The Spartanburg High School Vikings Football team recently won the State Football Championship. They held an awards banquet that was most inspiring. The team had amazing accomplishments, having turned the OK team around capturing the State Championship.
While most people were celebrating the team winning, there were many who contributed to the success of not only the team on the field, but in the lives of the young men being recognized.
It was an extremely festive event and one that was enjoyed by all in attendance. Visitor included former Spartanburg High player Landon Cohen, who was now playing with the Seattle Seahawks. Current and former players, coaches, family members and friends were jovial.
There are times when it seems that the youth of today are headed in the wrong direction, but this story brings hope, inspiration and happiness.
This is a dramatic story of the courage of one special young man, but it includes a strong supporting cast of coaches, school administrators and of course the team members who made it possible.
In a matter of a couple of years the team had dramatically turned their fortunes around and went from a team in the middle of the pack to one at the top.
It takes more than random chance to do this. The players on the team committed to work and work hard. They committed to the team and to themselves to do whatever it took to accomplish the goal of winning the state Championship.
While it is of utmost importance that these young men have the character to make the commitment, it takes coaches to set the tone and direction of the team. Few people look beyond the field and the role that others play in such situations, but it takes all to get it done.
While it is easy for each member of the team to focus only on football, life is more than football. Life includes academic achievement, patience, endurance and participation in the community in which we all live.
The coach began the road to greatness by getting the players and coaches to commit to the team. In turn the team members committed to life as a contributing High School student with academic priorities. With priorities that would carry them well beyond the end of the football season.
A group of superstars with no commitment to the other members of the team is just a bunch of players. A group committed to each other and sharing common goals is a championship in the making.
All members of the team committed to personal goals. They committed to team goals. They committed to more than athletic achievement. They made a commitment that would serve their future. They made a commitment to athletics, academics,, community, team and self.
To show the depth of the commitment, one of the players received a standing ovation from the team and it was not for outstanding achievement on the field of play, because he had suffered a season ending injury before he first game and was unable to perform during the season.
This young man made a commitment to the team before the season began along with other members of the team. However, during practice he had 3 ligaments and the meniscus in his knee torn.
As he lay on the practice field, the condition of his knee could be seen by other members. It is reported that some who saw the position of the knee threw up. It looked bad, real bad.
He underwent surgery and committed to aggressive rehabilitation.
Knowing that he would not be able to compete and that he was more than likely not going to play college football, he maintained dedication to his personal regime of difficult rehab, but the dedication to the team.
As soon as he was able to return to some form of mobility, even while on crutches, he showed his dedication to his rehabilitation and the commitment that he had made to the team.Many people would have found a reason to quit on one or more levels, but not this young man.
On his first day back at school, his mother went to school to pick him up, only to be informed that he was not ready to go home, he had football practice. Now who would have thought a person who had sustained such a devastating injury, undergone surgery, and had hopes for a future of playing evaporate would even have football on their mind?
Life is full of people who have suffered injuries, some visible, some not. Many of these people suffer lingering effects because they do not make the commitment to rehabilitate themselves. Because of the lack of commitment, they make the excuse that it is too inconvenient, too hard and too long or that it will not make any difference.
Many of these same people pay the price for the lack of commitment for the rest of their lives. They live with self-doubt and a spirit of what if. Living a life wondering what would have happened if only…
This young man made good on his commitment and did everything in his power to fully follow through. He attended practices and encouraged his teammates. He attended all games and even operated the camera to film games. He did anything and everything asked of him.
He served as a role model to all who knew him by being true to himself, his team and his commitments.
Too many times people are quick to give up because of a bump in the road, but success is achieved by the people that do not take their eyes off the prize and instead use the obstacles that they encounter in life as stepping stones to even greater achievement.
There is so much right with this entire story, because while the focus is on one member of the team, the entire team deserves credit for recognizing that while roles may change, the contribution is none the less of great importance.
Without the climate created by the coaches that place importance on the entire team and the contributions of all members, this tribute would not have been possible. Many teams fail to recognize the members that do not start the game. Not recognizing that if they had not been dedicated team members to practice against that others could not have honed their skills to the level that they have. If the equipment people had not performed their job, it would have disrupted the flow of practice and progress towards the ultimate goals of the team.
Everybody is important! It is particularly impressive that the coaching staff instilled a need for excellence on and off the field. Life goes well beyond the final whistle of the game. Any coach that neglects this important aspect of an athlete’s life is guilty of neglect. Excellence is one aspect of life influences every aspect of life.
Of course credit is deserved by his parents who instilled values in him and demonstrated it, making it real.
People learn by what they see and do. Parents have to be aware that kids learn by what they do. When parents interfere and don’t allow the kids to learn by doing, they are doing a long term disservice to the kids. T
he lessons that we can take away from this story:
- All role in life are important and no matter what happens, the way that we approach obstacles is the key to the way that we live our lives.
- Recognize the accomplishments of others, because it is important to the ultimate outcome of life.
- If you have to select a team member it is always better to pick someone with commitment, heart, dedication and tenacity.
If I were selecting a team member, the person selected would have the qualities of this young man.
This experience with the entire team gives me great hope for the future, which rests with the up and coming youth of today.
The concerted atmosphere of the entire school administration that promotes the development of the entire student gives me hope for the future of the education system.
To anyone who has suffered a setback in life, know that it is never too late to make the decision to overcome rather than be overwhelmed.
Because of the commitment made by this young man with integrity and tenacity, the young man, Mackenzie Johnson, has the respect and administration of his team mates, the school and the community.
He will be a wonderful addition to the student body of Wofford College, located in Spartanburg, SC. A great school with great traditions and a dedication to the students on a level and in ways that are rare today.
To Chris Miller and the staff of Spartanburg Vikings, the administration of District 7 and Spartanburg High school, team members, contributors, and boosters, it is the combine efforts that have led to the success of the team.
All of you should be very proud of your accomplishments, but do not rest on your laurels. Use them as stepping stones to move higher in life. ever stop, continue to move towards success as YOU define it.
Wonderful and encouraging article. I do hope that this sterling young man’s example is exposed to as many of our youth as possible. It is too bad that these dedicated and selfless acts are not provided equal air time as so much of the nonsense we are exposed to.
Thank you for this story. I will share it with as many like-minded people as I know and encourage them to do the same. Our people need to know what we are capable of doing, once we make up our minds to do it.