What was supposed to be a special night for the eight seniors on the Carthage High School soccer team turned out to be just another practice in the auxiliary gym.
Heavy rain and the threat of lightning washed out Thursday’s regular season finale against Springfield Central High School, but soccer Coach Jacob Osborne still had flowers for his seven senior players and manager.
“I fought hard to have this game to play on senior night but with districts coming up we just didn’t want to risk sickness or injury,” Osborne said. “The injury risk goes up greatly when you play on wet grass and we had several standing puddles on our field.”
After the game was cancelled, the team took to the floor of the CHS auxiliary gym only to have a fire alarm send them out into the rain.
A malfunctioning kiln in the art department kicked off the fire alarm throughout the building and forced everyone to evacuate the building, making for an exciting evening.
Once they were cleared to return, practice continued but Osborne took a few minutes to talk about his senior class.
“A couple of these guys were in their first year with the program but I wish they had been with us longer,” Osborne said. “It will be hard to see them go. They are good kids and they always set a good example for the underclassmen.
“I never had to worry about them slowing up. They approached each game like it was their last. I think some of the younger kids might have taken some games for granted but with these kids, I know what I will get.”
