Schools have great fall season

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By Terry W. Kitchen

While I was listening to the Jackson-Hazelwood East football game on the radio, I started reflecting on this past fall's sports season and the accomplishments of the surrounding area's schools.

I am mentioning the Notre Dame Regional High School Bulldogs, the Jackson High School Indians and the Central High School Tigers.

Most of these school athletes probably know each other from summer nonschool competition and throughout past years of school competition.

Although we always enjoy competing against each other, sometimes we do not recognize what our local schools and community effort have provided to this area for recognition throughout Missouri.

Let me list what was accomplished in this area from the fall season:

Notre Dame Regional High School

Boys soccer district champions (ranked second in the state in Class 3A)

Girls softball district champions and sectional winner

Girls volleyball district champions and state Final Four

Jackson High School

Football conference champions, district champions, sectional winner, quarterfinal winner, perfect 10-0 season record and ranked fourth in Class 5A state ranking

Girls tennis district champions and state qualifier

Girls volleyball district champions

Central High School

Girls cross country conference and district champions

Football district champions and sectional winner

Boys soccer conference and district champions (ranked seventh in the state in Class 4A)

Girls softball district champions

As you can tell, the mentioned schools have had a very good fall sports season.

I want to congratulate the athletes, coaches, schools and community for their efforts in making this a fall season that many will remember.

I also want to wish continued success for the Notre Dame Bulldogs and the Jackson Indians.

I hope they continue their winning ways against every school they compete against -- except the Central Tigers.

Again, congratulations, and let's have a great winter season of high school sports.

Terry Kitchen is the athletic director at Central High School in Cape Girardeau.