The girls volleyball and field hockey teams are each just one victory away from playing for section championships this weekend, and the football team is opening play in the CCS playoffs on Friday night with sights set on a third straight championship.

The girls cross country has already achieved success at the section level, finishing second in the CCS finals last weekend.

So congratulations and best of luck to the Los Gatos athletes chasing glory at the section level. And congratulations, too, to those dedicated coaches who give so much of their time to develop the successful athletic programs at the high school.

But the success enjoyed in the high school athletic program goes beyond what's recorded on the scoreboard. Sure, it's nice to win, and Los Gatos wins more than its share. But participation in competitive sports is about far more than just winning and losing. Athletes learn much more than simply how to catch, how to throw and how to run faster.

Athletics offers the foundation for teaching many of life's lessons. And while high school athletes are learning how to set a volleyball or hold a hockey stick, they're also learning discipline and responsibility, how to work with others and how to deal with adversity, how to win with humility and how to lose with grace.

Athletes learn lessons that they will carry with them as they advance to higher education and then into the workplace. They learn lessons that will help them to better interact with family and community. They learn lessons they will remember long after they've forgotten the score of the last game.

Participation in athletics can build confidence, and it can build character—for everyone from the star quarterback to the reserve holding the blocking bag. And anyone who doesn't believe it most likely never played.

Athletics can also provide a great source of community pride. Los Gatos should certainly take pride in the outstanding programs developed at the high school. Right now, it's football, volleyball and field hockey—and joining together to support these teams is a great way to build community.

The games will last a few more weeks—the lessons learned will remain for a lifetime.


Banners to welcome visitors

Speaking of cats, Los Gatos' two most famous cats—the stone sculptures of Leo and Leona—are the models for the new banners that will span the gateways at the different entrances to town.

Designs of the banners were presented to the Los Gatos Town Council at a Nov. 4 study session, and approval of the project is expected in time for the banners to be flying by the first of the year.

The banners promise to be artistically appealing, and will offer a fitting welcome to those visiting the town.