Ranking rivals
Who says you can only have one?

By Cody Thomas
Clay County High School

Whether it’s a packed stadium or a noisy gym, it doesn’t matter. People in Clay County love to come out and show their support for school athletics. And with all of this support, the school has racked up quite a list of rivalries.

But who is the biggest? Both students and parents sounded off on the subject. Their answers varied from sport to sport, but a few schools were repeat offenders. Just hope yours isn’t one of them.

Football

With a 2-8 record this year, Clay didn’t have much luck against its competitors — rivals or otherwise. But when it comes to rivals, the success depends on who you ask.

Sophomore starting center Caleb Thomas calls Braxton County the archrival, and if that’s the case, Clay County proved victorious with a 21-14 win over the Eagles.

“Braxton has the same type of players sports-wise,” Thomas reasoned. “We’re both aggressive, and their defense plays our offense well. They’re just a good match for us.”

His dad, Robert Thomas, disagrees, though. He names Herbert Hoover, who beat Clay 35-18, as the main challenger. Part of this stems from behavior at last year’s game when fans from Hoover, whose mascot is the Husky, threw dog treats at Clay’s football players as they entered the field.

“That didn’t sit well with me,” Robert said.

Basketball

Almost immediately after football season ends, it’s replaced by basketball season. New cheerleaders audition, spirit posters line the walls and game attendance is high. Attendance is especially high for games against Braxton County, whom sophomore basketball player Dayton Waddell says is the school’s biggest basketball rival.

“Clay and Braxton have always been a big rival in every sport,” he said. “Basketball is no different.”

Sara McCune, another sophomore basketball player, disagrees with this — at least for the girls. She says their biggest rival is Roane County. “[Roane is] the only team in our sectionals. We just have to win it.”

Baseball

Unlike with football or basketball, both parents and students unanimously agree that the Hoover Huskies are the archrivals for Clay when it comes to baseball.

“They are in our sectionals and they are always really good,” said Waddell. “I just love to beat them.”

Golf

You might chuckle at the thought of a golf rival — after all, several respondents did.

“Golf doesn’t have rivals,” they said, but there had to be someone out there who disagreed. That someone was Waddell, who once again named Herbert Hoover.

“They think that they are better than us,” he said. “So anytime we beat them, it is a good day.”

In the end, it looks like the Herbert Hoover Huskies aren’t received too well in Clay County, what with being chosen by at least one person as a rival in nearly every sport. Braxton County was the second biggest rival, and Roane County, well, they don’t need to worry too much unless they’re playing girls basketball.

Nevertheless, whether it is the Hoover Huskies, Braxton Eagles, Roane Raiders or any other school in the state, be careful when you come to Clay County because the Panthers are on the prowl.