When everything clicks

Published October 25, 2012

Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

It’s good to be a Tiger! The football team started it off by winning big last Friday night. They practice every day and work so hard, sometimes even getting hurt trying. Being on the bottom side of the 45-point mercy rule several weeks in a row can’t be much fun, but they continue to show up. They keep working on it, and Friday night, the Stockton Tigers thumped their opponent with the mercy rule. After playing nearly a full game, they still had some bounce in their stride when they walked off the field. Win or lose, we’re always proud of these boys, but it’s more fun when everything clicks.

Saturday morning our cross country team went to Wheatland to compete in the Regional tournament. It was a beautiful day to do just about anything outdoors, even running a 3.1 mile course. And once again, the Tigers earned their stripes by competing well as individuals and as a team. Our boys’ team was missing Ethan Hamel, who had to sit out because of an injury on the football field the night before. But the other four boys—Christian Hamel, Cayden Conyac, Reed Stephens, and José Aguilar-Romero—finished in second place as a team, bringing home the hardware to prove it. On the girls’ side, both Hannah Lindsey and Christina Bedore finished in the top 10, also earning medals. In the end, all of our cross country runners qualified to go to State next weekend in Wamego. Each of the runners has improved their personal times, and we’re always proud of them, but it’s more fun when everything clicks.

Also on Saturday, Stockton was one of eight sites in the state for Class 1A Division 1, sub-state volleyball. The Lady Tigers were seeded third, going into the tournament with a record of 18-15. Our girls, first of all, beat the sixth-seed Osborne Bulldogs, and then handled the second-seed Southern Cloud Warriors, delivering a knock-out punch to both teams in two games. On the top half of the bracket, the Pike Valley Panthers upset the number-one seed Thunder Ridge Lady Longhorns, which set up the championship match between the Tigers and the Panthers. And that’s when the claws came out. In a rockin’-loud gymnasium, our Lady Tigers once again brought their A-game but fell short of the championship win that would have sent them to the State tournament. It was sad to see their season come to a close, because it has been fun to watch them compete so well. This group of girls has improved so much, and we’re always proud of them, but it’s more fun when everything clicks.

This week, one of our high school students will be competing on the national level. Audrey Green, a senior and our local FFA president, will participate at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in a “job interview” competition. Obviously to get to this level, she has already advanced through the State contest. But the competition is bound to be tougher, and there is no team to rely on to carry her through. Once she enters the door and faces that interviewer, Audrey will have to rely solely on her own strengths. We have no doubt that she will do well. Whether she brings home an award or not, we’re already proud of her… but it will be even more fun if everything clicks.

Our student athletes practice hard every day, striving to make themselves better—individually and as a team. Whether on the road or on our own field or court, family and friends can be counted on to be there, cheering them on. They don’t always win the game or receive the award, but they keep showing up, they keep practicing and working hard, and no one could ask for anything more.

When it comes to competition, it’s always fun to win. But for the fans in the stands, it’s more fun when everything clicks.