Born and raised in Gahanna, my dreams as a little kid didn’t go much further than sporting the blue and gold uniforms of the Gahanna Lincoln Golden Lions. With my parents both teaching and coaching at the high school, I built those dreams while taking in football and basketball games at a very young age. From basketball camps, to being the ball-boy for both varsity teams, the desire to play for those teams only grew the closer I got to high school. Hours upon hours were spent on my driveway shooting the basketball while imagining myself hitting game-winner after game-winner as the imaginary Lions moved along in the tournament.
Flash forward to last night. As I sat in section 15 of the Fairgrounds Coliseum, watching the Gahanna boys defeat the number one team in the country in the regional final game, I found myself on the edge of my seat, pumping my fist, and standing to cheer with every big play. It was a very weird feeling. One could say that I didn’t have a whole lot invested in this team. I didn’t go to school with, or work out with any of the players, I didn’t play for, or coach with any of the coaches, and I have been away from the school since graduation in 2002. However, I felt totally invested in the team, as did the other 3500+ Gahanna fans that turned the Coliseum into a virtual home game for the Lions.
Here I am 8 years removed from high school and I can still feel a sense of pride in the program that I put so many hours of my time into. When you work hard for something that you care so much about, the feeling of investment into that product is very rewarding.
I feel sorry for people who have a bad feeling towards their high school days and/or a certain period of their life. Blaming a coach or teacher or whomever else for not giving you the chance, or for screwing you over, seems like a cop-out for “I didn’t invest myself enough” into what I wanted to be a part of. I hope you are able to find something in your life that you do work hard towards, so you can be proud of whatever it is that you may accomplish.
High school sports certainly aren’t everything. But, having that link to my past is something I am very proud of and the experiences I have gained and can still gain from it, are invaluable. Congratulations to the Gahanna boys team, and Go Lions!
Until next time,
