Published: October 21, 2009 10:33 am      

It’s the season of achievement

Some of our local high school students have reached high levels of achievement in extracurricular activities this past week and we and the community are very proud of them.

Sports teams, individual athletes and marching bands are in ,or are entering, the “playoffs” season, a time that recognizes the top talent in extracurricular activities.

Over the weekend, local high school bands competed in regional contests across Indiana. Fairfield, Goshen, Concord, Northridge and Elkhart Central high schools performed well enough to advance to semi-state competitions slated for Saturday.

For those who have never attended a marching band competition, each band plays a selection of songs that is choreographed to marching, dance moves, flag corps performances and on-field props. These shows are incredibly good and take months to prepare for.

Bands begin their seasons with a couple of rehearsals a week just after school lets out in the spring. Practice then expands in scope and time as a new school year approaches. Then, each day during band class and after school the bands and flag corps continue rehearsing and refining their shows. A positive aspect of the competition is that dozens of parents get involved in the show and provide support moving equipment and props, arranging meals during practices, cleaning and mending uniforms, loading and unloading the equipment trailers, and a host of other tasks. Marching band competition is a family-oriented activity that enhances the lives of high school students.

Our local athletes are also enjoying success during the playoffs season. The Bethany Christian High School girls soccer team retained the sectional championship Saturday by defeating Warsaw 1-0. In the boy’s soccer regional, Northridge defeated a talented Goshen team 2-1.

The Concord boys cross country team won the regional and individual runner Trevor Moore of Northridge qualified for the semi-state event. Northridge girls placed second in their cross country regional and NorthWood’s Cynthia Medina qualified as an individual. And the Concord tennis team finished a fine season that got them all the way to the state quarterfinals.

Of course it is sectional football playoff season. The Goshen Redskins will meet Penn High School Friday night, Concord will play Logansport, Wawasee will play East Noble, NorthWood will take on Lakeland and Fairfield will travel to Prairie Heights. We hope all the local teams come away with victories.

We don’t hold, like the late NFL coach Vince Lombardi said, that “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” But a victory, after practicing hard and making a long commitment to running, football, soccer or marching band, is satisfying.

We are proud of all the students putting in the extra effort to be a part of a sports team or marching band. These students are learning that their performance is enhanced by hard work, sacrifice and dedication. Their positive experiences will certainly help them in the coming years as they move on into adulthood.