Sports year gave me more than a lesson in North Central Florida geography | Ainslie Lee

These past couple weeks have been better than most and left me with so many things to be grateful for.

I turned 24 years old. I survived a snake encounter while walking my dog. I spent less money on iced coffee this week than I did last week. I didn’t lose my wallet again, I just left it on the kitchen counter (hence spending less money on iced coffee).

But none of those things compare to the gratitude I feel as the high school sports season has ended, and I reflect on my first full season here with The Gainesville Sun.

When I took this job in July of 2021, high school football season was just weeks away. I moved into my Gainesville apartment one week before the first game of the season and immediately dove into waters that, at times, I felt I had no business swimming in.

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Getting to know the people and the area

I came to The Sun with a journalism degree and about three seasons worth of experience from my time covering sports back home in Marion County. But Gainesville was a different beast. There are 24 schools that fall under the Sun’s coverage umbrella and they span as north as Columbia, as south as Williston, as east as Keystone Heights and as west as Dixie County.

Fortunately, I gained a lot more from my first season here than just a lesson on North Central Florida geography.

Anyone in the journalism or media industry will tell you that their success hinges on the quality of relationships they build. And everyone I’ve come across in my first season has made that part of this gig a breeze.

That starts with the athletic directors, who were the first people I reached out to when I accepted the job. Each got an introductory email from me on my very first day and most, if not all, were quick to respond with a warm welcome and outstretched hand if ever I were to need help.

And trust me, I’ve needed help.

Because I feel like I’ve bugged you two the most: To Buchholz athletic director George Atohi and Eastside athletic director Philip Crutchfield, thanks for always answering my texts asking, “Is tonight’s game at Citizens?”|

To the collective group of all 24 athletic directors in the area, thanks for hiring great coaches.

In 10 months, I’ve talked to more coaches than I ever could’ve imagined. And I can’t thank each of you enough for taking my calls and texts, answering my countless questions and being the first to tell me when my Power Polls or score predictions are wrong (looking at you, Chuck Bell).

You coaches have made my transition so much easier and have always been more than willing to answer even my silliest questions.

College scholarship signings a highlight of my job

But more than anything, you guys all run high-class programs — which, as we both know, starts with the student-athletes on the field.

Starting with this year’s seniors who I had the opportunity to cover and meet: Thanks for letting me be a small part of your time playing high school sports. While none of you had to open up and tell some stranger bits and pieces of your story, many of you did.

I’ve lost count of how many scholarship signings I’ve been to this season. but believe me when I say covering those is my favorite part of this job.

For those of you who are continuing your playing career in college, I can’t wait to keep an eye on what you accomplish at your respective school. And for those of you who aren’t continuing your playing career, I hope you look back on your time playing high school sports as fondly as I do.

And lastly, for those I’ve met and those I’ll be meeting soon, August will be here before we know it. Until then, have a great summer, watch for snakes and drink all the iced coffee you want.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: High school sports: Reflections after one sports season in Gainesville