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Sportsmanship prevails after dramatic ending

OBSERVER Photo Fredonia quarterback Nick Whitfield led Fredonia back against Chautauqua Lake-Westfield-Brocton.

By MICHELLE HELMER

I have known for a long time that football has a special place in organized sports. This sport fosters a level of camaraderie that is hard to match. If you’ve never played, I’m sure it’s difficult to truly understand this brotherhood.

I was blessed to witness this connection after a hard fought game on Oct. 4 between Fredonia and Chautauqua Lake-Westfield-Brocton.

The game came down to the last few seconds. Fredonia won with a pass in the end zone, as time ran out. Of course the boys celebrated. However, in a matter of seconds, quite a few of the Fredonia boys went to console their opponents in a true demonstration of compassion. These boys literally lifted up their defeated “brothers” to support them in their loss.

Football is a physically and emotionally demanding sport. It’s literally a fight that requires you to be all in for every moment of the game.

During this game, tempers flared and words were exchanged, in the heat of the moment. However, that battle happened between the sidelines, within the confines of the time clock, in a quest for victory.

After the buzzer went off, the battle was complete. The post-game mingling on the field lasted almost 30 minutes. Photos were taken, hugs and multiple handshakes were exchanged, and sportsmanship from both winners and losers was crystal clear.

I take this moment to pause, reflect, and acknowledge the players on both of these teams who demonstrated this level of human connection and sportsmanship at its best.

Michelle Helmer is a Fredonia resident.

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