'Sports Experts'

[Greg Farra]

Ok, for all of us here who know, or think they know, about sports, what sports have we played or coached high school level or above?

I played one year of high school varsity tennis. I played in zero matches.

I coached two years of boys high school basketball at Madison Christian School in Groveport, Ohio. My first year, we went 10-9, finished third in our league, and had our first winning record. The second year we went 15-7 and finished second.

[Jim Franklin]

I played high school baseball, basketball and on a very limited basis football. Tried out for the NNC baseball team but due to limited vision was cut. I could field but the pitch came in so much faster that I could not pick up the ball in time to make good contact with the bat. I did letter as the baseball statistician and track manager in college.

I did coach grade school basketball up to 8th grade and grade school flag football up to 6th grade. You should have seen how excited those kids were when they pulled a 'sleeper' for a touchdown.

[Linda Bechtold]

I played 1 year of high school tennis and 3 years of varsity basketball. My husband is a varsity girls basketball coach.

[Billy Rolfe]

I didn't play any sports in high school, mostly due to the fact that I was still a new fairly new transplant receipient(had it in 8th grade) I had to be careful what I did and couldn't take the chance of a real physical sport. However, I was the manager of the wrestling team, so that was kind of fun to be a part of.

[Jim Franklin]

Aha! another manager. Billy, because I had had two bouts of rheumatic fever when I was in 7th and 8th grades my doctor felt it would be unwise to compete in the more active sports, football and basketball which would have been pretty difficult for a 5'5", 115 lb. body anyway so I was manager of football and basketball for both my sophmore and junior years and played baseball at Chelan, WA. Then we moved to a very small town (Rufus, OR) where there were 15 in the high school. Six Seniors, including me, two juniors, my sister was half the class and seven sophomores, just did not happen to be any freshman, nine guys and six girls. The physical went something like "yup 2 eyes, 2 ears, a nose and a mouth that makes him physically fit to play." So I made the starting five in basketball. Since the school had had as many as 20-30 students in previous years and the area had a 6-man football league in the area, the football gear was available but the school board did not feel like 9 guys was enough to field a team but we did some practicing with the gear and were invited to scrimmage game against a nearby team (Wasco, OR) with timing, yardage chains and downs markers. We won when I caught the winning touchdown playing end. I had played second base at Chelan my sophomore year, utility my junior year and pitched at Rufus. So my sports participation was limited but varied in high school. Great to know that there are those of us that can manage all those jocks.

[Ian Gentles]

Played soccer in college, we were pathetic lol

[Greg Farra]

Ian,

Isn't it called football where you live? lol!

My son played keeper for four years in high school. I actually coached one match because a referee didn't show up, so our coach had to officiate a junior high match. We lost something like 3-1 or 5-1. The other team was pretty good, and we were in our first year. We never lost to them again while my son played. We beat them for three league titles, three league tournament titles, and in a Christian tournament a couple of times.

I also got to coach my son the two years I was head coach, and also in elemntary and junior high as an assistant.

[Billie Goodson]

Played football all through High School, 9th grade team then started on varsity for my last three (our school was small, no JV). Played 9th and 12th grade on basketball team. Varsity Baseball 9th-11th. Threw the discus in 10th grade and was third in our county -- which really just got me out of running!

Coaching -- have coached baseball, basketball, and soccer. All four daughters played soccer, coached the youngest three. Coached oldest in basketball. Coached soccer up to JV in high school. Was a certified referee in soccer for several years, but, never really ref'd that much -- did it to stay current on rules mostly.

Avid fan of high school sports! Would rather watch a high school game than any college or professional any day. Saddest part of moving was having to leave before my Rockledge Raiders finished football season. :(

[Bruce Carriker]

I played HS baseball, then took up umpiring and officiating. I have officiated high school basketball and umpired baseball through the college summer league level - the Jayhawk League - which includes some very good teams, particularly the Wichita Broncos and the Liberal BeeJays.

[Kathy O'Connor]

For those of us who graduated prior to Title IX, we had no chance to play HS sports. I loved football and begged the coach to let me play. I could punt WAY better than the team's punter. Unfortunately, I was relegated to the sidelines and spent my "career" as a cheerleader. I would have LOVED to have had the opportunity and am so glad to see our female athletes admired for their ability.

I did coach the cheerleaders at different school where I taught, but have retired the pom poms. :basic02