Here are 10 lessons you taught me about what sports mean to you in central Wisconsin

As I look back on the past 11 months' worth of central Wisconsin sports stories I have had the privilege of telling, I was struck by the varied answers one could ascertain to the question: What do sports mean to you?

While never a question I asked directly of any of my subjects, as a story would come together it became so abundantly clear that participating in a sport was about far more than practices, games and titles.

Here are a few of the insights gleaned from features and interviews over the past year.

Sometimes just making it back to the court is a win. SPASH's Montana Zdroik was cast into a world of uncertainty about her future by a Stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma diagnosis her freshman year. What kept her going through six months of chemo was the desire to play volleyball. She not only beat cancer, but returned to the floor with her friends before committing to Lakeland College this past fall with an opportunity to walk on to its volleyball team.

Sports is not just an escape, but can set a more positive lifelong course. Wittenberg-Birnamwood's FireEagle WhiteWing found sanctuary from many issues plaguing the Native American community on the football field. An experience participating in the Indigenous Bowl also gave his struggles greater context, and ignited a desire to give back and encourage those of similar backgrounds toward a brighter future.

Finishing what you started for the player next to you. Newman Catholic 8-player football sustained a significant blow in the third game of its 2021 season, as star running back Thomas Bates went down for the year with a torn ACL. The Cardinals rallied around their injured leader, shuffled their personnel and made no excuses as they went on to win the WIAA state title by a convincing 49-6 margin over Luck.

A team is a family, sometimes literally. Colby football was led to a WIAA Division 6 state title in 2021 by the Jeske triplets: Brent, Derek and Andrew. The accountability and desire to push each other to greater heights was an attitude that permeated throughout the team en route to its first title since 2011.

Sports are about relationships. Learning more about late SPASH coach and administrator Jerry Fitzgerald's efforts to connect with students and athletes he came in contact with provided a unique lens into the role of a coach. As the late Hall of Fame coach of the Green Bay Packers, Vince Lombardi, once said, "People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses or the problems of modern society."

Not being defined by last year. The Marshfield boys basketball team, after managing two wins in the Wisconsin Valley Conference the year before, won the WVC outright for the first time in 2021-2022. The Tigers' turnaround showed them that each season, each game and each moment out on the floor was a chance to reinvent themselves.

Staying true to one's roots. In discussing the rise of Marshfield native Adam Stenavich to the Green Bay Packers' offensive coordinator position, friends and family pointed to him staying true to his upbringing as a major factor in his success. Those who knew a younger "Steno" were proud to follow the career of a friend whose new opportunities had not changed him.

Pride is not reserved for champions. Central Wisconsin saw its share of historic state title runs, as well as heartbreaking late-season losses in the 2021-2022 school year. One of the latter belonged to Assumption girls soccer, which fell 5-1 to Lake Country Lutheran in the WIAA Division 4 state semifinals. While the Royals fell short of their ultimate goal, they delivered on the promise of their late assistant coach, John Bingham, that they would be back on the state stage. For that, and remaining on the field well after the final whistle for an injured teammate to be transported, the Royals displayed commendable heart.

Proving you belong. In conversations with Daulton Varsho, Sam Hauser, Roisin Willis and Cole Caufield among others, it became apparent how much mental fortitude is required to sustain a career at an elite level. Draft position, internal competition and external stressors can raise the pressure for those fortunate enough to even get their "cup of coffee" at the next level. For the communities they come from, every day they spend on a national stage is a point of pride.

Sports can be a platform to give back. At the 2nd Annual Ryan Ramczyk Lineman Camp this week, Ramczyk shared that his motivation for holding the camp was to provide the type of inspiring experiences he had as a kid. Fellow NFL host Tyler Biadasz added the event was about getting kids to pursue being the best version of themselves while having fun. Through those who make the investment, the impact of sports can extend far beyond the playing field.

While my time in central Wisconsin is coming to an end, these perspectives have informed my own as I seek to ask more meaningful questions and tell more impactful stories.

In July, I will be transitioning to a prep sports reporter position with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but the lessons learned on the ball fields and courts across central Wisconsin will stay with me for a lifetime.

Thank you for sharing your stories that inspire, give new perspectives and remind us all why we love sports.

Contact USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin sports reporter Zac Bellman at zbellman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ZacBellman_WNY.