Well it is. Sitting on the court for all the Men’s NCAA Final Four Championship games in Indianapolis, is pretty much amazing. The front row seat is awesome. The clothes and the shoes from Nike are all free. And the players’ sweat? Well I’ll mop up Gordon Hayward’s sweat any day.

Yep, I got to be a “Ball Kid” for the Final Four. Of course there is more to being a ball kid than watching the games. And there is more to the Final Four than just the games.

Friday, the teams practice for four hours. This really isn’t a lot of fun. With Saturday came the semifinal games. I silently prayed for Butler to win, even when they were struggling throughout most of the first half. But by the half Butler had tied Michigan State at 28. 

The second half of the game was even better. I sat there on the court watching the Dawgs keep up and take the lead from the Spartans. 

Even with Korie Lucious’ mystical ability to drop every field goal, Butler won 52-50.

I may have broken the “don’t cheer for either team; stay neutral” rule when I screamed out loud that mid-major Butler had actually topped Tom Izzo and the Spartans.

Honestly, the second game wasn’t as intense. Duke seemed to dominate West Virginia. I got to clean up after the West Virginia timeouts, which meant standing next to the West Virginia bench and listening to Bob Huggins colorful pep talks to his players.

The real heartbreaker in the game was Da’Sean Butler. Butler fell after going up for a rebound and ended up leaving the game with an injury.

He fell a mere foot from where I was sitting. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone in more physical pain than Butler. Huggins then came onto the court to scream at the ref for not calling a foul, using more colorful language to emphasize his point. But then he got down on his knees and comforted his player.

After that Duke sealed the deal 78-57.

The night of the final game, it was storming in Indianapolis.  When we entered the dome hours before tip-off the place was already electric. We spent time in the media room during the pre-game. Everyone was buzzing about the same thing: David vs Goliath.

But when they walked out onto the court that night, David and Goliath seemed pretty evenly matched. Butler kept the game close the whole time, but Duke powered through the Butler defense. 

Besides the Jayhawks victory in 2008, this was by far one of the most exciting final games I had been to. Even when Hayward’s last second half-court heave rimmed out and gave the Blue Devils the national championship, it was a perfect game.

But it was made better by the look on Hayward’s face when he missed. He was satisfied. Just being a part of the game had been enough for Hayward. All of the Butler team was content. No one layed down on the court and cried, they congratulated Duke and walked off to their locker room. 

It was the essence of college basketball.

I sat alone on a Friday night thinking to myself, “How am I going to handle this? What can I do now? I’ve lost everything I worked for. This is what I wanted most out of this year.”

That night I was in distress and disbelief, isolated from my surroundings and contemplating what to do next.

I needed to be alone. 

It really knocked me down and I felt what it was like to be near rock bottom — at least, in a certain aspect of my life.  

Getting back into baseball, the game I love, when I was told I wasn’t good enough, seemed like trying to fight a guy with my arms tied behind my back.  

I knew in my heart that I earned the right to put on a uniform and rep my school colors. 

But I’ll never play another game as a Tiger because I’ll be attending Blue Valley Southwest, most likely for the rest of my high school days.

When it comes right down to it, I just had to man up and deal with it.

It was tough explaining to people how I didn’t make the team, or how agonizing it is seeing the guys that made the team leave class early for a game.

People say don’t dwell on the past. 

For anyone whose ever dealt with the same experience, I’m telling you, don’t forget about it.

Remember it. 

Thrive on it.

I have to use it to motivate me and to accomplish what I want to get done.  

I will move on, but I will never forget that feeling that burned inside me and hearing the words uttered from the coach that I didn’t earn a spot on the team.

“I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to let you go.”

Don’t ever let that go. Use it as fuel.

I’ll never let one person’s judgement make me turn my back on a sport that I’ve been playing since I could barely tie my cleats. 

Especially when that person may not even know the character within me.

Overcoming being cut from the team goes beyond just sports for me.

It helped teach me how to overcome adversity and will greatly benefit me with other obstacles that might come across my path as I get older. 

I’ve had my skin practically freeze in late March night games with piercing wind blowing across the diamond. 

