Beal City won’t forget the fall sports season of 2013 for a long time.
The Aggies won a state title in one sport and finished runners-up in two others. That fact wasn’t lost on the Beal City football team after it settled for second place in Division 8 after a 35-12 loss to Muskegon Catholic Central.
“The community stands behind us, no matter if we’re in the state championship game or losing all of them,” said running back Ty Rollin. “It’s a great feeling, It sucks not to come out on top. But we’re still proud of what we’ve done.”
His teammate, quarterback Kurt Gross agreed. “It’s great to be a part of a community that’s good in athletics and in academics,” he said. “There’s never a downtime. There’s always something going on…the next day you have a practice for the next season.”
Football coach Lou Rau reflected on what’s it’s been like to have so many teams at Beal city flirt with state championship success. “To be able to come out and put two years and be 26-2, how great is that?” he said. “Our girls’ cross country team won a state championship, our girls’ volleyball team was state runners-up this year. It shows the great tradition and attitudes we have at Beal City.”
Athletic director Aarron Butkovich noted that the Beal City community takes pride in its sports achievements while keeping academics No. 1.
“For the most part, during the school day, it has been business as usual,” he said the week after the football state final. “Extracurricular activities are just that – they are after school events, and we try to keep the events and activities to after school. We did have a homecoming assembly, which is annual, and we had a 15-minute assembly honoring the girls’ cross country state championship during the school day. It was the first championship for that program and the first female state championship for any sport in school history.”
At the same time, Butkovich acknowledged that there’s something special about being an Aggies fan.
“The community was buzzing all fall about the in season successes, and of course the energy and excitement was extended with the long playoff runs and successes,” he said.
After the girls’ cross country state championship, there seemed to be some extra excitement and energy in the community and school. Despite the long travel for several of the tournament events, there was still great support from the school and community at all of the events.
Butkovich has seen positive outcomes from the sports program’s success. “Aside from the normal positives of teamwork, humbleness, organization, time management, commitment, etc., in addition this year there was an extra level of support for each other across all extracurriculars: marching band, cheer, football, cross country, football, and winter sports,” he said. “Everyone worked together providing the best opportunities for everyone. Bottom line, all of the young men and women created memories for a lifetime.”
The fall of 2013 isn’t the only time that Beal City compiled memorable moments with its sports program.
“Last year, out of the 10 varsity sports Beal City sponsors, there were six regional champions, including three state runner-up teams and two fourth-place teams at the state level. The 2012-13 athletic season, overall, was quite impressive. The fall 2013 season was unprecedented at Beal City with a state championship, two runner-up finishes, and a program-best 7th place finish by the boys’ cross country at state finals. All four Beal City fall sports teams had outstanding years.”
For Butkovich, it’s easy to explain the reason for this success. “The bottom-line key to the successes are the student/athletes’ talent and commitment,” he said. “There is outstanding parental and community support allowing and trusting our coaches to enhance and maximize their sons’ and daughters’ potential and talents. The entire staff of coaches across the board work well together and support each other’s programs. This element is huge in a small school, when most of the student/athletes participate in multiple sports.”
“Our coaches have committed huge amounts of their time providing opportunities and knowledge for these young men and women to grow as student/athletes. The student/athletes on these teams have cherished those opportunities. The elements of enjoyment and fun are crucial.”
Can the fall of 2013 be duplicated at Beal City?
“This fall’s successes are quite rare,” Butkovich said. “As far as it happening again, who knows? Athletics are impossible to predict, especially at the high school level; after all, that is why you play the game. I do not foresee our attitude, expectations, or commitment levels changing.
“Beal City athletics has three core covenants: pride, work ethic, and respect. All of our fall sports teams deeply exhibited these covenants.”