Earlier this fall, a sportswriter who used to work at The Columbian paid us a visit in the office.
He had long since moved on to bigger things, but wanted to reminisce while passing through Clark County en route to his next assignment.
We talked about the Super Bowl. We wondered aloud for the umpteenth time what Seahawks coaches were thinking in the final minute of that game.
He asked if he’d be seeing me in the CenturyLink Field press box at Seahawks home games, which I had covered for The Columbian the past two seasons.
Not anymore, I told him. In this tumultuous industry, my time and energy better serve Columbian readers if I focus on local stories that aren’t being reported on by dozens of websites and wire services.
He looked at me like my brand new puppy had just been hit by a car.
Local journalism isn’t for everyone. But this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful to have realized that bigger isn’t always better.
This fall, I’ve been fortunate to have written about local sports figures whose stories are both dramatic and inspiring.
I watched Ridgefield senior defender Riley Smetzler lead her team to the 2A state soccer finals despite playing with her ACL partially torn. An injury on that same knee caused her to miss her whole junior season.
I watched Skyview quarterback Brody Barnum lead his team to a must-have victory on a Friday, then watched his father Bruce coach the once-moribund Portland State closer to the playoffs. The elder Barnum has gone from first-time interim head coach to one of 15 finalists for national FCS coach of the year.
I watched Vancouver’s Ellis Henderson continue to shine for Montana’s football team, just months after emerging from the darkness of a debilitating case of depression.
I watched Union junior Ben Gruher carve up local golf courses en route to his second straight district title. While walking a round with his father, I learned details of Gruher’s severe form of hemophilia that requires him to inject himself with medicine up to three times a week.
And today, we begin publishing the profiles of our All-Region athletes for the fall sports season. These are some of my favorite stories to write, as high school athletes often represent the best attributes of our community.
They don’t get the press or prestige of the Seahawks, but Clark County has many exciting and inspiring athletes. And in this holiday season, I’m thankful to be able to tell some of their stories.
Micah Rice is The Columbian’s Sports Editor. Reach him at 360-735-4548, micah.rice@columbian.com or on Twitter @col_mrice .
