It may seem silly to write about a trophy case. After all, it’s just wood and glass, right? For some, that may be the circumstance. For others, it is a symbol of so much more than that.
If you’re lucky enough to still be involved in a high school sport, cherish those moments. You probably think about the future, and wonder what will happen after graduation. Whether you wear football pads, a jersey, spikes or ballet shoes, you will miss it. What you once complained about getting up at 5 a.m. for, you will long for.
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If you’re like me, when you visit your school you see much more than just trophies in a case. When you look behind that glass you see long practices, dedicated coaches, friendships and maybe even ice baths. You see championships and losses, smiles and tears, early mornings and late nights, teammates and opponents. You no longer see fifth place and first place, you see the hard work it took to get you there.
You see records, possibly even one with your grandfathers name on it. Their trophies may get shifted to the back of the case, but their legacy will live forever. You find comfort in the fact that for generations to come, a part of your past will always be held behind that glass. Even though you may have lost your ability to kick a field goal, run a five-minute mile or pull a heel stretch, those moments will last a lifetime in that case. You left a goal for future athletes to work towards. They find motivation by looking into that case full of accomplishments.
But most importantly, you see memories. You still feel the heartache behind the losses, and the pride behind the wins. You have that memorable win and memorable loss that you look back on it from time to time. You may forget who made the game-winning basket, but what you will remember is how you felt afterwards. That trophy case holds the feeling of accomplishment, the sound of the crowd, the support of your friends and family and the unbreakable bond between you and your teammates.
So, yes, it may just be hardware to some people, but to me, it goes far beyond that.
