Fighting to Play

The Licking Valley football season is officially in play! This news is thrilling due to the fact of everything going on in the world right now. Although we are grateful, it's just not the same as a Licking Valley student, parent, or fan, a big part of our community is our football pride. There's nothing like showing up to the football games dressed in our certain themes for each Friday, the loud chant of our student section, and the roar of the panther that rolls through our crowd. This is our tradition. We have a big support group and without the booming crowd, this year will just not be the same.

The stands are always full, but this year they are empty. “It was very bizarre to look at. Everything just felt slightly off,” said Zoe Allman, a Licking Valley color guard member in an interview about the Friday night game(8/28/20). I also interviewed Liberty Bunting, a cheerleader here at Licking Valley High School and she said “It was pretty weird at the football game because at times it would be dead silent, which it normally isn't that quiet”. It just seems everything is off in both interviews both ladies said with the COVID protocols it has just made everything different. The cheerleaders have to wear a mask until kickoff and the band's whole competition season has gotten canceled.

That is just the guard and cheer point of view, who have a huge impact on the LVHS football games. Not to mention our actual football player's point of view and the role they play. The players have to stand 6 feet apart on the sidelines during the game and their practices are looking different. They all have such important roles that all are changing with COVID.

This year has been so different but we have to look at the positives. The sports representatives have fought so hard for the football season to happen. Yes, it is different but we are playing. The hope is that we will get back to normal, but even if we don't we are going to give it our all and fight!