By Monica Fee, Kelsey Parker & Dominic Pavone
Echo
Grand Blanc HS
Division 1, Yearbook
Sports Feature Writing
It was nothing special. Smelling like a cross between old tires and dried sweat, the locker room, where the soccer teams laced up their cleats, seemed like a typical meeting spot, with the exception of what hung over their heads. Old pairs of running shoes that belonged to the best graduated soccer players Grand Blanc had to offer, hung only by their laces. But the essence of those shoes was more than what met the eye.
“The people that tied their shoes up on the ceiling, I think, are some of the better players for Grand Blanc,” junior Caleb Lounds said.
The shoes held great significance, creating the feeling of inspiration and motivation behind the walls.
“The shoes signify that Grand Blanc is a family,” freshman Justin Ballard said. “And that players who played before you give you lots to live up to.”
Former players ensured that their legacy would hang over the heads of future varsity players, and younger players heeded the message.
The shoes created goals that the players could work on achieving while they became closer as a team.
“I want to put my cleats up when I graduate, to keep the tradition going,” Ballard said.
Carrying on this annual tradition, the players followed the footsteps of the veteran players, graduates who left their legacy behind within the shoes themselves.
“The shoes are up there so all the other players could be remembered,” freshman Joshua Ray said, “ I would want to be remembered just like how they were, for inspiration.”
Current J.V. and freshman players were inspired by the legacy and were determined to create the future of the soccer program, tradition or no tradition.
“I will tie my shoes up to show the next teams that I played for Grand Blanc,” freshman Chase Clark said.