The old saying states
that “Sports have a way of bringing people together.” Well, in my case, sports
had a hand in saving a life. A year ago, as the 2012 Fall Sports Season was
getting underway, my life was going through tough times. I was just coming off the
finalization of a very bitter divorce. In a more serious aspect, I was dealing
with some serious health issues. Very strong chest pains and tightness were
beginning to become a huge part of my everyday life. As a result, I was in and
out of Xenia’s Greene Memorial Hospital (GMH). In fact, for the first three
weeks of the 2012 Ohio High School Football Season, I was making Friday trips
to GMH. My entire health-scare fears got so bad that I did not know if I would
survive or not. For such a long time, that impression was fully embedded in my
mindset. Due to dealing with my health-related issues, I was unable to attend
any 2012 Fall Sports for Xenia High School (XHS) and its parenting system of
Xenia Community Schools (XCS). Being that I am a former student of Arrowood
Elementary School, Warner Junior High School, and a 1995 Xenia High School
Graduate, that meant I had to take a year away from my lifelong, educational
home. I had to be away from the very things which have had such profound &
positive effects upon my life for a very long time.
For
so many years, XHS Sports have been such a huge part of my life. After God, my
family, my girlfriend, my close friends & loved ones, XHS Sports are next.
I did not play any sports in high school. In fact, I have not played any
organized sports since I was in the 5th Grade. During that
particular school year, I played football for Arrowood Elementary School.
Although I have no long history of playing sports in grade school, I still
harbor a strong connection to XHS Sports. Over the years, as much as possible,
I have always attended various XHS sports games. At football, basketball,
soccer games, etc., I was always very visible in the crowd. In the past, I was
a Community Correspondent/Sports Columnist & Writer for another local, news
publication. Due to my prior work with that news publication, I had to attend
sporting events in Greene County, Ohio. However, even if I was not required to
attend games, I still would have been in attendance. On many occasions, while
attending XHS sporting events, I get asked some strange questions.
Whether
I talk to people in-person anywhere and/or on the telephone, I get asked the
following questions. Do you have a child or another relative playing? When I
tell them NO, I then get asked the following offensive question. Why are you
here? It absolutely makes no sense whatsoever that I have to give an
explanation for such a question. First and foremost, I am a “Sports Fan”
period! I truly admire such sports as football, basketball, volleyball, and
soccer. Other sports garner my admiration & attention. However, the ones I
listed above are ones I pay the closest attention to. I focus upon them like no
other. Another reason I spend so much time at XHS sporting events is simply
this. XHS will forever be my family. XHS athletes are like my brothers and
sisters. As with most families, you are going to be supportive of your family
members.
Going
to the facilities of XHS Athletics is like going to my second home. From the
moment I park my car until the moment I actually walk into the facilities, my
entire mindset is taken over by a complete feeling of excitement. Once I take a
seat, I know that I am about to see something special take place. Win or lose,
the athletes of XHS are always going to try their very best. No matter what the
circumstances may be, XHS athletes will never give up. Part of that dedication
& determination is a result of the support that the athletes receive. That
support comes from the XHS Buccaneers’ “Fan Base.” Without any shadow of a
doubt, XHS has one of the greatest fan bases around. Throughout the years, I have
attended many high school and college sporting events. I have not witnessed
many fanbases like the one which XHS possesses. Fans such as Keith Hahn, Todd
Morris, and Steve Fyffe are the perfect examples of the common XHS Fan. Those
three are normally present at every home basketball and football game. On many occasions,
they will travel out of town to support their beloved Buccaneers. From the very
beginning to the very end of all attended games, Hahn, Morris, and Fyffe make
their presence known. Whether they are sitting and/or standing, they are loudly
expressing their support for their beloved Buccaneers. Even when it is quite
obvious that a game will not go the Buccaneers’ way, the three “Super Fans”
still refuse to calm down. Their passion is quite exuberant. Sitting with them,
at any game, can be a very enjoyable & interesting experience.
The
XHS Marching Band and the XHS Football Cheerleading Team are two extremely
vital parts of the entire “XHS Football Game Experience.” They are just as
important as the fans and the football team itself. Before the games, during
halftime, and after the games, both entities have one unique purpose. They have
to continuously keep the spirits up of not only the football team but the fans
as well. At times, that can be a very difficult task to handle and accomplish,
especially after a loss. While the Buccaneers are losing (during the course of
a game), the sounds emanating from both the band and the cheerleaders can be
utilized as powerful tools. The spirits of the football team and its fans can
sometimes be in a gloomy mood. Their mindsets are not clear and focused. However,
when the band and the cheerleaders start revving up, a sense of liveliness
overcomes everyone. As a result, everyone becomes quite energized. Their
attention spans and emotions turn toward a positive nature. This type of
behavior can sometimes help bad situations turn good for the football team. Assistance
from the band, cheerleaders, and the fans can go very far. On many occasions,
that assistance can will the team to victory. Win or lose, at the end of any
game, the band and the cheerleaders make sure that the entire Buccaneers Family
all go home in a comfortable and upbeat mood.
I
commonly like to refer to the fans of Xenia High School Sports and other Xenia
Community Schools Sports Programs as being the “Xenia Community Universe.” The
name might not be catchy. Some people would even classify the name as being
“Quite Generic.” However, everyone can agree on one very special fact. The
citizens of the City of Xenia and other local communities thoroughly support
all athletic activities presented by XCS. Any single day, evening, and/or night
when games are taking place, just take a trip to any stadium, field, and/or
gymnasium. What will you see? You will see home crowds filled to capacity or
near capacity. You will see game attendees fully engaged with whatever athletic
contest is taking place. Area residents truly care about XCS and its various
sports programs. The overall admiration & respect for all athletes is
unwavering, and it is strongly exemplified. Area citizens are busy individuals.
They constantly have things going on in their lives that need to be dealt
with. However, I am truly proud of them for one aspect. No matter how busy
and/or hectic their daily lives get, local citizens always make time for XCS
Athletics. That type of positive atmosphere is not present in every community.
However, within the local Xenia-area, it is forever present and quite prominent.
As a whole, that aspect is something that we should all be proud of to
possess. Whenever possible, we should always talk about it to other outside
communities.
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