL Draft means failure more often than it leads to success. The New York Jets selected Zach Wilson second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, and the match has been far from perfect. As a starter in New York, Wilson has recorded an 8-14 losing record, and lost the starting job.  The Panthers have faith Bryce Young can be their superstar and not another disappointment. 

Bryce Young attended the University of Alabama and put together a stellar resume. Young went 30-4 as a starter over three years for the Crimson Tide and was the first ever Alabama Quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy for Alabama. Additionally, Young possess a very strong mental game which was a big reason he was pegged as a potential #1 pick. Young scored in the 98th percentile for the S2 test (a test that measures how fast a player can process and react to information), Young excelled on the S2 test proving that he has an elite mental game. Young is not known for extreme arm strength, or being a freak athlete but he has found success at every level he has competed at.  

Bryce Young is below the ideal size for a quarterback in the NFL, which is the main thing his critics cite will keep him from success in the NFL. At the combine, Young was measured at 6 feet tall, however many people believe that his height is closer to 5 ’10”.At the 2023 NFL Pre Draft  Combine, Young weighed in at 204 pounds, although many people think by midseason he will be around 195 pounds. Young will be the shortest QB in the NFL the moment he takes his first snap. In fact, Panthers Head Coach, Frank Reich, has never worked with a QB shorter than 6’2”. Alabama Head Coach, Nick Saban, expressed that he wasn’t concerned about Young’s size in an interview with Stephen A. Smith, on his podcast Know Mercy, saying, “We’ve all seen the 6-foot-4, 225-pound guy that can throw it like a bazooka, but he can’t make the choices and decisions; he can’t distribute the ball, he can’t throw it accurately. So who’s the better bet? I’m going on history, production, [and] performance, and Bryce Young’s done it about as well as anybody.” Nick Saban has won 7 National Championships, and  he carries the reputation as one of the greatest college football coaches, yet he is not concerned about Young’s size. 

The Panthers are still searching for the franchise’s first superbowl, and have not made the playoffs since 2017. Panthers fans took a leap of faith trading up to #1 to select Bryce Young hoping he will be the man that can lead them out of the dark place this franchise is in, all the way to a Superbowl.

Do you like Cracker Jacks? The city of Charlotte is home to an NFL Team, NBA Team, and MLS Team, but where is the MLB team? 

In a 2022 interview with ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr, MLB General Manager Rob Manfred commented on the idea of expansion, saying, “I would love to get to 32 teams.” The concept of MLB expansion has been thrown around in recent years and becomes increasingly imminent every year. MLB’s most recent expansion was in 1998, with the addition of the “Devil Rays” and “Diamondbacks” bringing the number of teams from 28 to 30. Post-COVID-19, the business side of MLB has been thriving. According to Forbes Magazine, MLB set a record with 10.8 billion dollars of revenue brought in over the 2022 season. It has been 25 years since the latest expansion, and MLB is making as much money as ever; with many possible expansion cities, it’s time MLB expands to 32 teams and brings one team to the 704. 

According to the World Population Review, Charlotte is currently the 15th largest city in the United States, growing at a rate of 1.52% annually. The city of Charlotte is also larger than some cities that have MLB teams. Based on the 2021 United States Census, the population of the city of Charlotte is 879,709, which is twice as much as the population of the city of Oakland (433,823); Oakland is home to the Oakland Athletics. The numbers prove Charlotte is ready for an MLB team, but Charlotte’s sports culture is another attractive component of the city. 

Charlotte is a city that is filled with a love for sports. The city rallies around teams like the Panthers and Hornets, and even the newest addition of Major League Sports to Charlotte, the Charlotte Futbol Club. In its inaugural match on March 5th, 2022, Charlotte FC broke the attendance record for an MLS match, attracting 74,479 fans to Bank Of America Stadium. This was not just a one-hit wonder; Charlotte FC ended up ranking second in average attendance among MLS teams bringing in just over 36,000 fans a game. Charlotte FC is not the only Charlotte team fans have rallied around. According to ESPN, The Carolina Panthers ranked 9th in NFL attendance for 2022, averaging 71,000 fans a game. The Charlotte Knights have been a minor league baseball team that has called Charlotte home since 1976. Charlotte has not forgotten about its source for professional baseball amidst the other major league sports that represent the city. According to stats taken by MiLB, the Charlotte Knights ranked 7th out of around 120 teams in attendance rankings out of all minor league teams. With the Knights, Charlotte has shown that a baseball culture is present and that the city would rally around an MLB team. 

