Every spring, the collegiate sports world experiences what has come to be known as March Madness. Whether you are celebrating your local team’s participation or cursing it because it pre-empted Survivor, you are probably touched by the frenzy that overtakes many of us. Here in the Heart of West Tennessee, we experience our own version - The NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship. For the 20th consecutive year, Jackson, TN has hosted this annual event and for the 20th consecutive year, Jackson Energy Authority has sponsored one of the visiting teams. And for the first time in the history of this world, I volunteered to assist.

Those of you who know me know that, these days, I am not much of a sports fanatic. I gave up on pro football when George Blanda retired from the Raiders. I was never much of a Baseball (the only organized sport I ever played) or Basketball fan. I dropped golf when I realized that most of my contemporaries had graduated to the Seniors League, reminding me of my own mortality, a concept I’ve come to terms with but do not relish. These days, if it doesn’t involve my UT Volunteers, I find it hard to get excited.

So when the word went out that we still needed some volunteers for the NAIA, I reluctantly allowed that I would participate if they were shorthanded. You guessed, short handed we were and so I agreed to attend the welcoming banquet and participate in the “Parade of Champions” on the opening night of the games. At the banquet the team took up an entire table so I didn’t really get a chance to talk with any of them. Ah, the opportunities we miss in life.

Our team this year was the Lady Vikings of Berry College just outside of Rome, GA, lead by head coach Jonathan Norton. Now, Berry is the home of about 1800 students but sprawls over 26,000 acres (yes that’s 26 followed by three zeros) of some of the prettiest geography in the universe. Not surprising, it bills itself as the “World’s Largest Campus”. And I came to learn that it includes some of the nicest young people you will ever meet.

At the banquet, each of the 32 tournament teams was introduced along with the 2009 All-American team. The photo to the left is of six of the players that were in attendance at the tournament. In addition, Jana Cross (third from the right) was named the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association NAIA Player of the Year. Jana attends Freed-Hardeman University, a school of about 2800 students, in Henderson, TN, just south of Jackson. Freed is just one of four perennial tournament teams from West Tennessee including Jackson’s own Union University and Lambuth University, both former National Champs, and Bethel College from just up the road at McKenzie, TN. Who knew that West Tennessee was such a hot bed of collegiate basketball?

Our Berry Vikings were seeded no. 8 in their bracket and faced Vanguard University, no. 1 seed and 2008 NAIA champs, in their opening game. The ladies came out cold and fell behind early in the game. After going just 1 for 17 in the first 3:54, our Vikings trailed 11-2. A scrappy defense kept the score within range and, at the 10 minute mark, Brittany Howes started a tear with a three point play. A three-pointer by Kate Ross put Berry ahead at 16-14. However, Vanguard ended the half with their own trey to put them in the lead at 27-23. However, I could see that they had gained respect for the Vikings.

An early three in the second half brought Berry to within one point at 27-26. However, this would prove the be the closest they would come. They did have an impressive 7-0 run but in the end, were not able to battle back and fell by a score of 72-51.

That night, the Parade of Champions was held and I, along with my cohort, Teresa Irvine, represented JEA. While standing in line waiting for our turn to make an appearance, I discovered something quite profound. These ladies were some of the sweetest people I have ever met! As I stood there, these young ladies were actually talking to me without me initiating it.

Don’t get me wrong, I realize that I ooze my own style of macho charm and was not so much surprised that they were talking to me as I was that they were talking to anyone other than each other. I could understand Coach Amy Krach who is, after all, older than the players (though I initially mistook her for one of them), but you know how young folks these days can get hung up with themselves and texting. So you could have knocked me over with a feather when they seemed truly interested in us and JEA.

After the completion of the Parade, each girl shook my hand, hugged me and expressed her honest gratitude to JEA for sponsoring their team. I was quite impressed by the caliber of character that these ladies displayed. I now regret that I have gone all of these years without being involved in this annual fall event.

So, here’s to the Lady Vikings of Berry College - winners in every sense of the word.