These boys have had an amazing season and fought so hard until the very last second. They play every game with class and grace and they lost last night's Districts semi-final game with that same class and grace. Hunter calls this team his "brothers." These brothers and head coach have taught each other how to stand up for one another, love each other, support each other and how to strengthen one another. After the clock buzzed last night with the scoreboard reading 1-0 Hamilton, it was silent for a few seconds as we watched our boys come to grips with the end of the game and for many their high school soccer career. Then we parents/fan clapped for our boys one last time. I blinked away some tears, not because we lost, but because I knew that moment was the last time this family would be all together in the stands doing what we do for our boys and their coach...cheering, supporting, loving and, at times, defending them. Over the years we've received an occasional email from the coach asking us to tone it down a bit and to leave the Ref disputes to him, (sometimes it's difficult not to defend our boys.) :) Then the boys turned facing us, as is tradition, and clapped for us-thanking the fans for being there. Seeing their faces may have made a few of those tears run down my cheek.
The pride and love I have for these boys was overflowing last night. I wish the senior boys the very best life has to offer them and am excited to see what they do with all they've learned from one another, from the coach and from the game. I wish the upcoming team all the luck in their next years of soccer. I hope they carry the JA pride and class into every game they play, just as they have this year.
As one of the players, who left this world way too soon, used to say; "Play for something than yourself." I think the boys played with this in mind all season. Good job Alder boys! You make Pioneer Country proud.
