Preparing for a new season

This time between summer and fall sports is both a blessing and a curse.

As a sports writer, many of my nights free up and I can spend more time on some of my other passions such as hiking, fishing and a few too many hours on a video game console, bringing a different kind of enjoyment that I don?t have the opportunity to truly experience while high school athletic seasons are in session.

However, with no sports in session, it also causes a jam at work, with less obvious things to write about, making work stressful.

Now that fall sports are officially opening for area teams on Thursday night, as WACO football opens its eight-man season, I am looking forward to getting things started, and getting back to a routine of the hustle and bustle of high school athletics.

This sports season will be especially meaningful to me, as it comes after a very tough time in my life.

For those who aren?t aware, I lost my father, Paul, on July 11 after his eight-month battle with Stage IV lung cancer. While 61 years old is too young, I feel lucky enough to have been able to spend the last month doing the things he would have enjoyed doing and getting outdoors.

One thing he passed on to me is a desire to get the job done right and get it right the first time, and with his career as a soil conservationist, routinely working with the community.

The passion he passed on to me is something I want to continue to bring to my writing, and you can help me.

After becoming a member of the community over the past two years of coverage, I hope that that kind of atmosphere is one that I can continue to grow through my writing.

I want to be open to the community?s people and ideas, and so I want everyone to feel like they can come up to me and chat. If you want to get my opinion about a team or event going on, discuss life or pitch a story idea to me, I?m all ears (no guarantees I?ll be able to get all story ideas done, though!). For those who know me very well, I?m not afraid to give my opinions about most topics.

With fall sports season getting started, I am looking forward to putting my full effort into all our cross-country, volleyball and football teams, and welcome any feedback. Without feedback, there?s no way I can improve my coverage to the best it can be.

Don?t be a stranger this fall sports season. I look forward to seeing and talking to all of you on the course, field or court this year.