Coach Shannon Coming Through Clutch by Drew Burton

With football season drawing to a close, what better way to get in the basketball spirit than an interview with EP!C Bobcats manager and head coach, Shannon H. While talking to Shannon, it didn't take long to notice his competitive spirit and need to succeed.

When asked about this basketball season, Coach Hochstatter stated, "we'll stop at nothing to win games." But this story is so much more than basketball alone. Shannon is wheelchair bound and has been for almost his entire life. He faces day-to-day obstacles that many of us couldn't even imagine. Through all of his challenges in life, basketball is something that makes all the negatives in his life disappear.

I was fortunate enough to catch up with him and talk sports with him for a while. I asked him why he chose to be the manager of the team. He simply said "I just want to be involved in something." That's when I knew that this is much bigger than basketball. It's something he can do.

I was in a discussion one time with someone who told me that sports don't matter. For a few seconds, I actually believed him. As soon as the insanity left my mind, I began to think of reasons why sports DO matter. No, they will never end world hunger or find the cure to cancer, but one thing they do is make people happy, wheelchair or no wheelchair. The bottom line is, Shannon has found something that he is capable of doing. He can fully participate as the manager and team leader of the EP!C Bobcats.

So for this reason alone, sports matter. We all know about the pros like LeBron or Sweetness, but millions of people are involved in sports. They help escape the drudgery of day-to-day life and put smiles on the faces of many.

The manager of the Bobcats is a true inspiration to all of us. Through all of the difficulties and hardships we will face in our lifetimes, we absolutely need to focus on what we can do, and forget about all of the things we can't do. Think positive, be involved in something and always eat your vegetables.