I’ve sweated off a sufficient amount of Gatorade in triple-digit heat in mid-July.

If I cherish being on the field and feel like I belong playing at a competitive level, then why should I quit and hang up my glove and cleats?

Just like the inspirational line from the movie Never Back Down, “the outcome is on you.”  

A good friend of mine reminded me of it, and how it related to me as well. 

I can’t control the result of my tryout that I worked so hard for. 

I can control how I handle the situation.  

I can sit back and watch things pass by.

Or I can stand up and control how I take the fall.  

It’s my decision and I’m going to make the one I won’t regret when my own kids ask me about my run with high school sports. 

I know I won’t let anything or anyone get the best of me. 

Even though I’ll never suit up in black and gold again, I have tremendous opportunity ahead of me at Southwest.  

Maybe this is fate, I don’t know for sure. 

But I do know it’s my turn to step up to the plate come next March, and you can bet I’m going to make the most of it.

The legendary UCLA men’s basketball coach John Wooden said it best.

”Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”

Scouts from multiple major league teams are looking at senior pitcher Ryne Stanek as a possible draft choice. Ryne is listed at a 9.5 out of 10 by perfectgame.org.

“The pro ball thing is cool but it gets really busy and annoying when there are always people at the games,” Ryne said. “I don’t mind it that much. I like the pressure of going out there with so many people watching and it’s always been my goal to play in the major league.”

Ryne’s mom, Lisa Stanek, is not concerned about the pressure.

“I think he feeds off it,” she said. “He’s always wanted to play the best competition and have the ball in a tough situation. So I don’t think the scouts have affected him in anything but a positive way. That’s where he’s most comfortable. On the mound.”

Ryne sparked the interest of pro scouts in the first game of the season.

“He was throwing hard, around 95 or 96 the first game and that would get anyone’s attention,” coach Matt Ortman said. “He’s continued to put up big numbers on the radar gun so the scouts keep coming back.”

Teammates notice the spark as well.

“He prepares very well,” senior pitcher Corey Chesley said. “He does what he’s doing out there and his success is well deserved.”

Ortman said Stanek’s work ethic is what really contributed to the position he’s in now.

“I think the biggest thing he did during the offseason was get in the weight room,” he said. “He added some weight and a lot of strength and that added to his velocity.” 

Ryne signed to the University of Arkansas earlier this year, but could back out if a strong enough offer comes along.

“My plans for college are the same,” he said. “I plan to go to Arkansas; unless in the draft I get taken high enough to where the money would be enough to where I couldn’t pass it up and go to school.”

Chesley thinks that Ryne has a chance at the professional level. 

“His stuff is definitely top-notch,” he said. “He works really hard and he’s got some pretty solid God-given talent.” 

Ryne says the scouting process can be tedious. 

“Every team sends these questionnaires that you have to fill out and they are a few pages long,” Ryne said. “They give you personality tests and paperwork like that.” 

Despite his future potential, Ryne is focusing on his senior season.

“I don’t want it to be a distraction for the team,” he said. “Because we all have one goal, to win state. I don’t want this to come in the way of that.”

No matter what happens in the coming season, Ryne will play at a higher level.

“I have the best of both worlds,” he said. “I can get drafted and play pro ball or go to school on a scholarship, so it’s really not bad either way.” 

The excitement is a family affair.

“It’s really exciting,” Lisa said. “His dad was a good ball player. I watched him for years and for Ryne to have that opportunity to get drafted would be a dream come true.”

“These girls have the opportunity to play at the next level because they have put in many long hours,” head soccer coach K. Dean Snell said. “Opportunities like this don’t come without hard work.”

Brooke Lickteig signed to play soccer at the University of Central Missouri.

“Brooke is one of our varsity co-captains,” Snell said. “She is a very unselfish player and she demands the best from herself and her teammates.”

Alysha Palacio will soon be an Eagle at the NAIA school, Oklahoma Christian University.

“She really shows great attitude, skills, and leadership on this team,” Snell said. “We will miss her greatly.”

Jay Palm signed with the division one school, Stony Brook University in New York.

