I received an e-mail this week that stated all the good things happening during the Marion High School 2008 fall sports season.

The football team is 4-1 and just shutout state-ranked Hoisington on the road.

The boys’ cross country team consistently has runners in the top-10 at every meet, and the girls’ team is finally starting to get healthy.

The volleyball team is peaking at the right time, already winning two more matches than all of last season.

It has been a great season so far for Warrior players and fans, and hopefully only will get better.

As I read the e-mail, it got me thinking about how great a privilege it is to play high school sports.

Every day athletes in Marion and across the nation compete hard, whether in practice or on the playing field, while representing their school, family, and town. It’s a unique four-year opportunity that everyone should take advantage of at some time.

Putting on a jersey of his or her hometown should be something everyone experiences at least once. It may not seem like it at the time, but as years go by, the players will realize how special it really is.

However, the one thing every athlete should keep is mind is the fact it is a privilege to play sports. It can be taken away with one bad grade or one stupid action, and that missed time will never come back.

As great as playing high school sports can be, we all get carried away at times. We lose sleep over a loss, say something we don’t mean about a bad call, or get down on the athletes when they don’t perform as well as we think they should.

We need to realize these athletes are playing for the love of the game.

There is no money. There is no fame (unless you count reading your name in the Marion County Record). There are no endorsements.

But don’t tell that to giddy football players who shocked the home crowd by keeping Hoisington out of the end zone.

Don’t tell that to each and every cross country runner who crosses the finish line after 20 minutes of giving his or her all on the course.

And don’t tell that to the volleyball players who are starting to realize that when all the cylinders are clicking, they can man (or woman) up with any team out there.

It is a great time to be a Warrior player, coach, or fan. If we all remember that, as the e-mail said: “The best is yet to come.”