They say all good things come to an end. They say there is always someone out there better than you.

But does anybody believe those statements, especially in the moment they are occurring?

I somehow doubt it. Nevertheless, both statements are true. But being true does not take the sting out of the moment when you are forced face the pain and anguish that come with them.

Such was the fate for the Brandywine and Edwardsburg volleyball teams last Thursday, when their tremendous seasons came to an end in the Division 3 and Division 2 regional championship matches, respectively. The same fate awaited the Edwardsburg football team last Saturday.

But as painful as it may have been for those three teams, it should come as no surprise that their fans and their communities were extremely proud of their accomplishments this past season.

All three teams received standing ovations from their fans who had traveled to Schoolcraft and Otsego for the volleyball regional matches, and to Leo Hoffman Field for the football regional title game. The fans were loud and proud of their Bobcats and Eddies as all three teams gave it everything they had.

Anyone who is a regular reader of my column knows I am extremely passionate about high school sports and their place in our society. I have gone toe-to-toe with those who believe sports are given too much emphasis. I will never back down from my stance that days like last Thursday and Saturday are just one of the many reasons why high school sports are an important part of growing up.

In the case of the Edwardsburg football team, which had not lost a game since the Division 4 state finals in Detroit in 2017, Saturday was a lesson in humility. It was a chance for the players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans to learn what it feels to be on the other side of what the Eddies have been handing out to teams for almost a decade now.

It was an opportunity for those individuals to learn what it means to deal with adversity and how to react with the feelings that come with losing. After all, it had been 25 games since Edwardsburg last tasted defeat.

At the same time, during that 25-game winning streak, the Eddies learned about winning with class, and how to dominate an opponent without having to degrade them. These are all lessons that each and every one of them will take forward into the next phase of their life. Only those who have played on a sports team can truly understand what I am talking about. 

The same is true for the Brandywine and Edwardsburg volleyball teams. Neither of those teams had won 25 games in a row, but both programs have enjoyed success for many years now. They know the highs and the lows of playing on a team that goes through each season dealing with sickness, injury, success, failure and adapting to a new system as both teams replaced coaches this season.

If you think that athletes are spoiled and feel entitled, then you have never been to a practice headed by Kevin Bartz and Nikki Bush at Edwardsburg, or Ray Prestly at Brandywine. Ask those players how entitled they feel after the coaching staffs at those schools have picked apart their individual performances even after a team victory.

There is another saying that tends to play well in the sports world. Adversity doesn’t build character. It reveals it.

Each member of those three teams, as well as all the other sports teams that competed this season, learn something about themselves either during a win, during a loss, or when the season wrapped up and for the senior class, they realized that their high school experience had come to an end.

So, if you happen to see a member of any of these teams over the next few weeks, take the time to thank them for their hard work and commitment. Thank them for providing you with a few hours of enjoyment that let you stop thinking about work or issues you might be facing.

And that is just another reason why high school sports are so important to our society.

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com