A year of joy, sorrow, loss

When the high school season ends – particularly for the summer – it is a time to reflect on what we saw.
This year seemed to have as many ups and downs as any we have seen.
Take some of the highs. Lee’s Summit West’s football team won a state title after losing in the state semifinals the two seasons previous.
The Truman boys basketball team’s remarkable run to the state semifinals was a definite high, as was the outstanding season by the Blue Springs girls swimming team – which won a state title – and the Oak Grove wrestling team, which barely missed out on a state championship trophy.
However, this year was also one of loss.
Students at Blue Springs High School lost a friend, leader, mentor and tennis teammate when Garrett Clark tragically died in an auto accident before the tennis season started. His absence was felt throughout the entire tennis season.
Students at Englewood Christian, lost their school, as the school has now closed its doors for good.
As Alice Cooper once famously sang, “School’s out forever.”
There were also tough losses on the field of play.
Blue Springs South came perilously close to upending Rockhurst in the football district title game. The Jaguars also narrowly missed out on a berth in the state semifinals in baseball.
We watched Maurice Mitchell of Raytown South run faster than anyone in this area’s history – and do it seemingly effortlessly.
We saw Tarin Corwin of Blue Springs win two more individual swimming golds at state – despite being an underdog.
This class of 2008 was definitely a special one for Eastern Jackson County.
But don’t forget, there are great players at all the area high schools waiting in the wings – just like the members of this year’s class were not too long ago. And then it’s time for them to shine, feel joy, feel sorrow and feel loss. But hopefully, mostly, shine.
To reach Jason Tarwater, SportsMonthly Director, call 816-350-6348 or e-mail jason.tarwater@examiner.net.