It's not necessary for everyone to win a trophy
The big news this week was the IHSA moving forward with random testing for performance-enhancing drugs -- of which I totally agree -- but lost in the principal's survey released on Tuesday were several other items.
Principals from around the state agreed that boys and girls track, boys and girls soccer and wrestling all should expand to three classes. Not that this will happen next year, but it will in the near future.
This is getting ridiculous. Everybody does not need to get a trophy.
I understand the principal's have their school's interest at heart. I understand the multiplier places many private schools at a competitive disadvantage. I understand the IHSA will need the revenue generated from these extra events in order to pay for decisions like drug testing.
But if I was an athlete competing today, I'd feel like I won a state title I didn't deserve.
It waters the whole thing down.
Eight classes of football are too many, but it won't be long before there are nine or 10. Trust me.
Three classes in wrestling? I don't understand why there are two classes anyway -- these guys are broken into weight categories already.
Shouldn't a 140-pounder from Pekin be able to wrestle a 140-pounder from Aurora? What's the difference?
I know there are the team competitions to consider, but they don't need three classes.
In the end, it'll make coaches and athletic director's look good because they can claim a certain number of diluted regional and sectional titles, and maybe even a state appearance here and there, but it's getting out of hand.
This is sports -- there are winners and losers. That is why we keep score. That's why there's an "L" column in the standings.
The way this is going, we should just put "kids who play" at the top of this section and give everyone a trinket for being able to tie their shoes.
Hopefully someone, somewhere, steps back and realizes it's not all about revenue and making people feel good. It's about winning and losing and the spirit of competition. It's sad that those things are fading away.
With boys hoops being what it is in this town, I opened the topic up for comments and votes to beaconsports@scn1.com for who you felt was the best in the city.
These topics are always fun to talk about and I appreciate all the readers who took the time to send in their votes and thoughts.
Here's a sampling of some of the e-mails I received over the last few weeks -- and it was nearly unanimous vote that Adams is indeed the top player in the city.
"If the Chargers need a basket, a defensive stop, a critical free throw, a big rebound, a key assist, Mark has a way of being there," wrote Paul Kehlringer of North Aurora.
The Hartmann family from Aurora -- all four of them -- were effusive in their praise of Adams.
Jean Hartmann wrote: "His finesse and prowess on the court dominate a game. I've seen him take shots that you wonder how they find the basket. He is a great athlete that has really come into his own. I marvel at his ability."
Aaron Benjamin wrote to say that Adams is in the "team picture" of the best in the city, but he felt the senior guard was the "most athletic player in the area."
The lone vote I received that picked someone other than Adams came from Jake Anderson, who voted for a member of the East Aurora Tomcats.
"I would like to cast my vote for Andrew Dockery," Anderson wrote. "So far, he hasn't been a huge force like Adams, but he's got pretty good size and I think is going to get better."
Jim Owczarski is a Beacon News staff writer. Contact him at jowczarski@scn1.com
