| To the Editor: I would like to begin by commending CHS on their overall sportsmanship during all the recent meetings between themselves and Gillespie. However, I would like to take this opportunity to write in rebuttal of Ms. Fenton�s scathing review of the boy�s basketball game that was played in Gillespie on January 5, 2001. After reading her letter, I found her to be a bit misinformed, or, rather, a bit short of memory. Apparently, Friday night�s game was the first she had ever attended between Gillespie and Carlinville. What occurred Friday was not anything out of the ordinary and was just another chapter in the Gillespie vs. Carlinville rivalry. I would like to apologize for any hurt feelings, yet I would also like it to be known that any signs that were hung by the Gillespie students were all in fun. I am sure that the student body of CHS views them as the same. In relation to the obscenities, I do not doubt that at past games, Carlinville fans have had a slip of the tongue and uttered a few obscenities of their own. That�s not to justify Gillespie fans doing it, but whether we like it or not, they will be said. To say that it was �the worst display of sportsmanship� is laughable. Apparently, Ms. Fenton is not aware of her proud fans throwing saliva-covered souvenir balls at our fans in their gym last year. Possibly Ms. Fenton is not aware of the inflammatory e-mail that one of her �Blue Ribbon� students sent to us after the fourth stunning defeat that Carlinville was handed last year. Also, Ms. Fenton must have forgotten about or must not be aware of the letter that the CHS students had published in the Carlinville papers that slandered everything about our school from our band to our football field to even our scoreboard following a football game in 1995, which, if I remember correctly, Carlinville won. In response to our singing and playing our school song while CHS fans were singing their school song, it should be known that Carlinville is the only school that sings their school song in our gymnasium; that�s just another part of the rivalry. In closing, Ms. Fenton should realize that it is no longer her rivalry; it belongs to us, the two student bodies. She may be a loyal Cavie fan, she may be at all the games cheering, but Ms. Fenton is no longer in high school and is an adult and should conduct herself as such. I believe that it speaks volumes that both student bodies have been mature enough not to turn to physical violence before, during, or after any of these heated games. It is also impressive that both student bodies have been mature enough to be able to put whatever has occurred behind them. Apparently, some of the parents have not. Maybe they could learn a lesson or two from their children. I think that I speak for my fellow students in saying that I look forward to the County Tournament and always look forward to the meeting of these two teams. Sincerely, Joshua J. W. Ross Senior at Gillespie High School |