Compiling all-area teams, it’s the single worst part of my job.
Because it’s always more about who didn’t make it rather than who did. Why is he on the first-team and she’s just honorable mention? And how does one school have six total honorees when another has three?
With 19 high schools, it’s impossible to make everybody happy. If we honor at least one kid from every team in our coverage area (one that stops at Shelley and extends down to Preston), then the value of being tagged as “all-area” is diluted.
But a tight list inevitably leaves kids (and possibly entire schools) off lists. Is that fair? Which method is best?
I have no idea.
After an entire season’s worth of work, the Idaho State Journal (and just about every other paper in the state or even nation) releases lists where we deem Player X or Player Y as our respective players of the year, and attached to that are first- and second-teams of guys and gals whose exemplary efforts deserve recognition.
Finding worthy kids is the easy part. It’s whittling down who shouldn’t be on the lists that’s agonizingly difficult.
Really, it’s just a terrible process. One the Journal sports staff has been spending a lot of time on in the last few weeks. And you can see the ultimate results for yourself soon.
We’re releasing our all-area girls soccer team Thursday, the boys Friday. And we’ll go with volleyball Saturday and Sunday is for football.
Putting together the lists is excruciating, if only because I know the end result is going to disappoint more than it will honor.
But talking to our all-area players of the year is a blast.
Without question, every single kid we’ve chosen as player of the year in soccer, volleyball and football is the right one. We’ve spoken to the coaches, seen them in person, watched them interact with teammates and felt their impact on the end result.
Our players of the year are studs, each one of them.
And there’s major themes that intertwine through the strong footballer to the agile volleyball player. They’re dedicated, humble, committed to the process of getting better, understand the value of teammates and coaches and each has absolutely busted their tails to get where they are today.
When our players of the year were born, they received a bit more “natural” athleticism than the baby in the bassinet next to them, I’ll grant you that. But it’s their devotion to the sport that’s separated them from everyone else.
They’re nice kids with bright futures in whatever the heck they decide to do as adults. They study hard and politely answer any sports reporter’s dumb questions.
But let’s keep this clear. On the athletic field of play, they’ll tear your heart out with no remorse. They fight over single yards and lunge at loose balls like a starving coyote rips at a dead corpse. They’re relentless, ornery and mean to their opponents. Get in their way and they’ll step on your throat.
Then, they’ll look you straight in the eye and say good game afterward.
It’s a heck of a group, a murderer’s row of talent and competitiveness. And they’re just the beginning of the all-area teams. From the guys and gals on the first-teams to the ones sneaking in at honorable mention, everyone who’s made our lists is amazing at what they do.
Which isn’t to say that those who haven’t made it aren’t. But remember how I wrote there's two different ways to compile these lists? We can honor everybody (the all-inclusive method) or we can try and make it a truly special honor by limiting the number that make the cut. We’ve decided on the latter, for better or worse.
So if your daughter, son, grandchild or friend is in the paper Thursday-Sunday, know it’s a true accomplishment. And if they’re not, maybe next year, and if there isn’t a next year, they should be proud of what they achieved and relish in the memories of their high school sports days.
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