Githens Middle School girls soccer wins 100th game in a row
Posted April 16, 2024 11:21 p.m. EDT
Updated April 17, 2024 12:58 a.m. EDT
In 2016 Githens Middle School lost its first girls soccer game of the season.
"To a really good team at Lucas (Middle School) and then ever since then, we've won the rest of them," head coach Rory McElroy said.
How many wins exactly? Tuesday's 9-0 win against Lowe's Grove Middle School marked number 100.
100 wins. 0 losses. 0 ties.
Eighth grader and captain Gianna Brunner admits, it was a lot of pressure.
"Pretty stressful, it took up a lot of my mind, I was constantly thinking about it, I was dreaming about it, it was a lot," she laughed.
All under McElroy, who's been at Githens for 12 years. So what's the secret?
"I don't want to say luck, because not luck, but I'm lucky that we've gotten so many good players, and setting a high standard too, because I think that a lot of the kids that come in, they expect to be good," McElory said.
"I'm just so happy right now, I'm so proud, we all worked for this, everyone from the years back," Brunner said.
Some of those players were here for this moment, like Tianna Hill, who plays soccer for the University of Mount Olive.
"This is my first time coming back to Githens since I graduated eighth grade," she said.
Hill was part of win number 1.
"Not everybody gets to experience 100 wins or the feeling of going undefeated in general, so I think it's just nostalgia, I just wanted to come back and feel it all again," Hill said.
Brianna Pinto from the NC Courage was there as well! She went to Githens, but didn't play soccer at the school. On Tuesday she wanted to join the crowd celebrating the girls.
"It's a big deal, because it just shows the investment through generations and every class that comes to Githens Middle School has been invested in and encouraged to chase their dreams and make the most of playing soccer," Pinto said.
All the success doesn't hurt either.
"I like winning," Pinto laughed, "so coming back on their 100th consecutive win, is super special just to see their joy on their faces, and have the celebration, it's incredible."
That joy is what McElroy will remember about the streak. Win or lose, it was always good.
"No matter what was going on at school or life or anything, it was always a really positive thing. Cause I honestly can't say that we've had a bad day."
