Today marks Bryce’s last high school football game. And while he isn’t the quarterback or wide receiver, he is a pivotal part of the mechanics of the team as a student trainer/manager. When he started this journey freshman year, I really had no idea what to expect. I knew he would work hard. I knew there was a possibility that it would lead to opportunities on a college level. What I wasn’t prepared for was how much this extracurricular activity would give him. The mentoring by strong male role models along with the brotherhood of his teammates gifted him the ability to be a confident leader and a part of something bigger. Yes, it is football, but strangely enough it has become more than just a game. It built on to his foundation and gave him skills that he will carry forward.
This last game is important. These boys have worked hard. They want to finish their undefeated season with a state title. But it goes deeper. Off the field, the seniors and their dads gathered for a meal every Thursday night. It was an opportunity to seal the bond of brotherhood. Every Wednesday night, our group of moms – the Momma Rocks – fed the entire football team in the cafeteria of the high school. Just another way to nurture the boys physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The community around our school supports them by donating food when they travel and to our Wednesday night meal. It takes a village.
Emotionally, I might have a hard time today. You see, I am so grateful for this group of young men and their coaches. I am so proud of the man that Bryce is becoming. And while our landscape will change, Trinity High School will always hold a special place in my heart.
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