With the heat wave continuing, summer is well underway. Sports have carried on in Martin County, but now the KHSAA dead period has begun.

Personally, I am a big fan of the dead period and believe we should make it a month instead of two weeks.

The kids have 11 other months to grind. I say let the kids be kids. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

As families enjoy their break, though, news will still circulate in the sports world.

If you have not seen, multiple high school players have hit the “transfer portal.”

It is the wild, wild west this offseason.

Will Martin County be hitting the so-called portal?

Time will tell.

In the Kentucky Wildcats world, our boy Otega Oweh is back as a Cat.

Mark Pope hit the jackpot this year. We are stacked with veterans, key returners, Kentucky homegrown Trent Noah, solid transfer players and star freshmen, including another Kentucky stud in Malachi Moreno.

Platoon system?

It is possible.

I expect a fun season once again with an X’s and O’s coach that loaded a roster.

Is it October yet?

Not quite, so let’s enjoy the warm weather before we are back to scraping our windshields in the bitter cold mornings.

I encourage you to go out and play catch beneath the fireworks in the night sky.

Shoot some backyard hoops on that rusty old goal.

Play kickball with the neighborhood kids.

Before you know it, your kiddos will be off to college and you will wish you had taken the time while you had it to create memories.

Remind yourself of the real meaning of sports: camaraderie, physical activity and most of all, fun.

Good health is a privilege that some do not have. So enjoy the break, stay active and hydrate.

The sports seasons will be here soon enough.

Brittni McCoy is the sports editor at the Mountain Citizen.