ShawneeDispatch.com

Mill Valley wrestler Jack Delashmit walked off the wrestling mats with few regrets last week.

The senior placed fifth in the Class 5A State wrestling tournament in Hutchinson.

He won his final match in the medal round.

In doing so, Delashmit overcame being sick all weekend. He wasn't going to let the illness stop him from competing.

He wanted to place at the state tournament since the beginning of the season, and now his season is complete.

Looking back, Delashmit's only regrets are that he didn't want or expect more of himself as a junior in the state tournament.

Last year, Delashmit was just happy to qualify and had few expectations. Win or lose he was there.

As a junior, he had what felt like an eternity left to wrestle and learn under coach Travis Keal.

Now, almost as quickly as a wrestler weighs in, his career is over. High school careers end fast.

What seems like an eternity ends quick before an athlete can appreciate it.

"People told me that you want to win your last match," he said. "I did."

Delashmit's isn't going to do anything in the spring other than finish up classes, find a job and prepare for the pomp and circumstance that comes in May.

Yet, there is sports parable in all of this for high school athletes - don't waste your time.

Teams would be much better if every player in the program played with a sense of urgency. If they understood that next year isn't a guarantee. Teams would be better if every game was relished.

To switch from wrestling to basketball, I hope this week basketball teams find ways to maximize their potential.

I hope they realize the opportunities they have to go out and play basketball, win games and make a run toward state.

In substate play, the teams who are ready to play, who believe in what their coach is doing and in each other win more games.

While I know this is the time of year when attention spans wane for losing teams, with players starting to think about the spring, that is the wrong approach. Rather, these teams should forget the first 20 games and start fresh.

They have to find ways to turn the momentum.

It would be refreshing to see upsets this week. It would be nice to see every player feel like he accomplished something in the substate tournament and had no regrets.

When I spoke with Delashmit earlier this week, he seemed like a person who was content with what he had accomplished in his high school sports.

All athletes should be so lucky.