Banks County’s boys basketball team have started the season on a strong footing. Before the holiday break, the team was 9-2 overall.
While the Leopards’ success can be attributed to hard work, good coaching and teamwork, the boys have also done something this season that has a profound impact in their daily lives.
Taking a variation off a common practice, the Leopards have dedicated their season in a unique way. The players and coaching staff have each individually dedicated the season to someone that inspired them. The unique part is that to keep a constant reminder, the initials of the dedicatee are written on the player’s shoes.
While some of the players share dedications, there are individual reasons for selecting that person. One particular person some of the players chose was Cody Gowder, who was a close friend to several players. Other dedicatees range from family to friends, but all are someone who inspired the player.
Coach Mike Ruth said that the reason for getting the players to do this was that he wanted something to inspire the boys and give them something that could make an impression on the court as well as be used everyday.
“Before we started the season, at the first day of practice the first thing I said to the players was that I wanted them to dedicate their season,” Ruth said. “I told them, that anyone that has inspired you in your life I want you to dedicate your season to them.”
Ruth also wanted the staff to participate, and as an example to the players, he dedicated the season to his uncle.
“My uncle, who passed away this past March to cancer, was a big inspiration to me. He was always pushing me as a kid,” said Ruth. “I know a lot of these kids have gone through some tragedy with the loss of their friend. I think it has been a healing process for some of them.”
According to Ruth the personal dedications by the players has been a good thing for the team as the players have an understanding that they want to do well for that person that is represented on their shoes.
The players also have an understanding that the shoe dedication is not something that is limited to just on the court.
Many of the players said that it is not just about doing well in a game, but wanting to become a better person and they want to be better for those people that are on their shoes.
“I can definitely take it on in life,” Kane Duncan said. “I do everything for him (Cody). It is like he is the sixth man when we are playing, for me he is.”
There are mixed emotions for some of the players when they look down and see the initials.
“You feel the grief of them not here,” said Ryan Griffin, “At the same time you know they would want you to do good.”
The Leopards took the opportunity in dedicating the season this way to choose multiple people. Some of the players’ shoes have three or four sets of initials as well as inspirational words that can inspire them.
Ruth pointed out that the important thing about the team is that it is not always about winning games, but giving the boys something to take with them to make them better people.
The shoe dedication is one small step in encouraging these athletes in their lives.
