High school sports have become an important part of most communities.

Through these programs, our kids are suppose to learn discipline, work ethics and teamwork while they create character traits such as integrity, perseverance and honor.

We want our kids to learn that if they work hard and never give up they will be successful. I must say that this football season, I, as an adult, learned a great lesson from a high school football team.

The 19 players of the McAuley Warriors taught me a great deal about the true meaning of integrity, perseverance and honor. This is a small group of young men who faced a difficult task week after week throughout the football season. Not one of them gave up. Each week they would leave the field bruised, battered and hurt. They would go home, ice their bodies in order to get ready for practice the next Monday. Through all of this no one quit. At no point did they allow their frustrations to alter their principles of Christian fair play, hard work and loyalty.

As a fan, supporter and parent, I could not be more proud of these young men and the coaching staff. The McAuley Warrior football team has shown me that the score of a football game is not the true test of heart and courage; continuing to work and fight on even though the barriers to success are many, is the measure of a person’s heart. Every member of this team should be recognized for the character and heart that was shown throughout the season.

I think the players should know how proud we, their fans, are of them, and I hope they recognize what they have accomplished. This team of 19 players has shown us that heart, integrity, courage and success are measured by a person’s desire to never give up no matter the circumstance. I would like to thank each player and coach for giving me the best season of high school football I have ever experienced.

Richard Freitas

Joplin