ARCHIVE

From the Sidelines: Two years of sports that will never be forgotten

Sports reporter

I remember my first game.

It was Sept. 3, 2004, at Nickerson.

I had been out of college for four months, and with the Marion County Record for one.

I took the old highway through Hillsboro because not only am I directionally challenged, but was still new to the area and didn't know what the "new highway" was.

Wanting to make sure I was on time and not really trusting my Mapquest directions, I ended up at the game almost two hours before kickoff.

I waited and waited and waited. I then passed time by looking though the Nickerson High School trophy cases, until the MCTV crew showed up.

If you show up before that crew you know it's early. I chatted with them for a while, and shared a dinner of hot dogs and chips. Most of the crew I had seen in passing the first month, but I struggled to remember their names.

Now I feel like I can call most of them my friend.

As I walked over to the sideline right before the game, I saw Tom Stoppel, the man with the same job description as me, just for another paper.

Standing there during the game with Tom, vying for a better picture than him, I realized I would enjoy working "with" him.

For two seasons Tom and I chatted it up on the sidelines as friends, while trying to find the best shot and write a better story than the other.

As the game ended with a 7-6 Warrior victory, I conducted my first MHS game interviews with coaches and players. The drive home was a good one. I thought about what was in store for the next year, and after a month of my first real job, I had finished my first game assignment.

Two years later I've covered my last Warrior sporting event. From football, to basketball, track and more, I've enjoyed every minute of it. Well, almost every minute. Mainly because not only were the games entertaining, but I began to have a vested interest in the Warrior athletes, and was disappointed with every loss.

That's not supposed to happen with reporters, but small, hometown newspapers can be exceptions.

As the fall sports season begins I'll miss seeing the opening kickoff, the first volleyball serve, and even the first cross country athlete to cross the finish line.

But the past two years of MHS sports seasons will remain in my mind forever. If I start to lose my memory, at least I'll have the newspaper articles to refresh it.

Editor's note: Look for Mike's final column in next week's edition.

Quantcast