ROCKINGHAM — Many school sporting events have been put on hold, as Richmond County and surrounding areas deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

Floods, power outages and other storm damage have forced families to desert their homes and find refuge in places that are willing to help — especially in Robeson County, where schools have been closed for the rest of the week and roughly 1,500 people are without homes.

Purnell Swett, a member of the Southeastern Conference, is located in Robeson County and is currently being used as a shelter for families who are in need. It was scheduled to host Richmond Senior on Friday for a conference football matchup, but the game has been postponed due to the circumstances.

The junior varsity game, which was to take place in Rockingham, has been postponed as well.

“Football is least important right now,” Richmond Senior football coach Mike Castellano said. “We’re working on trying to help them, but it’s hard to do when you can’t get there. There’s really nobody getting around in those areas.”

Richmond’s football team has been holding practices in order to treat this week like it’s any other week, but this situation is anything but normal. The Raiders are scheduled to play Lumberton — also located in Robeson County — next Friday.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen” Castellano added. “All we can do is just wait and hear.”

Football isn’t the only sport that has been affected.

The SEC tournaments for golf, soccer, volleyball and tennis have all been cancelled.

Richmond’s girls tennis team will compete in a playoff match against Scotland at Pinecrest on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 4 p.m. to determine who will be the No. 2 seed in the conference for the state playoffs. The girls golf team will proceed with Regionals next Monday, Oct. 17 at Pinehurst Resort #1.

The boys soccer team will still host Scotland on Thursday, Oct. 13, while the volleyball team will travel to Scotland on Thursday, Oct. 13 and then to Pinecrest on Friday, Oct. 14.

“The girls have done a good job of staying focused,” volleyball coach Shellie Wimpey said. “But I’m glad we’re playing tomorrow, because I don’t know how much longer they can keep focus without playing.”

Both volleyball and boys soccer are currently undefeated in conference play, meaning they are in a good position for the state playoffs now that the conference tournaments have been cancelled.

“To be good, and to be championship quality, you’ve got to be able to adapt and overcome,” soccer coach Bennie Howard said. “As long as we stay focused, work hard in practice and transfer that over to the playing field on game night, we should be fine.”

Here’s a list of all of the changes that have been made to Richmond Senior’s sporting events:

FOOTBALL — Junior varsity and varsity football games for this week (against Purnell Swett) has been postponed. The conference’s athletic directors will continue to monitor the situation in Robeson County to determine when the games can be made up.

BOYS SOCCER — This week’s match at home against Scotland will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13. The matches against Purnell Swett and Lumberton will be made up on Monday, Oct. 24 and Wednesday, Oct. 26, respectively.

The conference tournament has been cancelled.

VOLLEYBALL — Richmond will play the scheduled match at Scotland on Thursday, Oct. 13. The Lady Raiders will make up its match at Pinecrest on Friday, Oct. 14 and its match at Hoke next Tuesday, Oct. 18.

The conference tournament has been cancelled.

GIRLS TENNIS — The team will compete in a playoff match against Scotland at Pinecrest on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 4 p.m. to determine who will be the No. 2 seed in the conference for the state playoffs.

The conference tournament has been cancelled.

CROSS COUNTRY — The conference championship will proceed next week on either Tuesday or Thursday. The date will be determined by Robeson County’s ability to compete.

GOLF — Regionals will proceed next Monday, Oct. 17 at Pinehurst Resort #1.

The conference tournament has been cancelled.

Daily Journal file photo Hurricane Matthew has affected high school sports all across the state of North Carolina. There have been a numerous cancellations and postponements.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_trench.jpgDaily Journal file photo Hurricane Matthew has affected high school sports all across the state of North Carolina. There have been a numerous cancellations and postponements.
High school athletics affected by hurricane’s aftermath

By Leon Hargrove Jr.

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