Not all champions win state championships
Attired for wet conditions, Wahluke's Tony Martinez does a little putting practice at The Home Course in DuPont before the state high school golf tournament.
I write an editorial most weeks. Some weeks it's easy, and some weeks my brain is in lockdown.
This was not a lockdown week, only a week that was cut short by the Memorial Day weekend. I was trying to come up with a topic when I opened an email from teacher-coach Tiffany Hedman and found a gem.
No matter the topic I would have chosen, I could not have written a better column than this. It's a tribute to Wahluke High golfer Tony Martinez, who made it to state in his fourth year of trying.
I've met Tony and can attest the to positive attributes Hedman discovered in him. Tony will graduate soon, and who knows what's next? Whatever it is, he'll likely do it the right way.
Tiffany's tribute to Tony follows:
"Tony played in his first and last State Golf Tournament last Tuesday, held at The Home Course in Dupont. With Tony being my only qualifier at state, I was able to watch him play all 18 holes.
"It was typical western Washington weather, raining 98 percent for the day with a mere two percent of sunshine. Tony struggled, as did the other three kids in his group. It was to be expected.
"All golfers had a gallery of 10 people watching their every shot, adding to the pressures of state golf. Combined with wet, wet weather, it was an equation for poor golf.
"But as the cold, rainy day continued, I found myself beaming with pride. It was how Tony conducted himself that made me one of the proudest coaches on the course.
"Tony displayed golf for what it is supposed to be. He didn't throw his clubs, or hit his bag in anger like the other struggling golfers did. Tony helped kids find their lost balls, clarified rules for unsure golfers, complimented good shots, and when he missed a shot, he simply put his club back in his bag and continued on.
"In the four years that I have coached Tony, I can say that this young man has learned what the game is about - honesty, integrity, courtesy, respect, perseverance, and sportsmanship.
"Sure Tony didn't become a state champion, but if I could have a team full of kids like Tony, who deeply understand what golf is really about, I would consider myself to be a successful coach.
"Congratulations to Tony on making it to State. I couldn't be more proud of one of my players."