No doubt, the 2020-2021 school year was a difficult one. But, amidst the difficulties of COVID-19, athletics provided one bright spot for Mathews High School.

MHS principal Drew Greve and the school’s outgoing Athletic Director Al Thomas provided a recap of the spring season at the start of Tuesday’s Mathews County School Board meeting, which was held in the school’s media center.

“Athletics did a provide a sense of normalcy … during this crazy COVID year,” Greve said. And the job of athletic director, challenging during normal times, was made doubly hard by the virus, with other schools canceling athletic programs, restrictions on attendance, and myriad virus protocols and concerns, Greve added, thanking his AD for his hard work.

Thomas, who served three years as AD and 21 as a teacher at Mathews High, has retired effective July 1. He thanked the board and school administration for their “continued and unwavering support” of Mathews athletics.

“The past 18 months have bee...