CHATTANOOGA — One of the great things about sports is they can create optimism.
One of the cruel things about sports is they can smash that optimism in a hurry.
Less than a week from being elated with a sectional win, the Greeneville Lady Devils had their dream of a state championship crushed in a 5-0 loss to Franklin County in the first round of the Class 2A soccer state tournament on Wednesday night at Chattanooga Christian.
“As a coach, it’s always tough to see it end like this for the girls,” said Greeneville coach Jerry Graham. “One of the things you love as a coach is to get to see the kids meet their goals and achieve their objectives. Sometimes they do it in dramatic fashion, other times it doesn’t happen like tonight.
“To see them not reach a goal is tough.”
Graham believes each team creates its own identity each season. And after losing six senior starters and two assistant coaches from the 2023 season, these Lady Devils turned out to be a bunch of determined overachievers with the program’s 10th straight trip to state.