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Every time the Fall sports season rolls around, I’m reminded that my Herald Anniversary has arrived and I feel the reality of aging closing in.

I arrived at the Herald sports desk in August of 2007 and I’ve accepted the fact that many of the athletes I’ll be interviewing this season weren’t even born when I arrived in Austin. My own son, who was born in Austin, is now a freshman on the football team. My daughter is a senior at the high school.

Time sure does fly by.

When I think of my first Fall season at the Herald, there are some similarities that stick out. 

I had only covered one soccer game before arriving in Austin and a home boys soccer game was my first event on the docket. The coach of that boys soccer team was none other than current Austin head coach Jens Levisen.

The best team in our area that Fall was the Blooming Prairie football team, which was coached by Chad Gimbel, who has also remained at the helm for all of these years.

That Fall featured the best Austin volleyball team I’ve ever covered, and those Packers relied on a setter by the name of Nichelle (Grage) Guillaume. Guillaume is now starting her first year as head coach of the Packer volleyball team.

While some things have remained the same, other things have changed.

Austin has grown into a much more diverse community since my first day on the job here and it’s been very rewarding getting to know athletes from all around the world in a relatively small community.

Lyle-Pacelli and LeRoy-Ostrander, who have always been foes on the gridiron, have now joined forces on the nine man football field, which will surely be an interesting adventure.

Another lasting change was the Austin Bruins came to town and they have survived. The franchise is now entering its 15th season in the NAHL.

I’m sure 17 years from now, there will be a few things that stay the same and other things will change, but that is the nature of the world. Nothing is entirely predictable and the future is anyone’s guess.

Here’s to another great year of covering prep sports!