Last Friday night, our football team enjoyed a big homecoming victory over the Springfield Catholic Fighting Irish on a beautiful fall evening in the Ozarks.

The crisp, cool air carried the earthy scent of the freshly mowed grass and the beginning of fallen leaves throughout Wildcat Stadium. As fans settled into the bleachers or on the grassy sidelines, you could feel the energy of the crowd building.

The cheers, chants and camaraderie of the fellow Wildcat spectators created a sense of community. The sound of the band playing spirited tunes added to the festive atmosphere. The sight of our players running, tackling, and making plays was exhilarating.

The sound of the referee’s whistle and the roar of the crowd as touchdowns were scored or crucial plays were made added to the drama. This perfect autumn weather brought with it the anticipation of warmer treats like hot chocolate and cider.

The aroma of these delights wafted through the air, enhancing the overall sensory experience. All of these experiences could not happen without the hard work and cooperation of our players, coaches and families.

We are experiencing successes in all of our fall sports. At the beginning of this week, we were 4-3 in football, 11-4-1 in boys’ soccer, 12-14 in softball, and 10-12-2 in volleyball. We have also performed admirably in both team and individual competitions during our golf and cross-country seasons.

I am looking forward to a strong finish to the fall sport seasons for all Wildcat teams and am equally excited about the beginning of our winter sports.

The level of effort from our student-athletes to achieve success is always appreciated, even when we do not end up on the winning side of things. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they compete and treat each other during the contests. And, I am proud to see so many Wildcat athletes and coaches who display great sportsmanship on and off the athletic stage.

Our band, color guard, cheerleaders and student pep club also exhibit great skills and spirit, and they display admirable levels of sportsmanship all year.

At Cassville schools, we do not condone negative cheers, chants or opponent bashing from our students. This is a testament to the parents, coaches, district staff, and our community as a whole. Cassville administration and coaches emphasize the importance of building up young people to be excellent adults and productive citizens wherever they may end up in the future.

I anticipate that the sportsmanship and winning attitudes displayed by our players and coaches will positively influence the rest of the school year.

A school district’s major focus should be to provide a quality education with an emphasis on developing the full potential of the individual. As educators, we continually strive to do everything within our powers to ensure support for quality teaching and learning.

Although competitive sports is not our primary and/or direct focus, much of what we learn in life can be attributed to the lessons we learned as student-athletes. These lessons extend far beyond the competitive fields, courts and other venues. There are multiple skills that students learn and take with them forever.

Participation in sports enables students to spend time with friends in a safe environment and to obtain social skills that are likely to last a lifetime. Aside from bonding with peers, students learn to solve conflicts effectively, reach common goals and be more assertive, all while getting in shape.

Although some people take competition too far, it is important for a student to understand the positive aspects of competition. Adults are surrounded by competition, from attaining a job to advancement in the workforce, and when students learn the basics of competition early on, they have a better chance of succeeding.

Sports participation helps students cope with competition in a friendly environment. Working to achieve a goal or being part of a team helps students gain healthy competitive skills that they use for the rest of their lives.

Students must also learn to positively handle both winning and losing. Good sportsmanship is a trait that carries over from childhood to adulthood.

In addition, athletes who focus on mastering personal improvement have a good chance on later becoming productive citizens and hard workers. Positive sporting structures assist students in making moral decisions instead of being ego-oriented individuals.

Lastly, participation in competitive sports allows students to obtain leadership qualities that range from being of good character, to respecting others, to being task-oriented. A solid support system, such as strong parental involvement and effective coaching, can help mold a student into being a leader now, and later in life.

Giving 100 percent while playing competitive sports will only help students give 100 percent in whatever else they do in life.

I know that Cassville sports’ rosters are comprised of many student- athletes who already understand this important concept. Having the discipline to play as a team day after day and to give all they can to their team will certainly pay off for them in the long run as adults.

I anticipate great things for our student athletes as they enter our communities and workforce. It will be fun to see where their journeys lead them and how they will positively impact the people they encounter in their futures!

Merlyn Johnson is the superintendent of the Cassville school district. He may be reached at mjohnson@cassville. k12.mo.us.