Eagles’ pride reflected in athletes’ accomplishments

Boulder City High School’s athletes are, without question, talented.

Just look at what the school’s teams and individuals have accomplished in the past few weeks.

The girls flag football team went undefeated and captured the county championship Tuesday. They haven’t lost a game in two seasons, except for last year’s semifinal match against Green Valley, which they defeated March 19 to continue their quest for the championship.

The boys bowling team, last year’s state champions, fell a few pins short of repeating that feat but still came in second place. The girls, who were never expected to make it to state, also placed second.

Then, senior Randall Berkheimer won the Division I-A individual state title and freshman Bailey Bennett-Jordan placed fourth.

Although their season didn’t end the way they wanted, the girls basketball team made it to the regional playoffs. For the past three years, the team has advanced to the state tourney.

The wrestling team also sent three athletes to the state tourney and captured third place in the Division I-A Southern Regional Tournament.

It’s not just the school’s winter sports where the kids excel. The school has an athlete or team that soars year-round. If you needed any proof of that, all you have to do is walk into the gym on campus and see the many banners recognizing the state titles they have earned — 101 in all.

With that many titles and in such a variety of sports, you can’t attribute the school’s success to any one athlete or coach. Instead, credit them all and the Eagles’ pride that courses through the veins of all BCHS students.

But perhaps, and more important, credit the fun they were having.

I was reminded of this last week when I stopped by the school’s football field to watch the Lady Eagles play flag football.

That’s not to say the girls didn’t take the game they were playing seriously. The did. They were fierce and determined on the field. Nothing could stop them as they defeated the Green Valley Gators 18-0.

I even watched Kinsey Smyth laugh and smile as if she was just hanging out with her friends while getting her ankle taped so she could return to the game. She wouldn’t even stop to put on her shoe all the way before running back onto the field to help squash their opponents. A teammate had to chase her on the field to give her an aspirin to help reduce the pain.

Then Oshanna Remy did practically the same thing in Tuesday’s championship match — impatiently waiting for her nose to be patched up so she could return to action.

Through it all there was pure, unabashed joy in playing.

And they played as a team, recognizing individual achievements, congratulating each other for good plays, and knowing that without the support and efforts of one another their victories would be few and far between.

That’s what being an Eagle is. That’s what make them so successful on and off the field.