“Jay is a four-year varsity player,” Snell said. “She is a great leader and is also very unselfish. She even stepped up to play goalie one year when our goalie was injured.”

Evan Palmer will be attending the University of Arkansas.

“She is one of our co-captains and also a four-year starter on the varsity squad,” Snell said. “Evan sets a great example with her leadership and she truly cares about her teammates. She will certainly be missed.”

Sally Stromme signed to attend and play soccer at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

“She is a really great teammate and player,” Snell said. “We will really miss Sally a lot.”

by Jordan McEntee

Sophomore Taylor Leathers catches the basketball after Olathe North scores a basket. Blue Valley lost to Olathe North 55-44.

Seniors Nicole Gloor and Nicole Berry watch the game from the side line during the last minute of the game. Blue Valley was down by ten points.

Varsity girls basketball coach, Andy Unrein, contemplates the lost game. Photos by Jackie Lippert.

The Tigers came out strong in the first quarter, but ended the quarter losing with a low score of 7-9. The halftime score was 9-16, with BVNW in the lead.

BV cheerleaders provided halftime entertainment with the male guest performers from the sweetheart assembly.

After the third quarter, the Tigers were still down with a score of 19-27. However, they made a comeback during the fourth quarter.

With 36.5 seconds left in the game, Austin made a three-pointer to make the score BV 31, BVNW 33. Then again with 5.5 seconds left, he made another three-pointer making the score 34-36, with BVNW still in the lead.

Despite this last comeback, the Tigers couldn’t pull out the win and lost 34-38.

by Jordan McEntee

Abenoja and Disney signed with Pittsburg State University, while Rinke signed with Kansas State University and Stephens with William Jewell College.

Each player had a chance to thank his supporters and each had a coach talk on his behalf.

“You always feel great because its the next step in what they want to do,” coach John Brown said. “There’s some pride and some loss because they’ll be somewhere else and we have to start with new players.”

by Sara Naatz

The boys sophomore team is in the auxiliary gym at 4 p.m. while the girls JV team plays in the main gym.

At 5:30 p.m., the girls varsity is playing in the main gym while the boys JV team plays in the auxiliary gym.

Boys varsity plays the final game of the night at 7:00 p.m. in the main gym as the girls sophomore team plays in the auxiliary gym.

by Jordan McEntee

“It takes an undefeated wrestler out of our lineup every week,” coach Jason Peres said. “As far as wrestling goes, when we compete in duals or tournaments, when you have a kid like that he scores a lot of points. It’s hard for us to compete on a team level without it.”

Pearch injured himself playing dodgeball after practice.

“I’ve gotten a lot of crap for it because it was from dodgeball,” he said. “Pretty much 100 times a day someone asks me when I’m coming back. It’s kind of annoying but I guess it’s good that people care.”

Peres said Pearch’s injury affects more than himself, as the team is out a leader.

“Nick is really a leader for the team, older kid, high-skilled,” Peres said. “That’s like taking a leader out of your team. The way I see it, when you have a good leader, you have a good practice. He tries to lead by example though. He still goes to practice and just kind of watches and helps the other guys, so the other guys are like ‘He’s working hard, so I can work hard.’”

Despite Pearch remaining a leader, the team does not have another wrestler to fill Pearch’s vacated spot on the mat.

“We have a few guys we could bump up, but no one who naturally fits into that weight,” Peres said.

This is not a long-term issue, as Pearch plans on wrestling at Regionals in three weeks, regardless of his injury.

“I will definitely be back (for regionals),” he said. “If it still hasn’t healed, but it isn’t gonna kill me, I can take the pain. I’ll suck it up.”

Peres said conditioning is the major problem trying to wrestle after three weeks out.

“Nick’s wrestled his whole life, so the wrestling aspect is pretty solid,” he said. “What he’s going to have to do is run and maybe work on the bike.”

Pearch said he hasn’t let up on his conditioning, but he is a bit disheartened.

“I think he’s tried to keep a positive attitude,” Peres said. “But this is his senior year. This is a kid who really enjoys the sport of wrestling and the injury is taking him away from what he loves.”

by Ryan O’Toole