Rivalry Week Just Hits Different

It’s our first Rivalry Week with high school sports as a family. More importantly, it’s my son’s first time experiencing all the emotions and activity that come with Rivalry Week, especially as a football player. He gets to put on that jersey and helmet, wear his school colors with pride and a mission to represent for his community. How cool is that?

He gets to participate in the pep rally. He gets to wear a jersey to school and be part of the team that will carry the school’s pride on its shoulders as they take the field. He gets to play against kids he’s known for years who are lining up for the other team. Brothers in other sports like 11U District Champion Little Leaguers, kids who work out together in the offseason, competitors to challenge each other to get better each time they are on the field suddenly face of as adversaries. But 60 minutes of battle will give way to being teammates just a few weeks later as Winter Ball play ramps up.

I’m jacked as a parent to be on the sidelines and experience it supporting all the kids. Of course my son and his teammates. But also those kids on the other sidelines whom we’ve watched grow up, compete, achieve, win on the biggest stages (for youth athletes), and grind when no one else is watching. My husband has coached several of them, which makes this whole experience even more exciting for him.

I’m so grateful for all that sports has given our family. And I can’t wait to experience this Rivalry Week with our school and football community, and our larger town community, divided in half between two high schools separated by mere miles.

#HookEm #RespecttheRanch