As I look back on my first year here, there’s certainly no shortage of memories. Whether they are from players, games, or any other number of circumstances, there’s plenty to take away from one year’s time.

Although I hope to stick around for a while longer, there are already so many memories I could take away from here.

Athletes such as Hannah West, Hannah Powers, and Chris Little are athletes that you want to cover. Not only are they great players on the field or court, but also great people away from their respective sports.

And it’s not just those three.

This county is filled with great kids that just happen to be great athletes as well. It makes my job easier knowing that these athletes won’t be difficult to get along with or cover.

However, it doesn’t stop with just the athletes.

 These players make up some pretty good teams as well.

Whether it was Sweetwater holding off Loudon in basketball, a Sequoyah girl’s soccer team scoring more goals in one game than some teams do in a season, or Tellico Plains upsetting third-ranked Brainerd in basketball, there have been plenty of memories from the teams as well.

Regardless of wins and losses, these teams compete until the final horn or whistle has sounded.

I could think of no better example than the Tellico Plains-Sequoyah volleyball game last fall.

The Lady Chiefs won the first two games of the match fairly easily, 25-18 and 25-17. It looked as if Sequoyah would wrap up the win in the third game before Tellico came from behind to win the next three games, including “overtime” in the final game.

That never-say-die attitude is one exhibited by teams from all corners of the county.

I saw it in the Sweetwater and Tellico girls’ basketball teams during the district tournament after both limped into the postseason.

The Wildcats’ football team came off a disastrous stretch late in the season to clinch a playoff spot.

There will be more memories and new players that step into the spotlight this year that we’ll be talking about for a long time to come.

However, it’ll be hard to top the memories I’ll take away from my first year here.