Opinion : A sad reminder of what opponents have in common

This afternoon, when the Vinton-Shellsburg boys track team travels to the Solon track meet (although the event is being held in Tiffin due to construction on the Solon track), it will be encountering a city, and a school district, in mourning.

2011 Solon graduate Brett Smith died Monday, of leukemia.

Vinton area residents were introduced to Smith in February of 2011. The Vikings basketball team held a "Pink Night" event during the Solon game. There were a variety of special events, an auction and other activities designed to raise awareness of breast cancer.

While the game and all of these activities were taking place, the Solon players were silently acknowledging a cancer battle of their own. The white bands on their wrists, with the number 24 on them, was a tribute to their teammate. Brett had been diagnosed with cancer a few weeks earlier, and had begun treatment.

I saw those wristbands, and I had to ask. Doug Lindner, the Solon Economist newspaper publisher (and former Vinton newspaper man) was there that night. He told me about Brett. "He's a good kid," he said then.

In addition to basketball, Brett played baseball. He was also on the Solon trap shooting team; some Red Cedar Shooters may remember him.

I wrote about Brett, and his teammates' tribute to him, a few days after that game. See that story HERE. A few months later, I received an email from his mom. One of his sisters had just seen our story, and wanted to give us an update. Brett was doing well, she said, and getting ready for college.

But the cancer returned; soon there was nothing else the doctors could do. The Solon students, teachers and community rallied around Brett as he fought for his life.

Now, they will gather to honor him one final time.

The Vikings head to Solon hoping for another win, their fifth in a row. I hope they come home with that win.

But the news we received this morning is a sad reminder that there is always something more important than winning -- and something we all have in common, no matter what our school colors are.