I’ve been reflecting on the year in sports that was 2017 for a little while now, and I keep coming back to one word: “progress.”
In a year when I thought things were going to get weirder before they got better — hello, Choice in Sports bill — I think I’ve seen more growth than anything. A growing sports scene is, in my opinion, good for Plant City as a whole and 2017 might have offered us a glimpse at what the future could look like.
Maybe the most obvious thing that comes to mind is Gary Sheffield’s sports complex plan. That would be huge news just about anywhere, yet in 2017 we all learned that the group putting the plans together wanted it here. Right here in the “itty-bitty,” as many longtime residents call our town. It probably seems strange from the outside looking in, putting a massive sports hub in a town known for a huge annual festival, strawberries and an iconic water tower. But anyone who’s been here a little while knows it could work — Plant City is no stranger to hosting national tournaments across several sports, the International Softball Federation headquarters and Major League Baseball teams on several occasions (for example, I learned not too long ago from local legend Al Berry that the Texas Rangers used to have operations in town and that their old facilities are located underneath what is now the Florida Strawberry Festival’s midway). I think the complex could work out here and I’m hoping to see it become a reality one day.
Our boxing scene grew from a start-up gym off of Hitchcock street to host two promotions — one born in Plant City — and several action-packed showcases. We had several high school programs grow from works in progress into legit contenders at and beyond the district level, in some cases even achieving regular-season perfection. Check out our list of the top five area teams and athletes of 2017 for prime examples. We also saw noticeable progress at Strawberry Crest when the football team snapped its years-long losing streak, a feat that was even covered by USA Today.
I can’t say there were only positives in 2017, though. Choice in Sports, which I was opposed to from the get-go, redefined what high school athletes were allowed to do in terms of transferring between programs and did lead to several of our programs taking hits as a result. There’s a new sense of uncertainty that comes with watching the games now. I’ve found myself wondering if some of the kids I’ve seen have breakout seasons will be with the same schools next year, or if they’ll try and leave for what they perceive as greener pastures, and I know at least a few area fans have wondered the same thing.
But we can’t let one questionable bill ruin all the fun for us. Despite its presence looming over our rosters, we still had area teams come out ahead and be successful. We’re still going to be entertained at the games. We’re still going to see students become better on and off the field of play. If someone doesn’t want to be a part of a program anymore, so be it — you always want to be certain everyone on your roster is there because they genuinely want to be, anyway.
No matter what the rosters will look like in 2018, I think we’re going to be in for a fun year. And 2017 is going down in my book as one, too.