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Champaign Centennial had never won a sectional title. The last two
times the Chargers got close, in 2002 and 2007, the Lincoln Lady
Railers were the ones who prevented them from moving on. Other bad
blood has arisen over the years between these two teams. Before the
2002 match, Centennial coach Stan Bergman predicted a Centennial win
over the Railers BEFORE the match was played. That did not go over
well in the Lady Railer locker room. And when Lincoln actually won
that 2002 sectional title, it didn't go over well with Bergman. Last
year, when the Railers terminated the Chargers in the sectional
semifinal, Bergman referred to Lincoln as a thorn in his side. That
comment went mostly unnoticed by the Railers since they were moving
on to play another match that same night. So, with all that
history floating around last night, the all-time best Centennial
team ever, sporting a record of 33 wins and just five losses, was
looking to win its first sectional championship in school history
over the just-barely-over-.500 (19-17-1) Lady Railers. No one,
except die-hard Railer fans and some of the Railer players, expected
the Railers to win.
It wasn't for lack of effort that they didn't. There are reasons,
but lack of effort was not one of them. The final match score? It
was 25-21 and 25-23 in favor of Centennial.
The Railers end their season at 19-18-1.
For those of you who have read my articles over the past decade
or so, you know that I do not do "postmortems" after the last loss
of the season. What purpose is there in that? Once the Lady Railers
are out, I'm out. I don't analyze why we lost or how we could have
won. I leave that for those who only care about scores and
statistics and their own self-justifications.
In my last article of the season. I ALWAYS write about what
really matters -- the girls who give up a big portion of their
lives, who work their butts off, who balance the demands of school
every day with the demands of high school athletics and who consider
it an honor to play their hearts out for this little, but proud,
high school in Lincoln, Ill., at a sport for which they receive no
pay and very few accolades. I also limit the accolades I give in
this final article to the girls who have played their last match in
the Railer uniform -- this year, the six outstanding seniors: Laura
Aughenbaugh, Emily Berglin, Molly Goodrich, Hilary Hobler, Samantha
Lowman and Hannah McShane. Some of these ladies I know better than
others. All of them have my deepest respect. So here it is, seniors
-- this is for you:
Laura Aughenbaugh -- Off the court, nobody could ask for a
sweeter person or a better friend than you are to your teammates and
classmates. On the court, you have come so far in your volleyball
skills over the years it is simply amazing! As I watched your last
two matches this week, I was just amazed at how great you did
against some tough opponents. You run your part of the offense like
you are supposed to. You run the very best fakes at the net I have
ever seen. You absolutely did the best job of blocking I have ever
seen from you this year, and especially this week! Thanks for the
spirit with which you play. Don't ever let anyone put you down.
Don't ever sell yourself short. You deserve whatever success you get
in life.
Emily Berglin -- Off the court, you have to the most involved,
active and smart person in high school anywhere. When I see the
things you do off the court at LCHS and see the grades you
consistently accomplish, I find it nothing short of amazing. On the
court, you are such an encouragement to the team. You always have an
encouraging word for a teammate. You do not complain, and I have
never seen you treat your teammates other than with the greatest
respect and kindness. You are a great back-row player and super
server. Keep up the great attitude. You are going to do some amazing
things in life. I can hardly wait to see what they are.
Molly Goodrich -- No one but a setter knows the pressure the
setter feels on every play in every match. On every play you are
expected to get to the second ball, wherever it might be on the
court. Then you are expected to put that ball in the correct spot to
the correct person so that one of your five other teammates can try
to put it down on the opponents' side of the court. If you do it
right, at best you get an "assist." If you do it wrong, well, you
know what happens... Keep that beautiful serve floating at opponents
in the future. I wish you success as your volleyball career
continues next year at ICC or wherever you decide to play.
[to top of second column] |
Samantha Lowman -- You have been the backbone of the Lady
Railers' back row for your entire high school career. The first time
I saw you play "libero" I thought you had mistakenly worn the wrong
jersey to the game, only to find out that a new IHSA rule was in
place requiring you to do so. I have seen you dig some of the
hardest hit volleyballs I have ever seen hit by some of the best
players in the state. This year I have seen an even greater maturity
in you than ever before. What I appreciate about you most is that
you are not afraid to speak your mind regardless of whom you are
speaking to and even in situations where "no comments are
solicited." When you spoke up, you did it to make the team better. I
respect and admire that trait in you. Keep it up. Good luck as your
volleyball career continues at SEMO or wherever you decide to play.
Hannah McShane -- Of all of the fine qualities you have, I think
your enthusiasm stands out the most. Since passion and emotion can
make a difference in any game, then you have made a difference by
your consistent enthusiasm! You also certainly know the joy and
frustration of being a back-row defensive player: the joy of
handling that first pass and getting it right to the setter; the
frustration of that first pass going astray and everyone looking at
you, wondering why not. That pressure is not easy. I wouldn't want
that kind of pressure. You have handled it admirably. Thanks for all
you did to dig and serve the Railers on to victory these past four
years and for never giving in or giving up. I am confident those
life qualities will bring you much success in the future.
Hilary -- Off the court and on the court, no one could have a
better daughter than you! There isn't a better friend or teammate
than you. On the court, what a tremendous volleyball career you have
had! There are not many 5-foot-4 outside hitters in volleyball these
days. There are simply none better than you at any height. "It is
not how big you are, it is how big you play." You have consistently
played BIG! From your beautiful hang time, to your amazing vertical
jump, to your unbelievable saves of balls no one else would even try
to get to, to the blocks of girls a foot taller than you, it has
been a joy to watch you. And most importantly you have "done what
you do" without all the over-the-top, "look at me" style of so many
players in sports today. Thanks for understanding the life concept
that it is "all about the team" not "all about me." Thanks for
persevering through the unfairness of under-recognition. Thanks for
being a graceful and selfless champion. I know you have chosen not
to play volleyball in college in spite of many offers to do so. I
will miss watching you play (except for the hundreds of videotaped
games I have in my "dad collection"), but will enjoy watching you
continue to excel in track and field at one of the several Division
I schools pursuing you. My sincere apologies for any of my
over-the-top cheering for you over the years.
To the reader, this thing called volleyball might just be a game
for most of us. But for these seniors who have played volleyball for
the last decade of their lives, it truly is something much more than
just a game. It is a part of life and a part of a great future where
the lessons learned in volleyball at LCHS -- BOTH GOOD AND BAD --
will be used to live a better, more successful life. Take the life
lessons learned here and apply them well. Take the friendships made
here and cherish them forever.
Thank you, senior ladies! LCHS volleyball will miss you.
GO, RAILERS!
[By RICK
L. HOBLER]
Respond to the writer at
rhobler@lccs.edu.
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