Winter Sports

a message from Mr. Meyerle

November 15, 2018

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As the fall sports seasons end, and we turn our attention to winter sports, I would like to thank the fall sports athletes and coaches.  Softball, Volleyball and Football all seem to go very fast in a very busy fall.

Playing team sports is unique, and to be a part of a good team is very special.  Being on a good team has a lot more to do than having a good record.  More than anything, a good team is about a group doing what is best for the whole and having team success.  As I note at school, all of our employees have important roles.  No matter how those roles differ, they are all important.

Offensive lineman in football don’t really receive any statistics that lead the headlines, but no offense in football succeeds without what I affectionately used to refer to as “the animals up front.” From the better football teams I coached, I told people just don’t make the lineman mad or go near them and you will be fine (for example, Sean Lindblad, BJ Stein, Matt Harre, Shawn Lottman, Josh Carpenter).  At the end of the night, most of the stats an offensive lineman hangs his hat on is from the team success of the offense.  The success of the group is normally what is noted.

Math is important for everyone to improve.  Everyone is always looking to individually improve and you have to have something to gauge that improvement.  Statistics have a way of bearing that improvement out and are very important.  However, being a good teammate means a lot more than bettering one’s self.  It has more to do with a person making the person next to you better.  Pippen made Jordan better.  Davis made Elway better.  Magic made everyone better.  In all examples the team was better.

I will always expect the best from our programs at the varsity level.  We want to have success in district softball, the football playoffs, qualify for sub state in volleyball and basketball, and have qualifiers for the state track meet. 

Have lofty goals!  Make sure your play makes your teammates better and sets them up for success.  That’s team sports.  That’s the offensive line.  It doesn't do much good on the line if the group doesn’t operate as a whole.  If one block is missed, it will be good for the defense.  The chain is as strong as the weakest leak, so to speak.  Lead by example.  Improve.  Do your best.  Make people better.

As we approach the last varsity basketball season in our 1959 gym, play hard for everyone that played in it.  I don’t want us getting out hustled.  If there is a loose ball, GET IT, and get it to the person that can score.  Watch hockey if you don’t understand.

Remember ………………………. Losing hurts worse, more than winning feels good.

Have a good winter sports season.  Go Griffs!