Athletic tradition strong in Boulder City

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | 2 p.m.

Everything about Boulder City High screams athletic tradition.

From the trophy cases filled to the brim in the front office to the wall along the back of the track that lists some of the school's championship teams, one step on the Eagles' campus is like taking a walk down memory lane.

It's a walk that has reminded me of the rich history of high school sports in the Silver State.

It's not just at Boulder City High, which has been around since the 1930s, but throughout Southern Nevada. The same can be said for other schools like Basic and Rancho.

If only the locker room walls could talk.

In Boulder City, they would surely tell tales of championship teams going through memorable playoff runs and rehash those once-in-a-lifetime postgame celebrations after a big win against rivals Moapa Valley or Virgin Valley.

Often times, the term first-ever is used to describe a school's successful season in Nevada. Liberty is looking to make its first-ever appearance in the football playoffs or Mr. All-Everything basketball player graduates as the 5-year-old school's all-time leading scorer.

There is a certain appeal to making your own history, which is something the athletes at the 16 large-school classification schools that have opened since 1999 have thrived in doing.

It's just not for me. I'm old school and proud to have witnessed the valley grow from 14 schools when I was a high school senior in 1994.

I remember long bus rides up Boulder Highway for road games with Basic and Boulder City during my playing days at Chaparral. Schools like Shadow Ridge and Arbor View in Northwest Las Vegas were part of undeveloped land nobody predicted being part of a growing community.

That's the beauty of Boulder City.

You always see former players in the stands for the big game, and the school has a hall of fame where it honors legends from years past.

More importantly, the Eagles' athletes understand wearing the gold and blue comes with a certain responsibility. They are playing to continue one of the greatest legacies in Nevada high school sports.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected].