I hesitate to write a "letter to the editor" because I am a school employee and people understand my bias toward School Dist. 309. I often ignore letters written on any subject with a slanted view...perhaps the same will happen here, but I feel compelled to write.
I have coached middle school athletics for more than 30 years. No one makes me coach. The pay isn't great, but the experience the players and coaches receive are "priceless."
Perhaps this scene from a September night might help you understand. Both the Middle School volleyball teams and tennis teams traveled to Pequot Lakes. Bus rides are a treat for Middle School athletes, not necessarily the coaches. The longer the bus ride the better, the darker the night the better. Players like these rides not to talk strategy or game preparation...but to be with their friends.
On that night, 20 tennis girls and 40 volleyball girls were in a place that had no equal...a long bus ride and a dark night...a sanctuary of sorts for a Middle School athlete.
We arrived back at the Century School at 8:30 p.m. The volleyball team was super excited because they won their first game...not match, but game. The bus driver and I just smiled. We thought it was special to see that excitement and it wasn't because of winning any championship.
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The tennis girls didn't win many matches that night either. Pequot Lakes had some great players and we learn that athletics can be like life...you don't win each and every day, but you go on. The smiles were everywhere. The afternoon was special because of a bus ride, playing sports with some friends and being in a safe environment until 8:30 p.m.
As I walked back to my classroom that night, I couldn't help but think that special nights like this are on the verge of being removed if the referendum doesn't pass. My wish that night? For all the voters to ride that bus, see players enjoying games because of playing, not winning, and to see how special Middle School athletics can be. It really is "priceless."
Steve Prenevost
Park Rapids
