Communitysteps up for youth

Fallon has a soft place in its heart for the youth, and history proves it.

From rodeos to youth sports to high-school athletic events, both the city and county governments step in to make the experience an enjoyable one for both the parents and youth who come to our community to play in a tournament, compete in a rodeo or participate in a football jamboree.

The friendly atmosphere of the Lahontan Valley also emerges as a big plus.

When the Silver State International Rodeo competed in Fallon before leaving to Winnemucca several years ago, the city of Fallon donated two horse trailers, one each to the All-Around Cowgirl and Cowboy, while the county assisted with other services

For two years, Fallon and Churchill County hosted the Sierra Youth Football Jamboree, which brought in thousands of players and their families to a well-run, one-day event, and the county worked with the Pop Warner Jamboree at the regional park.

Fast forward to 2015. Although Churchill County High School has hosted softball, track and football playoff games, the city and CCHS became partners in making last weekend a memorable time for the four teams that competed in the I-A Regional Tournament with the two top winners from each of the girls’ and boys’ brackets advancing to the state tourney.

What makes this unique is that this is the first regional or state basketball tournament held in years in Fallon.

From green streamers crisscrossing overhead on Taylor Street to the high-school turnoff to signs welcoming visitors to the city, fans were greeted to two days of exciting basketball.

The atmosphere inside the Elmo Dericco Gym yelled basketball.

Bands from the schools excited the fans to get into the school spirit, and cheerleaders urged their fans to yell loudly for their teams. Athletic Director Brad Daum said he saw more local students cheering for the Greenwave than he can remember. A showcase for CCHS was when the Junior ROTC color guard presents the colors for the national anthem.

The feedback from those who put on the tournament — boosters, school and city officials — has been positive much in the same way the visiting football teams playing in the regional playoffs games at the Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex proclaimed. Fallon is the place to be.

From the neighborliness shown throughout the city to the hospitality afforded to the fans and students at the tournament made this one exciting weekend to remember.

We like to commend the city, CCHS and the people of our community for giving visitors a good impression of Fallon, and here’s to a future of hosting more tournaments.

LVN editorials appear on Wednesdays.