(An open letter to Dwight Lundstrom, principal of Oak Harbor High School.)

I just want to let you know that you have a powerful reason to be very proud of your students — more than their football and cheerleader state championships.

Last Friday night at your game with Meadowdale I witnessed one of the finest examples of sportsmanship that I have ever seen in some 40 years of attending high school athletic events (23 as a high school vice principal and principal), so you know I have seen more than just a few games and I am more than just a casual observer.

On two almost consecutive plays very early in the fourth quarter your wide receiver (number 10, Rodrick Rumble) went into the end zone for passes that Meadowdale’s little (who the program lists as 150 pounds but I personally know him to be no more that 130 pounds “wringing wet”) number 27 successfully broke up. Both times your boy, to save the interceptions, put appropriately hard hits on 27 that flipped him “head over teakettle.”

Both times 27 was hurt, the second time with a concussion. As the trainers and coaches were leading 27 off the field, across the end zone, number 10 broke from his respectful, kneeling huddle and ran to 27 to apologize. He really had not done anything wrong; his play was just clean, hard-hitting football, but he was obviously concerned about 27’s welfare and wanted to convey that he had meant no physical harm.

At the time Meadowdale was leading 9 to 7, which must have been very frustrating to 10, but he didn’t let that interfere with his value system, which puts human welfare before wins and losses. Obviously, 27 was not allowed back into the game.

After the game, as the teams were doing there customary congratulations, 10 stopped and took a moment to tell 27 that he was sorry for the injury, saying, “I will not feel good again until I know you are playing again.” That’s real sportsmanship!

I know you are a very busy man (I sat in your seat at two high schools), and I certainly do not want to presume to tell you what to do. But, I ask that you convey to your football coaching staff how very successful they have been in teaching the far-more-important, life-lasting elements of football — those that don’t show up in box scores, write-ups, or on championship trophies. It would also be nice to seek out number 10 and let him know how exemplary and appreciated his behavior was. His parents should be so informed as well; hopefully they were at the Edmonds Stadium to have witnessed their son’s commendable behavior.

Your Wildcats are champions in more ways than are publicly recognized.

By the way, number 27 is one of my grandsons. That is why I took more than a passing interest in this and why I know a little of what 10 conveyed to 27 that could not be known from the stands.

Fillmore C. Sankey is Human Resources Director at Northwest University.