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Editorial
Congratulations!
Last week, the RCHS Panthers swept the district tournament and emerged as the Bull Run District champions.
To the team, to their coach, Gary Leake, and to the students, parents and members of the community who have supported them in their quest for the title, we add our congratulations.
It is a first — this district championship — and an accomplishment of which the community can justly be proud.
We remember years, not too long ago, when the hopes of the team were frustrated in the first round of the tournament. But then, as today, Coach Leake was there to give his players a lift. His attitude is contagious. During last week’s games, we saw Panther players help their opponents to their feet, and congratulate them on a particularly good effort. That’s class.
Coach Leake understands, and communicates to his players, that it is indeed important to win. But he also tells them an even more important truth — that it’s most important to give it your best effort. His players obviously agree.
That’s w'hat the Rappahannock Panthers will do as they travel to Albemarle County to compete in the regional tournament — they will give it their best effort. And that is all w^e can ask of any team.
Last week, they won the district championship.
With continued skillful teamwork, who knows? They may advance to additional titles as well. But whatever the out- * come, the team and its fans can be proud of their accomplishments so far. They are truly champions.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for a small minority of the team’s supporters. During the season, and again during the tournament, a few poor sports threaten to give the entire community a bad name.
Unsportsmanlike conduct such as booing the opposing team, curses and abuse directed at the referees and at the other team’s players have no place in sports arenas anywhere — but certainly not at the scholastic level. And in a tournament, all the teams are winners, by virtue of having a record which earned them a spot there.
Abuse directed at officials and opponents do not help the Panther cause. Indeed, if it is bad enough, the team may be penalized for the behavior of its fans.
Rabid partisanship is one thing. Unsportsmanlike conduct directed at the other team or the officials is an entirely different matter. When the situation becomes so apparent that some fans think about concealing their RCHS class rings because they are ashamed of the conduct of some of their fellow boosters — it’s past time to say, “Enough!”
We hope that, as the tournament continues, the Panthers’ fans will recognize our team for the champions they are, and display their support. We also hope that they will recognize their opponents as the champions they are too, albeit from another district.
That respect for the opponent is the mark of a true championship team — and its fans. That’s class!
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