Football, turkey and crazy shopping continue to overshadow the intentions of Thanksgiving every year.
Whether it’s having the family over or traveling across the mountains for the November holiday, we’re given an opportunity to reflect on being grateful for how each of our lives has progressed during the year. Good health, employment and living under a roof highlight most of everyone’s list, while some have been less fortunate but still try to find a silver lining and appreciation for life.
During this fall high school sports season, the Lahontan Valley was treated with many reasons to be thankful.
The spotlight shined the brightest on the Greenwave football team as it wrapped up its season at the state championship on Saturday. This wasn’t just any ordinary season for the green and white; Fallon dominated the region and came within one win away from winning the state crown for the first time in 35 years. The community backed the program 100 percent and made sure everyone knew about. the city sent off the team with an overwhelming escort before fans packed the stands to capacity in Reno.
Churchill County thanks coach Brooke Hill and the mighty Greenwave for another great season, giving everyone a taste of great things to come in the following seasons.
The football program was no doubt the most successful sport this fall and as a result, it overshadowed a few sports that had stellar seasons.
The Lady Wave soccer team turned in one of their best seasons in school history but also came one win away from reaching the state tournament, while the boys’ team missed out on the postseason. The cross country teams keep getting stronger as the boys qualified the entire team to the state meet while the girls’ team continues to add numbers. The girls golf team fielded an entire team this season, and the volleyball club came one win away from reaching the regional tournament.
Teams continue to get stronger and improve every fall, making it believable that the football team’s success will be mirrored on the soccer field, cross-country and golf courses, and tennis and volleyball courts. The Greenwave are beginning to build into a well-rounded powerhouse with every fall team competing against the best and thriving. Fallon has been a constant force in reaching the state tournament in every sport because of the continued work and dedication. This showed in the football team’s remarkable season that made the community rally without hesitation and flooded Reno with thousands sporting the Kelly green and white.
And don’t be surprised if the fall’s success carries into the winter season, which begins next week with many basketball and wrestling tournaments.
Anne Smith’s Lady Wave basketball team was 10 seconds away from a trip to the state tournament last season when it fell to Spring Creek in Reno. The boys’ team, though, is looking to get back to its successful roots from a couple seasons ago as first-year coach Brad Barton aims to make Fallon a contender again.
Mitch Overlie’s wrestling team has plenty of motivation for this season after coming up empty handed in the state tournament last year when all four wrestlers lost their championship bouts. With 11 advancing to the second day, including seven to the medal round, Fallon went from finishing second at state to fourth after failing to convert in the final round.
The Greenwave gave the high school and community more reasons to be thankful this fall, from the football team finishing second-best in the Silver State to the girls soccer team coming one game short of state to the smaller sports reaching new heights.
Greenwave pride is stronger than it has been in year because of these sports, which should make for a fun winter season as the basketball and wrestling teams try to mirror the fall season’s success stories.
Thomas Ranson can be contacted at lvnsports@yahoo.com.