Franklin High School Sports Narrative

We walked together to the field, the spikes on the bottom of my cleats clicking with each step on the parking lot pavement. A huge field with onlookers filling the bleachers on the far side came into view, lit up by the soft evening light. I spotted the girls on my team and my tired looking grey-haired coach. Me and my dad split up, me going to warm up with my team and my dad going to sit with the team parents. As I was passing with my teammates I watched the opposing team carefully. I observed how neat their drills were and how accurate their shots and passes were. They all looked so athletic and that really made me doubt myself. How was I supposed to prove to everyone that I was a good player if I had to play against a team this good? What if I mess up and the other team completely destroys my team? The loud buzzer that ended the warm ups sounded and both teams went to their side of the field. My coach called today’s starters out, and luckily he didn’t choose me. Relieved, I went to go sit on one of the hard metal chairs they provided for the teams on the sidelines. The chairs were uncomfortable but that didn’t bother me. I had other things on my mind. I sat shivering watching the events of the game

I walked into school to be greeted by a janitor vacuuming the floors. It was time to start thinking about the game and getting my focus level up. My pregame ritual wasn’t always the same beside for one thing, be the first to the locker room to have time to think to myself. Walking into the light blue and worn-down locker room it was almost like I could feel the emotion from all the players who had been there before myself. I was greeted by a wave of smell, the smell of victory, defeat, and pure hard work. It was quite musty but I was used to it and had grown accustomed to it. I sat myself down and began to think about how I would perform tonight and what I had to do in order to be victorious. I pictured myself going out onto the court and seeing all the fans packed into our old wooden bleachers. All I wanted to do was make them proud of the team they came to watch. I looked out the window to see the vehicles of my fellow teammates driving into our dirt parking lot. Soon, the locker room would no longer be quite and it would be filled with the shrieks, laughs, and giggles of my

Practices continued. Nothing changed; except for me. I kept going, I didn’t let them win and I didn’t quit. Now the moment: the first game. I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be. I felt that since I had made it so long already with dealing with the three that I could get through anything. I can honestly say that for my first time really performing I couldn’t have done better. I realized I really can do anything. Things didn’t get too much better, but I think they realized it

In my previous years I hadn’t been as committed to my development as I should’ve, and now wish I had been. I made a vow to myself after that game to get serious. It was time to step up as a leader on the team, and show everyone that I had it in me to be great. I couldn’t suffer another season like the past three: promising signs throughout the entire regular season, but continuous disappointment in the postseason.

It was a brisk fall evening, and my seventh grade youth football team and I had traveled to Aberdeen to play the undefeated Chiefs. We had worked harder and longer than we ever had that week to show that we were a threat in the league and ascend from our third place ranking. We knew it was not going to be easy; the Chiefs’ team had the fastest running back in our division, and they had scored more total points per game than any other team in the Southeast Idaho Youth Football League. The field was neater and greener than we had expected in this town. It was a great day for football, and I was with all of my best friends. I knew going in that it was going to be a learning experience whether we won or lost that night because the Chiefs were

I provide myself only twenty-four hours to dwell on a failure before creating a plan to overcome the obstacle and achieve success. Over this twenty-four hour time period I had the opportunity to reflect on my performance during the game, thinking about what I have done wrong and what I need to do better in practice the next day. The next day in practice the team moral was broken, we were all upset with our loss and needed to remember that the season is not over and that we need to get back out there and practice. This loss helped us to learn that we cannot take anything for granted; we went in with high hopes and made unfortunate mistakes that cost us the game. We must be humble, wise and learn from those mistakes in order to become

Later in the day, my wife pointed out to me that there was a picture of me in the newspaper, vomiting. When I saw that picture for the first time my stomach turned. I thought I was going to throw up again. It was incredibly humiliating and I knew I couldn’t let the people who looked up to me the most see me like that. Not my teammates, my peers, my wife, my son, nobody. It was pathetic. With that picture out in the media, I was already focused on tomorrow’s practice. I was determined to come back the next day, playing harder than ever, and proving everyone wrong.