Another reason Charlotte is the perfect city for an MLB team is the location. Currently, the closest MLB team to Charlotte is The Atlanta Braves. Atlanta is 245 miles away from Charlotte, and The Braves bring in a significant number of fans from the Carolinas and other Southeast states. Currently, there are 2 MLB teams spread across the states of Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Mississippi. The Southeast is in need of another MLB team, and Charlotte once again fits the bill.

The city of Charlotte is ready for an MLB team. It is the 15th largest city in the United States and one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Also, Charlotte has shown its passion for pro sports through the Charlotte Futbol Club, Carolina Panthers, and even the Charlotte Knights. Charlotte is in a location where it can fill a gap Major League Baseball has in the Southeast. If the MLB ever decided to expand, expect the city of Charlotte to be in the mix to become home to a new franchise.

The U.S. and Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team’s players have come together to stand up for gender equality and transgender rights. Literally. On February 16th, before the opening of the SheBelieves Cup match, the United States and Canada’s women’s players stood in solidarity at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium. Players from both teams wore purple tape on one wrist to represent gender equality, and on the other, white tape read “Defend Trans Joy.” This display of gender equality is rooted in the Canadian players’ ongoing battle with their federation, Canadian Soccer Association, for equal treatment with men. More specifically, the appearance of the transgender message was in response to the recently passed anti-transgender legislation in Florida. Last year, the state passed a so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill prohibiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten to third grade. This hits particularly close to home for the Canadian players as Quinn, a midfielder, identifies as transgender and non-binary. Numerous players on the Canadian team have also spoken out in support of transgender rights, especially in response to this recent legislation. 

Canadian players say they’re playing in the SheBelieves Cup, which is an invitational women’s soccer tournament held in the U.S. in protest after a previous strike prior to legal measures being taken with the CSA.  Part of the Cup’s initiative is “to inspire and empower women and girls in sports and beyond,” says the U.S. Soccer website. This February marked the 8th edition of the Cup, consisting of Japan, Brazil, Canada, and the U.S. in three venues, Orlando, FL, Nashville, TN, and Frisco, TX. 

Before the kickoff match, the players issued a statement saying they “will continue to wear purple until our association has standards in place that ensure equal treatment and opportunity,” according to CNN. Additionally, Canada’s players wore purple t-shirts saying, “Enough is enough.” They gathered in the center circle as a demonstration of unity. The color choice of purple serves as a symbol for efforts regarding gender equality, mentions the Canadian Soccer Players’ Association in a statement. While the USWNT came out victorious in their fight for gender equality, the U.S. players have decided to focus on their counterparts in Canada who have faced the same misogyny and unequal treatment. The USWNT Players Association statement reads, “We stand with all women’s footballers in calling attention to their collective fight, but also call on everyone to enjoy and support the fight to eradicate ALL inequality and discrimination that exists in our sport,” says CNN. The U.S. players gained equitable pay with the men’s team in 2022 when each signed a new agreement. The players and the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed to a $24 million settlement to end a 6-year equal pay lawsuit. Following the match of the U.S. against Canada, Canada coach Bev Priestman conveyed her support for her players. Still, the tension with their employer, Canada Soccer, puts her in a rocky position. From CNN, players had voiced earlier that week that they wanted increasing staffing and resources equal to what the men’s team received during their World Cup last year, in addition to previously owed money from 2022. 

On February 27th, the president of the Canadian soccer federation resigned due to accusations by the women’s national team of unequal and inequitable treatment. He said, “While I have been one of the biggest proponents of equalizing the competitive performance environment for our Women’s National Team, I will unfortunately not be leading this organization when it happens.” Amidst all this, the Canadian women’s players have said, “To everyone who has supported us as we started this fight…the fans, players, coaches, thank you. We are inspired and motivated… and we will win.”

