feature This past fall was the first time that fifth graders were allowed to play with the 4/5 team, which had in the past been just fourth graders. With enough players to field two teams, King’s Ridge had the potential to get not just one but both teams to the championship game, which ended up happening. “ This was like a Cinderella story,” Lower School Athletic Director Connie Sheets, who helps oversee the entire Junior Tigers program, said. Because the game was between two King’s Ridge programs, they held the game on campus, had cheerleaders, a public address announcer and they played on the same field where these Junior Tigers will one day call their home field as Tigers. “ The stands were full, I wasn’t ready for the stands to be full for a 4/5 game,” Sheets said. “ Terry Crowder, our football coach, came out. It was a great ending for the season. We all had pizza together afterwards. It was beyond expectations.” Even though there was a winner, by the Doyle family account, the season brought life lessons for all involved. “ This season was special. The coaches facilitated the kids not only learning football and being successful at it, but they fostered an environment that really developed strong bonds of friendship between the boys,” the Doyle family said. “ The final game for the Championship was a win we really wanted, obviously. Our son played his best game, with all his heart, so we don’t feel a sense of loss at all! “We think that tough losses are a chance to learn good sportsmanship and grace. We don’t want our kids to be anxious about losing, just work hard at practice and play your best game possible!”
24 \\ K I N G’S R I D G E C H R I STI A N S C H O O L \\ M AY 2022