“Don’t be dismayed at goodbyes, a farewell is necessary before you can meet again and meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.”
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I admit I haven’t been looking forward to writing this column.
On one hand I have good personal news. In fact, in can be termed great. On the other hand, it comes at a price, as all good things do.
I soon will be helping direct a new project which MainStreet Newspapers, the parent company of The Banks County News is launching. While I am excited about this opportunity, it also means I will be giving up my duties in Banks County. As I said, there is no great gain without some amount of loss.
It’s hard to believe so much time has elapsed since I arrived in June 2005. A great deal has changed on the BCHS sports scene since then. It has been great to see the improvements made on the sports fields in that time.
The baseball, softball and tennis programs all have much better facilities to call home now. The football stadium has also taken a major turn for the better and some improvements were also made to the cross country course. Hopefully, improvements will arrive soon for the high school track.
The coaches in the county have also been great to work this. Blair Armstrong as athletic director at BCHS has been ideal to work with allowing me complete and open access to his football program as well as anything associated with Leopard athletics. I realize it is not this way at all high schools.
It has also been a please working with Josh Lord and Joe Lord who have beyond helpful in getting me information on their softball and baseball programs. It’s a little easier covering football when you have just one game a week, but the softball and baseball teams play two or three games every seven days. With my additional duties of covering news for the paper, Josh and Joe realized I couldn’t be at every game and always went the extra mile to help me provide coverage every issue of their team and players. I couldn’t have done it without them.
I will also miss working with long-time Leopard basketball coach Mike Ruth. I can’t recall the number of Sunday night talks we had. They weren’t just about his basketball team but about anything and everything. If I needed to vent, Coach Ruth was there to listen. If he needed to talk, I was there as well. Coach Ruth has dedicated many years to BCHS and he deserved praise for what he has meant to the school and its varsity boys basketball program. When you have been around as long as he has, however, some people start to take coaches like him for granted and that is a shame. Coach Ruth is a true asset to BCHS.
I have been impressed with what Jerry King has done in his first season with the Lady Leopard basketball program and will miss getting to see what the future holds for them. King and his family are heroes of mine and I have the highest amount of respect for them.
On the wrestling front, Kasey Hanley has provided a stable, knowledgeable hand for the Mat Leopards.
Hanley was just what the doctor ordered when he took over the program three years ago. It is amazing how far the BCHS wrestling team has progressed in the time he has been head coach. Look for even more progress this winter under his leadership.
There are many more people who play a major impact on the BCHS sports front. People like Dwayne Worley, who certainly is never at a loss for words. Dwayne was one of the first people I met when I arrived in Banks County and he made me feel as welcome as anyone. You don’t mind many people as genuine and down to earn as Dwayne and his family. I will miss them as much as anyone.
As I wrote in a recent column, Angie Bowen is a special person when it comes to BCHS athletics. She does so many things behind the scenes that it would be hard to replace her. She has helped bail me out of so many jams it would be hard to recount them all.
From identifying players in photos to getting copies of schedules, Angie is always willing to lend a hand and help anyone who needs it, including your local sports writer. She always has a smile on her face even when I know she has to be at the point of exhaustion. I could only hope to find someone as helpful as her in my new venture.
A special note of thanks must go to Randy Crump and Lyn Sengupta who have helped me tremendously in the area of sports photography. Pictures make a sports section and these two talented individuals have helped make these pages standout.
This, of course, is only a partial list of people who have been helpful to me and who play a major role on BCHS athletics. All deserve praise for what they do on a daily basis.
I will still be around for a little while longer. If I don’t get a chance to see you before I go, just imagine I am standing by you right now shaking your hand and telling you, “Thank you.” It has truly been my pleasure. Let’s keep in touch.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of The Banks County News. E-mail comments to chris@mainstreetnews.com.
