Local Kids Make Good Long After the School Bell Rings

On Sunday, 285 young men and women will walk across the field at Frothingham Park. They will be receiving their diplomas from l.  I believe the lessons they learned on the field of play, rival the facts, formulas and figures taught in the classroom.

The vehicles for those lessons are not important.  It could be Cross country (my favorite), soccer, basketball, track or any of the thirty plus varsity sports the school has to offer.  What matters most is the values instilled.  Integrity, hard work, commitment, sacrifice and perseverance are gained through sweat and toil.  You can’t get that from a book.  You have to live and breathe it.

On October 15, 2002 Andrew (Drew) Harrington was the favorite to win the Hockomock League Cross Country Championships held at Borderland State Park.  With the crack of the starter’s pistol, the field sprinted for the trail.

When the dust settled, sitting on the ground was Andrew.  In the confusion of the start, another competitor’s spike had caught the back of Drew’s racing shoe, ripping it from his foot.

Drew reacted the only way he knew how.  He put his sneaker back on, dusted himself off and began to chase down the pack.  He ended up finishing a very respectable 15th.  The other 90 runners in the race, along with the coaches and fans could not believe their eyes.  Drew was voted league MVP that year.  “It doesn’t matter how you get knocked down it’s the way you get back up that matters”-Vince Lombardi.  It was a lesson Drew learned the hard way.

About the same time, Amanda Klane, Drew’s good friend and current business partner, was tearing up the soccer pitch at OA.  As captain of the team, her style of play mirrored the same values as Drew’s.  Amanda took those values to Providence College, were her dedication, led to a post collegiate career playing soccer in Melbourne Australia.

Together with their high school friend Scott Palmer, Drew and Amanda teamed up to start their own Company, Apollo Foods.  They manufacture and market Yasso Greek Frozen Yogurt.  Yasso is the first ever Greek Frozen Yogurt.  It is high in protein, low in calories, fat free, gluten free, kosher and most importantly, delicious.   It is available in strawberry, raspberry and blueberry flavors.  You can get it at all the local supermarkets and warehouse stores.  That is my shameless plug for a couple of young adults who I am very fond of.

In spite of my fondness for them, the truth remains.  Their experiences on the track and pitch prepared them for life.  “The struggles we had in practice and races prepared us for the rough and tumble world of business.  We didn’t get that in the classroom” said Drew”.  “Britt (Sellmayer, Oliver Ames Girls Soccer Coach) was tough" added Amanda.  "Whenever we are negotiating a contract or making a deal, we look back to those days and are thankful for what we were put through.  It prepared us for life in ways we never imagined” added the pair.

Life comes at you in different ways.  It throws you curve balls.  It hits you from the blind side.  Swinging at those curve balls and the strength you gain from taking those hits softens the blows as you get older.

I’m off to practice.  Class is in session.

Peace