The Bee will soon begin publishing its high school All-Bee teams for spring sports over the next couple weeks.
Most, if not all, athletes chosen have been contacted.
My question to our readers: How important and valuable are these honors to these kids?
To athletes: How do you utilize the newspaper and/or Web pages we publish? Do you send clippings and Web links to prospective colleges? Maybe as references for job applications and interviews?
What could we do better? Write in and let us know.
Michael Peterson, Clovis East Pole Vaulter: Valley Champion, School Record 16'3", 2nd @ CA State Meet and Team Track & Field State Champion
Willy Irwin, Clovis East, Thrower: 2nd & 3rd @ Valley Meet, School Record 61', 2nd & 4th @ CA State Meet and Team Track & Field State Champion
FIRST "TEAM" STATE TITLE IN C.U.S.D. HISTORY!!!!!!!!
These awards would be more meaningful if they actually selected the right athletes.
For example, a few years ago, a defensive lineman was selected as a first team offensive lineman when he never played a single play on offense. Also, more recently, a player was selected to the city/county all-stars for baseball and never played his senior year.
As soon as you can give me a valid explanation to these incidents, then maybe these awardss might actually mean something.
Also, it's hard to understand when the Bee gives out awards to lower level division players in the same catagory as higher division level players. I understand that a player in high school usually doesn't get to chose their high school and some of the lower division players are comparable to higher division players but when you use statistics generated to determine awads, you are comparing apples to oranges and it's not comparable.
My son uses these to send to prospective colleges for swimming. I also believe this may be some athletes last to see their name in the paper. I believe it should continue
Being acknowledged by the Bee's Spring's High School Sports All-Stars(on a particular sport) gives these athletes confirmation that all their hard work and sacrifice was noticed by others outside of their small inner circle(their own high school or league). It shows prospective colleges that their marks, record(s), or stats put them in an elite class of athletes, that deserve to showcase their talents at the next level. I also believe that behind every athlete selected their is a story on how they got there, or obstacles that were overcome to achieve their dream of being the best in their sport. Keep up the good work.
The student-athletes that I have recruited and continue to recruit for colleges nationwide utilize this honor of "All-Bee team" as another example of their accomplishments in their respective sport(s). As a scout, I also use the information provided by or on the student-athlete in ascertaining whether or not that student-athlete should be given another look at having the skills/abilities to take it to the next level, if they have not already committed to playing for a college or professional team. As a reader, I enjoy reading their sport stories and stats.
That is one thing I loved about the Clovis Independent... how they continued to acknowledge the youth sports in this area. My daughter had two different stories written about her for Track in her 5th and 6th grade years. We sent copies to family and she still has them posted on her wall. A tradition I think the Fresno Bee would be well suited to continue. Although my children have not reached "Fresno Bee All Star" status, I love to read these stories and learn about the next generation of athletes coming our way. Most definitely keep it up!