STEELE SPORTS

One harsh reality that most high school athletes face during their careers is that high school sports usually end the same way for most everyone: in tears.
Tears can be happy, sad, angry or even uncertain, however, many athletes tend to feel overcome with emotion after their final games.
I know this because I experienced it myself.
Much like the football players at Blooming Prairie and Owatonna, my high school career ended as a senior with a loss in the section championship game.
I can picture the tears swelling in my eyes as I watched the clock read zero in my last game.
The worst part of the experience is that you know that it’s all over, but it doesn’t seem like it can be real.
It takes you back to the very first days you put on pads, or the first time you hit the field… possibly even just the first time you laced up your cleats.
All those years of seemingly endless practices and games all come back in a flash.
You begin to realize that all those practices and games with your friends suddenly aren’t on the schedule anymore.
I know for certain that my tears were ones of sadness. I couldn’t bear the idea that I wouldn’t be suiting up with my friends for another game.
From speaking with the athletes as their seasons ended, this seems to be the hardest part for most players in Steele County as well.
Blooming Prairie senior quarterback Drew Kittelson, as well as Owatonna senior running back Dylan Maas both mentioned the brotherhood of high school sports that makes being an athlete such a special experience.
“I mean, we’re all brothers. We’ve played since we were little. We all know the ropes. I think everyone gave it their best tonight,” said Maas after Owatonna’s 38-33 loss against Rochester Mayo on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Both athletes could be seen leaving the field in tears, embracing their teammates one last time in their uniforms while family and friends offered support.
For athletes, like Kittelson, the section championship game won’t be his last game as a player as he is committed to Minnesota State, Mankato for football and has also been invited to the Minnesota High School All-Star Game.
Yet, while dealing with the pain of a finished season, Kittelson was still able to learn a valuable lesson from some important people in his life.
“I mean there’s a lot of good athletes on this team. The coaching staff obviously taught me a lot, that this isn’t the hardest thing you’ll ever go through in life. It really shows your heart. So I’m just going to take this into real life and not let other things get me down.”
While losing is undoubtedly painful, it is also a great teacher.
Behind the tears that fall on the field after losses are lessons of love, appreciation and understanding.
Athletes who grow up with similar goals and aspirations come together to realize that it’s the people around you that matter more than any trophy.
That’s what makes sports special.