Outside Looking In
If the Minneota girls felt disappointed in not winning the Class A state basketball championship for the third straight time after winning in 2019 and again last year (they were unbeaten and favored to win in 2020 before the tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic), the large crowd that gathered for the "Welcome Home" celebration showed just how proud the community was in them, win or lose.
They say losing a championship is like kissing your sister. Well, 60-plus other Class A teams would gladly pucker up for that chance.
When my father asked me how I did in the Punt, Pass & Kick competition many years ago, I told him "I lost". I actually got second place and lost by only 18 inches. I pouted, cried and acted like a poor sport.
He then sat me down and a lectured me for what seemed like an eternity about sportsmanship. While many things he said to me went in one ear and out the other when I was a little bit, what he told me that day has stuck with me. He coached for 30 years and instilled in me that winning isn't everything but winning with grace is. If you lose and you did your best, that's all we can ask of ourselves.
Back then, the Punt, Pass & Kick trophies looked just like an Oscar award and were heavy. Today, that shiny silver trophy sits front and center in the sports room at my house as way to remind me to always try and be a good sport.
We are told that winning is everything. But in the grand scheme of things, losing is sometimes harder than winning.
To me, I now look at sportsmanship as being more important than winning, although I am probably in the minority on that thought. Over my reporting career, I have covered a host of stellar individuals and teams. I always looked at how a team reacts when losing.
My point? Well, one thing that stood out for me about this Minneota girls basketball team was I never saw any of them bark at an official during a game, never barked at each other on the court, never showboated or tried to show up an opponent, and never played chippy. To me, that is what a winner is.
Some of that has to do with coaches Chad Johnston, Dale Kockelman and Al Panka. Some of it has to do with how they were raised. Much of it, though, has to do with them.
Six seniors played their final game donning the MINNEOTA letters emblazoned across the front of their shirt. They played their hearts out for more than just this one year. They represented their team, their school, their family, their community and themselves well. Those seniors were Kennedi Jurrens, Morgan Moorse, Natalee Rolbiecki, Jeren Rost, McKenzie Tolk and McKenna Yost.
In years to come, these girls will realize how many people wish they could even play in a state tournament, me included, let alone play in a state championship.
Still, no matter what is said to these girls now will not make them feel any better. Time heals all wounds, and these hard-working talented players just need time to let it all soak in.
Remember, scores get forgotten; your actions don't.
Jelly bean contest
The Mascot's Jelly Bean Guessing Contest will soon be on display in the front window. The jelly beans have been purchased and counted and placed in a big glass jar.
We will also include a photograph of the jar filled with jelly beans for those unable to view the jar in our window.
Contestants will be asked to put their name, phone number and your guess on a slip of paper and drop it off at the office or place it in the locked metal box outside our front door, or email your guess to scott@thomabooks.com. No phone calls please.
The winner will receive an Easter basket filled with treats and prizes.
City-wide garage sale
The city-wide garage sale is set for Friday and Saturday, May 6-7.
Each resident owner can pick the times they want to hold their garage sale each day. We will have details in an upcoming issue of the Mascot on how to advertise for the sale, so we can run one big ad with each listing included.