Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sports are important for more than entertainment. For our young student-athletes, it helps them be healthy, learn the importance of teamwork, how hard work can pay off with success, and how to cope when it doesn't.
In a normal year, the work it takes to organize and coordinate high school students, coaches, and teams is huge and daunting. Canceling a season is emotionally hard. Putting on an abbreviated sports season that ends before the seniors graduate is extremely difficult.
This "winter" sports season of basketball and wrestling is best described as chaotic, frustrating, exasperating, and yet, still rewarding. Heck, the "winter" sports are in the spring. That's odd enough.
It is tough to create a shortened schedule to have a season and post-season games without the normal state playoffs structure. The COVID pandemic that canceled last year's sports continues to haunt the athletic directors this year.
The state keeps changing requirements to play and attend games. The changes can happen in a matter of days. The mask requirements for basketball players discouraged some seniors from returning to their sport. The number of parents and friends allowed to attend changed a few times this year.
Tekoa-Rosalia's athletic director, Rosie McLain, had the heartbreak of canceling their boys and girls basketball and wrestling programs. When one school stopped in-person learning due to COVID concerns, an agreement stopped sports activates for both.
McLain didn't like it and scrambled to provide two seniors the opportunity to have their last basketball season. She arranged two games for them – just two. It's better than nothing. Her reward is having two student-athletes thankful for their final season.
Teams have been thrown for a loop since they haven't had time to practice or rest. One team played six games in eight days, others report four games played in a week, and some even spent two days on buses playing back-to-back games.
Still, playing is better than not playing. There is a reward for all of the frustrations and hard work of athletic directors and coaches. Their kids get to play and enjoy the learning that comes from team sports.
Sports are an essential part of the high school experience. Thanks to the people in our communities, despite all odds and obstacles, we had a "winter" season. The players, their parents, their friends, and their communities are thankful.
Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.
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