I woke up to my mom entering my room screaming, “ ITS GAME DAY!” Instead of waking up to my usual routine, sluggish and begging for more sleep, today was completely different. It was a beautiful and sunny Saturday in December. I still was in shock my school finally made it to the championship game. It felt like a dream as if my mother never woke me up by her yelling. I knew this was a huge game and something I would remember forever. Considering the high circumstances of this game I knew I had to be one hundred percent ready to play my best. My head coach, Coach Sphire wanted all of us players to report to the film room by noon that day. As time past by my team I had discussed many offensive and defensive plays, watched film, and prepared ourselves

My team had been preparing for this game our entire season. All of the workouts, practices, and games would all finally be put to the test. My team’s record against them was one to one. Each game before this was a tight matchup and a very high competitive game. This game would decide which of us would pack up our bags and done for the season. For our seniors this meant the end of their hockey career entirely. For the younger ones on the team it was a day to play for our seniors. A chance to give ourselves and them extra time together the ice and on the team. I remember my coach saying everything that you have done so far has led up to this moment.

We are going to do whatever it takes to win. My knee was aching something serious, but I wasn't going to tell the trainer because she'd keep me out of the game. We took our positions for the jump ball and I was our jumper of course. I jumped off my good leg, but I still landed with a sting in my right. Off we went like a herd of bulls running down the court. This game wasn't going to be easy by any means. Both my team and the opposing team was knocking down shots left and right. I wasn't concerned with my knee anymore because my adrenaline was pumping. We had got most of our points from fast breaks and turnovers. I was starting to become winded, my ribs felt like they were going to close in and my mouth was so dry that my tongue stuck to the roof of it. I signaled for my sub and waited for someone to come relieve me. I continued to cheer on my teammates from the bench and watched them fight

My family and I just arrived at the campus of the University of Illinois. The school sent my sister a letter, asking her if she wanted to come down for a visit. Once we got there she met the coaches and the teammates who were very friendly. After that she played a scrimmage game with the team. I was surprised how fast they were running up and down the court. They were also very loud and vocal. It was like standing at a rock concert. Sitting their and watching her keep up with the older girls showed me how much hard work she put into the sport.The next day when we got home my sister told us everything about the coaches and how much loved the school. Tonight was the night she would decide which college to go to. Her and my dad went through the

I've always liked sports and I've been playing them since I was very young. Since 6th grade I've been on a tackle football team called the St.Francis Warriors, along with a lot of my friends. Last Thursday was our skirmish. It was the first time our team has gone against live competition this year, and I was genuinely surprised at how well we did, at least in the beginning. When we first got on the field we were really excited to play, like we wanted to completely destroy the other team. On the first few drives we scored two touchdowns which made our team even more pumped to play. Once

After our summer of practicing, our first game was here. I didn’t do much in the first few games because the teams we faced weren’t that good. Eventually though, we ended up facing more teams like TCA, USJ, JCS, Lexington, and St. Mary’s. I got to play in each of these games along with 7 other games.

The game day anxiety, starting off with overpacked gym bag hauling it around throughout the day, trying to go through the day but all that seems to be on my mind is the upcoming game. Finally, when the time arrives, in the locker room suiting up, building up my confidence with #4 on my back and warriors on my chest. After the locker room talks with the coach that seems to be to took hours only maaking me more nervous about the game.

I sprinted onto the field to the noise of the most raucous crowd I had ever seen or heard at Dickinson Stadium, home of the Newton North Tigers. The occasion was not a playoff game, a clash of two of the state’s best teams, or even a rivalry game. It was the school’s one “Friday Night Lights” or “FNL” game for the season. Even on a cold October night against a weak Framingham squad, the allure of FNL drew more fans than any other game. Football games always gave me an adrenaline rush, but that night was another level, it was as though there was a bubble around the Newton North campus, all the problems of the outside world were forgotten. There was only this game, this atmosphere, this moment. When I went into the game for the first time, I was both the most nervous and most excited I had been all season.