Fan support needs to cover all bases

When fall sports begin, fans get excited about attending football and volleyball games. However, there are other Silver Lake High School athletes who aren't involved in the two main attractions but still deserve the same amount of recognition.

Two other sports take place during the fall: cross country and girls' golf. If a student were to take a walk around SLHS, it is unlikely that he or she would find decorated lockers or "good luck" notes for the participants if it was just a regularly scheduled meet. However, football and volleyball members get items and decorations every week. The most likely occasion participants in golf and cross country get notes is if they are attending state competition.

Receiving recognition for achievements is always important, whether it be academic or athletic. Sometimes the members of the less "popular" sports feel like they don't always get the recognition they deserve from their peers. Even a simple "good luck" or having a friend from school travel and watch you compete would be satisfying.

There were 11 members on the cross country team this year: seniors Tyler Boxberger, Jacob Deiter, Rachel McCall, Matt Runyan and three-time state competitor Stephanie Bryant; juniors Austin Abbott, Nick deSouza, Moritz Krug, and Jayme Lindstrom; sophomore TG Gideon and freshman JaVon Martin.   DeSouza, Boxberger, Deiter, and Krug each medaled once this season, while Lindstrom and McCall medaled three times and Bryant medaled at five meets.

At the Wamego meet, Bryant placed second out of 125 runners, beating two state champions with a time of 13:02. McCall is also an accomplished runner who recently placed 13th out of more than 90 runners at Wamego. No matter where you attend school, these finishes serve as significant accomplishments.

At the regional tournament held this weekend at Riley County, both ladies qualified for state competition. Bryant captured third place, and McCall clinched ninth.

McCall said she felt the achievements in cross country are many times overshadowed by other sports and activities.

"Sometimes we get left out of events.   It sometimes feels like we don't get recognized even though, in my opinion, we work 10 times harder than other athletes," McCall stated.

Girls' golf sometimes receives even less attention. There were six girls out for golf this season , including seniors Lauren Cunningham and Rachel Stover; junior Jill Lira; sophomore Lainey Roberson and freshmen Chelsey Spiker and Kelsey Wichman.  

Regional 1A-4A golf was held Oct. 10. Unfortunately, no one from the team qualified for state this year. Cunningham and Lira did receive at least four medals individually throughout the season. Cunningham was also only two spots away from attending the state competition.  

Cunningham explained how most people who ask about golf scores are other people who are involved in golf, which isn't many it seems.

"The same three people ask me how I did after every meet. I don't blame people for not being more excited about golf, but I feel like we deserve just as much recognition and respect as the other athletes," Cunningham said.

Some people might contest that watching cross country or golf is not as exciting as attending team sports such as volleyball and football. Some people feel that watching golf can cause the players to lose concentration because someone making even the slightest noise could be distracting. You can't cheer because it might disrupt a hit.  

Neither of these assumptions are true. Cross country runners and golfers put just as much time and effort into their game. Why should they not receive the same amount of respect and recognition as the other athletes from their peers?

If a freshman gets to play two minutes in a varsity football game, the majority of the school is talking about it and congratulating him. If a freshman places in the top 10 at a golf meet, only a small portion of the school is aware.  

The way fans could support the cross country and golf teams is not any different compared to volleyball and football. Support athletes by telling them "good luck," be encouraging, maybe even offer cheering.

A perfect opportunity is approaching. This weekend is state cross country. It is held in Wamego, and there is no doubt that Bryant and McCall would appreciate the support from their peers.

Even though SLHS is a small school, it doesn't mean that certain athletes should be forgotten. Competing in cross country and golf takes hard work, dedication and perseverance. All of the team members work hard to represent SLHS and prove themselves to larger competing schools.  

Sub Navigation

• News
• Editorials
• Sports
• Features

Top