Football Mom

Gavin Kehr #78 getting in on the action for the Cloud

By Tracy Kehr

Editor’s Note: Tracy Kehr is an occasional contributor to N3 when she gets time from her busy schedule as an artist, realtor, community volunteer  and, most importantly, a Mom. Her son Gavin played his first year on the White Cloud Varsity and we asked Ms. Kehr to share a few thoughts on the season.
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It’s always hard to believe the days and events in our lives pass by so quickly. Seems the season just started – how can it be over already?
White Cloud High School opened up the doors to workouts this summer led by dedicated instructors who didn’t miss a day leading this enthusiastic group of athletes. I saw these workouts being advertised on Facebook for students to get a jumpstart to the season with endurance and strength regardless of their sport. I was intrigued because I’ve got kids who’ve spent the last few years working hard at an online academy at home.
Gavin spent his nights working on school and his days building and finishing our home with his dad and grandpa. He learned all about permits, laying Pex for a heated cement floor and getting 2x4’s straight. After seeing these posts we decided it would be important to the kids’ education to be part of a team and the personal responsibility it brings.
I had been thinking this year, my son’s junior year that he needed to be involved in the great group of kids playing football instead of getting a job. The exercise would do him good and I thought playing football was the perfect job for a 17 year old. Gavin spent this summer dedicated to being at the daily workouts without being reminded to go.
It isis always a struggle with kids being determined enough to do it themselves without having Mom or Dad watching the clock for them.  We constantly tell Gavin that we are not his babysitters and stress the need for him to be accountable for himself.
“If you want to play then be there on time and be ready to go.”
And he was.
This year White Cloud had an exceptional group of 22 young men playing football who worked extremely hard as a team and as  individuals. Having low numbers made it difficult to fill the holes created by injuries, suspensions and illness, however for the first time since the 2006 and 2007 seasons White Cloud had back to back multiple wins. It was also the first time the Indians beat a conference foe since 2009. And the  offense scored the most points since 2007.
The coaching staff of six is a dedicated group of leaders who selflessly give back by coaching these young men. Daily workouts and the amount of organizing that goes with the jobs  could test the best of us, but these guys step up and go for it. Not only do they coach sports but they usually also end up being a sort of life coach, helping these students learn to make good decisions.
Grades not good enough?  You don’t play. You get in trouble in school? You don’t play.  I’m sure none of these kids want to tell their coaches they had an incident and cannot play.
We all strive to be better human beings.
Coaches are  stepping stones on that path.