Aug. 24, my travels took me down Auburn Road.
Heading to Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, Kenston, Chagrin Falls, or, during hockey season, to The Pond, that’s the route of choice coming from Painesville.
Two things struck me along the drive on that Monday.
One is a topic I’ve expressed a time or two in this space: The sadness of no more Newbury. Even after several years.
The stadium is still there. It’s still in use. The high school is long gone.
Those people walked through those doors to stake their community legacy, and the physical component of that no longer exists. That is, indeed, sad.
Shortly after passing 87 to head toward Washington Street, though, another passage-of-time thought sprung to mind.
Because it so happened I was going to see the Chagrin Falls girls soccer side that night playing at Kenston in an all-coverage area match, which meant seeing Tigers coach Joe Ciuni, it occurred to me. I couldn’t believe how quickly it came up on us.
But this fall marks 10 years since Ciuni and the 2016 Gilmour girls side captured the Division III state championship.
High school girls soccer: Gilmour wins Division III state title with 2-1 victory in double overtime
Milestone anniversaries of a high school’s most prominent sports moments should carry weight.
But the years that pass also present a challenge.
Does either side — the school or the teams or individuals — care to signify it?
The answer, I’ve found, is not an automatic yes.
One of the most fun exercises in this job — not often out of fear of overdoing it — is compiling an oral history of a team’s state final run, say, 10 years on.
High school boys soccer: Wickliffe inspired with against-the-grain 2006 state final fun
I’ve done it twice in recent years: In 2019, to mark the 10-year anniversary of the 2008-09 University hockey “triple crown” squad that won the Red North, Baron Cup and state championships. In 2016, it was the 10-year milestone of Wickliffe’s 2006 boys soccer Division III state final charge.
2008-09 University hockey state title season: An oral history
It’s a massive undertaking. Setting up interviews with people scattered. Compiling information in which detail should go beyond a few scores.
From the cheap plug department: With Ciuni’s assistance, I’m compiling an oral history of the 2016 Gilmour girls soccer state title run through the insight of the principles involved. Former 2016 Gilmour players, if you happen to see this, feel free to reach out — CLillstrung@news-herald.com — if sharing your memories for that project is something that interests you.
I’m optimistic the answer will always be that such a project is interesting enough to garner the level of insight to make it worthwhile.
It tends to be, though, with looking-back projects that some, if not at times many, of the principles don’t want it.
Years ago, going through News-Herald microfilm, I came across a project from the early 80s, a “where are they now?” series. In one profile, it was mentioned that a couple of contemporaries of this football standout — who would be natural fits for similar profiles — were reached and declined.
It was kind of surprising. Why would you not want to reflect on moments so positive for yourself and your community?
As always, no identities in order to better convey a point. But during one of those previous oral history projects, there were multiple principles whose insight would have made the reflection perfect due to their pivotal roles. They would not respond.
Even a few of the people interviewed in person looked at me like I was wearing a Halloween mask, confused about why they’re getting questions in their late 20s about this high school sports accomplishment.
In a similar vein, during the days when we had a News-Herald high school sports hall of fame, one inductee in a given year was contacted several times to, at minimum, be informed of the award, let alone do a story about it. I tried. Others tried on my behalf. The potential inductee outright refused to respond. The implication was clear. The induction was scrapped.
The theme was still kind of surprising. But then, there was an epiphany.
There are people, even when they’re accomplishing these high-profile things, who close the book on high school as soon as they walk across the stage with a diploma. As is their right if that’s how they feel, they don’t want to talk or think about those things anymore. They’re an adult now. High school was high school.
High school sports halls of fame need to be careful with quantity, quality dynamics | Opinion
And while this has been mostly about the team/individual end, schools are culpable as well. Far too many schools don’t try hard enough to recognize milestone moments. Don’t get me started again on subjects such as trashing trophies or not giving people hall of fame recognition because they didn’t happen to be from the era of the bulk of the selection committee.
To be clear, by the way, granted this is framed within participation in coverage — and fair enough, that angle may be a factor. But it’s clear that it’s also conveyed through lack of participation in celebration ceremonies or the student-athletes, coaches and schools losing contact over time. Or, sadly, a total lack of effort in marking the milestone at all. On either end.
It’s unfortunate that such historic moments that define what is achievable within the confines of a community have to be enveloped by awkwardness or complicated present dynamics.
It’s also incredibly sad to think about years going by and, when enough have, the people who could have been asked to be recognized somewhere and somehow are no longer around for such recognition. An opportunity lost.
Apologies — this has frankly been a real downer of a column this week, come to think of it.
So let’s try to close on a much more positive message.
If you have these anniversaries as a piece of the backbone of your life story, I hope it’s within you to find your own way of celebrating it and its satisfaction. However that may be.
Because these anniversaries should mean something. To everyone. Before the calendar — or the circumstances — render it moot.
