Sports make high school special

MARION - Being on a sports team is something most people experience when they're young and still in high school. It helps develop leadership skills and is a great way to represent your community.

What they don't tell you about high school sports is the level of competition between you and your teammates.

It's a completely different playing field than middle school or playing club/recreation sports. It's a silent battle you fight every day for playing time and making an appearance on the field or court, while trying to maintain a good relationship with your teammates.

My sophomore volleyball coach told me some kids are just meant for practice. This doesn't mean they are less important to the team and without them practice would be a struggle. Teams need a certain number of people in their practices to run through the drills they need to succeed in games. It's a challenge all teams have gone through to try and scrimmage with less people than they need.

Every person on a team plays a role, even if it's not in a game.

That being said, it certainly breaks a heart when someone is incredibly passionate about a sport and they receive no playing time. As someone who has experienced this first hand, I understand it is one of the worst feelings one can have. It takes a strong person to be able to participate in a sport for four years and seeing the court or field only for a couple minutes the entire season.

What is special about high school sports and being on a team is the players and coaches - and, honestly, just being there. Being on the junior varsity and getting to practice with the varsity volleyball team is something I am extremely happy I got to experience. Practicing with the seniors and preparing with them on the road to state is something few people get to experience. I never once got to see the floor in a varsity game, or even dress, while I played my junior season, but what was enjoyable about it, was the challenging level of play and bonding with girls I never thought I'd be friends with otherwise.

Being on a team is more than playing the sports you love. It's being willing to do whatever it takes to win, whether its cheering your heart out on the bench or playing as hard as you can.

Being on a team is about making lasting friends and memories. It even means putting aside differences to be successful.

Being on a team makes high school special.