The true meaning of sacrifice

Coach's Comments, by Phil Engebretsen

Over the Christmas holidays the Colony Varsity boy' basketball team had the opportunity to travel to Honolulu, Hawaii, to participate in the Walter Wong Christmas Classic hosted by St. Louis High School. Although the flights were marred with the typical delays and layovers, the trip turned out to be a success not only for the experience garnered on the court, but for what the student athletes learned off the court as well.

After completing our three games in Honolulu, we woke the boys up at 7:30 a.m. the next day in hopes of beating the rush of tourists planning to visit the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Although the early wake-up call was greeted with the typical teen-age moaning, the visit to Pearl Harbor turned into an eye-opening experience for the entire Colony contingent.

From the minute we set foot on the site of such great sacrifice, our lives and our basketball experience were quickly put into perspective. Suddenly the significance of the character traits we as coaches try to pass on to student athletes became crystal clear.

As we toured the sight the importance of commitment, compassion, courage, toughness, teamwork, desire and selflessness became self-evident. Although we have visited other historical sights such as Mount Rushmore last year, nothing can prepare you for the emotional experience of Pearl Harbor.

The Colony boys had the opportunity to learn firsthand the sacrifice boys just like them made 60 years ago. A sacrifice that so many have forgotten but one that nine teen-agers won't. And to think this opportunity almost never came to fruition.

Thanks to the many parents, boosters, friends, fans and the school board for fighting to approve our out-of-state travel. The student athletes and their coaches will not forget the sacrifice you make regularly for students in the Valley, and we will never forget the sacrifice so many service men and women have made for our country.

We all left Hawaii feeling very proud to be Americans and with a new sense of appreciation for those who have dramatically affected our lives.

--Phil Engebretsen is the boys basketball coach at Colony High School.