Super Bowl LVII wrapped up the 2022 NFL season on Sunday, February 12th, 2023. The Kansas City Chiefs faced the Philadelphia Eagles, with Rihanna performing at halftime and Chris Stapleton singing the National Anthem. Going into the biggest game of the year, the two teams’ postseason stats were nearly identical. Both teams shared the best record in the NFL of 14-3 going into the postseason and scored the same  number of points throughout the season: 543 (NFL). The Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes out of Texas Tech, made his third appearance in the Super Bowl, previously beating the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV, and falling short to Tom Brady’s Buccaneers the following year in Super Bowl LV. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts out of Alabama made his first Super Bowl appearance, and although he lost to the more seasoned quarterback Mahomes, he did not fail to impress, putting up impressive stats in the biggest game of the year. 

Another unique feature of Super Bowl LVII was the Kelce brothers facing each other as opponents, the first set of brothers to compete against each other in the Super Bowl. Travis Kelce plays tight end for the Chiefs, totaling 81 receiving yards, six catches, and a touchdown in Super Bowl LVII. His brother Jason Kelce plays center for the Eagles, appearing in his second Super Bowl of his career, falling just three points short of his brother Travis’s team. 

​​ The two teams were  evenly matched, keeping the game within a touchdown for nearly the entire game. The Eagles had a 10-point lead at halftime, but the Chiefs were able to substantially outscore the Eagles in the second half to secure the 38-35 win and take home the Lombardi trophy. With this comeback, the Chiefs became the second team in Super Bowl history to win after trailing by double digits at halftime. Mahomes was voted MVP of the game, completing 13 of his 15 passes thrown in the second half for 93 yards (CBS Sports). While Mahomes was spectacular in leading Kansas City to victory, Hurts gave an impressive show in Glendale as well. He completed 27 of 38 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown while taking 15 carries for 70 yards plus the three scores (CBS Sports).

While Hurts and Mahomes put on a show, they were no match for Rihanna’s performance at halftime. Rihanna’s incredible performance attracted over 5 million more viewers than the Super Bowl game itself. Taking the stage for the first time since 2017, Rihanna opened her 13-minute show with “Bitch Better Have My Money” and finished with “Diamonds.” Her performance was highly anticipated, and viewers were anxious to see if she would bring a surprise guest. While guesses included rappers Jay-Z, Drake, and Kanye West, no one expected that her surprise would be something else: a pregnancy announcement. Rihanna recently gave birth to her first child with rapper ASAP Rocky, born in May of 2022. She appeared to be a couple of months into her second pregnancy when she immediately rubbed her stomach upon beginning her show. Rihanna paused her performance only to reapply Fenty face powder, a product from her top-selling makeup brand, before beginning “All of the Lights.” Her show featured multiple swinging platforms, in which pregnant Rihanna was suspended up and down, ranging from 15-60 feet. 

Regardless if you are a sports fan, the Super Bowl every year proves to be prime entertainment. Featuring the greatest football teams in the nation and one of the greatest entertainers of all time, Super Bowl LVII was no exception to the familiar thrill that comes with the Super Bowl. 

The Myers Park Mustangs brought it to the court, pool, mat, track, and beyond this past winter sports season. With successful seasons all around and two State Championship titles, athletes showed off their horsepower after countless hours of grit, focus, and precision. 

To kick off the State Championship titles, the Myers Park Women’s Swim and Dive team placed first at the NCHSAA 4A State Championship meet, securing the title by a mile. The ladies came into the meet as the defending champions and were eager to reclaim their title. Their efforts were reflected in the final standings, as all three relays secured first place, and there were several individual scorers.

State team member, Sofia Plaza, reflects, “To be part of the winning state team was incredible because I got to do it with my closest friends. My favorite moment at states was being part of the relays and being able to break the state record.”

Taking home the title for a second year in a row was monumental for the athletes and served as an unparalleled finale to Coach Goudes and Coach Coyne’s last season with the SeaStangs. 

Plaza recalls, “My favorite memory with Ms. Goudes was watching her expression when our team was called out as State Champions. She was so happy and it felt amazing to make her so proud!”

A few weeks later, the Myers Park Men’s Basketball team set out with a similar goal: to win the NCHSAA 4A State Championship Title. This would be the first state title to go down in history for the men’s basketball team. 

Two-year varsity team member and senior, James Barber, details the team’s preparations, “Over the course of the year I feel like our team grew a ton…we did two tournaments over holiday break…I think that I was only at home for around three nights of break and with the team the rest, so that brought us a lot closer together and we just kept that rolling…We all had a certain urgency and everyone was dialed in…but we also had fun…everyone was just super excited.” 

