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I just wrapped up my fourth season of
covering high school football for the Hamilton JournalNews
as a freelance writer.
And for two of those four years, I’ve watched
New Miami and their seniors pound it out one last time at
Mara Field.
As a reporter, you’re not supposed to feel
emotion, take sides or have a biased opinion. That’s the
integrity of it all. But during both Vikings’ season-ending
post games that I’ve been apart of, it was hard not to.
It’s taken me until now to realize that it’s
tough to let your seniors move forward. We all know it’s got
to happen.
“We’re never going to play here again,” New
Miami lineman Greg Napier said after his team’s 20-0 victory
against Dayton Christian two Fridays ago. “I can’t believe
it.”
Added running back Jeremiah Hibbard, “As far
as it goes for this season, I just wanted to come out and
make it a good senior year. We need to give the guys moving
up (at New Miami) a chance to build off this year. They
deserve it.”
Right there with them on the sidelines will
be coach Jeremy Rogers, who finished his sixth season at the
Viking helm.
“Last year we had an emotional group, which
made it hard to send them (to graduate),” Rogers said.
“(This year) they were more of the energetic, outgoing
bunch. They’d always make us laugh. While doing the ‘last
walk’ with our seniors, we reminisced on those times.”
One of the most kindhearted individuals in
Butler County sports, Rogers showed that he cares for his
players and the school. And it’s appreciated that the New
Miami High School football team gave me something to write
about.
I only covered one New Miami game this year,
and it was the one I wanted to be a part of. |
