March 26 at the local Combine was the setting for this year's girls' volleyball and basketball senior appreciation supper.
I dubbed last year's seniors the "Magnificent Seven." And after what the volleyball players put us through at this year's State Tournament, I nicknamed them "The Cardiac Kids."
Last year's supper was supposed to be a one-time deal for bringing the girls volleyball and basketball programs back, respectively. Then I got to thinking that there was support there for turning things around, which included the underclass women.
This group had a lot to do with that and should be recognized also. After all, when it all started in junior high, they were right there with the 8th graders, last year's seniors, getting up at 5:00 a.m. for a 6:00 practice. Then, putting in a full day of school and doing it all over again the next day. They were right there in the mix of things and I didn't realize it at the time. So I apologized to them for that.
The torch was passed to them for the winning ways of the two sports and to run with it. And run with it they did. All the way to Rapid City, SD and a second-place finish in the State Tournament. And then they ran home with the conference basketball trophy from Baltic.
Well, actually they didn't have to run home, because I drove them home. My logbook says I transported the girls’ teams 64 times over the course of their high school career. And out of those 64 trips, I must say that it [the Big East Conference ride] was one of the most memorable. It was a very loud and joyous trip home with high fives and fist pumps abounding.
Yeah, they also deserved an appreciation supper.
And I might add, over the course of their career, it was a pleasure to watch their game improve over the years and watch them grow from young girls to mature women.
I would like to update you on the records of GHS girls’ sports in recent years.
Prior to last year's seniors' arrival, the three-year span in girls’ volleyball was a record of 1-67. The next year they went 41-33. With this year's record of 23-2, that puts it up to 64-35.
In the same period of time in basketball they went from 9-52 to 39-35. This year's record upped it to 54-44 with a conference tournament title for icing on the cake.
At the conclusion of the supper I had personal words with each one of them. Which I felt I could do after transporting them for six years, including junior high. But that shall remain private.
I will tell you what I told them before I proposed a toast to them. I thanked them for their behavior on the bus over the course of six years. And for their respect towards me. They always said "hi hi Tom" when getting on the bus. And always thanked me when getting off the bus. And that it meant a lot to me.
It was an honor with pleasure to transport the future of our society.
You girls have done well!
-submitted by Tom Godbey
UPDATE 5/5/2022: Story updated to clarify it was the Big East Conference bus trip home that was a highlight, as Godbey did not drive bus to Rapid City for the State volleyball tournament.
