Great Start (09-07-09)

It’s junior high volleyball/football season once again, and once again, you’ll find me in stands. This comes as a surprise to many. They assume that now that LMS has officially closed, and HCJH is now officially open under the leadership of our high school principal Alan Stein, what would the elementary principal being doing at junior high ball games?

Working, of course. I suppose large districts can afford the complete separation of buildings, but here at USD 281, we all help out wherever we are needed. And let’s face it, there are just too many activities between junior high and high school for one person to supervise. So I get to keep my junior high activity duties.

Note, I say, “get to keep”. Watching our junior high athletes is actually a lot of fun. They play hard, the games are usually close and hotly contested, and thanks to a set of wonderful parents, there are few disputes that require my attention. Honestly, while my official capacity may that of an administrator, for all practical purposes, I travel as a suburban driver and, most importantly, as a fan.

Thus, I traveled to Stockton this week to watch our new Hill City Junior High Ringnecks battle the Tigers in volleyball and football.

The first thing I noticed right away was how much these kids have grown. Last week, I wrote about grade school growth spurts, but the most dramatic growth often occurs during junior high, especially between the 7th and 8th grade years. Our 8th grade boys, in particular seemed to have taken a step closer to manhood, seeming taller and stronger than I remembered them being last May. The 8th girls, as well, seemed to walk with more of a swagger, as if to say, “Yep, I’m all grown up now!”

The 7th grade students also seemed different, more confident, and happy now to be in junior high. After watching many of these kids play rec sports the last few years, it was a little surreal seeing them suit up in regulation uniforms, with KSHSAA refs, playing in games that hold a little more significance than recreation ball.

Of course, with the increased attention, comes increased pressure. The first game I saw, our 7th grade or “B team” girls, this pressure was obvious from the first serve. Our girls looked tentative, unsure of themselves, doubting their new status as junior high players.

The first game went to the Tigers, but only because it took a while for our girls to warm up to the idea that, yes, they did belong on the same court. Watching each serve was like watching a flower slowly blossom. Each hit brought more confidence and each point our team looked better and better.

The second game, the seventh grade girls continued to play with confidence, and we won games two and three pretty much going away. The B team had arrived!

The 8th grade A team started with that swagger I mentioned earlier. They served well and played hard, winning the first game handily. But then the Tiger girls, buoyed perhaps by their home crowd, found their stroke, and I saw two games of wonderfully competitive volleyball. And though both games and the match went to Stockton, our girls showed enough flash that I know they will win their share this season.

When I walked out to the football field, I heard the announcer declare, “Touchdown Ringnecks!” As it was just after 6:00, I assumed we scored first, though after we failed to score the two-point conversion, I saw the scoreboard read 6 to 6. Then Stockton returned the ensuing kickoff for as touchdown, so with just a couple of minutes off the clock, the score already read 12-6.

But like our 7th grade volleyball team, once the boys settled down, the Hill City Junior High Ringnecks were up to the challenge. The Tigers’ defense held for the next couple of drives, but so did our defense. Then we put together a nice drive and punched in the two-point conversion to lead at half time, 14-12.

After half, we scored another 8 points, making the score 22-12. Our defense held them most of the game, though the Tigers did keep on fighting, and were eventually able to get six late in the game. The Ringnecks were able to get the ball down to the Tiger one yard line with two seconds remaining, but our classy coaches told the QB to take a knee, and we won the game 22-18.

All in all, it was a great start to the year. I’ll see you next Thursday, when we go again, versus Osborne.