GALAX, Va. (WDBJ) – The decision to cancel the rest of the high school football season was not an easy one for Galax City Public Schools leaders, but they said it was necessary to make sure the team comes back even stronger next year.
In Galax, football is more than just a sport. An alumni himself, Assistant Superintendent Charles Byrd said Maroon Tide isn’t just the players… It’s the entire city.
“Football sets the tone for your school and your community,” said Byrd. “It’s a source of pride for all of us.”
But things haven’t been the same this year. After losing all five games with low participation and several players injured, Byrd said cancelling the rest of the season was the schools’ best option.
“Safety was first and foremost in our decision-making process,” he explained. “In order for us to build a competitive team, we feel like we can’t do that successfully without compromising the safety of our players.”
Byrd said the team is relatively young, which played a factor in their performance against some big competitors. But their dedication to the sport is just as strong, and the team will continue practicing twice a day to gear up for a promising next year.
“Some of our kids are still eligible to play in JV competition, so we’re trying to find some games so we can keep them on the field so they continue to learn the game of football,” said Byrd. “The energy, the committment to the program and the excitement for the future is bright in Galax.”
Byrd knows Friday nights won’t be the same without football, but is grateful for everyone’s support as the football team looks ahead to bigger, and better.
“To our community, we just want to say thank you so much for your support and understanding through this difficult process,” said Byrd. “Galax has a strong tradition of football and we’re really excited about the future ahead.”
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