12 | NPAR
If we build it , they will stay
Written by : Kevin Rouse Guest Columnist
Throughout the history of North Port athletics , a familiar sentiment has remained . The thought that other towns ’ athletic systems are superior to our own , including doubts that we may never be able to enjoy the same levels of success . Many have posed the following question .
Why ?
It ’ s important to remember a few key points . Many surrounding areas have built successful reputations over many years . In comparison , North Port Athletics are still young . At the high school level , other areas have built rich traditions spanning many decades . It ’ s easy for anyone to forget that their reputations weren ’ t built overnight . Along their paths , every area ’ s athletic system has failed many times in their pursuit of a long-lasting reputation .
Eventually they figured it out , but it only remains through continuous efforts . There are many pieces in the athletic puzzle . It ’ s only completed after finding the correct pieces and focusing on putting them together .
Then it ’ s a matter of keeping them glued in place .
In North Port there is one large piece that has been difficult to find . It ’ s the piece that represents a complete athletic system , encompassing every local youth league from the recreational level to high school and everything in between . It ’ s the piece that surrounding areas programs placed to bring them continued success .
A true athletic system is not easy to build . It takes faith , dedication , and perseverance . Most importantly it takes efforts from area coaches , directors , and parents of all local athletic levels to build relationships towards the same goal .
A local athletic system of success is summed up nicely by paraphrasing goals of Tony Miller , NPHS ’ s newly appointed athletic director , during a recent interview .
“ Bridging the gap between the community and the school , with parents and the community buying into our program ,” Miller said . “ Drawing the community to our events , whether football , basketball , baseball , or softball just to name a few .”
Miller touches on such an important point . Everything begins and ends with community . We have the ability to form a local athletic system of excellence that could rival any other area . In order to do this , we must work together between every level to create a system where each level supports and builds to the next . This is how great tradition and history is formed . A time for action always comes around . We can ’ t change the amount of time other area athletic programs have over us . We have to push it aside and believe it ’ s our time . Successful reputations always have a beginning . It ’ s up to you and me to start a strong one that never ends .
Our youth athletes and their families spend large amounts of time and effort honing their skills . Coaches and directors exhibit the same efforts while hopefully also helping to instill future life skills and positive character traits . Building a successful athletic system demands loyalty . Loyalty to teammates , loyalty to the team , and loyalty to the home town of North Port .
Kevin Rouse was born and raised in Sarasota , Florida . After graduating from Booker High School in 1995 , he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard . He was assigned to the world-class ice breaker Polar Sea out of Seattle , and he performed science and support missions on two main deployments . His first mission was a two-month science mission inside the Arctic Circle . The second was a six-month mission , a portion of which was spent creating a channel for supply and military vessels into Antarctica ’ s McMurdo Station . Kevin spent the rest of his enlistment assigned to a small boat duty . He was tasked with coxswain and swimmer duties while engaged in search and rescue missions , private vessel safety , tactical boarding operations , and law enforcement missions that focused on drug interdiction . Kevin ’ s love of public service led him to a career in public safety as a state certified Firefighter / EMT . Serving the role locally for over 16 years , he ’ s spent the past six assigned to the Marine Division of Special Operations . Kevin remains locally engaged today . He focuses on supporting the Boys and Girls Club , a local Firefighters for Kids program , and on his coaching position with the North Port High School Lady Bobcats Softball program . With a lifetime of passion for service to others and athletics , he remains dedicated to his current duties , towards the continued improvement of North Port athletics , and how these programs may further assist in bonding the community .