Expand athletic horizons

Ten years.
It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. I’ve been covering local sports for The Commercial Review for more than a decade.
But while this fall begins my 11th full school year writing about the Jay County Patriots, Fort Recovery Indians and South Adams Starfires, it’s not the time passed that stands out. Rather, it’s the number of quality athletes I’ve had the pleasure to watch perform.
From the Jay County girls tennis team’s dramatic run to the regional championship match in 2001 to Maria Murphy of the Patriots and Holly Brunswick of the Indians competing in their respective girls track state finals in June, it’s a long list.
Over that span, Jay County’s teams have won a combined 34 sectional championships. The girls cross country, boys basketball and boys soccer teams have all claimed regional crowns.
Fort Recovery has earned sectional titles in volleyball, boys basketball, girls basketball, baseball and softball.
And, of course, the deepest tournament runs — the Patriot boys basketball team to the state championship game in 2006 and the Indian girls basketball team to the state final four in March — stand out as the most memorable.
In addition to the team success, Jay County has had individual state finalists in eight different sports — girls cross country, boys tennis, boys and girls swimming (and boys and girls diving as well), gymnastics, wrestling and boys and girls track. Patriots have won state medals in six of those sports.
Fort Recovery can boast state finalists in girls cross country, boys track and girls track, with a handful of state medals of their own.
Given that list, I’d like area fans to ask themselves the following question: “How many of those athletes did I see compete?”
Even when it comes to basketball, the sport Indiana considers its own, I’m sure there are those who consider themselves Jay County fans who never saw the 2005-06 Patriots play. They didn’t see Scott Bruggeman’s game-winning shot in overtime in the sectional semifinal round, Randy Evans’ 3-point barrage in the regional championship game or Corey Comer’s semi-state game-winner in overtime that sent the Patriots to their first state finals appearance.
And there is no question that most area sports fans never saw two-time state medalists Caleb Bye (diving), Hannah Williams (gymnastics) and Casey Kenney (wrestling) compete in their respective sports.
There are certainly Fort Recovery fans who can say the same about track and field state medalists Tyler Niekamp, Holly Stein, Matt Vagedes and Brunswick.
The point being, you’re missing out.
So as the 2011-12 schools athletic season begins, I’m encouraging fans to expand their athletic horizons.
If you haven’t ever been to a soccer game, wrestling match or track meet, go check one out.
I can hear the reaction now: “But I don’t like …”
For anyone whose reaction begins like that, let me stop you right there. It doesn’t matter.
We all have sports we enjoy more than others. But that’s not what this is about.
It’s about the athletes. You become a fan of the boy or girl competing, and then the given activity just doesn’t matter.
You’re there to share in the ups and downs of their seasons. You’re there to see that look of elation on their faces when their years of work pay off in that one moment of achievement.
And the presence of extra fans means something to athletes, especially in the sports that generally don’t get very much attention. It’s nice for them to know the effort they’re putting in to reach their goals means something to someone other than them, their coaches and their parents.
So take the opportunity this year to watch Katie Simmons and Elle Sutter run cross country, Mariah Hornaday spike a volleyball, Kyle Garringer wrestle, Katie Snyder flip and twist over the vault, Aaron Vagedes run track or Murphy throw the discus. Or pick another sport you’ve never watched before and head out to the field, course, court, gym, track, mat or pool.
Expand your horizons. You won’t regret it.[[In-content Ad]]