He was just a warrior on the East Gaston soccer team, a former student from Stanley, North Carolina, and Joseph Trite passed away on December 8, 2025. That news really weighed heavily on me. He was only 24 years old. I never had the chance to meet him, but reading about him made me think about people on my own school team and how close everyone becomes over the years.
However, the news of his passing, which grieved all those with whom he interacted and was not shared anywhere, was still delivered straight. The family, friends, and old teammates of this guy, besides many others in the East Gaston community, have always been reminiscing about how much they miss him. A man loyal to his school was a player who put everything he had into his team.
Joseph was the player at East Gaston High School who played soccer during his time at the school from 2017 to 2021. His jersey number was usually 15, and he played in midfield. He finished in 2021. Looking at his record, I thought he was a player who kept getting better every year. He had two goals after seven games played in 2018. Then he added an assist in his junior year. His last season in 2020 and 2021 was the crackerjack of his previous seasons as he finished with four goals and two assists after only five matches. That year, the team finished with 7 wins and 5 losses and placed third in their conference. For someone my age, seeing numbers like that makes me think how much hard work he must have put in.
He played a total of thirteen varsity games throughout his high school soccer career. He earned a total of fifteen points through six goals and three assists. That is a good contribution for a midfielder. He averaged about a goal every other match and about one assist every five games, indicating he played consistently.
Then, after finishing school, he remained very near home in Stanley. His next venture was enlisting in the United States Navy, and he completed the Cryptologic Technician training in June 2025. That is not an easy thing to achieve, and I felt proud reading that a player who once played school soccer went on to serve in the Navy. It tells a lot about his discipline.
Reading about his demise was heartbreaking as it broke the hearts of many, a few ironies being the mess from his mother, who made the announcement. She asked everyone to pray for their family and announced that the funeral arrangements would be announced soon. Now, reading a mother’s words like that stopped me in my tracks. This is how families sometimes go through things that you might not see.
The East Gaston Warriors Soccer wrote something for him, too. They stated that he had been a pleasure to coach and an extraordinary teammate. I know from my school days that coaches only say those things when they really mean it. It’s also a teammate who gets remembered long after he leaves.
He may not be here today, but people will always talk about him. An East Gaston soccer player is not easily forgotten when he is a sailor in the United States Navy. His friends, his school, and his family will never forget him.
My thoughts go out to the family and all those close to him. May he rest in peace. You may also be interested in: Essex Maryland Still Shocked After Howard Sunny Sye Jr Lost His Life During Police Shooting
