Union County fall sports came to a close at the IHSAA Class 2A Football Sectional at Curry/Phenis Field but winter sports are already in progress. The Lady Patriots’ basketball team scrimmaged Richmond on Tuesday, Oct. 26.

The Patriots’ eight sport fall season is a good basis for the remainder of the year. The UC athletes who carried the Patriots through the fall season, whether a team member or as individuals, are to be commended.

Girls golf typically begins the fall season but were fearful they would not have a complete team. Returning lettermen Emma Kassens, Peityn Gillman and Madysson McClure needed at least one more player not to become an incomplete team which means no team score.

As it turned out, those fears were for nought when Kassens asked Hanna Coffman if she would consider playing on the team. Considering that Hanna had never played golf, she was surprised, a little time to think about it, but eventually agreed.

What a great decision! The Union County Lady Patriots successfully finished the season 13-2 and 8-0 TEC Champions, finished third at sectional and advanced to regional. 

 There is a saying...There is more than one way to skin a cat and the Lady Patriots are proof of that.

UC cross country teams also dealt with low numbers this year - 3 boys and 3 girls.  Cross country teams have seven members with five scoring members. The Patriots’ girls or boys never won a meet, yet Marissa Young, Johanna  Nelson and Haley Young ran well in the sectional to advance to the regional round. They too, are proof of...There is more than one way to skin a cat.

First-year boys tennis coach Dillon Miller needed seven boys for a team. He had four sophomores and two freshmen with no tennis experience, yet by the end of the season, Miller wore a smile for several days.

UC was without a boys tennis team for two years and then having six boys who wanted to do nothing but win. So together they struggled,  learned and got better together. 

“At times the boys were hard on themselves and I had to remind them that they have been playing for 4-6 weeks and most of the kids have been playing for at least 2-3 years,” Miller said. “The fact that my guys could hit and play got multiple comments from coaches, including ‘glad to see UC back into boys tennis schedules.’”

Logan Boone, Jacoby Petry, Dalton Creech, James Gill, Teratin Goecke, Grant Cox persevered through the season always with the right attitude and eager for another match.

They lost in the first round of sectional, but played their best - UC’s #1 singles was on the court for hours before being edged out. A doubles team also caused their opponents trouble before bowing out.

Miller said the team and coach will continue to get better and learn together and in a couple of years, compete with the top teams in TEC. “If we continue to come out, we will be a strong team next year and for years to come.”

“My goal for boys and girls tennis is to be able to have multiple kids be able to beat me before they graduate.”