End of the Season






I shared with you before what the beginning of the season was like. Our season had its ups and downs, but like all good things, it comes to an end. The end of the season was a whirlwind. Conflicts arose and we found ourselves without a position coach, but thankfully other coaches steeped in to fill that role in the final two weeks. After our loss to Mount Union, we went home with a 4-4 record and things looking very similar to last year's 5-5 season. We had a choice to make. Whether we would give our all, rely on each other and play for something bigger than ourselves; or just give up. The night before playing Baldwin-Wallace, a nationally ranked team, one of the coaches sat us down as asked us "what's your why?" Why are we here? Why do we play? His speech is one I will remember for the rest of my life because it made us think and really search within ourselves to find the reason we step onto that field.

Baldwin-Wallace shows up after having talked of how they are going to the playoffs and how easy it would be to beat us. However, the game did not go that way. Polar bears storm ahead and keep the lead to defeat the BW and knock them out of the playoffs. This past weekend we faced off against Heidelberg University. Every year we play this team we have what we call the Bendo Bowl. Both programs were affected by the tragedy of losing two brothers to blood clots five years apart. We created a trophy that the winning team takes home for the year. For the past eight years, ONU has only won once. After a hard-fought game and with one final sendoff to our seniors; we bring the trophy home. The Polar Bears finish off the season 6-4, reach third in the conference and celebrate our win with this team one last time.

If you would have watched our first game and then our last, you would not recognize us. We played like a completely different team the last two weeks. We never gave up and we never got down. We fought until the final whistle. I believe as individuals and a team; we found our why. It has been an absolute privilege to play alongside the seniors and I will miss them. Especially Anthony McFadden (McKenna's boyfriend) who was a great leader, role model, and person to be around every day. While I am sad to see it go, I look forward to build on this in the coming season. I guess it is true, a thing isn't beautiful because it lasts. Here's to the seniors, once a Polar Bear, always a Polar Bear.

Until Next Time,
James

Comments

  1. Alexandra GeslerNovember 20, 2019 at 7:54 PM

    I was at that game! I'm so glad you had such a good experience this season. Sometimes being a part of college sports can ruin the sport for you, but I'm glad that didn't happen to you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Michael BernerNovember 20, 2019 at 8:35 PM

    It is never great starting off the season on a bad food, but I am happy to hear you ended it the way you wanted to. The best thing to do now is carry that 'why' into next season. So, I am glad you got to finish off the season how you wanted, and I hope next season is the best one yet.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jillian SugdenNovember 21, 2019 at 12:34 PM

    I loved watching you all fight back this season! That last game really embodied what you talked about in never giving up and truly fighting until the end and I'm so happy you all could pull out the win!

    ReplyDelete

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