From the sidelines
This past weekend I packed my bags and headed to Las Vegas with 10 buddies from college.
We all landed at the airport thinking we were going to be the one to strike it rich. Instead each of us contributed to the casino building fund.
Despite our group donation, we all had a good time and didn't sleep much. We saw the variety show "Splash," unbelievable casinos and hotels, the fountain show at the Bellagio, and a melting pot of people only seen in Vegas. As great as the trip was, it's even better to be back.
It will be nice to once again follow a regular sleeping pattern. In three days I slept about 14 hours in a bed that felt like the floor.
Being back also means playoff time for Marion High School sports. It got off to a rough start with the football team's district loss to Southeast of Saline, but there is a long way to go. You can count on coach Grant Thierolf having his team ready against Hillsboro Friday.
MHS cross country team has continued to improve every week, and there isn't any reason to think they won't run well Saturday at the Halstead regional.
Luke Bowers and Danielle Cope lead a very young Warrior squad that has exceeded all expectations. The team has racked up more than 30 varsity and junior varsity medals this season.
Despite struggling at times, the Warriors volleyball team has something going in their favor Saturday at sub-state: they are playing at home. It's a clean slate for a team that has had its ups and downs. Now, all that matters is winning a tournament at home.
The Warriors have shown signs of being a talented team this season, and should have great crowd support behind them. Rival Hillsboro has had their number so far this season, but this could be Marion's chance to get even should they meet in the tournament.
By the end of the week the playoffs will be in full swing and with a little bit of luck mixed with talent, all three teams could advance in their respective playoffs.
That fact remains to be seen, but it should be a fun couple of weeks for Marion athletics.
If anything it will be more enjoyable than making the rich people of Las Vegas even richer.
CONTACT: If you have a news tip, question, or comment, call Sportswriter Mike Norris, 382-2165, or e-mail sports@marionrecord.com
