Families from different states talk how CWS helped them form ‘lifelong’ friendship

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Tailgating at the College World Series -- the food, drinks and camaraderie is something special, even for those whose teams did not make it this year.

“It’s a tradition that just won’t go away, and we don’t want it to go away,” said Mack Covell of Shreveport, Louisiana. “We were at Rosenblatt years ago and had the best time, but now we’re over here and adjusted. And still, just the people up here are so kind.”

That is especially so for Jerry and Heather Soles of Thomasville, North Carolina. They forged a special bond with Elkhorn residents Kristi Lyons and Clint Reichert in 2021, when the Soles’ son, NC State outfielder Noah, and his team last appeared in the College World Series.

“It all started from, ‘Hey, you guys are going to see a lot of red. Get ready,’” Jerry said. “And they responded, ‘We see red anyway. We’re the Huskers.’”

From there, Lyons and Reichert invited them to tailgate with them, and even let them stay with them at their home.

“When you’re all of the sudden roommates with people for close to a week that you’ve known for 12 hours, you kind of just jump into it both feet first, and away you go,” Reichert said.

Since then, they’ve kept in touch. They’ve taken vacations together, and Reichert and Lyons have even gone to North Carolina to watch Noah’s games.

“They were just there three weeks ago for Senior Day,” Soles said. “That’s a big deal. They’ve also come to watch our youngest son play as well.”

NC State’s CWS appearance this year is extra special to both families since the NCAA disqualified the team partway through the 2021 World Series due to COVID-19 protocols.

“Because of what happened with COVID the first year when he was here—when NC State got kicked out, unfortunately—this is kind of redemption for them this year,” Lyons said.

So Heather called Lyons and Reichert right after the Wolfpack beat Georgia earlier this week.

“I called them and said, ‘We’re coming to Omaha,’ so loud,” Heather said. “Then we’re super excited. I don’t think we slept that night.”

Now, they’re back to where it all began, at the College World Series.

They told 6 News if there’s anything they want people to take from their story, it’s that good people may be hard to find, but they are around. And if you can be kind and generous, just do it.

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