A touching moment shared by a coach and an athlete
Almost full circle - Polytech field hockey coach Lynn Richardson scored the winning state championship goal 30 years ago to the day - Nov. 15, 1984 - leading Moravian Academy of Bethlehem to the Pennsylvania group 2A state championship. Lynn then went on to play four years at Delaware. A great sports story was set up for the DSBA Coach of the Year who beat back breast cancer last season without missing time on the sidelines. And her star stud player and relentless warrior, junior Jamie Trabaudo, who recently committed to UNC to play lacrosse, delivers like Domino's in big games. Poly was in position to pull off the upset when Trabaudo tied the game at 1 with 15 minutes left. The Panthers, a sixth seed, had beaten No. 3 Delmar and No. 2 Tower Hill to reach the finals against No. 1 Cape. The full circle heartfelt story last Saturday was still there: a coach and her team, the dream almost captured, then moving forward with resignation and consolation. Bob Dylan wrote, “It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry.” I wanted to talk to Trabaudo after the game, but I’d have gone Lionel locomotive and who needs that?
Cooker crushed - I was nestled in my leather recliner getting game updates from Gazette photographer Dan Cook from the sidelines of the Sallies at Tech game. The game was 7-7 when I got a text from my son Dave: “Cook knocked out! Game stopped!” Then on my Facebook thread an avalanche of comments but I posted nothing with Dan's son Franc in Colorado, James in Lynchburg and his wife Sherry at home with five dogs. I waited for 20 minutes and all I read was “not good, hasn’t moved in 20 minutes.” Finally a call from Dave: “What’s his car look like? I’ve got his keys.” “How did you get his keys?" I asked.” “He reached in his back pocket and gave them to me.” So then I knew - not walking Dan was back and on his way to Nanticoke for precautionary scanning. The next morning Dan was at my house to pick up his car then at the state championship field hockey game later that afternoon because there is no concussion protocol for a 60-year-old photographer. “Sure, Dan, you can shoot the game? Knock yourself out! “ Special thanks to Debra and Jim Spellman for snagging Dan’s camera equipment, which Dr. Jim returned in person the next day while ask ing for proof of insurance.
Skirt Chaser 10 Miler - I was camera guy on a state park trail early Saturday morning to get photos for my running buddies, who are nice and gracious and that’s what happens in my upside life of “sleep at night and prowl in the morning.” Morning runners are like hour patrons and tell a lot of stories that approximate the truth. Dr. Wesner Stack, a sub 4:30 miler in his days at Delaware, once told me, “If a runner tells you how much they train, divide by two. If they tell you how fast they run, multiply by two." I didn’t name the Skirt Chaser race or put Erin Graves in the lead position but I was tempted to say, “I’m training for next year's race, you know as 'Skeezer Strider,'" sort of a joke. But really they should put her photo on next year's flier just because of her stride and smile.
Snippets - The answer is “yes.” Sussex Tech can win the Division I state championship and if they do, some state representative will invite them to the General Assembly and I think it’s a perfect opportunity to refuse until a representative introduces a bill to increase funding to keep the school operating at a high level.
Polytech reached the final in field hockey while St. Georges Tech and Hodgson Vo-Tech are moving through Division II football. Somewhere there is a formula for success.
Winter sports practices have begun, to say nothing of indoor field hockey and lacrosse (not school sports) and weight training. Don’t play and train in the off season; you better have a lot of natural talent if you want to get in the game. And don’t forget GPAs and SATs - many recruiters never get past the guidance office. Go on now, git!
