United as One

WASHINGTON— When natural disasters strike a community it seems to make every person in that town vulnerable. But in a way, all of their true colors are shown and put out into the open. We see who is willing to unite and come together in a time of need. As for the small city of Washington, Ill., orange and black could be seen all around the town.

On an oddly warm Sunday morning, Nov. 17, the small town of Washington was ripped to pieces by an EF-4 tornado. Nearly 1,500 homes were damaged throughout the town leaving thousands of families homeless in the blink of an eye.

This included some of the students of the undefeated Washington Panthers football team, who had just defeated U-High 41-7 the previous day in the Quarter- Finals of the IHSA State Playoffs. Awaiting them in the Semi-Finals was their opponent, the also undefeated Springfield Sacred-Heart Griffin Cyclones. This was the first time in 28 years the Panthers would be competing in the Semi- Finals, only a game away from a chance at the State Title.

But that was the last thing on the Panther’s mind when they woke up Monday morning. Some were waking up wondering if it was all just a terrible nightmare and that their house was still there. The others who weren’t affected were thinking how they could help the town and their teammates.

There were discussions on if the game should be played or not. But the young men wiped the tears from their faces and prepared for the game that they would never forget.

Even though the town was ripped apart that Sunday, the residents of the community were closer than ever. Fundraisers were started all over the local-area with the proceeds going towards all of the families who lost their homes. But the Washington residents were not the only ones showing support for the Panthers.

Springfield Sacred- Heart Griffin chartered six buses to give fans a ride to the game in Springfield, along with food being served to anybody before and after the game.

The Chicago Bears also showed their support by wearing Washington Strong T-shirts after their game against the St. Louis Rams.

The residents rallied behind the Panthers giving them more inspiration than ever, to lift this town from the debris and to a State Championship. Even though the tornado may be able to take away buildings and homes it could not take away the love and relationship this town had for each other.

The Washington Panthers sprinted out of the tunnel for the last time in Springfield with clear eyes and love in their hearts. Even though the scoreboard showed the Cyclones winning 44- 14 when the clock struck zero in the fourth quarter, that score didn’t show the true outcome.

“Before we took the field on Saturday Coach Crouch told all of us, win or lose this game today I am proud of what you men did for your community on Sunday,” Senior running back Jake Clark said. Clark was one ­ of the few members of the team that lost their home in the tornado.

The Cyclones carried a little bit of the Panthers with them into the State Title game against 4-time defending 5A State Champions, Lombard Montini. Coach Ken Leonard of Springfield contacted Coach Darrell Crouch of Washington about using their Baden Footballs in the State Title game. Crouch graciously sent Leonard six footballs for him and his team. With the help of the Panthers ball, the Cyclones ended Montini’s long streak of four straight titles by defeating them 38-28.

In the community of Washington’s eyes along with their coaches, the Panthers had already won just by running out of the tunnel onto the field that day. That was all that mattered because it gave the town hope. And even when devastation rips a town apart they do not break as a community. Even in their darkest hours they all stood Washington strong, hand in hand, united as a team.