“What Keeps Marion Local From Winning [At Least] 75 In A Row…?”

A good question for a future ‘Reader Speaks’ page,  it’s timely to address one reader’s thoughts pertaining to Marion Local, their winning streak, and what stands in their way to continue it until heavens knows when?

It’s a slow news day when you take the time to write about hypotheticals.

But that’s sports, and people who talk about sports.  The ‘what ifs’, often enough, validated by just enough fact.

One local reader took the time this week to push the button – asking if there’s enough competition on their schedule to threaten Marion Local’s current 68-game winning streak, or becoming the best version of themselves over the next two months to win their fifth state title in a row?  And of course, they already own the all-time record of fifteen!

He questioned:  “With St. Henry behind them, and Coldwater clearly rebuilding, what’s to prevent Marion from winning at least 75 in a row, counting a first-round playoff game.  And if they get past the state tournament unbeaten, could they eventually reach a hundred? They have their quarterback for two more years and more talent on the way.”

To digress, when was the last time you heard anyone question a Division VII high school team of being too dominant over a span of 25 years?  And, is that not something to appreciate, rather than question?

And the age-old question.  If one school, and school community, can do it…seriously…what prevents others?

But aye, thou assumeth too much?  You forget, apparently, that it was New Bremen who last beat them in the 2020 tournament on a blocked punt and recovery for a touchdown, on a night when Marion clearly did not play its best game.  A fluke play that no one saw coming – that no one ever sees coming.  On any given night, you know.  It’s why you play the games.

So while I understand your reasoning, I’m not ready to buy into a hundred in a row, and I’m not automatically comfortable with 75.  I don’t even buy underestimating Coldwater at this point in the season.  And I especially don’t underestimate St. Henry, should they be there for a second meeting in the playoffs.

But I do buy Tim Goodwin’s statement following St. Henry when he said he was excited to get back to work (practice) because “I love this team and they’re going to get better.”  That’s chilling if you’re one of the next six opponents on their schedule, I agree.  And of course an injury to Brennen Hess, or Ben Meier, or Cale Nagel changes everything.

Specifically, to your question about what keeps Marion from winning 75 in a row…it is the age-old ratio of talent, compared to the amount of time and experience it takes for that talent to reach its potential.  Thus, you shouldn’t assume so much.  Goodwin was correct in July when he added, “When you lose 18 starters off your team some bad things are bound to happen.”  That correlates to the amount of time for the replacements to reach the level of experience as those they replaced.

It is a young team.  Brennen Hess is a totally different athlete than Justin Knouff, the quarterback he replaced.  The offensive line is not as big as the one in 2024…or experienced.  The instinct of how to handle bad things, as Goodwin puts it, is not as acute as you would have with an older team.  There is so much on-the-job-training in high school football.

That said, I’m not even sure that football, overall, is as competitive as it was four years ago, when Marion was playing Kirtland in the state championship game.  So anything is possible.

But why not count it as special, or even…once-in-a-lifetime?  Why should something as unique as a true high school dynasty get under people’s skin?

So to the question of what’s to prevent…it’s time, and how much of it for Marion to reach its own level.  And who really knows?  Every group is different, even at Marion.

In the meantime you can’t take for granted other teams and their own learning curve.  My hunch is, since you mentioned St. Henry, that they’re going to find their own level – better ways – to handle adversity.

It’s an oft-overlooked part of high school sports, but a lot of the fun comes with kids learning how to win (yes, win).  It’s cliche’ to say, but it’s not always the destination that means the most.  It’s the journey, watching them accumulate new skills and confidence.  Something they teach at Marion every day.

And still, every now and then there comes a November 6, 2020.  The night New Bremen blocked the punt and scored.

The last time they lost.