Sports Talk by Jean Schurman
The Class of 2016 has made their last walk. The cards have been read, the company has gone home and a new phase of their lives begins. This class, in all the valley schools, has been a unique class. They are doers, joiners, independent thinkers, and those not afraid to step off the usual paths. I know some have given their advisors fits while others have done the expected and cruised through high school.
The students in this class were babies when I began writing for the Star and there are many I’ve watched grown up. I distinctly remember the first time I saw Jack Pederson of Victor. He was just a baby, perched upon his mother’s hip as she coached boys’ basketball for White Sulpher Springs. I was impressed because you don’t often see a woman coaching high school boys, let alone one with a child with her. Fast-forward a few years and there was Jack, holding goats for the high school rodeo kids during goat tying. A few more years and it was Jack out there on the football field, in the arena and on the basketball court. He was a leader and even developed a special “Sprinkle Pink” High School Rodeo fundraiser to benefit the local charity.
However fate played him a tough hand his senior year. He nearly cut off his foot in a chainsaw accident and for him; his high school playing time was done. But that didn’t stop Jack. He was on the sidelines at Victor, wearing the jersey and cheering on his team. His foot healed quicker than they thought and there was hope he would be able to play a little bit of basketball. Jack was there for every practice and game, providing support. He did see just a few minutes of court time at the very end of the season. He has been able to team rope this spring in high school rodeo. Through it all, he’s had a smile on his face and always looked to encourage others. That’s quite a lesson to teach others, Jack. Good job.
Alison Mim Mack of Stevensville is another I’ve watched grow up. When she and her mom and dad moved to Stevensville, the town became her town. Her sport was soccer, as was her dad’s, and the two enjoyed it together. She never gave up and always worked hard at doing her best. The improvements were gradual but they were there. Then, this year, her senior year, she discovered rugby. This physical offshoot of soccer appealed to her and boy, did she have fun. Now she’s off for new adventures, and I believe she’ll find many because she’s not afraid to try new things.
Kordale Behner of Stevensville is another I’ve watched over the years. He was always out on the court shooting baskets during the Yellowjackets’ warm-ups and at half time. He worked hard to perfect his shot and had one of the purest shots around. But when Stevensville brought in wrestling, this basketball fan switched over to wrestling. He made great strides as a wrestler, which also improved his play on the football field. Next year, he’ll be a Bulldog at UM Western. I know he won’t be afraid of the work entailed as a collegiate athlete.
There are two girls at Corvallis that have played their hearts out for four years, whether it’s been on the volleyball court, the soccer field, the basketball court or on the softball field. I can’t really think of one without thinking of the other. Kira Doyle and Taia Tully have become true leaders through their actions. Some of the teams such as the volleyball team have had great success but other teams have been in a rebuilding stage with fewer successes. But even still, these two have worked their tails off to gain success for the teams they’ve been on. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed, and the work ethic you have developed will aid you both throughout your lives.
BreAnn and Baylie Duce of Hamilton are about as identical as you can get, at least in my eyes. I still can’t tell which is which because they both have the same style of play, and both play as hard as they can, and oh yeah, look identical. They are kind young women who take the time to speak to younger kids and old reporters. But what an experience they have had, times two, throughout their high school career. I know it’s said that twins are their own best friends, but in this case I believe it is true. You never see one without the other. Even though their lives will take different courses, their experiences to this date have been priceless.
There are two other athletes from Hamilton that have caught my eye over the last four years. Bret Huxtable has quietly made the football and basketball teams better throughout his play. He’s one of those kids who does his best, doesn’t beat his chest and just goes on doing what he’s supposed to. He doesn’t get in trouble and has always been a bit shy when speaking to me. The same can be said of Kloi Nye. She’s been a 5’ something workhorse for the Lady Broncs for four years, never giving up and encouraging her teammates to work hard. These two students have done their best, no matter what the circumstances. They know it takes hard work to gain success and will apply that in the next part of their lives.
Breanna Brickey of Darby is a competitor who doesn’t quit. This is a good thing because she has chosen a path that is a bit different in this day and age, and may be difficult at times, but one that she is passionate about. Brickey will be going on to college for business but then she will become an auto mechanic. The girl loves cars and making them work. Her dad is pretty darn proud that she’s going to take over the family business one day. It won’t be easy, but she’ll get it done, and will do it right too.
If there’s one thing Levi Clagett has taught the young basketball players at Florence, it’s that hard work pays off. This kid has spent every waking moment in the Florence gym for the past four years. Coach Boone Nelson told me that when practice is finished, Levi isn’t. He would spend another hour, if he could, in the gym working on his basketball skill. And no, it wasn’t all shooting baskets. He’d work on his dribbling, his passing, his rebounding, everything associated with basketball. And then he’d help any young player that came along. The result is a well-rounded player that will move on and play at the next level, with a level head that really understands basketball. He’s going through a bit of withdrawal this week though. For the last few years, the Florence boys’ team has hit the road for summer tournaments every weekend. This year, he was there to see them off, but said it was really hard to stay home.
And then there is Bo. Bo Zeiler became my shadow at games when he was maybe three or four years old. This kid figured out he could stand next to me and get a better view of the court in certain gyms and so he would. He always showed up with a collared shirt and a tie and looked very dapper. But that didn’t stop him from studying the game. Of course basketball is the second language for the entire Zeiler family so Bo learned not only in the gym but at the dinner table, in the car and out at the hoop about the game of basketball. He is a student of the game, and maybe, sometimes, that didn’t always serve him the best because he could see things on the court that others didn’t see and so a turnover or a steal happened. But that didn’t stop Bo from trying to get better. Even though basketball was important, it’s baseball that Bo really loves. He still applies the same hard work, the same studying but when he’s on the baseball field, you can tell he’s in his element.
As most of you know, a couple of years ago, my husband died. Dusty had also developed a great friendship with Bo and would come home talking about Bo’s exploits for the Bitterroot Bucs. When Dusty died, Bo was, and still is, one of the first to meet me with a big hug. It doesn’t matter if it’s cool or not, he’s there. And after his uncle passed, I was able to return the hugs in his time of loss. Bo is a great athlete and student of the games, but more importantly, he’s a kind, caring young man who serves as an example to others that winning is important, but so is being kind.
To the Class of 2016, congratulations. Find what you love, work hard, and above all, be kind to everyone.