Wednesday, December 6, 2023
By Outer Banks Voice on November 19, 2023
First came the walk through the halls, classmates cheering and band playing. Then came the escort by firefighters and police officers as First Flight’s charter bus began its trip to Browns Summit. And finally, the realization that they had accomplished their goal, winning the NCHSAA 3A Championship on Saturday, Nov. 18.
“Getting escorted by the police and fire department and then seeing the elementary school and the middle school standing out there waving us goodbye brought great energy and emotions for us,” Head Coach Juan Ramirez said. “I don’t think any other school has ever been escorted all the way through Dare County.”
The Nighthawks didn’t let the emotions of the moment get in the way of their mission. They finished an unbeaten season with two goals in the first half and a huge insurance score early in the second half along with the standout defense that saw them allow just six goals the entire season.
First Flight finished with a record of 22-0-1 and outscored its opponents 104-6 this year. Hickory (23-3-2) was the defending 3A State Champion, but saw its high-powered offense shut down by the likes of seniors Burke Powers and Seth Albright, juniors Lukas Cook and Taylor Summerton, and sophomores Marvin Hernandez and Sam Baldwin. Junior keeper Colin Rhodes was named the game MVP after being credited with six saves, including several stops early in the game.
“I am so grateful that I was awarded this, but really I think some other people should’ve gotten this because all I did was block a few balls and be with my teammates,” Rhodes said. “My other teammates blocked the balls coming toward me, got pushed down and scored goals.”
The Nighthawks found the back of the net in the 17th minute when junior Nathan Tsonev took a corner kick that bounced around in front of the goal and glanced in off senior Cam Summerton in a crowd of Hickory defenders. In the 39th minute, senior Seth Albright found senior Curren Breiholz in the middle of the box for a strong shot past senior goalie Watts Tate.
Then, just after halftime, sophomore Marvin Hernandez boomed a shot from between the penalty box and midfield and knocked it in the upper right corner. Even with the 3-0 lead, First Flight kept up the attack, out-shooting Hickory 22-9 and eagerly watching the clock tick toward all zeroes.
“Being the captain of this soccer team is so amazing, and also being able to lead them to the state championship with my other captains, Cam Summerton and Kai Reece, was even more amazing for my senior year,” Breiholz said. “I don’t even have a lot of words to describe how I feel. Our team’s mentality was we knew we were going to win. We haven’t lost this whole season, and it shows how much we work together. But our team shirts say, ‘No one cares, work harder!’”
The Nighthawks worked extra hard to deliver a very cold surprise to Ramirez, who got an icy shower during the celebration.
“This is the first time I have ever been dunked in water by my players and this is something I will never forget,” he said. “I wasn’t sure what was happening, so I moved a little bit out of the way, but I still got soaked. These are memories for the boys and me included. This is my fifth time coaching at the state championships and like all the other ones, I will never forget the experiences we have made.”
This title was the second for FFHS after the men’s team took the 2A crown in 2016.
Before the game, First Flight senior Burke Powers was presented with the NC Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Award along with Hickory’s Will Moore.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID:
Barnhill Contracting Company will receive sealed proposals for Manns Harbor – EMS/Fire Facility (EMS-8), Kitty Hawk – EMS/Fire Facility (EMS-9), Manteo – Youth Center on January 09, 2024. Times to be given on via addendum #01. See the following SCOPE OF WORK: BP 100 – General Trades, BP 105 – Final Cleaning, BP 205 – Demolition, BP 390 – Turnkey Concrete, BP 400 – Turnkey Masonry, BP 500 – Turnkey Structural Steel & Misc. Steel, BP 505 – Light Gauge Metal Trusses, BP 740 – Roofing, BP750 – Siding, BP 790 – Caulking/Sealants, BP 800 – Turnkey Doors/Frames/Hardware/Toilet Specialties/Accessories/Division 10, BP 840 – Curtainwall/Storefront/Glass/Glazing, BP 925 – Drywall/Framing, BP 960 – Resilient Flooring/Carpet/Base/Epoxy, BP 980 – Acoustical Ceilings, BP 990 – Painting and Wall Coverings, BP 1230 – Finish Carpentry and Casework, BP 1250 – Window Treatments, BP 2100 – Fire Protection, BP 2200 – Plumbing, BP 2300 – HVAC, BP 2600 – Electrical, BP 3100 – Earthwork/Turnkey Site, BP 3213- Site Concrete, BP 3290 – Landscaping. Scopes of work may be added and/or deleted at the discretion of the Construction Manager.
Bid Location and Time: Bid opening will be held in the Barnhill Contracting Rocky Mount Training & GPS Technology Room: 800 Tiffany Bvld, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Time is as follows: January 09, 2024 at 10:00am and 2:00pm. Times per packages to be given on via addendum #01.
Barnhill Contracting Company will receive, open, and read publicly all bids received in person in the Training & GPS Technology Room at the main office and listed with the virtual viewing at the link to be posted on Barnhill’s Plan Room.
Bids will not be accepted from bidders that are not pre-qualified. No facsimile or email submissions are permitted. Sealed bids are to be hand delivered to the bid opening location noted above or mailed Sealed Bids can be delivered before 9:00am the day of the bid to the Barnhill Contracting Company Office at 800 Tiffany Blvd., Suite 200 Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Attention “Clint Hardison.”
The pre-bid meeting will be held in Person & Zoom Meeting on December 06, 2023 at 10:00 am at the Barnhill Contracting’s Rocky Mount Main Conference Room: 800 Tiffany Bvld, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
The pre-bid meeting link can be located on Barnhill’s online Building Division Plan Room ( https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/54da832ce3edb5050017438b) and below. A preferred brand alternates meeting will be held via the same link at the end of the Prebid meeting.
Bid Documents can be viewed or downloaded through Barnhill’s online Building Division Plan Room (https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/54da832ce3edb5050017438b) after 12/04/2023.
All Bidders are strongly encouraged to include opportunities for HUB participation wherever possible in their respective Bid submission. HUB participation is a part of this contract and must comply with all requirements set forth in the Bid Documents.
The Construction Manager and Owner reserve the right to add pre-qualified bidders. The Construction Manager and Owner reserve the right to reject any and all bids. Should you require additional direction, please call Barnhill Contracting Company, (Clint Hardison – 252-802-0740).
Clint Hardison is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Dare EMS – Phase 2 Pre-Bid Conference
Time: Dec 6, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Meeting ID: 823 9069 2985
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Drajon
Excellent postgame press conference:
https://www.highschoolot.com/video/press-conference-first-flight-boys-soccer-after-3a-state-championship/21156876/