Dolphins Paddle the Hurricanes

Sunday, January 15, 2017 - 14:25 Caroline Temple

Lady Dolphins: Iris Trejo, Brieanna Boos, Karen Jordan, Vanessa Perez, Ingrid Contreras, Bricia Moreno, Sydney Austin, Karen Perez, Karla Perez

Friday night, Ocracoke and Hatteras played in the something-annual Battle for the Paddle.

This is a yearly game between Ocracoke School and Cape Hatteras Secondary School to win and bring home the wooden paddle, which was crafted by "the shop class, I assume," according to Ocracoke Athletic Director Charles Temple.

The gym was packed with Ocracoke and Hatteras fans alike (but mostly Ocracoke fans – go Dolphins!) The bleachers looked like the big blue sea, with almost everyone wearing their Dolphin colors and merch.

The evening started at 4:00 with the Junior Varsity boys’ game, which Hatteras won by 2 points! It was a close call with a long end. Our team fought hard.

The Ocracoke Lady Dolphins played next – and brought the house down! With an eleven-point win (45 to 34 Dolphins), our ladies officially brought home the paddle!

“It’s my first year on the team, and it’s cool winning the paddle,” said freshman Karen Jordan.

“The paddle’s home!” Sydney Austin, senior and team captain, added.

Dolphins: Darvin Contreras, Jordi Perez, Matteus Gilbert, Kalai Samick, Mac Kalna, Sam Evans, Liam Caswell, Colby Austin, Carson O'Neal

Everyone was proud, especially the ladies’ coach, Adam Burleson. “It’s finally back home,”he said. “I’m very happy that we got it back, but I’m even happier about how we played over the second half.”

The ecstatic energy of the audience was matched and then some by the players on the court.

The victory of the night didn’t stop there – our varsity boys brought home the mens’ paddle in the next game! The Dolphins swam circles around the 'Canes : the score was 79-25.

“I remember when winning was so rare that we were guaranteed one of Miss Kay’s cakes if it did happen. Things have come a long way from 6-player teams and our little shoebox gym of the old days,” says Maddie Payne. “FEAR THE DAMN POD!!”

It was an exciting night full of school spirit in Ocracoke’s gym!

On Saturday afternoon, the Dolphins headed back to the Tank (a.k.a. Ocracoke School gym) to meet the Camden Bruins. The ladies were victorious, but the boys fell to Camden. Both teams are enjoying a winning season so far – the boys have a 5-4 record in the conference, and the ladies have a 6-3. The JV team is having a tougher year, with a 1-7 record so far.

The next home game is Tuesday, January 17th against the other team in Hyde County, the Mattamuskeet Lakers. Games start at 4pm with the JV team. It's also Senior Night for Ocracoke School. See you there!