Zach and Alex Skidmore had possibly one more season together as a brother player-coach combo with Nation Ford lacrosse. The cancelation of the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic took that away from them.

FORT MILL – Like many high school senior athletes COVID-19 has taken a lot from them. For Zach Skidmore it took more that just his senior season, but a once in a lifetime opportunity.

                A Nation Ford senior, Skidmore’s lacrosse season was supposed to be spent with his brother, Alex, an assistant lacrosse coach at the school. However, that time was short lived in the fact that Nation Ford only got to play a handful of games going 5-2 on the season during that time before the state suspended high school sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

                “It was tough,” Alex said. “This year we had a chance to go all the way with the squad we had.”

                Alex, 25, a 2013 graduate of Nation Ford, had served as an assistant with the school for the past couple of years. He played two years at Wesley College in Delaware, before transferring south back to Pfeiffer University to finish his education and to finish his lacrosse playing career.

                This isn’t the first time Alex has coached Zach, 18. He has helped to coach him in travel lacrosse, but with Zach following in his brother’s footsteps and going to Pfeiffer University next year to play lacrosse, this was probably going to be the last once in a lifetime opportunity the brothers would be on the sideline together.  

                “It is devastating,” Zach said. “I haven’t really processed it yet. It sucks.”

                Alex said he feels that Zach has a good opportunity ahead of him to take advantage of at Pfeiffer.

                “Next year, they should have a great team,” Alex said. “He gets an opportunity to play with some guys I played with. I think Zach has a great opportunity there.”

                Alex said he wants to return to Nation Ford next year to help continue to coach with the lacrosse team, but is leaving his options open.

                “There is a pretty good chance I will be back,” he said.

                Zach said he will miss a lot about his brother being on the sidelines.

                “The way he knows the game,” he said. “It is good to have that prospective. He was way harder on me. I am going to miss that. I am going to miss someone knowing the game like he did.”

Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep