'I've known them my whole life:' Jensen dreads final farewell to four special seniors

NEW WASHINGTON - Heath Jensen, Isaac Hiler, Jacob Hiler and Bren Jones grew up playing sports together.

And the common theme for them all was a coach — Chad Jensen.

Thursday's Division IV sectional championship marked the final postseason game for their high school careers, and the penultimate game Jensen would coach them in.

"These seniors mean a lot to me," he said. "I've coached them since coach's pitch, and it's going to be hard to say goodbye to them."

Luckily, they get one final game together on Saturday resuming a previously postponed game with Upper Sandusky. That is when the final goodbyes on the field will be said.

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"I've known them my whole life because they're in my son's class, we've known them since they could walk," Jensen said. "It's meant a lot to coach these kids through Little League and travel ball, in basketball and football, everything."

It has been a doubly memorable experience for coach Jensen having been able to coach his son, Heath, all four years of high school baseball and football.

"It's been a great experience, I hope he says the same thing," coach Jensen said. "A lot of people don't get a chance to do that, and I'm fortunate to be at a school that would allow me to be head coach of two sports.

"I'm grateful to them for allowing me that, and coaching my son means a lot."

Heath agrees.

"I actually like it," he said. "Some people think it's not very fun, but I like it. We can talk about practice and stuff when we get home, I really do enjoy it."

It's going to be bittersweet for him suiting up with his closest friends for the last time.

"The past four years has been great," Heath said. "I really enjoyed all my teammates, we have a very close bond together."

But the thing he'll miss the most about it? Post-baseball chats with his dad.

"Him talking to me about baseball every single day," Heath said. "About practice and games … because when I'm not playing, it's harder to talk to him about it."

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This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: 'I've known them my whole life:' Jensen dreads final farewell to four special seniors