1,383 days.

That is how long Wilmington public schools waited in the dark. Nearly four years without a team sport state championship. Twelve straight title losses. Dozens of near misses, broken hearts and long bus rides home. All of it finally snapped on a cool Thursday night in Greensboro as Hoggard boys soccer claimed the NCHSAA 8A state championship over West Forsyth .

The drought almost mirrored the time I have had this job. I started covering sports for the StarNews in June of 2022, months after Laney wrestling lifted a dual-team trophy and a year removed from Hoggard softball's run. At first, I chalked Wilmington's dry spell up to timing. Someone has to lose. Someone always walks away empty.

But season after season, I stood on the wrong end of celebrations, trying to explain t

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