Full of gratitude
Let me tell you. It has taken me a number of months to sit down and fully appreciate and decompress from the whirlwind that was this past spring. I love sports. All sports - well, most of them. I can appreciate the time and dedication that it takes for each athlete to become a master at their chosen game. And the LOVE it takes to truly live that game 24/7/365. Plus think about the family sacrifice as well. I was an athlete until I left for college and then went into athletic training so I know how hard these high school and collegiate athletes work. Now to see the fruition of that work on two different scales within a week of each other was just the most AMAZING experience I think I have been given.
Freelancing for the local newspaper in my small town has opened so many opportunities for me. I have been able to cover the state high school soccer match at the Historic Crew Stadium this past fall, then followed local high school basketball teams - three of them - in their bid to the state basketball tournament was another outstanding experience that I hope I have the chance to redo this upcoming winter. This spring however, I covered two phenomenal events that I could only dream of covering.
Each spring at the end of May is the Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. It takes place over the week starting Memorial weekend.
I'm familiar with the game of golf. My stepdad taught me to play the game before I started on my MBA and he shakes his head at me every time I go for a drive. I end up with more of a softball swing than I do a proper golf swing 8 out of 10 swings. So you can imagine our excitement when I do hit a really good drive. The short game is a completely different story. But, I digress.
Now my oldest son has graduated from high school baseball and on to golf due to some injuries and loves the game just as much. I was so excited to cover the Tournament and share that experience with him. We were able to snag two tickets for him for the Championship round while I still had the full week to cover. I hit up one of the few practice rounds before the Pro-Am that Wednesday. To be in the presence of professionals that have dedicated their lives to perfecting their craft was a different type of adventure. First, of course you're star struck. Who wouldn't be when you see the individuals you have been watching for years on television and look up to? Second, the number of people in the vicinity out peopled me for quite some time. The best part was experiencing it with my son. Those days are VERY far and few between since he is now in college.
Now, during this time it was also the softball state tournament. It was districts, regionals all leading up to the run for state. It's not uncommon for the 740 to have a number of teams in the run for the trophy. At one point the area had four. It got whittled down to two by the time the "Run for Akron" came to fruition. The most phenomenal part - these girls brought TWO, yes TWO, trophies back to Scioto County. Wheelersburg Pirates won their fourth state title and the Notre Dame Titans won their first in school history. I was just happy to have had been there to capture the moment of both of their Final Four and their Championship games. Those girls worked hard, played hurt and sacrificed so much. I was never more proud to be a sports photographer than I was those few days.
