Time to salute the grads – especially our senior athletes

Temperatures are noticeably warming and the sunlight hours are longer with each coming day, which could only mean that summer has arrived.

With that, of course, is the end of yet another school year and this week we will bid farewell, congratulations and best of luck to some 100 give or take a few, graduates of the Clinton County High School Class of 2015.

Of course we offer our congratulations to all of the 2015 graduates, parents and family, but this being a sports-oriented column, I always give up a little bit of a special congratulations geared to our seniors who were involved in the athletic programs at Clinton County High School.

So, to those of you who have spent time going the extra mile during your high school years – be it on the hardwood basketball or volleyball court, the football field, one of the diamonds or tennis courts, the golf course, soccer fields, archery range or the cross country track – a special congrats goes out to you from the Clinton County News Sports.

You did in fact go the extra mile to put in the team and personal practice and training, conditioning time and matches and games, all at the same time you were working to keep your grades and school work in order so you could continue being a part of the team or squad and represent your school, family and community while wearing the Blue and White.

You all did us proud on every level.

The lessons you learned while working and playing on the respective team or squad are ones that you will find yourself returning to and using throughout your adult lives.

Before you take that walk later this week, accept your diploma and flip your tassels to transform from student to alumni, take a few minutes to not only reflect, but also to give a special thank you to whomever it was that was responsible for seeing that you were always on time to practice, had a ride home from the games and were sure that you put in that extra time to study for that test.

Someone followed you to every game from the little league level through the varsity travels, taking time out of their own schedules to make sure they saw every shot, swing and step you made.

Be it Mom, Dad, a guardian or whomever, someone was there to give you that extra little push when you needed it, and those words of encouragement when you might have been just a little down.

Give them a hug and a special thank you, believe me, it wasn’t as easy as it might have seemed to be – in a few years, it will likely be you following your own little athlete all over the place and then you will realize just how difficult it can be at times.

Still – for whomever it was that was your biggest fan at home – it was times they wouldn’t trade for any other experience in the world – again, speaking from experience here.

Enjoy your week and reflect on your accomplishments and ponder your future, but know now and forever, that the time you spent in the Bulldog uniform has been appreciated by many of us on the sidelines throughout your high school athletic careers.

Finally – now that you are an alumni member, don’t be a stranger. Come back out to the gym, the diamond or the field, and support those athletes who are coming behind you. You remember hearing those cheers from the sidelines and the stands? Now it’s your turn to make some noise from time to time.

Again, congratulations – to both our graduating athletes and to your entire family. Be proud of your accomplishments and always remember . . .

Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog!