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Pick Your Poison
Lehman's Zac Schmitz (above) could single-handedly beat you in two sports...and often did.
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06/16/09 - Sonny Fulks/1570wptw.com
I’ve done this for years…a tribute to some very special senior athletes who leave area sports with this year’s graduation to pursue their next level of endeavor.
Honestly, I believe this …that it’s not the games that make sports and sports coverage so much fun. It’s the kids who play the games, and continually impress for their ability to compete, to win, to lose, and to bounce back overnight to do it all over again.
As an old athlete, I’m impressed by kids’ competitiveness…yes. But more, I’m impressed with the personality and confidence they bring to competition.
They’re not scared to lose. Rather, they’re committed to the notion that nothing risked means nothing gained. If they lose they’re disappointed, but not defeated. And more, from a reporter’s point of view, they have the heart and class to sit down and put it in perspective.
As with years prior, here’s my list of not-soon-to-be-forgottens…from the class of 2009.
From Lehman High School, a trio of senior boys that I always, always, looked forward to seeing play, or better, just seeing …Zac Schmitz, Nick Pulfer, and Corbin Peltier. In my considerable memory, I cannot think of three players on one team that so gave the impression that the next game they played was the most important game in their life…regardless of the outcome of the last.
Zac Schmitz distinguished himself because he was equally impactful in two sports, football and basketball. It’s not unusual to see a player outstanding in one and competitive in another, but Zac was a threat to beat you every time he put on a uniform…in both sports. Great in an interview, he always gave credit to his teammates.
Corbin Peltier comes from a long line of Peltiers, and simply likes to compete. Football, basketball, or baseball, it did not matter. You always knew that if the game went long enough, Corbin would make a play to help the Cavs win.
Nick Pulfer wasn’t a marquee name because of Lehman football, but it was his dependability and commitment to his team and his school was so impressive. And more, he’s the kind of kid that would walk a city block to just say hello. He has that much personality, and that’s so impressive to my generation when I look at his. He could run for office some day and you’d feel good about voting for Nick Pulfer. I don’t know what his politics, but I know this…he would not disappoint you.
Abby Dowd from Tipp City will stand out in my mind forever for the simple joy that she exhibited in competing in basketball and volleyball. She could play the game, and moreover, in the face of some crushing disappointments she could always put defeat in perspective. A recruit to play basketball next year at the University of Buffalo, that same perspective and personality will serve her well.
Kaci Finfrock, at Milton Union, absolutely got the most from a small package of any athlete I’ve seen in the past decade. Kaci attracted records, she didn’t pursue them. The all-time scoring leader in women’s basketball at Milton, she did it within the framework of the team. And that smile…if you ever met her you’d understand why everyone believes that the best is yet to happen for Kaci, basketball or otherwise. She’ll play next year at Ashland University.
Justin Jennings from Piqua has impressed me, and not so much for how he plays the game of baseball. No, what I like most about Justin is what the game of baseball means to him. A two-sport athlete at Piqua, Justin lives to put on the catcher’s gear and crawl behind the plate, and that hasn’t been easy during his tenure with Indians’ baseball. I’ve never heard him talk about it, but I know…that Justin Jennings believes he’s yet to play his best. And for what more could you ask?
Danny Hickman from Miami East is another…fearless to win, fearless to lose, and totally confident that he can compete, regardless of opponent or circumstance. Shooters are a rare breed, because they may not always be on…but they still they have to shoot. He did it as well as anyone I’ve seen recently in area high school basketball. And, he’ll continue to do it next year at Cedarville College.
And his teammate, Logan Carey. Seldom have I seen a high school basketball player get so much mileage out of pure, unsophisticated hustle. Fast break points and rebounds characterized Logan Carey’s game…and a sheepish smile that spoke volumes about how much playing meant to him.
There are more, of course, and lest I shortchange anyone, so many of you are deserving of far more than the varsity letter you received and the polite applause for what you did at your respective schools. And I’ll leave you all with this.
It’s important to remember...whether you play another game or not, that the values and the personality with which you competed in high school is well established as a pattern by which you’ll live the rest your life. It won’t always be easy. It won’t always be fun. But people will always appreciate you…for being just the way you are!
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