The men’s basketball team knew they were in good standing to potentially win the state title. 

“We came in and it was definitely our goal…we knew that with the talent, the discipline, and I would say the best coaching staff in the state, the goal was definitely a State Championship” Barber notes. 

The Basketball State Championship took place in Dean Dome, home to the North Carolina Tar Heels. This setup made for an unsurpassed experience for both the players and the cheerleaders. 

“I’ve been a Carolina fan my whole life, so it was just crazy to be playing in the Dean Dome…I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better senior year, especially ending it that way,” Barber adds. 

Other teams, such as the Men’s Varsity Wrestling team, Women’s Basketball team, and Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track teams had exceptional seasons. 

Senior and 3-year Men’s Varsity Wrestling team member, Riley Galvin, notes, “The past season was great for the program. We tripled the team’s size and we have a lot of underclassmen. Almost our whole starting roster qualified for regionals so that was awesome…My favorite memories are going out to eat after a tournament and our tournament in the Bojangles Coliseum.” 

Another Senior and 4-year Women’s Varsity Track and Field team member, Simmons Lee, adds, “The entire team is so encouraging towards each other and I’ve loved being a leader on the team and getting to witness other runners reach their goals…I’ve absolutely loved my time running on the track team at Myers Park and have made lifelong friendships and bonds…as well as learned to challenge myself through both mental and physical obstacles as a track athlete.” 

With vast momentum across all winter sports, the Mustangs are working hard to bring this same energy into the spring sports season. Let’s hit the fields! 

  Most athletes have gotten into degree programs to keep them eligible for sports, but it doesn’t help prepare them for post-sport careers. Education specialists say clustering raises various potential problems, including academic fraud; certain majors and classes have specific academic requirements. Coaches and athletics academic advisers inappropriately influence students’ decisions on their majors and classes.

    Instead of getting paid, college athletes get a free education. College athletes like Steven Cline pursued a pre-veterinary program; it is 1 of 4 interdisciplinary majors in the College of Arts and Sciences that provide options for those who don’t have a major chosen. Cline stayed at Kansas State and spent 2007-2008 in a master’s program in college student personnel. Cline didn’t let the academic advisers choose his major for him. He knew that once football was over, he needed something to fall back on. Cline is now working construction to save money and return to school as a pre-vet student.

     For athletes to be eligible to play, they need to complete 40% their 2nd year, 60% their 3rd ,and 80% their 4th year. Until recently, athletes needed to at least have an 820 on SAT or 68 ACT sum score. There is also a new NCAA rule that threatens penalties for teams with too many players who have become academically ineligible or fail to graduate. Doing things like changing your majors because you find the first one too hard will also make you ineligible. You would have to start at the beginning all over again because you decided to change majors. It will also affect Football, Basketball ,and Baseball ;if you play any of these sports, you  wouldn’t have any time to focus on both your major and your sport at the same time.

    The NCAA rules are in place to help control college athletes and to have them do whatever they say ,even up until they graduate from college. Those college advisers choose whatever they want  you to take that’s in their program. For the freshman that are in high school, if you want to go to college for a sport, you should already be thinking about your academic eligibility. By doing this early, you can make sure that you are taking your core classes in time and that you are maintaining your GPA. That is one of the main things that colleges will start to look at if you are trying to get a scholarship for that specific sport that you are good at.

   So for any high school students who are trying to go to college for a sport, make sure that you are being careful about your choices. Try to talk to anyone who might have gone to college for a sport and got wanted to have a major to fall back on. See what they went through and figure out what all you need to do to succeed. Remember that if you don’t end up going pro after college that you at least have something to fall back on so you won’t be stuck.

  Your decision matters, because at the end of the day you’re going to have to be the one who has to stick with the major. Anybody who tells you any differently is wrong. Just make sure that whatever major you choose is a good decision and that you will actually stick with it. Also when you are choosing your major make sure it will fit in with whichever sport you are going to college for, because if it doesn’t fit you might have to choose something different. So for all of Myers Park athletes I hope you find this helpful and can hopefully put this to some good use.

