Knight pride
So I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m the farthest thing from athletic. Honestly, it’s pretty pathetic how awful I am at anything in the realm of physical activity, other than tennis... tennis I’m good at. Not too shabby, but during this blog I’m not going to be talking about me… shocking just a bit, I’m sure.
Anyway, I want to talk about my schoolmates. Not every single one of them, but the ones that are, well, how would you put this? Athletically inclined.
Now I’m not just writing this because the girls basketball team has done so well lately, although that’s not really something to take lightly. I’m very proud of the girls who made it to Columbus this weekend. It truly is the dream for everyone on that team, and I’m sure, definitely for the only senior Mariah Oswalt.
Anyway, I’m just going to say that it’s pretty incredible that such a small community like West Holmes can show up any of the people in the Division II tournaments. Not just basketball.
I think I might just make my way through the accomplishments this school year… First on my list: Rachel Nelson. Although she is one of my best friends, and I love the entire family to death, I’m incredibly proud of her for more than just the things I see.
I’ve seen her play for the past three years; the first year she made it to the State tournament with her sister, even though she didn’t have to. She helped her sister make it to every high school athlete’s dream for her senior year. If that’s not a true humble player, then I’m not sure what is.
But anyway, she won the Division II State Championship in girls tennis this year, and she deserved every moment of it, every single moment. I saw her beat girls from private schools who shovel money into every program they can, I saw her beat girls who had their own personal coaches, and I saw her keep somewhat of a cool when girls were just plain out rude. That, to me, is a champion. Someone, who is by far, nothing but dedicated. Someone from a tiny public school in the middle of Amish Country won the title. That is the best part.
The next person I’m going to talk about: Cully Gordon. I don’t really know the kid all too well, but I think he deserves a spot in this blog. After all, he didn’t just go to the State tournament for the second time; he won the Ohio Cardinal Conference championships and was Runner of the Year, and the OCC isn’t exactly easy... anyone in it will tell you that.
But yes, from tiny little West Holmes Cully beat many people to get where he wanted to be, and worked hard for it. That is pretty crazy to think that another talented young guy represented West Holmes in a State tournament this year, and I sure hope that he goes there once again.
Yes, that is two fall athletes who went to the Ohio High School Athletic Association State tournament… Maybe, just maybe, West Holmes is going to be powerhouse (in fact I believe they are.)
Then comes the winter sports.
As customary, the wrestlers sent people to the State tournament in Columbus: Max Rohskopf, Justin Stitzlein and Marshall Overholt.
Max and Justin represented once again, as they have been to the State tournament before, not to mention they both placed in the top six this year. You know, no big deal. But the biggest surprise to me this season was probably Marshall Overholt.
Yes, he works hard - you can bet every person on that wrestling team does - but this was his reward. For his final season with the Knights, he made it all the way to Columbus for the first time. I’m not sure he even expected it, but I know it was on his to do list. But as far as getting to place sixth, yeah that’s crazy. Another representation from the WH wrestlers. You know, no big deal again, right?
And let’s not forget that the West Holmes cheerleaders who placed once again at their State competition for the second year. I mean, I don’t know a whole lot about cheerleading, but I’m pretty sure most of what they do is impossible for me to maneuver… Oh well.
So finally, I’m back to the Lady Knights basketball team.
They have always been good. There’s no doubt about it. The small-town school in Millersburg has beaten all the private schools, has won every game in a battle, and has worked to be the best, all for the moments they experienced this weekend. The moment for the 2012 Lady Knights will always be remembered even if it might not have ended the way they wanted to… But I’d put money on it that Lisa Patterson will be seeing a repeat trip to the Schottenstein Center in her near future.
That is great.
I guess all this babble is trying to say that, we, as in the tiny public school, are great. No matter how many people brush us off, or how many people think West Holmes won’t succeed. They are wrong. We are winning, without the help of recruits, personal coaches and private money. We are winning because we work hard.
