"I don't believe I am a Redskin because of my diploma or my sparkly T-shirt. I don't believe anyone is a Redskin by virtue of your address or because you sit in our desks or sit in our bleachers or stand on our sidelines. It's so much more than that and thank God we are continuing to raise a generation of kids that understand that too." –Carrie Knoch, Director of Student Achievement
Wapakoneta's varsity football team was 12-0 going into the Division III, Region 10 final at Spartan Stadium in Lima, Ohio, Friday night. It was a bitterly cold night, but the home team stands were completely full to the brim with Redskins fans (reminder: we do have the best fans in the land). Wapakoneta faced Trotwood-Madison and, for the second straight season, the Rams cut the Redskins perfect season short. The Rams played a tough game and no one can ever take that away from them, so, on their behalf, congratulations. But, the one thing that Trotwood-Madison can never take away from us is the strength of our team and community. You cannot stop our drive to come back bigger and better next year, our passion to play the game as fairly as can be or our commitment to this small-town team. This is a feeling you will never truly be able to understand and for that, I am truly sorry.
See, football is more than just a game for our community. Football is our pride. There has never been one game I have attended and not seen Wapakoneta stand as a class act. We do not excessively celebrate, we do not intentionally participate in unsportsmanlike conduct and we do not try to be anything but an altogether classy team. In this town, it is not tolerated and we all know that, which goes for every single sport. You will not see our players participating in any of these activities because it is simply not who we are or who we will ever be. I know I speak for every person in Wapakoneta when I say how proud we are of this small-town football team. Every single coach we have ever had has built this football program from the ground up (there have been quite a few of them and we thank every single one for their bright influence). Wapakoneta is a town full of extremely gracious and overly kind individuals and I am so proud to call it my home.
Thank you to the coaches for guiding this team to some of their greatest accomplishments. Thank you to the players for putting your all into every single game of the season. Thank you to the cheerleaders for cheering your hearts out every game. Thank you to the fans for showing how proud of this team you are. Thank you to the band for being the best damn band that anyone could ever ask for. Finally, thank you to Trotwood-Madison for reminding us of who we are and who we will never be. A BIG hats off to the Wapakoneta Redskins! You will always be number one in our hearts!
