Show your support of our Bobcats at home this week

Sports are embedded in American schools all across the county from the smallest towns to the largest cities. In Thermopolis, like so many other places, fans, parents and athletes take youth sports pretty seriously.

Parents invest countless hours driving their children to and from practice, washing uniforms and going to games. Often this starts in grade school and usually continues through middle school, high school and possibly into college.

These young athletes themselves invest countless hours practicing and playing, all while working to maintain good grades and succeed in the classroom as well as on the field.

Good coaches invest their time working with young athletes to provide a positive experience that helps prepare them to go out in the world and make a difference.

Being part of a team or participating in any extra curricular activity teaches our youth needed life skills that will be invaluable in the future.

These athletes put themselves out there and try their hardest, sometimes coming up short of what they are aiming for. However, they are in the game making the effort and are often their own worst critics when they fall short.

As adults, we should remember how vulnerable and impressionable teenagers are and what formative years these are toward the adults they will become. Just like adults, they have good days and bad.

Last year, the Bobcat football team was facing the same situation they are this year in week three of regular season play. They had suffered two hard loses leaving them 0-2. This year, they have a new coach and lost a few outstanding senior players when they graduated in May. They are operating with the same starting quarterback as the one who in last year’s week three game connected with a Bobcat wide receiver in the first play of the game for a 68-yard touchdown. They went on to win that game on the road against Wright 46-14.

The Bobcats are playing at home Friday evening. Parents and fans will be there to cheer them on hoping for a repeat of last year’s first win in week three.

The Lady Cats volleyball players are also playing at home on Friday and Saturday and they love playing in front of the sea of purple and gold covering the bleachers.

If you can, attend one game or attend them all to show your support for these fine, young athletes. Whether they win or lose these games, they are our pride and joy and, most importantly, our future.