The Circle Game

All my life's a circle
But I can't tell you why
The seasons' spinning round again
The years keep rolling by ...
- Harry Chapin, "Circle"

Another year has rolled on by with the upcoming commencement of Marshall High School's Class of 1989. The year has been one of joy and sorrow, of goals achieved and opportunities missed.

And my, how the year has spun around so very quickly.

Time passes us by, like tears in the rain. It seems like only a breath ago Rich Hulkow's football team was preparing for its opener; only a blink since Dan Stulberg was deciding who would make the girls' varsity basketball team and who would have to wait another year.

And the memories are still with us.

Can anyone forget the ultimate feeling of satisfaction when Stulberg accepted the trophy for the Redskins after defeating Buchanan in the Class B regional finals?

Can anyone ignore the intense, competitive stare in Eric LaFleur's eyes when he took his place on the mats, preparing to add another win to his wrestling record?

Can anyone shrug off the final moments of the second Marshall-Albion basketball game, when the Redskins came within one stunning play of an upset over the state-ranked Wildcats?

Forget? Ignore? Shrug off? I have my doubts.

This past year brought us wunderkinds like Jim Clement, Christina Pratt, Shasta Mace and LaFleur. It gave us up-and-coming achievers like Kevin Gushiken, Kim Hudspeth, Brent Tucker, Lori Edinger and Kara Brazas.

It brought us seniors who worked and sweat and fought for everything they could - athletes like Michelle Patton, David Kiessling, Min Johnston, Nick Young, Yvonne Hookway, Eric Midlam or Brad Bennett - but never seemed to achieve the recognition they deserved.

Thought they did not always stand in the limelight, they - and almost everyone else who participated in sports this past year - earned the respect and personal pride which comes with striving to do your best at what you do.

And that, after all, is what the essence, the flavor, the spirit of competition is supposed to be.

Another wonderful spirit of Marshall High is the internal support teammates give their fellow players. Girls' soccer huddling together before taking on state-ranked Gull Lake, chanting, "One-two-three-four, M-H-S score!" The baseball team supporting Nito Ramos at the plate in a back-and-forth cadence from the dugout: "Sweet! Neat! Sweet! Neat!"

Then there is the softball dugout, which makes all the other changing, cheering and sideline support sound like a whisper. The girls really know how to show enthusiasm for one another with a constant barrage of opponent razzing, moral support and emotions.

All of this makes my high school cheering look lethargic. The most excitement I could muster while in high school went something like this (although I am making it more local): "Go, 'Skins, go! Do your best! Remember who you're fighting for, it's M-H-S!"

Sometimes overlooked during the course of a season is how the coach works with the athlete. I spoke to several of the Redskin coaching staff to find out what they expect most from their players. The answers may surprise you:

Stulberg: "I would expect them to try their hardest. I think it's unrealistic for players to always do their best, but I don't think it's unfair to ask them to always try their hardest."

John Hamlin, boys' and girls' swimming: "I expect dedication for the season. Some of the seasons run together ... if they play football and then go out for the swim team, I don't want them until after football. I want them to be committed to that sport."

Tom Duffey, boys' basketball: "I expect them to do the best they can - to go out and try hard and be proud of what they've done, of who they are and who they represent."

Jon Morris, volleyball: "Improvement and giving me 100 percent. If they give me that, I guess they're giving me their all, and that's all you can ask for."

Dave Graveline, girls' soccer: "Just that they try, that they give it their best shot. That's all you can ask for, and that's all that I've asked of them. I don't think it's unreasonable."

Lori Carr, JV volleyball: "I expect to see them progress in their skill level, and to see a continual growth (in the sport) over the course of the year. I also expect them to have positive attitudes. I don't like negative attitudes, or 'We just want to win' attitudes."

Jerry Triece, baseball: "All I really stress ... is to try their best, and that's all I can ever ask of them"

Jim Dorosh, girls' track: "Just a fair shake on both sides - a good attitude, a good solid effort, and to show up for practice. Those three, and you're on the right track, so to speak."

Effort? Dedication? Growth? Attitude? The MHS athletes have some very special mentors in charge of the teams. People who care a great deal about the students' post-high school life. Wrestling coach Gary Gilbert probably sums it up best: "I've always told my kids, 'If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.' I'm pleased with the positive comments other coaches and parents have said about us ... (about) our athletes being a positive representation of Marshall High School. You can talk about wins and losses all you want, but I think my biggest priority is to teach them a sense of priority, to prepare them for the future."

That future awaits the Class of 1989. But memories are what we hold in our minds, in our hearts.

What was it Jim Croce sang so many years ago? "Photographs and memories, Christmas cards you sent to me. All that I have are these to remember you."

And so it goes, with the summer upon us, pictures and thoughts are what we have to remember. Yearbooks are signed, graduation parties held, and seniors - or, soon-to-be former seniors - take three months off before heading into "the real world." Joy and sorrow; so far, so close. Take care, my friends, for tomorrow's events will simply add to the memories we store in our brain's all-encompassing data bank.

The year is over, the equipment is stored away for another time, another group of athletes. Some will return; some will go on to college; others will decide classwork or a part-time job are more important or more necessary.

And the circle comes around again.

This article originally appeared in The Marshall Chronicle.