Bob Hamilton would have been proud.
I know I was.
Let's put this together.
Bob Hamilton was my Cedar Post adviser for two years when I attended Sandpoint High School back in the mid-1960s.
I also consider him one of my major life mentors, especially after working my senior year as the editor of our longtime respected high school newspaper.
Among the many lessons Bob taught me both directly and by example was caring about details and connecting the historical dots.
Years later, Bob coached girls basketball at Sandpoint High School---very successfully.
I don't know how many times his teams went to State, but I can remember they were formidable.
During those years back in the 1970s and '80s, he worked alongside Duane "Woody" Ward, who coached boys basketball for a number of years at Sandpoint High School.
Later, Woody coached the girls. I don't think we have enough fingers, toes or even hairs on our heads to count the number of years Woody Ward has been working with young people at Sandpoint High School.
Fast forward from the 1970s to the 1990s. When Bob Hamilton retired as the long-running Cedar Post adviser at Sandpoint High School, I replaced him, working as adviser for seven years.
During that time, one of my sportswriters happened to be a young man who breathed, lived, dreamed and even played varsity basketball as a Bulldog.
His name: Willie Love.
In fact, Willie Love took home a plaque his senior year as "Most Inspirational Player" on Jack Dyck's Bulldog basketball team.
Move forward again a little over 20 years.
After working for a few years in journalism AND sportswriting and editing at the Gem State Miner in Newport and the Idaho Press Tribune in Nampa, "Will" Love came back to his alma mater, Sandpoint High School, to advise the Cedar Post where he had once served on the staff with his mother as his adviser.
I believe that was 2008.
A few years into his career as a journalism/photography/graphic arts instructor and newspaper adviser, Willie took on a new role, allowing him to fulfill his lifelong passion of living, breathing and even dreaming sports, especially basketball.
Coach Love started as a boys basketball assistant with head coach Tyler Haines.
A few years later, after Tyler resigned, Will decided to take a break from coaching.
That lasted a mere few weeks because over the summer, our answering machine kept showing messages from Woody who had come out of retirement to coach the girls varsity.
Woody was trying to track down Willie and lure him into serving as his assistant coach. Well, he must have been pretty persuasive because eventually Willie said yes.
From a mom's perspective, this turned into one of the greatest, most heart-warming partnerships and friendships I have ever witnessed.
Wisdom, experience, passion, phenomenal example of a human being---that's Woody Ward. Willie found both mentor and a wonderful friend.
Together, the two helped develop three women athletes now playing college ball at Eastern Washington University and the University of Montana.
Woody and Willie worked as coach and assistant for a few years.
Then, Woody decided to retire again, knowing that the girls varsity would be in good hands with Willie.
I don't think it took any phone calls for Willie to find the perfect assistant.
The two simply traded places.
This is Willie's second year as head coach with Woody by his side.
Last night the Sandpoint Girls Varsity defeated Lewiston, a bigger school coming from another division.
Again, Bob Hamilton would be proud, not only of the victory but also because new Daily Bee sports editor Dylan Greene, a Stanwood, Wash., and WSU grad, took the time to do some historical research.
According to Dylan, it's been at least ten years since Sandpoint girls have scored a victory over Lewiston.
Last night's win also took the girls into double-digit wins (10-6), which, at this point in the season, is an impressive accomplishment.
Overall, it was a great night for Sandpoint because the boys also knocked off Lewiston, which, prior to last night, had a 10-2 record.
It was a great night to be a Bulldog fan, and a journalist and a mom.
I loved having the opportunity to meet our new sports reporter.
I totally enjoyed the ease, accuracy and consistency with which the girls are now playing. They have definitely jelled into a unit where all the parts are working together for the overall result: a win.
As always, it was fun visiting with former colleagues and friends.
And, I was proud, as I know Bob Hamilton would be to see the next generations AND even one of his carrying on.
My only regret: Bob is not around anymore.
It would be so neat if he could meet and compare notes AND details with Willie, not only as journalism mentors but also as coaches.
I really think they would enjoy each other, and they'd have plenty of details to discuss and historical dots to connect.
And, I think it is really, really neat how long Duane "Woody" Ward has been devoting his time our community's young people.
He has certainly participated and created many of those dots to be connected in Sandpoint High sports history.
Finally, this morning I am announcing the first-ever Lovestead men's college basketball poll.
In my poll this week, after considering every detail possible---total wins (20-1), point spans in wins, ranking of teams beaten this past week, the ZAGS still rank No. 1 in the nation.
The nation's coaches and USA Today agree.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
That's all.
A few years later, after Tyler resigned, Will decided to take a break from coaching.
That lasted a mere few weeks because over the summer, our answering machine kept showing messages from Woody who had come out of retirement to coach the girls varsity.
Woody was trying to track down Willie and lure him into serving as his assistant coach. Well, he must have been pretty persuasive because eventually Willie said yes.
From a mom's perspective, this turned into one of the greatest, most heart-warming partnerships and friendships I have ever witnessed.
Wisdom, experience, passion, phenomenal example of a human being---that's Woody Ward. Willie found both mentor and a wonderful friend.
Together, the two helped develop three women athletes now playing college ball at Eastern Washington University and the University of Montana.
Woody and Willie worked as coach and assistant for a few years.
Then, Woody decided to retire again, knowing that the girls varsity would be in good hands with Willie.
I don't think it took any phone calls for Willie to find the perfect assistant.
The two simply traded places.
This is Willie's second year as head coach with Woody by his side.
Last night the Sandpoint Girls Varsity defeated Lewiston, a bigger school coming from another division.
Again, Bob Hamilton would be proud, not only of the victory but also because new Daily Bee sports editor Dylan Greene, a Stanwood, Wash., and WSU grad, took the time to do some historical research.
According to Dylan, it's been at least ten years since Sandpoint girls have scored a victory over Lewiston.
Last night's win also took the girls into double-digit wins (10-6), which, at this point in the season, is an impressive accomplishment.
Overall, it was a great night for Sandpoint because the boys also knocked off Lewiston, which, prior to last night, had a 10-2 record.
It was a great night to be a Bulldog fan, and a journalist and a mom.
I loved having the opportunity to meet our new sports reporter.
I totally enjoyed the ease, accuracy and consistency with which the girls are now playing. They have definitely jelled into a unit where all the parts are working together for the overall result: a win.
As always, it was fun visiting with former colleagues and friends.
And, I was proud, as I know Bob Hamilton would be to see the next generations AND even one of his carrying on.
My only regret: Bob is not around anymore.
It would be so neat if he could meet and compare notes AND details with Willie, not only as journalism mentors but also as coaches.
I really think they would enjoy each other, and they'd have plenty of details to discuss and historical dots to connect.
And, I think it is really, really neat how long Duane "Woody" Ward has been devoting his time our community's young people.
He has certainly participated and created many of those dots to be connected in Sandpoint High sports history.
Finally, this morning I am announcing the first-ever Lovestead men's college basketball poll.
In my poll this week, after considering every detail possible---total wins (20-1), point spans in wins, ranking of teams beaten this past week, the ZAGS still rank No. 1 in the nation.
The nation's coaches and USA Today agree.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
That's all.
 |
| Dylan Greene, Daily Bee sports editor |
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