Sports Talk: Saying Farewell Early On

As a correspondent sports writer for The Casey County News, I write an weekly editorial column for the publication. Published Oct. 16, 2013. 
It often seems the "in-between" seasons go much faster than winter and summer. The days of perfect weather are limited and the beauty of the changing natural world are brief so we must soak them up while we can. 

With the fleeting fall, it also seems fall sports move rapidly. The beginning of this month already saw the conclusion of our golf team's schedules and last week the volleyball and football teams both hosted their final home games and celebrated senior night.
 
Spring time always brings for lots of sadness in saying farewell to seniors, but it seems a little overlooked in the fall, when several months of school and graduation still lay in the distance. I was involved in numerous sports in different ways during my high school career--basketball, football--but track and field was my number one. While I did run cross country, my senior season was actually the first time Casey had an actual team in years, so it mainly just felt a lot like a different form of fall training.
 
In some ways I think it might be harder for the seniors who have to say goodbye to their sport in the fall than those in the spring. By spring, everyone is saying goodbye, whether it be to a sport, a club, classes, friends...high school in general. Everyone is sharing the same sentiments as the end of so much draws near.
 
The fall still looks to many adventures for a senior year, but these athletes already have to let go of something that has likely been (and will always be) a big part of who they are. Sure they will still be going to class and seeing their teammates frequently for another seven months, but putting on the uniform and giving the blood, sweat and tears at practice and games is coming to a close. I suppose those involved in these sports are the only ones who really understand the difficulty there is in doing so sooner rather than later in their senior years. Perhaps it brings a new sense of reality of all they will be saying farewell to in the coming months.
 
Some of the sports do not get the traditional senior night--golf, cross country and soccer. Given, this year, there are two seniors collectively among those sports, but it makes their exit no less difficult or meaningful. Even the cheerleaders, who have a competition season ahead as well as basketball, had an ending of sorts. Playing--and cheering--under the lights, in everything from hot to cold weather--is special. I can't put my finger on what it is, but anyone who has experienced it knows it's true. It was also obvious at the VolleyReb senior night how difficult it will be to see the season end for the group of eight seniors themselves, as well as their coaches and teammates.
 
While home game activity for Rebel and Lady Rebel athletics has concluded for the fall, not all of the teams are done with their seasons and those seniors still have ambitious goals for how they will conclude their careers. Be sure to show them your support in one way or another, even if you cannot attend their road events. And if you see any of them out and about in the community, congratulate them on their career of wearing the Rebel colors with pride.

A Graduation Celebration

It's pretty much a given that anytime the Dixon Clan and the Hellyer crew get together, a good time is bound to be had. Last year we had the pleasure of celebrating Jo & MJ's wedding together. This past weekend we celebrated two graduations: Clint's high school graduation from Boyle County High and Hayley's college graduation from Campbellsville University. 

The Hellyer Ladies

Eaglenest has a great set up for hosting a large group--especially on a beautiful summer day like we had. A spacey kitchen for lots of food, an open room with lots of seating for lounging, and a great deck that overlooks an open field perfect for yard games!

Socializing in the sunshine!

It was the first time Jo, Michelle and I have gotten to be all together since announcing our baby news in April so it was fun to compare bumps and the fun of the journey we are on! Jo recently found out they will be having a baby girl! Mingus and I could have had our gender told to us at our last appointment (20 weeks) but (much to his dismay) I insisted we keep it a mystery! (He says he can deal with mysteries better than "surprises" so I'm working on calling it a mystery instead!) I think he is semi-okay with not knowing, but sitting in that room with the ultrasound tech who DID know killed him! SOMEONE knew and he did not. I promised him that if he wants to know next time we can find out but I want to have a surprise this one time!

The Mamas and their bellies

The Papas and their bellies!

We decided to conduct the "Pencil Test" to see what it says the gender of ours and Nic & Michelle's will be. I see it as kind of like the Ouija Board--I still want it to be a mystery but it's still fun to see what it says... We used Jo as our "control" group... as in, she took the test too and sure enough it said she was having a girl! As for us? Boy and Boy says the pencil test!

Pencil test says... boy?

It was a great day and we were there long into the night enjoying the company and food. There was a never-ending game of Kubb going on in the yard between Clint and his friends and a bunch of family--which they referred to as the "adult" team. Which to me was just weird because Pa was about the only one on the team I see as an "adult"...the rest were Boo, Nic, Mingus, etc, etc...

The "Adult" team in the Kubb game!

Mingus and I both had a great time with everyone. Wish gatherings like that could happen more often but we sure are grateful when they do!

Congrats Class of 2013--especially you student athletes!

As a correspondent sports writer for The Casey County News, I write an weekly editorial column for the publication. Published May 15, 2013. 

Graduation is always a bittersweet time for everyone connected to a senior student—teachers, administrators, coaches, friends, family, and, of course, the seniors themselves.

Every student who is closing out their time at Casey County High School has accomplished major feats and some may be more obvious than others, so never assume that those finishing at the top of the class have accomplished more than others. You just never know what it took for any one person to be where they are.

Having said that, I do feel the student athletes deserve an extra pat on the back. Now, I’ll be honest and say that when I was a student athlete, in many ways I found being heavily involved in a sport bettered my work ethic when it came to the books. This was mainly because my schedule was so booked up with games, travel and practices, I had no choice but to squeeze in studying during the windows in between, rather than putting off your studies because you could do it any time.

Then again, working like this became my norm and probably does for any student athlete. You don’t have the convenience of “free time”. If you aren’t practicing, playing or studying, you are probably sleeping—because you can’t get enough of it!

Despite what became the norm for me as an athlete, you have accomplished something special.

First off, we all know that in order for them to even compete in athletics, their grades must reach a certain standard; therefore, all of Casey’s senior athletes were making time for school.

Second, being a part of a team is a learning experience in and of itself. The classrooms teach you the facts, how-to and prep you for college or a career, but sports teach you lessons you can carry through life about the kind of person you want to be; the way you dedicate yourself to something; the way you handle problems or defeat and the way you work with others. 

No matter if you were a four-year athlete or you came out to a sport for the first time as a senior, you’ve accomplished something special. Regardless of whether you plan to continue your athletic career at a collegiate level or not, I can guarantee you nothing will be the same as what you experienced while being a part of a high school team.

Be glad and proud that you took the opportunity to participate in one or multiple sports while you were at CCHS. Whether you were a starter, benchwarmer, record setter or MVP does not matter. You took the opportunity to be a part of something you may never get the opportunity to try or do again.

Congrats to all of the graduating Rebel and Lady Rebel athletes!