Success off the field was most important

Winning isn't everything.

Recently, there has been a considerable amount of negative attention given to high school sports. For example, players being hazed, coaches getting fired and parents displaying poor behavior toward coaches and umpires. As a parent of a 2017 Wauconda High School graduate, I feel unequivocally that all is not broken in high school athletics.

My son played varsity baseball for Head Coach Bill Sliker and Assistant Coach Shawn Rudolph for three seasons and during that time, much success was achieved on the field. The Wauconda Bulldogs won 63 games with a .665 winning percentage, brought home a North Suburban Conference Championship, two regional championships and a sectional championship. Additionally, several players, including my own son, have gone on to play college baseball, while another was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

While Sliker and Rudolph's successes on the field are impressive, I am writing because of the things they achieved off the field, which in my opinion, are far more important than winning games. They had a profound impact on my son as he grew from a 14-year-old immature freshman into a quality young 18-year-old man.

Coach Sliker and Coach Rudolph instilled leadership, hard work and perseverance in my son. They afforded him the opportunity of an enriching high school career and made a significant impact on him that can't be measured in wins and losses.

For that, I am thankful!

Jeff Sefcik

Wauconda