Well over a half-century ago, I grew up in Savanna, a small town in Illinois, where no one ever locked their doors. I don’t remember any of the young boys in the neighborhood who didn’t love sports. We knew about Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry on the Baltimore Colts. In the winter, once a week we got to watch Bob Cousey, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell on TV.
In the ‘60’s in Savanna, our heroes were not Unitas or Russell. Our heroes were Alan Cottral, Louis Ramirez, and Dennis Radabaugh.
We had a basketball court in my basement. When friends arrived to play, we had a magic marker to put numbers on our t-shirts. No names were needed. If a player put 10, 32, or 50 on their shirt, we all knew who they were. The numbers were our heroes who played basketball for the Savanna Indians.
This story has been repeated in small towns across Illinois for decades. In Galesburg, generations have grown up wanting to be Coke Mills, Mike Owens, Jimmie Carr, Dale Kelley, Jim Reinebach, Mike Campbell, Molly Watson, Joey Range, Sarah Larson, and many more. No community has been more excited about their high school heroes than Galesburg.
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| Scott Kelley |
Last winter, I listened to one of Jay Redfern’s great podcasts, where he interviewed Silver Streaks legends, Mike Campbell and Scott Kelley. In the interview, Mike and Scott talked about the excitement of playing basketball in Galesburg. Radio coverage, local newspaper covering all the games, packed gymnasiums, and excitement in the hallways at GHS.
Jay asked them about their basketball dreams growing up in Galesburg, and how they were impacted by the enthusiasm for basketball in Galesburg. With their great college careers, I anticipated they would talk about always dreaming of playing college basketball, and dreams of playing in the NBA. That was not the answer.
Mike Campbell: "…growing up in a place like Galesburg, my aspiration was to be a Silver Streak. If I could do that, that was enough. That was what I dreamed about. And I think now, because communities like Galesburg aren't insulated or isolated anymore — kids can watch every NBA game, every college game — they don't aspire to those same things in the same way. And I think that hurts their experience, because most of them aren't going to get beyond high school basketball anyway."
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| Mike Campbell |
As I listened to Scott and Mike, what struck me was Mike’s quote when he said, “…my aspiration was to be a Silver Streak. If I could do that, that was enough.” Here is a guy who went onto play D1 basketball and be drafted by the Chicago Bulls, but his guiding dream was to be a Silver Streak.
Contrast Mike’s passion for playing for his local high school with these stories of high school athletes throughout Illinois and Iowa today…
At half-time of a heated varsity basketball game, a girl and her dad surprised the coach by telling the coach they were leaving to go on a college visit.
In Peoria, two top players returning for their seniors seasons and their teams have aspirations of winning State. The players chose to leave their HS teammates to go play at a Sports Academy.
An all-conference basketball player finishing their senior year at the third high school of their career.
A new coach hired at one school, and multiple players transferring to form an “all-star” team at the new school.
A player and parents unhappy about the player’s scoring average, threaten to transfer.
Maybe I am just getting old and don’t like change, but I have trouble believing these changes are positive changes. I don’t think these changes are driven by the high school athletes. The changes are most likely driven by well-meaning but misguided parents.
We can debate who exactly is responsible for this change, but clearly the change has taken away the joy that comes from competing with teammates you have grown up with. The thrill of representing your hometown team is missing.
The Galesburg community has always supported their Silver Streaks. As a result, many past and present kids have grown up wanting to be a Silver Streak. And this is still true in Galesburg!
Here are some individuals who shared their excitement of just wanting to be a Silver Streak…
Jay Redfern- GHS 1981
(From Jay Talking: Streaks Inspire Generations- 1-15-16)
In 1976, I was an impressionable seventh-grader at Churchill Junior High School when Kelley was a star player for a 27-4 Galesburg Silver Streaks basketball team that made a magical trip to the Elite 8 in Champaign. To be fair, Kelley shares idol status in my book with his teammate Mike Campbell, forming one of the best big-man tandems in Streaks history. I admired those guys, watched their every move and did my best to imitate them. I wanted to be like Scott and Mike.
My basketball career fizzled after my ninth-grade season with the Blue Streaks, but players like Kelley, Campbell, Mark Thiel and Joe Swedlund gave me reason to dream and strive.
Joey Range- GHS 1998
(From Jay Talking: Streaks Inspire Generations- 1-15-16)
My Streaks idols were Nook Townsell and Jason Lewis. Nook was the first Streak who worked with me at Streaks camp. He was always nice and respectful and very positive. I enjoyed going to watch him play; he was the embodiment of what I thought being a Streak was. He made a great impression on me as a fifth-grader.
The other Silver Streak would be Jason Lewis. He was the first Streak who I recognized who was as passionate and fearless about the game as myself. He studied the game and could go out and control it.
Mark Makeever- GHS 1981
(From Jay Talking: Streaks Inspire Generations- 1-15-16)
Definitely Scott Kelley and Mike Campbell were heroes of mine. Going to their games was when I really got Streaks fever.
Jenna Bicego- GHS 2004
(From Watson Appeals to Streaks of All Ages by Redfern- June, 2003)
“When I was little, Molly Watson was the big story in town for girls who wanted to play basketball,” said Bicego, a smile on her face and a glow in her eyes as she spoke about one of her childhood heroes.
“We would all go to games, and the next day at school, we would say,’did you see what Molly did last night?’ I always wanted to be like Molly Watson.”
Molly Watson- GHS 1997
(From Watson Appeals to Streaks of All Ages by Redfern- June, 2003)
“It’s a great tradition, and great that girls always have someone to look up to. For me, it was players like Christy and Trisha Hickey, Lara Swanson, and Kelly Foxall. They made basketball fun for me.”
(In letter to Streaks players in early 2000’s)
When I got my first Streaks uniform, I went home and put it on immediately. I was so excited to be a Silver Streak.
Sean Hanlon- GHS 1995
(Massey Basketball Blog- Player’s Number Is A Big Deal)
“For athletes, your jersey number is special. It can really become part of your identity. For me, it’s 24. My love for that number started when I was in elementary school and watched Mark Junk proudly don on #24 for the Silver Streaks. I loved how he carried himself and played the game.”
My Conclusion
I am biased when it comes to the value of a high school sports experience, because I was a high school basketball coach. I hope being excited to play for your hometown team never gets old. Galesburg is a great basketball town and the tradition of becoming a Silver Streak is still a big deal.
It amazing when a player is just focused on being the best high school player that they can be, how many great things happen.
This winter there will be young men and young women running out in Thiel Gym who are excited to be Silver Streaks. Here’s hoping the Galesburg community will continue our local tradition- showing up loud and proud of their Silver Streaks!
Streaks Girls Basketball Schedule
Streaks Boys Basketball Schedule
For Jay Redfern’s Podcasts
Jay Redfern Podcast with Galesburg Athletes
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