Graham's Word: Taking a stand for all WNC athletic programs
Submitted by editor on Tue, 01/12/2016 - 1:25pm
This is not just for Western Nevada College baseball but all athletics at WNC:
As this season draws near for WNC baseball, I can’t help but think of the great people, Helaine Jesse Morres and Dr. Carol Lucey just to name a couple of the many major key players, that brought athletics to the college and the hard work they endured and accomplished. It is gut wrenching to think that this current administration for the college just took all of that hard work and threw it in the garbage with no effort to try and save it. It is truly depressing to see.
What most people don’t realize but should, is athletics has given literally hundreds of students throughout the years a better life. These teams at the college are always winning national academic awards through the NJCAA and graduating their players in the 90th percentile. When the student-athletes show up at WNC they will more than likely walk out with a degree and that is the number one priority for both head coaches.
Look at the numbers from other junior colleges with athletics across the country, and you will find that not a lot of them can compare with WNC in that regard. That is something that Carson City, yes the city and community, can be and should be, truly proud of. These programs go way beyond the wins and losses on the field, they win where it matters the most and that is in the classroom and the graduation ceremonies. Let that sink in for a moment...
The programs at WNC have probably saved a lot of lives and we don’t even know it. There are so many student-athletes out there who would not be able to go onto college if it were not for athletic scholarships and WNC is no exception. When athletics were added at WNC by the college administration in 2006 (it was in the works way before that), it gave the college a great tool to attract a new diverse, young, and vibrant student body and that is exactly what it has done.
I encourage everyone to write letters to the current WNC President Mr. Chet Burton and let him know that athletics have become an integral part and cornerstone of WNC and its success.
Please remember when you are writing the letter to remain respectful and dignified. Any letter that is to the contrary will only hurt the effort. Thank you all, and I’ll see you in a few weeks!
WNC Athletics is: One team. One goal. Make history.
— Chris Graham is a lifelong baseball fan and the voice behind play-by-play WNC Wildcats baseball.
