| represent
an entire nation
When most high school student-athletes don their school's colors to compete
in a game, they have enough pressure bearing down on them.
After all, the youngsters are worried about how well they will play in
front of the crowd. Or, can they carry on the winning tradition forged
by teams before them. Kids know they represent their school each time they
step on the court, and oftentimes, those school colors mean as much to
the players and fans as does the red, white and blue. And that isn't the
least bit un-patriotic -- it is just a reflection of school pride.
But the young men who play for the Sequoyah Indians have a task most high
schoolers couldn't even fathom -- they carry the hopes and dreams of an
entire nation on their shoulders.
And those shoulders were more than capable of carrying the load, as the
Sequoyah Indians brought joy to their thousands of loyal fans in last weekend's
Class 3A State Tournament.
Every athlete who has ever suited up for a game, at any level, has felt
the pressure on them to perform, and perform at a high level. Their friends
expect it, their fans expect it, they expect it of themselves, and their
family expects it. But with Sequoyah, the friends and fans meld into one
big family -- and that family is smiling right now.
Everyone has been to a game where one or two vocal parents could be heard
above the constats murmer of the crowd. I know -- my dad had one of those
voices that could be heard over even the loudest roars of the crowd. But
imagine the energy a player can draw when literally thousands of those
"family members" are at every game, getting on the referees for an unfavorable
call, applauding great plays, and lending their unwavering support through
thick and thin. It was that kind of support that helped the Indians to
their best year in the school's proud history.
Everyone knows how important it is to be able to play on their home court.
The familiar setting, a place you have shot countless shots in practice,
and the fan support gives the home team a definite edge. But the fan support
for Sequoyah High School is so great, the Indians enjoyed somewhat of a
"homecourt" advantage every time they stepped on the floor.
Because of the outstanding support, the Indians felt no pressure at all.
Obviously, they wanted to win every time they stepped on the court. For
themselves, for their team, and for their fans. But it was that unwavering
support that allowed SHS to not worry about winning, but, rather, to just
go out and have fun. When young players are mature enough to do that, then
the sky is the limit.
Just
ask SHS head coach Larry Grigg.
"Once the playoffs began, our players just went out and had fun, which
is what basketball is supposed to be all about," Grigg said. "You see it
countless times, at every level of competition. When a team can get past
the pressures of winning, and just go out and have fun, there is nothing
they can't accomplish. After all, basketball is just a game, and our kids
realize that. These young men are very competitive, and they want to win,
but they know they have outstanding support, win or lose, and that makes
playing much easier. Our kids worked hard, they gave everything they had,
and they had fun doing it. When you have the kind of support we do, it
makes it that much easier to go out and have fun."
All of the players appreciated the support from the fans, and they had
so many people cheering for them, it was like the entire nation was in
the gym with them, said sophomore quard Jeff Elizondo.
"We take a lot of pride in our school, and in the Cherokee nation," Elizondo
said. "We made history with our team, and the support we received from
everybody was very important. We will be looked up to as role models by
a lot of kids, because I remember as a kid looking up to the players on
the 1998 team that made it to state. We were just happy we were able to
represent the Cherokee Nation and Sequoyah High School as well as we did,
because our fans deserve this championship as much as the team does."
Sure, the Indians went out and had fun. But they weren't the only ones
who enjoyed the season. Thanks to these young members of the Cherokee "family,"
thousands of us armchair athletes, friends and relatives had quite a time
during the 2002-03 hoops season, as well.
Thank
you kids, for all the great memories. |