The 2022-23 College Football season is one that will not be forgotten. The season included an underdog making a National Championship, a dynasty being established, and the loss of a legend. 

While this season was one to remember on the field, it was also important off the field. Mississippi State Head Coach Mike Leach died on December 12th. Leach was a pioneer for College Football and his ideas contributed to how the game is played today with the heavy air game and spread offense.  Mississippi State decided to finish their season and won the ReliaQuest Bowl over Illinois 19-10.

The first couple weeks of the regular season proved how    unique college football can be. Fifth ranked Notre Dame got off to a rocky start, losing their first game to Ohio State followed by a surprising loss to Marshall. However, Notre Dame was not the only team to be on the bad side of a surprising upset. Texas A&M (who was ranked sixth in the AP Preseason Poll) lost its second game of the season to Appalachian State University. The win by App State brought the College Gameday crew to Boone for the first time. 

As the season progressed, the powerhouse teams of the 2022 season became apparent. Georgia was dominating, getting off to a 6-0 start. The Bulldogs took the number 1 spot after Week 2 and maintained this position for the rest of the season. Tennessee started the year unranked but flew up the AP Poll getting off to a 6-0 start. The October 15th matchup between #3 Alabama and #6 Tennessee was one of the most anticipated games of the entire season. According to 247 Sports, the game drew an astonishing 11.557 million viewers. Tennessee won the matchup, sending shockwaves through the college football scene with the Crimson Tide losing to the Volunteers. While all this drama was going on in the SEC, Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson, and TCU all put together sneakily good seasons by staying undefeated through mid October. Ohio State, Michigan, and TCU kept this pace to finish the regular season undefeated, but Clemson suffered two losses late in the season to crush the Tigers’ playoff hopes.

The Conference Championship games proved to have major value when it came to playoff selection. Georgia won the SEC Championship in dominating fashion over LSU. The Big 10 Championship game was looked at as a “play-in game” by most to see which team could make the College Football Playoff. Michigan won the fight to lock in its spot in the College Football Playoff. With 4th ranked TCU falling in a close game against Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship, and University of Southern California falling to Utah in the PAC-12 Championship, no one knew who would make the college football playoff going into selection week. 

With Conference Championships over, the College Football Playoff Committee made its decision. #2 Michigan would play #3 TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, and #1 Georgia was set to face off against #4 Ohio State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. TCU and Michigan put together one of the best games of the year, with TCU  hoisting the $1.4 Million dollar Fiesta Bowl trophy, winning 51-45. The other semifinal matchup between Georgia and Ohio State ended right at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve.  Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles missed a field-goal kick that would have sent the Buckeyes to the National Championship. The new year started off well for the Bulldogs, winning 42-41 in Atlanta.  Georgia ended their season the way they started it with a 65-7 win over TCU. This was the second straight National Championship win for Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia, with the program firmly planting their foot in the door as the next dynasty in college football.

With Myers Park being such a large and diverse campus, there are numerous opportunities to find a community or group of people to fit in with. Avery Peacock, senior at MPHS, is doing her best to provide an opportunity for one such community through rugby. Avery currently plays for a club team in Charlotte but has been working to rally support to form a girls’ rugby team in upcoming years here at The Park. Having started as a freshman, Avery recently celebrated four years dedicated to the love of her sport.

“I started playing through my brother… I got cut from the Myers Park soccer team and the next day I was at rugby practice because that’s what my brother said; if I got cut I’d be there.” “Basically I just went out to practice with zero experience. I literally didn’t know anything, and I am very thankful I went to that practice,” Peacock notes. 

Though Avery’s plan to create a new team is still in the works, other schools have sought interest in participating. So far, West Charlotte, Olympic, and South Meck have all expressed interest in participation. 

Peacock  admits, “I really do wish I could’ve played for my school. Hopefully, I can get that going at the end of this year in order for them to start something next year. That’s my goal.”

Peacock’s current league, Elite Girls Rugby, consists of teams from all over the east coast spanning from Florida to New York.

“They wanted to create a league where you could get a lot of competitive rugby in one spot, just because girls rugby- the levels are very spread out across the United States,” voices Peacock 

This struggle of playing such a niche sport also serves as a binding force for the teams. “It’s a very welcoming environment just because rugby is so unfamiliar to most people that like we have to be… It’s different like everyone knows how basketball operates for the most part, people know how soccer operates, [and] football, but it’s like when people don’t know anything about a sport you have to be willing to help them.” 

