Speaking of Sports Column Archive

Speaking
of
Sports

by
Bernie
Fratto

Battle in the Creek-
Not Soon Forgotten
Happy Thanksgiving To All

11/19/07

After winning their first-ever Regional Championship, Coach Julie Fisette and her high-flying Novi Wildcat Girls Volleyball team were “goin’ to the Creek” for a Semi-Final match against the #10 ranked Bloomfield Hills Marian Mustangs. It was time to make plans. Saturday would be a Novi-Fest in Battle Creek as there was no doubt in my mind the Cats’ would make it to the finals.

Given the Final match was scheduled for 4:00pm Saturday, that would even allow me to fulfill my obligation in covering the Ohio State-Michigan game, and still have time to cheer the Novi locals.

However sports, like life, showed once again you can plan everything… except the outcome. But that didn’t stop the plans. Thursday night I couldn’t be two places at once, so I listened to the contest via the Internet on the MHSAA radio network. Since the game started late, I took in the broadcast and all the action like I was there. I heard every block, every kill, every dig and every arm swing.

By the end of the evening Stephanie Cripps was a household name. Her 21 kills along with the help of some spirited teammates forced a 5th and deciding match. Novi never gave up, and it was awesome to witness, even though I could only hear it.

I can tell you I am very proud of the way this group represented their school, the City of Novi and all of their fans. To that end, as Thanksgiving approaches this event provides an opportunity to reflect on what to be thankful for, as opposed to what might have been.

A successful season like this doesn’t happen automatically. A fair amount of credit and thanks needs to be distributed accordingly: Thanks to a dedicated Coach in Julie Fisette who devoted countless hours in the off-season preparing and grooming the talent pool.

Thanks also to the young athletes that invested their free time to better their skills individually and collectively on the court and in the weight room, including a summer camp at Muncie, Indiana designed to test their mettle.

And thanks of course to the parents and loving families that supported their daughters every step of the way, including the significant financial commitment it takes these days to help young champions reach their ceiling.

In short, the Master Plan worked. Only one team can be a State Champion, but the Novi Wildcat Volleyball Team is still a huge winner in the eyes of the community.

For that, you can be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving…

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Bernie Fratto is a freelance writer, radio personality, and motivational speaker. His passion for sports comes in part from his experience as a former Cincinnati Red farm- hand. "Behind every sports story lies the hearts and minds of real human beings" said Fratto. "These athletic endeavors often serve as a metaphor for the game we call life."

Bernie is also on the broadcast team at Live 97.1FM talk-radio, and is a frequent co-host on the popular "Parker & The Man Show," a nightly sportstalk show which airs Monday-Friday from 7-11pm.