In a world, and particularly a profession, in which the word great is so overused, there is no disputing it when using it to describe the likes of Baillie Kirker, Yumi So and Zack Torres.
Throughout their athletic tour de forces in these past four years, they have been great — plain and simple, and significant.
As autumn quickly turns to spring year in and year out, these kids flash before my eyes.
Many are memorable, many are not. Many have lasting character, many are characters. Many string together stories and accomplishments that I’m privileged to chronicle. But very few reach that pinnacle of greatness.
In my time, I’ve seen the likes of Matt Moore and Trevor Bell, likely the two greatest athletes I’ve watched go from high school to the pros. There’s been others, too, but they stand out the most.
But as each season drifts into the next, you sometimes lose track. You take for granted the accomplishments.
It’s impossible to take this trio — from this outsider’s standpoint connected only by alma mater, their graduating year and their athletic magnificence — for granted. Hence, I believe, on top of all the accolades — those which are given year in and year out — they bear extra recognition.
Fast-forwarding to a spring that is nearly a year away, it’s quite likely that CIF and state records will cease falling, at least at the hand of an area athlete, the way they did when Yumi So took to the pool.
It’s unlikely that the area will produce a track and field athlete that even makes it to state, much less one who did it in cross-country and track, all the while juggling the commitment of a third sport like Zack Torres did.
