The End Of The Line

This weekend I will make one final drive to watch my son compete in "youth sports", even though he is no longer a youth by any stretch, and there is a chance he won't be able to compete because of injury.  Doesn't matter.

I've been watching Stewart compete in some sport or another for about seventeen years or so now.  I remember those first soccer games at the YMCA.  Little did I know then what a monster soccer would become.  I remember him starting off in TBall and the way the little kids in the neighborhood got ready for opening day every year.  I remember the first basketball league at the Y, where you'd wear a colored wristband so you would know who you were guarding.  Stew would hide his arm behind his back.  And of course the first track "meet" in fourth grade--whole thing consisted of the mile run.

I have watched Stew in hundreds of events I guess.  TBall led to little league which led to select baseball which led to high school.  Three on three basketball led to rec league which led to select which again took us to high school.  Soccer, well soccer takes us from rec league to traveling all over the Midwest, indoor and outdoor, year round,  finally to a very nice high school career.  And of course running, from sixth grade cross country and track all the way through college. 

I remember lots of the coaches and parents.  Some good, some not so much so (myself included!).  Some have become friends to both myself and Stewart as well.  Some had good intentions, but were "overmatched".  Others really should have probably stayed in the stands.  And he has had some teammates.  All different levels of skill and ability, some good, some concerned with their own stats more than the team.  Lots of good teams in high school.

And I have traveled to watch Stewart.  Thousands of miles by now I would guess.  Weekend tournaments, travel teams, now of course away at college means I have to go a little further to watch Stew.  And every single mile has been worth it, although I may have had some misgivings at the time.  And I really have been fortunate to not miss that much.  Astute scheduling, vacation time, and down right luck enabled me to see most of his events, and to share in Stew's triumphs as well as the failures.  Never kept track, but I would suspect more ups than downs.

I have seen Stewart be the ultimate teammate.  He has always been encouraging to his teammates, tried to help them, respected his opponents, respected the game.  He has always respected his coaches and officials. I have never seen him get upset at a call or a result.  Obviously I have not seen every practice and contest, but I think I have seen enough and know him well enough to know the way he acts.  I am very proud of him, not only for the way he has competed, but also in the way he has interacted with his teammates, coaches, officials and opponents.

So now comes the end of the line.  I am packing up and making the drive to Massachusetts. I will watch Stewart's team compete one last time.  I hope he is healthy enough to give it a go.  I would love to see a few more left turns.  It's been a heck of a ride, and I may have had near as much fun as him. I would think there will still be some fun runs or beer league softball in his future, but it wont be the same.  But that doesn't matter either.  Hope he's enjoyed it and had fun with it.   I know I have.

SLU Billiken Track and Field

In 10 days or so I will cease being the parent of a college athlete.  Yes, Stewart will graduate at the end of the semester, and not only will his time with the Billikens be over, but mine as well.

And it has been a wonderful four years.  I have gotten to know some wonderful student athletes on the Bills.  I have watched them run and jump and throw.  I have seen them set pr's, set school records, and win conference medals.  I have seen their joy with their performances, as well as the disappointments along the way. 

I have seen the Billikens compete in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Kentucky, North Carolina, Massachusetts,  and Rhode Island.  I looked for them in Kansas (rock chalk Jayhawk, what the hell is that?).  They have also been to Tennessee, California, and Texas--at least--without me.  I have seen athletes from many other schools as well, of course, and have seen many amazing performances.  Indoors and out, in all kinds of weather, through all kinds of traffic I have followed the Billiken's track and field team.  I have dutifully planned out my trips, as well as waking up one morning and deciding to drive to Louisville to make sure the kids had at least one fan at the meet.  I have driven way too fast on more than one occasion, yet have never been stopped on my way to a Billiken meet.  Karma I guess.  I have watched the Billikens run on a track that has hosted the Olympics, and I have been to the Drake Relays.  I have been to schools both large and small, and have many great memories of them all.

And I have gotten to know some of Stew's teammates as well.  Some have made me their FB friends, and allowed me to follow them on the Twitter.  I have learned about their studies and future plans.  I have met some of their parents and learned about their families. Trust me, they are every bit as proud of their child as I am of mine.  They come from all over the country, and have quite the varied backgrounds. I have also watched how they interact with each other, and they truly seem to care for one another.  Always encouraging each other in their events, the team outings----I suppose when you spend as much time together as they do you care for each other.  Nice to see.....

I have read their blogs.  Boy do I miss Billiken A Day.  I am sure many (most, all?) of the younger Bills have no idea what this was, but it sure was interesting.  Some days it made you think, some days it made you laugh, some days I couldn't make any sense of it at all.  But I sure looked forward to it.  I hope somebody can get it going again---interesting to find out what is on younger folks minds.

I would offer some advice to the Billiken athletes who still have some time to go on the team.  You have worked hard to get this far.  I am sure it is not easy being a student athlete, with the travel and training and school work.  But I think it will be worth it.  You will need to learn some discipline, but if you are able to stick with it you will be rewarded, not only on the track, but in your future.  Remember, it is STUDENT athlete.....

So that's it.  Not only is Stewart.s time on the Billiken's track team nearly over, mine is as well.  In a couple of years I won't even know anyone on the team.  I have had a wonderful time traveling around watching the completion through the years.  I have enjoyed the teammates, not only this years seniors, but the graduates of the past few years as well as the "Baby Billikens" who are new to the squad.  I wish nothing but good luck and good health not only with their time on the track team, but in their futures as well.  I am sure the discipline and successes they have achieved and will achieve on the track and field team will serve them well in their futures.  I will always plan on keeping an eye on the SLU track team, may even show up to a meet once in awhile.  It won't be the same, but it's been a great time.  Nothing but good memories for SLU Billiken Track and Field......