… a few nights ago, we attended the Lady Jays Banquet and were pleased to see the awards and kudos for the ladies, and the transition from present to future.
Wednesday the 31st of March, we attended the Boy’s banquet. The coaches used all their chances to praise their kids, sophomores to the seven seniors who leave the program at the end of the year.
Magnificent Seven, the Jays Seniors, 2010
Knowing that the City Of Liberty is about to have TWO high schools next year, and some of these kids will no longer be in the program at LHS, some of the words were bittersweet, good-byes, passages.
Jack presents Coach Stirtz with a montage from the 2010 season
Jack also rehearsed the speech he will give to the Coaches Association next Thursday night at the GKCBCA banquet at the Independence Events Center. He did quite well! If you can, please attend the banquet and support Jack. Contact Coach Stirtz for tickets.
Julie decorated the wall with the Sr posters from the Field House
Bryan’s mom, Julie, did a heckuva job with the food, deserts, setting up the room. These parents have a season long commitment, no less than the players and coaches. The value they add to the program is really immeasurable.
Julie Adams did a great job setting up the hall to honor the kids.
It was a night for finery. They DID look all grown up, ready for the world. …or a role as extras in an episode of ‘The Sopranos’ ?
Coach Stirtz conferred the newly minted 'Stewart Duncan' award for dress on Austin, Derek and Denton.
…. Jack has been a part of the High School Athletics program at Liberty High for more than 4 decades. Longer than many of the teachers and administrators at the school have been alive! One of the great pictures on the wall of honor at Cokely Field House is the State Championship team from 1998, 31-0. Looking out from the smiling faces is a younger version of Jack, standing beside the team and coaches, where he belongs.
Jack entertaining the Crazies at halftime with a shooting exhibition
Jack is an example. The kind you need to hold up for kids to see, now and then. Jack has had a steep hill to climb all his life. The only affect we can see is it makes him work harder, and be more grateful for any good luck that comes his way.
Coach Stirtz and the staff gave Jack a Letter Jack for his birthday!
We find both these traits to be admirable, and hope that his friends and acquaintances see it the same way. Jeff and I have been his transportation a few times this year. My chariot has been proudly re-designated as Jacks Taxi more than once!
Jack exults in the last second win at Park Hill South
This honor and recognition coming Jack’s way in a couple of weeks is well-earned. Jeff and I want to take this opportunity to urge all the friends Jack has made over the years, all the kids and students Jack has worked for, to attend the banquet Thursday, April 8, at the Independence Events Center. For details about the event, please contact Coach Stirtz at rostirtz@liberty.k12.mo.us or 736.6836 by April 2nd. Jack has more than earned our respect and admiration. It will be a great night to show him how much.
Jack and Shea after the conference championship game
… the Lady Jays had their celebratory banquet last night, handing out letters, awards, recognition, and the coaches were kind enough to ask Jeff and I to be there. Jeff had spent quite a bit of time on a couple of large pictures for both Jack and Coach Morley, and we had the video from the season.
The Lady Jays had All-District, All-Conference, and All-State selections, went 22-7, and got to the Elite Eight in the state again this year. Pretty good stats for a team that had no individual averaging in Double Figures! Teamwork makes the Dreamwork. That could have been their slogan. They certainly lived it.
There was plenty to smile about – our good friend Jack will receive an award from the Coaches Association for his decades of service to the Liberty program, and the crowd was pleased to give him a standing ovation when that announcement was made. Jack planned to get all the seniors on the picture to sign their image. That would be quite a keepsake for anyone !! 
All the pictures from the evening will be at our gallery site, part of the changes taking place here.
Couldn’t pass up a chance to show off Kelcie’s choice of footwear. Apparently, she was playing the part of Cinderella AFTER the ball, and had left BOTH her slippers behind. When it comes to attracting a prince, you can never be too charming, or too barefoot.
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It was a grand night for celebrating a program that has had its share of success. Sami, the only senior, was glad to be with her teammates one last time,
with an appreciative audience. 
It seems pretty easy on occasions like this to wander into hyperbole and over-statement. We did not see any of that here. These people care about each other, take direction from the coaches, help out, show up, work hard.
Watching these ladies gather well-earned honors and kudos, you had to wish such good things would follow them all their days.
With the foundation of working hard in a successful program, learning hard work has rewards, it will be much easier for them to realize their goals, no matter what they are. We were glad to be there to see it.
