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VikingsFrontTest.bm)
A New Loop
By: Associate Athletic Director Chris Sedlock
Twenty some years ago, I climbed a ladder and cut a loop off the net following my first championship basketball season. The tradition of cutting down the nets gives each of the victors a symbolic reminder of climbing—and reaching—the top. I tied that first loop around my key ring and carried it with me until it could be replaced by a newer championship loop.
In those early days of my coaching career at Shaker Heights HS, cutting down the nets became a regular celebration as we won multiple district and Lake Erie League titles. When I left Shaker to pursue basketball and an athletics career at the college level, I carried with me the loop from our last championship season on my key ring. It went with me through winning seasons—but not a championship—at Walsh University , Glenville State (WV) College and on my climb from basketball to athletic administration at Cleveland State . Over the course of 17 years, that loop on my key ring became tattered and frayed, but it held on—waiting for the chance to be replaced by another, more recent, championship loop.
A lot can happen in 17 years. And life did just that to me and that loop. Seasons passed and so did my mentors (Steve Loy at Walsh and Bob Wonson at Shaker), close family (both grandmothers and an aunt) and friends who helped along life’s journey. But there were new voices in their place—my wife of almost eight years Tracie, son Adam (soon to be 5) and daughters Anna (3) and Angela (1). With some new friends, they have cheered the wins and suffered the losses. Only co-workers, family and close friends truly understand the hours and sacrifice involved in climbing the athletics ladder for a living. They too know the long bus rides, late flights, skipped meals and nights slept on the office couch.
I thought of all that as I stood on the court at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis two weeks ago. The celebration around me was pandemic as our Cleveland State Vikings had defeated Butler to win the Horizon League Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Horizon League commissioner reminded me just how special it was: no visiting team had ever cut down the nets following a championship game against Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The ladders were positioned under the baskets. My new loop was waiting. But this time, it came to me in the most gratifying way. That old loop on my key ring represented my coaching life. In those 15+ years, I was privileged to teach and guide hundreds of quality young men. At Shaker Heights , that included a great player—who was an even better young man—named Jermaine Kimbrough. Jermaine went on to play college ball at Virginia Tech before starting out on his own basketball coaching career. Three years ago, I recommended him for a position as an assistant coach at Cleveland State . Since then, I’ve watched with pride as both Jermaine and Viking Basketball have grown under Coach Gary Waters.
Jermaine climbed the ladder that night and cut two loops—one for himself and one for me, his former coach. I tied it on my key ring. I’ll carry it there until I can again share in celebrating a championship climb.
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