It’s time to say goodbye to writing sports for the Torch, and it’s a sad goodbye.
I’ve learned some incredible life lessons, and old ones have been reiterated to me.
A fellow journalist covering Ferris hockey once had an entire story done with ten minutes to play in the game. Ferris was down, and looked like they were out.
In classic ironic fashion, Ferris stormed back to life and won the game in overtime. I watched as color drained from the journalist’s face as he mouthed a four letter word.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
In the two years I’ve covered sports at Ferris, I’ve witnessed some outstanding performances.
In 2013-14, Ferris football took another step forward. Their imposing rushing attack was lead by the man that Head Coach Tony Annese refers to as “The Terminator,” Jason Vander Laan. An 8-3 finish, though short of the playoffs, was a one-win improvement from the year before.
The Ferris Volleyball team also reached the Elite 8, taking home a Midwest Regional Championship in the process.
The basketball teams both finished short of the GLIAC playoffs, but women’s basketball sharpshooter Sarah DeShone was honored with her third All-American laureates to finish her Ferris Career.
I covered hockey for most of my Torch career, and this season was a special one.
Though they lost in double overtime of the Elite 8, they took an unbelievable route to get there.
They finished with 29 victories, the second most in team history. After losing their home opener, they reeled off 16 straight undefeated games.
They were a single goal away from their second Frozen Four in three years at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Cincinnati.
At publishing time, softball had just finished a sweep of Lake Superior State to pull their record to 13-13.
Though they were sitting one spot out of the playoffs on Monday morning, the Bulldog softball squad appeared primed for a playoff run, as they moved into eighth with an 8-7 record.
I work as a reporter, but I’m also a student at Ferris. At times, it’s been hard to not cheer a little inside, like when Vander Laan broke the Division II NCAA QB rushing record, or Ferris hockey Scott Czarnowczan captain scored a game and playoff series-winning double overtime goal in his last game on Ferris ice.
Emotional investment can be draining. I came home from covering one of my last events and slept for fourteen hours.
As I stood at the Spring Football game, I realized emotional investment is not in the best interest of readers, and it burns out a reporter quickly.
After sitting in on more than 100 Ferris athletic events in two years, I’ve learned one very simple truth.
Expect the unexpected in college sports.
Expect the unexpected and bet heavily on the uncommon and unique at Ferris State.
The upcoming athletic year will test the resolve of every team, but coming into the 2013-14 year, the same could be said.
Talented seniors leave, but the Athletic community of Ferris continues to expand and attract higher level athletes to replace them, and the probability of the unexpected continues to rise with the level of talent.