One year and a week ago, my teammates and I were on a bus ride home from the UNI Dome, awake only because of the tears flowing down our faces. Nothing in my life hurt more than watching last year’s seniors break down after the state semi-final game, where we lost on a prayer of a pass on the last play. That day, the current seniors, then juniors, made a commitment: win the championship next year for the seniors.

I got home at 2:30 in the morning, and I was up at 5:30 to lift. We had a passion in our hearts; we would do everything we could to win. We lifted every day after school, we practiced our craft, we conditioned, and we refused to forget what happened that fall. However, the most important thing we did during the offseason was form an unbreakable bond. We pushed each other to the brink and lifted each other up when we fell. Sure, we had some talent, but we only had one starter return on offense (who played a different position) and three starters return on defense. Coach O’Connell told us the same thing every day, “That’s why we’re different”, meaning we were different because of our bond and work ethic. Even in the semi-final game, the media doubted us. We were just a bunch of misfits bound to get stomped by Solon, but those misfits are state champions now.

Despite all the work we put in, on and off the field, none of this could have been done without the Xavier community. Everything we did, we did for you. You traveled two hours to see us; you sat through snow, rain, heat, and wind to cheer us on. Nothing was better than running onto Saints Field in the snow to hundreds, maybe even thousands, of cheering Saints. This championship is just as much yours as it is ours.

To the juniors, you’ve got one ring, get another. Take this momentum into next year. Enjoy the win now, but get ready to get back to work next year. This is a Saint’s state, let’s keep it that way. Work to earn the starting spot next year, and if you don’t get it, be a hero on the scout team. This takes me to my next point, Xavier has the best scout team in the state. Our “slappie” players watch just as much film and work just as hard, if not harder, than the starters. These guys get beaten down every day by our starters, only to get up again to give us another look. They are the reason we won, hands down.

Finally, to the coaches, thank you. No one, and I mean no one, puts in more hours than you. Every weekend each of the coaches put in more than nine hours of film study. You are an inspiration to each and every player. You worked us harder every practice and made us the men and players we are today. We are going to miss you more than anything else, and we cannot thank you enough for your dedication, passion for the game, and belief in us.

Saints, we are state champions. All the cheering, all the work in the weight room, all the work on and off the field, is all worth it. Enjoy it, take it in, because the misfits are state champions.