Small-town heroes

Every year, I have my students in Senior English complete a multi-genre project titled "Make Your Mark: A Multi-genre project around Legacy." Every year without fail I get students saying they can't possibly have anything to write on because their lives have just started, they are just finishing high school and have not accomplished much.

We live in a small town, I think, with less than 3,000 people. We wave at everyone as we drive by, stop and visit with folks as we go on evening strolls on the nature trails, snowbobs at the Goose, night games, and summer community softball. I never imagined I would live or work somewhere so small. Teaching in a small community allows us to be more involved. We attend musicals, 4H competitions, colour guard galas, and countless sports events.

Spring is usually signalled by the end of two sports seasons, hockey and basketball. These seasons ended on back-to-back weekends for our high school students this year. It is challenging for the kids when their season ends; for most, it is the last time they will play sports beyond a community level. Some will go on to minor leagues or college/university, but most will be playing in the men's league or community (church) ball. This year, Julie and I spent much time following our hockey and basketball kids around. I coached (or whatever we want to call what I did, emotional support person?) the JV boys ' basketball team, and that did impact the amount of Senior Varisty we watched in person, but we were always watching online (yay for technology) when we could. We really became so invested in the success of these teams, the U18 Magrath Chiefs Hockey team and our Senior Varsity Zeniths and Pandas.

Now, you might ask how my project and our small town sports teams come together. Well, to put it simply, these kids bring our community together. Two weeks ago, a hockey arena was filled to the rafters in our small town. There was no seat to be had; people lined the glass from one end of the rink to the other, sometimes two or three people deep, just wanting to cheer on the team. Young kids with mini sticks ran around cheering for their favourite players, some dreaming of the time they get to be a Chief in their final year of High School. As the game ended and our boys fell just short of winning a banner, I looked to my left, and a mom, not one of theirs but of a younger player from a younger team, had tears in her eyes. I wondered about that and realized that she was thinking about her son's last skate years from now. Many waited in that arena after the last whistle; kids lined the exit to get a last fist bump or cheer on their favourites as they exited the ice. Hockey was a "new to me" sport this year. I had attended before and cheered for my students, but I had not tried to learn the game. I had not rearranged my schedule or travelled hours to make an away game. These kids, this season, inspired me to do so.

Like many others in southern Alberta, our small town is known as a basketball town. If you want to know where everyone in south Alberta is on an early weekend in March, it is a safe bet it is watching zones at the Univerity. Kids dream about being a Panda or a Zenith. The last few years, one of the Zeniths' coaches has had trading cards made. They are coveted; kids rush to get them signed, and kids are trading in hallways. Kids are not the only ones who look up to our Senior basketball players; the entire community comes together. There is a little old lady that walks over if she notices a lot of cars, families that have "their" spots in the bleachers, alumni (from just graduated to Senior discount) sharing their glory days stories while celebrating the kids on the court. There is a certain magic in what these kids do to bring us together.

This weekend, as their seasons ended, I just watched the players. The moments when a teammate moved to sit at the end of a bench to comfort a friend, the girl on the court giving it everything she had, limping through pain and holding back tears, the encouraging talk between teammates, the leader who needed a moment, sitting on the bench towel overhead, the crowd breaking into sustained applause, not just for what he did in this game but for what he did in this season, what he, and they, did for our community.

I go back to the statement I get every year: "Mr.Gilson, I haven't really done anything. What could I possibly write about?" I hope they see this. I hope they know and maybe find some comfort in the fact that they inspired a community.

Maybe they can write about that.