It’s In The Air

Fall sports are here! Not everyone in the valley has an athlete on a school sports team, but there's little question many families in Prescott, Waitsburg and Dayton are excited about the coming sports season. And with good reason. Even those who do not have a horse in this race, so to speak, are psyched about the win- ning spirit they hope will carry over from a year ago when the Cardinals launched their best football season ever, the Tigers started their ascent to the state crown as well, the Bulldogs foot- ball team began their best season in half a decade and Dayton High School volleyball team got on the road to a league title.

Of course, we had to say so long to the seniors who helped make it happen. Even when they return to their home games now, they'll have to watch from the sidelines and be powerless to influence the younger players' performances.

It will be up to a new line-up of athletes to carry on the tradition and we wish them well. We also want to wish coaches, school officials, parents and volunteers the best of luck. May all the planning, logistics, coordination, management, care and feeding go off without a hitch!

To get an idea of what's in store for 2012 fall sports, we hope you enjoy this week's preview section, starting on page 9. As you will notice, former Walla Walla Union-Bulletin sports reporter Dan Groom will cover several of WP's sports teams, while Dayton reporter Morgan Smith will be there for many of the Bulldogs games. Managing Editor Jillian Beaudry and Publisher Imbert Matthee will be picking up the rest.

As in previous years, we'll feature the sports schedules for all teams on our inside sports pages thanks to our hometown booster sponsors in Prescott, Waitsburg, Dayton and Walla Walla. We are so grateful for your support.

Now, in the midst of all the back-to-school hubbub, we have some friendly counsel.

While we should do everything to encourage our boys and girls of fall to aspire to last year's successes, we also want to caution against unrealistic expectations and disap- pointment. We're here to remind students, parents, coaches and fans that it's not just about winning or bagging a perfect season. State championships and exceptional seasons come along only so often.

Success in high school sports is subject to a lot of factors, only some of which home teams can control. One year, the home team simply faces a weaker field of opponents, the next the league is more formidable. One year, a team goes virtually without any injuries while its rivals have plenty. Some years, the chemistry among players on a team works with the right person in the right position at the right time. Other years, it just doesn't click despite the best coaching, the best intentions and the best efforts.

None of these examples, by the way, are meant detract one iota from any team's accomplishments in any season. The point is that character is forged from winning and los- ing, sometimes more from losing. It's in the face of adversity and defeat that athletes find out what they're really made of and galvanize their will to take the hits in stride, returning to fight another day.

Don't be too hard on yourselves. As long as the home crowd can see you and your team are playing with heart and dedication, community pride will be there regardless of the season's ultimate outcome.

Sports are important. For many in our towns, the week- end games are the highlight of the week. We look forward to them, especially in a season when daylight fades early and the cold brings us closer together. But sports aren't a matter of life and death. Remember to relax and have some fun.

The start of the sports season is also the perfect oppor- tunity to wish all other students the best of luck with their pursuits in other disciplines or activities, such as fine arts, music, writing competitions, animal care, science fairs, knowledge bowls, business clubs and so on.

We hope to cover those activities better as well this com- ing school year. They may not make as many headlines or add as much hardware to the school trophies, but we feel they should draw just as much pride and community atten- tion. Go Tigers. Go Cardinals. Go Bulldogs!