;)
October 7th, 2015
As many of you are aware, I’ve been involved with high school athletics for most of my adult life. I was first certified as a basketball official back in 1985, and 30 years later I’m still at it. Over the years, I’ve become increasingly frustrated with what I have perceived as people losing sight of what high school sports should be about. Our society has become so obsessed with winningthat we have forgotten what our children are supposed to be learning from their participation in sports: the importance of teamwork, the value of hard work and determination and the ability to overcome adversity. A child makes a mistake in a game, and adults boo him or her. An official makes (what fans perceive to be) a mistake, and the reaction is frequently vulgar and insulting and sometimes even violent. Winning has become the most important goal; teaching our young people too often becomes a distant second.
Fortunately, there are still some coaches in high school athletics who “get it”. They understand that coaching a team is more about building character than it is about amassing a winning record. Two such coaches can be found right here in Marshall County. I’m talking about Coach Donnie Gilbert, Jr., at Moundsville Middle School, and Coach Rob Chavanak at Sherrard Middle School. You see, last month, Moundsville and Sherrard were scheduled to play a football game at Monarch Stadium. The Moundsville team had just added a new player to the roster, a young man by the name of Isaiah Leasure. Isaiah had inquired about becoming a member of the team, and Coach Gilbert welcomed him without hesitation. He was issued equipment and a jersey; was given the obligatory sticker on his locker, indicating he was a member of the team; and he took his place at the team lunch table. No big deal, you may think, until you consider the fact that Isaiah has a neuromuscular condition that requires him to use a motorized wheelchair.
With the game against Sherrard coming up, Coach Gilbert saw an opportunity to teach an important lesson in life. He contacted Coach Chavanak and asked about keeping the teams on the field for an extra down or two at the end of the game so that Isaiah could play. Coach Chavanak did him one better, suggesting instead that Isaiah be put into the game in the waning moments. No one cared about whether or not the game was close; no one cared about who ended up winning or losing. The thoughts of these two coaches centered only upon helping to make a young man’s dream come true, while teaching other young men the incredible power of a simple act of kindness.
Isaiah got into the game in the fourth quarter, and his number was called. The quarterback handed him the ball, and he carried it 65 yards for a touchdown. Players from both teams celebrated as coaches, officials and fans looked on through glistening eyes. It was a moment that I’m sure no one involved will ever forget. Coach Gilbert told me afterward that it had changed his life. I don’t doubt that for a second.
I am so very, very proud to live in a community where things like this still happen, where our children are still taught the importance of kindness and compassion. So, you may ask, who won the game? That’s the best part of the story. Both teams won.
