SPORTSMANSHIP

"Sports creates a bond between contemporaries that lasts a lifetime. It also gives your life structure, discipline and a genuine, sincere, pure fulfillment that few other areas of endeavor provide."
-Bob Cousy

It's not whether you win or lose but how you play the game? who said that?

Today, Kate's volleyball team was in a tournament in a nearby county. Seven schools participated. The girls came in 3rd place overall, which is an accomplishment as they played an obnoxious team and a team of 9th graders (Junior High is 7-9 but our girls were 7th and the other team was definitely 9th!)

The coolest thing about the day was not just the general comraderie of the girls. They never were mean to each other if they missed a shot or lost a serve. They just encouraged each other. This didn't surprise me because I had already witnessed this at several games.

No, the coolest thing I saw was our girls cheering for girls for Meyersdale, a neighboring school district. They sat behind their bench and cheered them on. Then the Meyersdale girls reciprocated. Both teams did this throughout the tournament. It was so genuine and so wonderful to see. Typically, its a rivalry nearing Mets v Yankees, but today friendship and supporting your neighbor came first. I didn't see any other schools do this for a neighboring school.

A beautiful sunny fall day, accented with true sportsmanship, friendship and genuine fondness....and by pre-teen girls.

It was a lovely day, indeed.