From the sidelines
Talk about starting with a bang.
When the new Marion-Florence USD 408 gymnasium opens later this year, it should be a time to remember.
The Warriors will open the home season with an eight-team tournament Dec. 8-13 with a format similar to the Trojan Classic.
Seven other teams (Belle Plain, Peabody-Burns, Remington, Eureka, Oxford, Berean Academy, and Bluestem) will come to Marion to participate in the currently unnamed tournament.
Playing host to a tournament like this is a huge step for the Warrior athletic program.
It could benefit the community as well.
"Tournament week," as it is known in other towns, will be a chance for Marion to show off to members of seven other communities who will be spending money on food, lodging, and anything else they need while here.
MHS activities director Tod Gordon noted even a regular season game this year brought a dozen cheerleaders to a local restaurant in between games.
"Any time you see a lot of cars around a gymnasium, it's a good sign," Gordon said.
Tournament week won't bring millions of dollars to town, but it will bring some, and it gives the community a chance to come together and as Gordon said, "make this the best tournament in the state."
"It's a lot of work," he added. "It's like running a track meet, but every night."
A committee must be formed just to come up with the seeding for the eight teams since they all will be 0-0.
On top of that, a program will be put together, volunteers will be needed for hospitality rooms during the tournament, concession stands, ticket takers, T-shirt sponsors, and much more.
Something like this doesn't just happen, especially considering how hard it was to put one together.
Gordon was easily able to fill teams this past fall for a volleyball tournament, because the state allowed each school to pick up another tournament.
That wasn't the case with basketball.
"Most schools aren't just moving from tournament to tournament," Gordon said.
In fact, at one point the MHS girls played in a tournament at Berean Academy for more than 20 years.
"Really it's hard," Gordon said. "Everything is already scheduled in on a two-year contract."
The fact the new gymnasium will be able to open with a competitive tournament for MHS, says volumes about the job Gordon has done.
The volleyball team will play host to the second annual Marion tournament, and will have all the Mid-Central Activities Association teams in town to start the season with the pre-season league tournament.
It will take hard work from community members to help make the tournaments run smoothly, and have people wanting to return.
It will be an exciting time for MHS athletics in 2008.
