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The
picture says it all after a dejected group from Versailles walks
off the floor of the
Schottenstein Center in Columbus Saturday after
falling in the final game of the season to
Ottawa-Glandorf, 67-46. CNO
photo by Dylan Knoop
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A scene I never
will get used to
By George Starks
COLUMBUS- I cannot begin to tell you how many times I’ve been to an
athletic event at the state level.
The first time, it was wrestling in Indianapolis at the old Hoosier
Dome. Winchester High School had several wrestlers there and my thought
was at least one would get through.
None of them made it.
Like the kids, I was devastated only because I wanted to see a state
champion in a sport.
I didn’t care what sport it was, I wanted to experience that special
feeling that only a true champion could feel.
A few years down the road, I watched Versailles win a state title in
football. At that point, I knew the feeling.
I was fortunate enough to know that feeling a few more times.
Most notably, the 2007 Greenville softball team and the 2008 Versailles
Lady Tiger basketball team.
These two were special because it was the first ever state titles for
these programs and the first team state championship in the history of
Greenville athletics.
Of course, knowing the success stories comes the other stories, with
Saturday being one of those stories.
When the Tigers went into the locker room at halftime, trailing 35-20,
my thought at that time was, “Okay, we are only down 15, we can come
back.”
The Tigers got to within nine on two separate occasions but would never
get any closer.
When the final buzzer had sounded and it was over, my heart skipped a
beat,
Over the course of nearly 26 years, I have witnessed this scene too
many times.
Watching these kids walk off the floor after being beat in a state semi
or a finals game is heart wrenching and it never fails; I always tell
myself that no matter what happens, I’m not going to show any emotion
whatsoever.
Of course, I’M A LIAR!
I guess after all these years; it’s a scene I will never get used to.
It breaks my heart to watch these kids walk off the floor, a small
piece of me goes with the kids.
In 1999 when the Winchester Falcons volleyball team went to the state
semis in volleyball and lost to Muncie Burris, I cried like a newborn
baby.
I guess I will never get used to this scene and, in a way, I’m glad I
won’t because if I do, it means that it doesn’t matter if my team wins
or loses anymore.
Wait until next year!
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