This is a going to be a bit a of a mess of a post, but I am going to do it anyway. Cale, Paxon, and Sam all graduated this year. We spent a lot of time heading to wrestling matches, basketball games, prom night, grad parties, and graduation. It will be a new era for those three amigos as they all take slightly different paths into their future.
Paxon had a great year in basketball – actually a great 4 years in the Ashland basketball program. He racked up a lot of accolades, records, player of the games, awards, etc. I could start to mention them, but would miss most of them. That was all pretty cool to be a part of, to say we know that kid, and to support him. But mostly I was proud of the way he played on the court – all out effort, supporting and leading his teammates, keeping his head on even when he was relentlessly guarded (sometimes not nicely!), and being genuinely glad that we had come to watch him. Here are pictures (really, of us or us with him… didn’t steal any game time photos off his Instagram…)
Sam has had a journey with wrestling this year and last. He had his finger injury (him vs the wood chopper) last year. Then, this year, he had a knee surgery and recovery he was working through alongside respiratory stuff and other physical/body ailments. Last year, he made to state and kinda surprised us all since he hadn’t wrestled much during the season. This year, he went up a weight class, wrestled sporadically to start, and finished strong with another trip to state. He didn’t make it to state podium (top 8), but he made it there. It was so excruciatingly exciting to watch the matches. The arena is pretty incredible as well. And just like Paxon, I would be just as proud of calling him my nephew if he hadn’t made it to state. He displays a love for the sport, good sportsmanship, a coachable spirit, and a joy to see us all there even after tough losses.
Cale wasn’t involved in sports this year, and he lives a pretty low-profile life. But when I have a chance to sit down and talk with him, I enjoy it. He is a great front and back flipper, an avid weight lifter, a lover of his car (and loud music!), and a great friend. He is still trying to figure out the next step in life, and I think is a bit intimidated about knowing what to do. Which is… normal. Sometimes, you just have a to pick a path and go with it. So, I wish courage and risk for him.
Prom – just have pictures of Sam and Maddy Kate (long-time high school girlfriend) and Cale and his date (one-time thing). They both fancy up pretty nice!
We headed to the Dalton graduation ceremony, but missed the Ashland one (same weekend as outdoor weekend at Salem), but we did make it to the grad parties for all three. It was neat to look back on their lives from littles to present.
Best of luck and come back to visit!
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