BY JACOB STURGELL and DRAY DUFF
MARTIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Hello Cardinal Nation! This is Jacob Sturgell and Dray Duff. Welcome back to this week’s edition of the Cardinal Bird’s Eye View. This week, the Cardinals girls soccer team faced their regional rivals, the Prestonsburg Black Cats. This marked the first time we have defeated the Blackcats, as they have been one of the better teams in the region for years. Congrats to the Lady Cardinals soccer team.
Also, our football team marked a milestone in history as they defeated the Hazard Bulldogs for the first time with a score of 20-7. The Cardinals were too dominant in this one on both sides of the football, having three defensive picks one from Brayden Estep, Madden Miller and Julian Stafford. On the offensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs had no answer for the workhorses up front and leading rusher Brock Messer.
With these awesome performances, Madden Miller and Brock Messer both landed themselves statewide recognition. Madden Miller is in the running for defensive player of the week with 11 tackles and an interception to go with it. Brock Messer is in the running for offensive player of the week with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Next up, the Cardinal Golf team traveled to Stone Crest to compete in the All-A tournament. The competitors were Jake James for the boys and Jaylee Deskins on the girls’ side. Senior Jake James shot a 79 and placed runner-up. Junior Jaylee Deskins shot a 94 and placed runner-up. Both of these scores were good enough for each of them to land a spot to compete at the state tournament in Richmond.
More exciting news relating to the golf team is James, Deskins and Kenadie Evans got offers from Kentucky Christian University. Congratulations to the three of them for receiving an opportunity to further their academic and athletic career.
Some more exciting buzz around Martin County is the addition of a new band director, Dexter Kidd. The new band director has high hopes and is very excited to be able to give our athletic programs a quality band.
The new band director said: “I am very excited. I came into this role bright-eyed and didn’t know what I was getting into. I found myself with 28 kids and raised it to 35…I am excited because no matter what pushes me down we are always coming up with more.”
Our football team participated in the Pike County Bowl this year, as our Cardinals took on the Pike Central Hawks. Sadly, our boys were defeated in a close and intense game with a score of 9-6. The boys hope to bounce back this week at Shelby Valley.
This will be it for this week’s edition of the Birds Eye View. Next week, Jaylee Deskins and Mali Fletcher will be covering all the amazing things going on at Martin County High School. Make sure to tune in.