Student athletes are simply amazing

By FAITH MOLDAN

Bigfork Eagle

I watched in amazement at the Archie Roe track and field meet as Cort Rogers of Whitefish cleared heights of more than 15 feet May 5. I’m always amazed, though, when I watch student athletes.

I see kids, who are sometimes 10 or more years younger than me, display their athleticism and strength. They run around for what seems like hours on end and never tire. They twist and contort their bodies to take a shot on goal, complete a high jump or evade a defender as they drive to the basket and score two more points. They take hit after hit, grimace a bit and then get right back onto the field for another beating.

It’s all fun to them. Their dedication is also enviable and admirable. I stop and wonder if I could do what they do.

Could I hit a curveball? Could I leap over a hurdle without completely maiming myself? Could I make the clutch 3-point basket to tie or win the game?

It’s doubtful and my editor said I don’t have a chance at completing any of the forementioned tasks. I can’t even sweep my kitchen floor without hurting myself. (That’s an embarrassing but humorous story that I’d be happy to tell anyone that asks.) I can occasionally get my 23-year-old legs to run a few miles. I can play catch with a baseball or softball and not lose the ball in the sun more than two or three times, and I can make a good number of baskets, too — more if there’s nobody defending me.

While watching some recent tennis matches, I became envious of the cat-like reflexes of the Bigfork High School tennis teams. They return serves that I know would speed past me. Heck, Owen Roberts serves the ball hard enough sometimes that I’d probably drop to my knees and beg him to take it easy on me or run away from the ball before it hit me or my racket.

For some reason I think it would be a little more fun to try and return a serve from one of the volleyball players. Maybe it’s because I played volleyball for five years when I was in school. On the volleyball court you can dive and hit the floor without looking as goofy as you might if you did that on the tennis courts. The ball is a bit larger too, but there’s still just seconds or less to react, get into place and return the serve without the ball going out of play. Trying to return a kill by “7-footer” Alyssa Fierro or any other Bigfork hitter would be undoubtedly more difficult. Those girls seem nice and lady-like, but they’ve got plenty of power.

Three Bigfork golfers competed in the state tournament this year. Watching them — Delbie Wilken, Carson Harris and Travis Boughton — out on the course, driving the ball 100 or more yards and down the fairway increased my respect for the sport of golf. I won’t even start to tell you how bad I am at golf and how much it frustrates me to play. I think I envy their patience and composure almost as much as their ability not to double- or triple-bogey every hole like I would.

The BHS football team had to deal with a number of injuries this past season, but injuries seem to me to be something that would be inevitable when people are tackling each other to the ground. It’s a true team sport too. Quarterback Dustin Haines had to rely on his offensive line for protection and time to throw the ball. Without the line he probably would have ended up in a lot more pain than he was. I think about catching one of his passes, and my hands sting a little bit. It has to hurt to catch a ball thrown that hard and that fast, and that’s not even worrying about if you’re going to get tackled or not.

I’ve had the privilege of watching the athletes at BHS over the past year and a half, and like others have seen some amazing feats no matter the win and loss record. I’ve seen them grow and others move on to compete in college after their days at BHS. I can’t imagine the rise in the level of competition in college. Professional sports and what those athletes do is almost impossible to comprehend.

The high school spring sports seasons are quickly coming to an end and I’m excited to see how well the Vikes and Vals can compete in these last few meets, and which ones will make it to state and amaze the crowds there with their skills.