Friday 22 August 2003

Conference champs, 7-2 overall, and seeded second in the Northwest Sectional of the Division II playoffs. The night of the Onalaska game was a night to celebrate. Two of the players (both former students of mine) did just that, but were shot down flying above the radar. There were caught drinking underaged and were suspended from the first playoff game.

Holmen played its first game at home and there was very little doubt over the outcome. This gave the boys the chance to host a second-round game. The one-game suspension was over for the two players, but just to teach them a lesson they were both benched for game two. No worries, this game was also won convincingly.

Things were looking up. The only two teams that had beaten our boys all year were knocked out of the playoffs, and it really seemed the state finals was within Holmen's reach. Round three was scheduled at a neutral site, and everyone was in uniform. I didn't have the chance to attend the game, but what I read in the newspaper was amazing. Holmen was behind, but never gave up... they scored two touchdowns in the last four minutes of the game for a come-from-behind victory. Just one more win and they'd earn a trip to Madison for all the marbles.

It was mid-November and, though everyone in the community was excited for the football team, basketball was right around the corner and a teacher was sent to a meeting with the rules committee to prepare for the season. She learned something unknown to anyone at the high school... the coach, the activities director, and the principal... people who were supposed to know the rules. Two years before, the state athletics governing board installed a rule that once the state playoffs begin, any player suspended from play for any reason would be ineligible to play in any remaining playoff games.

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