Monday, March 2, 2015

State Tournament

State Tournament

To the players, coaches, managers, and girls' basketball family at Jesup High School



            The state tournament, The state tournament, THE STATE TOURNAMENT!!!!



            This is what you players have been searching for the last 10 years of your basketball life, coaches your adult life and your high school life, parents you have dreamed this for your daughters and lived the peeks and valleys with them.

            This is what you have sacrificed your weekends and your summers for, this is why you have given up those Christmas vacation trips for, fought nagging injuries for, lived through disappointments and successes, went to basketball camps for and traveled countless miles to play, practice, or watch basketball.
           
            You are now bound by one common event that will make you a special extended family, an event that will be remembered the rest of your lives. When one of the girls get married you will gather for her wedding and you will relive the memories of this season, when you have a common moment together you will look at each other and smile and realize that what you have in common is truly special. When every Jesup basketball team starts a season together they will be working for what you now have.
           
            Please remember that everyone on your team deserves credit; the managers that hustle, work, and cheer for the team, the coaches that have worked and given up hours from their own family to help you achieve this dream, the player 1-12  that has scrimmaged, drilled, competed in practice, competed in games for one common goal a chance to play in Wells Fargo. Last but surely not least, the parents that have sacrificed countless hours for their children.
           
You will have many incredible moments the next week. Value, cherish and enjoy every single one. Enjoy the journey as well as the final destination. As I close this letter I must tell you what an honor and a pleasure it is to be from  and know how happy you must be. It is true, good things happen to good people




In the name of the game,



Jim Gillespie

Jesup Iowa