And they’re off: Fall sports practices kicked off at West Forsyth on Monday
Published 12:03 am Thursday, August 4, 2022
Marc Pruitt photo A West Forsyth football player works on his technique under the watchful eye of defensive coordinator Jon McIntosh
Members of the boys cross country team getting their miles in on the first day of practice
Marc Pruitt Coach Jeffrey Williams (right side in white hat) talks to the players attending the first day of tryouts
Marc Pruitt photo Members of the soccer team on the pitch during Monday's tryout
Marc Pruitt photo A West Forsyth volleyball player rises up for a spike
Coach Lauren Gillon gives instructions to her players during tryouts on Monday
Marc Pruitt photo A West Forsyth volleyball player prepares to hit her serve during Monday's first day of tryouts
Marc Pruitt photo Members of the West Forsyth football team work on the blocking sled during Monday's first practice
Marc Pruitt photo Adrian Snow is entering his 15th season as the Head Coach at West Forsyth and 30th as a coach. The Titans had 130 players at their first practice on Monday
Marc Pruitt photo Members of the West Forsyth football team listen as a drill is explained
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Cooler temperatures greeted all of the coaches and student-athletes on the outdoor practice fields at West Forsyth Monday morning, while a new floor awaited hopefuls trying out for the volleyball team in the Simpson Gymnasium.
The football, soccer, cross country and girls tennis teams were seen taking advantage of temperatures in the low 70s when their practices began on Monday, though the air started to thicken up as the minutes ticked away.
Adrian Snow, entering his 15th season as the head coach at West, said he had 130 players attend the first morning of practice. Players were greeted on the practice field with music blaring a mixed playlist of favorite songs from both the players and some coaches. Football players are only allowed to wear helmets on the first two days of practice and can wear pads on days three and four. On the fifth day, they can begin full contact.
“That’s when the fun really starts,” one player remarked during Monday’s practice.
Members of the boys and girls cross country teams were pacing their way through the school grounds and the track up to Southwest Elementary School to get their workouts in, passing the girls tennis team during their first workouts of the new season.
The boys soccer team was utilizing Durwood Pack Stadium and the team’s adjacent practice field to accommodate everyone who showed up in hopes of wearing a Titans’ jersey.
And volleyball players got to use the newly refinished and painted gym floor in Simpson Gymnasium for their opening day of tryouts, where Coach Lauren Gillon had about 40 participants.
Field hockey and girls golf also were slated to begin on Monday for their upcoming seasons.
Be on the lookout for our special Fall Sports Preview section, which will be published with our Aug. 18 issue. We’ll have photos and preview stories for each fall sports team as the Titans seek to leave their mark on the Central Piedmont 4-A Conference.
Here’s a look at some of the important dates for each fall sport from the NCHSAA:
Football
• Aug. 19: First week of regular season
• Oct. 28: Regular season finale
• Oct. 29: Seeding for state playoffs
• Nov. 4: First round
• Nov. 11: Second round
• Nov. 18: Third round
• Nov. 25: Fourth round
• Dec. 2: Regional championships
• Dec. 9-10: State championships
Volleyball
• Week of Aug. 15: Regular season begins
• Oct. 28: Playoff brackets released
• Oct. 31: First round
• Nov. 3: Second round
• Nov. 7: Third round
• Nov. 10: Fourth round
• Nov. 15: Regional championships
• Nov. 18-19: State championships
Girls golf
• Week of Aug. 15: Regular season begins
• Oct. 12: Reporting deadline for regionals
• Oct. 17-18: Regional championships
• Oct. 24-25: State championships
Girls tennis
• Week of Aug. 15: Regular season begins
• Oct. 17: Individual tennis reporting deadline for regionals
• Oct. 17: Dual-team tennis playoff brackets released
• Oct. 19: Dual-team tennis first round
• Oct. 21-22: Individual tennis regional championships
• Oct. 25: Dual-team tennis second round
• Oct. 28-29: Individual tennis state championships
• Oct. 31: Dual-team tennis third round
• Nov. 2: Dual-team tennis regional championships
• Nov. 5: Dual-team tennis state championships
Boys soccer
• Week of Aug. 15: Regular season begins
• Oct. 28: Playoff brackets released
• Oct. 31: First round
• Nov. 3: Second round
• Nov. 7: Third round
• Nov. 10: Fourth round
• Nov. 15: Regional championships
• Nov. 18-19: State championships
Boys and girls cross country
• Week of Aug. 15: Regular season begins
• Oct. 21: Reporting deadline for regionals
• Oct. 29: Regional championships
• Nov. 5: State championships
