Win or Lose, You’ll Always Have the Memories

Every high school season I seem to write a version of this column. That’s three seasons of sports in a typical school year.

Maybe that’s because our student-athletes deserve it so much. Even after almost four decades of doing this, I remain in awe of these kids.

We are at sectional tournament time. From flag football to regular football, to cross country to track and field, it’s another culmination of a season of hard work. Weather a team is 1-9 or 15-3, this is their moment. Their time to shine. They all have to work for this and they all have the same goal: to win a title or championship.

This is the time to celebrate our kids.

Celebrate their tenacity. Celebrate their dreams. Celebrate their diligence. Celebrate their triumphs.

And, yes, even celebrate their losses.

Nobody works as hard as our athletes. Nobody is as dedicated as our coaches, especially for the criminal stipend they earn. They are not just teaching our kids a sport, but life lessons along the way.

The sectionals are the time for that.

What better way to say “thank you” to both the athletes and the coaches?

One thing I learned is that sectionals and state championships are nice – but memories last a lifetime. It’s time to celebrate that.

Rich Thomaselli is a longtime sports reporter in the Hudson Valley, and currently covers Putnam County. He can be reached at rich.thomaselli@gmail.com.