For that, this week I’m proud to say I have so much respect for every athlete. I have so much Knight pride.
Anyway, I want to talk about my schoolmates. Not every single one of them, but the ones that are, well, how would you put this? Athletically inclined.
Now I’m not just writing this because the girls basketball team has done so well lately, although that’s not really something to take lightly. I’m very proud of the girls who made it to Columbus this weekend. It truly is the dream for everyone on that team, and I’m sure, definitely for the only senior Mariah Oswalt.
Anyway, I’m just going to say that it’s pretty incredible that such a small community like West Holmes can show up any of the people in the Division II tournaments. Not just basketball.
I think I might just make my way through the accomplishments this school year… First on my list: Rachel Nelson. Although she is one of my best friends, and I love the entire family to death, I’m incredibly proud of her for more than just the things I see.
I’ve seen her play for the past three years; the first year she made it to the State tournament with her sister, even though she didn’t have to. She helped her sister make it to every high school athlete’s dream for her senior year. If that’s not a true humble player, then I’m not sure what is.
But anyway, she won the Division II State Championship in girls tennis this year, and she deserved every moment of it, every single moment. I saw her beat girls from private schools who shovel money into every program they can, I saw her beat girls who had their own personal coaches, and I saw her keep somewhat of a cool when girls were just plain out rude. That, to me, is a champion. Someone, who is by far, nothing but dedicated. Someone from a tiny public school in the middle of Amish Country won the title. That is the best part.
The next person I’m going to talk about: Cully Gordon. I don’t really know the kid all too well, but I think he deserves a spot in this blog. After all, he didn’t just go to the State tournament for the second time; he won the Ohio Cardinal Conference championships and was Runner of the Year, and the OCC isn’t exactly easy... anyone in it will tell you that.
But yes, from tiny little West Holmes Cully beat many people to get where he wanted to be, and worked hard for it. That is pretty crazy to think that another talented young guy represented West Holmes in a State tournament this year, and I sure hope that he goes there once again.
Yes, that is two fall athletes who went to the Ohio High School Athletic Association State tournament… Maybe, just maybe, West Holmes is going to be powerhouse (in fact I believe they are.)
Then comes the winter sports.
As customary, the wrestlers sent people to the State tournament in Columbus: Max Rohskopf, Justin Stitzlein and Marshall Overholt.
Max and Justin represented once again, as they have been to the State tournament before, not to mention they both placed in the top six this year. You know, no big deal. But the biggest surprise to me this season was probably Marshall Overholt.
Yes, he works hard - you can bet every person on that wrestling team does - but this was his reward. For his final season with the Knights, he made it all the way to Columbus for the first time. I’m not sure he even expected it, but I know it was on his to do list. But as far as getting to place sixth, yeah that’s crazy. Another representation from the WH wrestlers. You know, no big deal again, right?
And let’s not forget that the West Holmes cheerleaders who placed once again at their State competition for the second year. I mean, I don’t know a whole lot about cheerleading, but I’m pretty sure most of what they do is impossible for me to maneuver… Oh well.
So finally, I’m back to the Lady Knights basketball team.
They have always been good. There’s no doubt about it. The small-town school in Millersburg has beaten all the private schools, has won every game in a battle, and has worked to be the best, all for the moments they experienced this weekend. The moment for the 2012 Lady Knights will always be remembered even if it might not have ended the way they wanted to… But I’d put money on it that Lisa Patterson will be seeing a repeat trip to the Schottenstein Center in her near future.
That is great.
I guess all this babble is trying to say that, we, as in the tiny public school, are great. No matter how many people brush us off, or how many people think West Holmes won’t succeed. They are wrong. We are winning, without the help of recruits, personal coaches and private money. We are winning because we work hard.
For that, this week I’m proud to say I have so much respect for every athlete. I have so much Knight pride.
Published: March 22, 2012
