Here's a nice story. When the swine flu story was really starting to escalate, Texas authorities suspended all high school sports playoffs leading to state championship meets. After May 11, the edict expired and was not renewed because the threat had diminished.
Playoffs resumed, but the schedule had been totally messed up. State championship meets, in track and field, for example, had to be pushed back. The state meet, for all classifications, is always in Austin, on the University of Texas campus. I have been to several of these state meets, as a Texas sportswriter, and it is a very big deal for these high school kids.
Enter P.J. Martinez and Emily Yates, seniors at Clyde High School. Clyde is a small community on Interstate 20 about 12 miles east of Abilene, my home town. I picked up this story in today's online edition of The Abilene Reporter-News. P.J. is a member of the Bulldogs' 800-meter relay team that qualified for the state meet, which was rescheduled for June 5. Emily is on the girls' 800-meter relay team that also qualified for Austin with the best time (1:44.99) in the state.
Then, a conflict. The state meet was rescheduled to June 5, the same day as Clyde High School's graduation ceremony. But there was an even bigger wrinkle. Emily Yates is the class valedictorian. P.J. Martinez is the salutatorian. Both were to make speeches at the graduation ceremony, an experience for a lifetime.
In their positions, what would you do? To learn what Emily and P.J. did, go here.
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