Blanco Independent School District (BISD) celebrated the playoff run of the Blanco High School (BHS) Panther Football team with medals during a special session held in the cafetorium on Monday, Jan. 12.
In a highlight-filled season, the Panthers clawed their way to the state semi-final championship game where the team lost to Newton 48-21. It was the only loss for Blanco on the season against 14 victories. Newton would go on to lose to Waskom, 41-22, in the state championship match.
While BISD superintendent Dr. Buck Ford was proud of the on-field accomplishments, it was the stellar off-field behavior of the Panthers that made his proverbial buttons bust.
"There is value in on-field participation in football," Ford said. "Athletes experience joys, disappointments, friendships, camaraderie, challenges, competition and things that will be in your minds forever. Other life attributes that athletes encounter include dedication, teamwork, mental and physical preparation and discipline."
For all those lofty ideals, it was a letter from fellow superintendent Dr. Lisa Gonzales of Odem-Edroy ISD that struck home with Ford. The Panthers defeated Odem 55-24 during its playoff run.
"'Dear Dr. Ford, I just want to drop a short note to congratulate you and your community on your successful football season,'" Ford read. "'While we were sad not to have a victory last Friday night, I was extremely happy to see such respect and kindness shown to our players by your guys after the game. That was a class act. Best wishes with your season, Lisa Gonzales.'
"I want to congratulate you on your successes as a football team," Ford continued, "and I commend you for committing yourself to excellence and believing that you could achieve your dreams. But mostly I want to thank you for presenting Blanco High School and the school district as a class act."
Dr. Dustin Barton, formerly the principal of BHS and now in charge of curriculum for the district, said the season was "a great ride," and noted the medal presented to players, coaches and those essential to supporting the team, represented an accomplishment that "not many other teams achieved."
For his part, head football coach Danny Rogers also found deeper meaning in the season than mere wins and losses. For 22 years, BISD has been his professional home and he's known many of these players even when they were still in diapers, rather than football pads.
"We've been to the semi-finals before," Rogers observed. "But this group is really special to me. I have a daughter who is a senior and I have known these kids since they were in preschool and kindergarten. I've been to their birthday parties. I've known them virtually their entire lives and that has made it very, very special for me."
Longtime Blanco County News Sports photographer and reporter Diana Schwind was honored with a medal for her unwavering support to the team, receiving a generous round of applause from thankful parents, teachers and student athletes.
"I was incredibly surprised and honored," Schwind said, who has been covering sports for the Blanco News for almost a decade. She loves dedicating her time to the student athletes. "I'm really appreciative of how much the kids appreciate it."
1 photo attached to this article.
More from School.