“Whenever I describe it to people I would say it’s like a mix of football and soccer. Rugby is like a game of possession so the game doesn’t stop… In rugby, the point of it is you want to keep going so the game doesn’t stop and the clock runs.” 

Peacock then explains what rugby looks like in a high school context, “So there’s traditionally a 7’s team which happens in the fall, so 7 on 7… and 15’s is in the spring, so 15 on 15. Next year they’re trying to do a girls’ high school 10’s, so that’d be 10 on 10.” 

Joining the sport relatively late herself, Avery says the best way to learn how to play is by watching others. “I would just watch a game. I would watch the USA women’s 7’s, they were in the Olympics and did pretty well” 

She also explains that it is imperative to have no fear, “Just show up, just be vulnerable, get uncomfortable you know. Go somewhere you don’t know what’s going to happen and just take that chance because worst comes to worst, you don’t like it.”

With the spring season underway, Avery says it’s never too late to give rugby a try and encourages anyone interested to go out to a practice and see what it’s like firsthand. 

She is a firm believer that anyone can find what they are looking for within the rugby community and says  “If you’re the person that’s getting technicals in basketball, play rugby, or if you need an outlet, rugby. If you’ve ever felt rejected in a sport or like you’re not good enough to be on a team… and if you’re looking for change in your life, play rugby.”

This year, Myers Park High School initiated a new sport into its program consisting of many athletic teams, mountain biking. Originally, mountain biking had only been a school club, but now claims a spot next to over 31 other athletic teams as part of the Myers Park community. Students with any level of experience who are interested in the sport have an opportunity to be a part of the team, meet other bikers, and fall in love with the sport.

Ava Snowdon, a sophomore at Myers Park has recently taken to the sport and plans on continuing as a part of the newly established team. Snowdon watched her brother race last year and immediately admired how team-orientated and enjoyable the races were, including the team’s workouts during practice. “I started riding for fun, decided to work at a summer camp that my coach hosted, and eventually joined the team,” Snowdon explained. 

An average practice with the team consists of workouts, riding down the Greenway in a pace-line, and “Hill of Death” hill climbs. At the beginning of the season, as well as during pre-race practices, there is a large focus on team building and goal setting. Members determine what the team hopes to achieve and what it will take for them to reach those goals. 

As mountain biking has been picking up pace as a sport, there has been an extreme increase in sales for mountain bikes in the past three years. In 2020, sales of front-suspension mountain bikes grew by 150%, and full-suspension bikes grew 92%, according to market research company The NPD Group. It’s no surprise that mountain biking out on trails, away from other people, was a great source of entertainment and a way to leave the house during quarantine. Since then, the rate of bikers has continuously grown. According to Market Research Future, a 10% growth is expected in the market between now and 2027. 

Despite the lack of mountainous terrain, the Charlotte area has many opportunities for mountain bikers. The Charlotte area alone has roughly 132 trails totaling over 273 miles in length, according to the MTB (mountain biking) project. One of Snowdon’s favorite courses is the Backyard Trail (BYT), a trail covering 1.8 miles just slightly off the path of the Sugar Creek Greenway. There are countless community parks, as well, which feature many of these trails, allowing easy access for those in the Charlotte community hoping to bike various courses. 

Aside from trails, bikers can join one of the many mountain biking clubs taking place in and around Charlotte, such as CLT MTB, Dirt Divas, Tarheel Trailblazers, and many others in various parts of the state. Other common ways to get into mountain biking are MeetUp’s or Instagram and FaceBook groups, where you can find groups near you to meet up and hit the trails or ask questions for advice from experienced bikers.. 

Snowdon encourages interested riders to join the Myers Park team and get in on the fun. “You just gotta get out on the trails and start riding; you’ll meet people out there, talk to them, plan to meet up, and meet even more people!”

Upgrading mountain biking from a club to a sport will give the team advanced financial funding, school recognition, and a hopeful chance to recruit more interested bikers. Snowdon shares the team’s excitement and pleasure in seeing their sport become part of the school. “It’s inspiring to see that we can do what we want with the sport and that we have interest from high schoolers. It’s cool to see that (Myers Park) supports something that’s different.”