There is a popular saying in sports that most of you have heard a time or two. “There is no I in Team.” It is a true statement and something we tell our young athletes often especially when they are just starting out in their chosen sport. Another well know reference to the same subject is, “It’s not about the name on the back of the jersey but about the name on the front.” You get the picture.

Sometimes the public focuses on how one player in particular performed, instead of the performance of the entire team. That’s understandable. They are the fans. The danger is found when a player begins to believe they are more important than the team. Once that happens, he or she is lost and hard to regain.

Jake Livingston, a writer for one of my favorite publications, The Bleacher Report, wrote a story about when he was just a kid in junior high and playing basketball for his school. Jake grew up in a hard-working blue-collar neighborhood, but his team ran up against some affluent neighboring schools. At one game the opposing team came out on the floor with what else, names on the back of their jerseys. Jake’s young team was instantly jealous of them, but his coach calmed them down using the saying I shared in the opening paragraph. Their coach reminded the team in a heartfelt pep-talk they play for the name on the front of the jersey.

After the coach spoke those words, all thirteen of Jake’s teammates were fired up. Jake shared, “We realized we weren’t playing for how many points each person could score, not for stats or style points. We were representing our entire school.” That night Jake’s team put on a performance that was by far the largest margin of victory of the season. Sometimes it takes a while to figure out why you play the game.

Now there is a positive flip side to the saying no “I” in team. Sometimes individual accomplishments mean a lot to winning programs. Let’s say a high school football team has an impact player at quarterback. He’s a dual threat meaning he can beat you with his arm or his feet. This usually makes for exciting football to watch, but it also

can be contagious. When you work along someone performing at a higher level, it inspires you to push for your maximin performance.

In the fall and winter seasons of this year there were several individuals that had outstanding performances that were highlighted in articles for their sport, but I want to share a few that occurred that might have been passed over or gone unnoticed.

Beginning in the fall, the Tyler Consolidated Silver Knights football team finished with a record of 6-4 and missed the playoffs due to a tie breaker. Several individuals led the knights with Sophomore Sean Winfrey rushing for 1,257 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was backed up by Jayden Helmick who returned seven kickoff and punt returns and was named Special Teams Player of the Year by the MOV 2-Go organization chosen from players in Ohio and West Virginia in 10 counties in the Ohio Valley. The Knights also had Ty Walton, Jayden Helmick, Sean Winfrey and Case Landis named 1st team All LKC.

TCHS Lady Knights Volleyball saw two girls named to 1st team All LKC in Caleigh Phillips and Braeden Wall. Caleigh earned 1st Team All State and Braeden 2nd team All State. Four girls, Landry Buchanan, Caleigh Phillips, Ryley Van Dyne and Audrey Dennis participated in the North South All Star game played in Beckley, WV. Paden City Wildcat Volleyball’s Brandis Dalrymple earned All State Honorable Mention and played in the OVAC All Star game. In addition, Paden City’s McKenzie Thomas was also named Honorable Mention All State.

TCHS Boys Basketball had two outstanding performers in Caleb Strode and Haygen Baker. Caleb set a new school record scoring 47 points against Doddridge and also went over the 1000-point mark for his career. Haygen led the team in converted 3-point shots and finished runner-up in the LKC 3-point shootout. Tyler Consolidated advanced to the co-final of the regional. Magnolia’s Trevor Williamson went over the 1000 point mark for his career and led his team to the co-final of the regional. Paden City’s Brandon Hizer was named his teams MVP for the West Virginia Hometown Invitational Tournament (WVHIT). Additionally, end of the season awards will be announced following the conclusion of the boys state basketball championship held in Charleston.

For the first time since 2019, the WVSSAC state basketball tournaments will be operating on a normal schedule and at normal capacity. The girls tournament begins on March 8th and the boys tourney will follow a week later. TCHS Girls Basketball post season awards will be announced following the conclusion of the girls state basketball tournament.

TCHS Wrestling sent six wrestlers to the state tournament in Huntington with Trenton Huffman finishing 3rd and Kaden Huffman finishing in 6th place. As a team the Knights finished 4th in Class A which is the highest finish in school history. Magnolia qualified two wrestlers for the state tournament, Jordan Davis and Lucas Zombotti. Although they did not finish in the top six, they did gain valuable experience that will pay off next year.

Paden City’s Destiny Rone became the first girl in school history to place in the top 3 at the WV State Girls Wrestling Tournament. Mya Anderson from TCHS finished in 4th place in the girls state tournament.

What makes a high-performance athlete like the ones I shared today different from the rest? The trait I see most common in successful athletes is the ability to push themselves beyond expectations to continue to sharpen their skills. Superstars like Lebron James have a growth mindset. They are never comfortable at the level they are producing, they continually ask, “Where can I go next?’ That’s the mindset we want for our local athletes, too.