Most would agree that participating in athletic competition helps build character, discipline and leadership skills. It also takes smarts to be the best in any given sport.
For young people, taking part in athletic programs provides them with experience they can apply to real-world situations.
For most youngsters, just being able to play is ample reward. But when you play and win — that’s even better. Just ask the members of the Lake Orion Dragons.
After Friday’s 32-8 victory over rival Clarkston, the players and coaches can proudly proclaim they have reached the pinnacle in high school football. The win caps an unbeaten regular season and firmly plants the Dragons as No. 1 in the state. A rare feat for a high school team.
Not only does Coach Chris Bell’s team feature an outstanding group of athletes, they excel in the classroom, too. It’s the perfect mix of brains and brawn.
Congratulations to these fine young student-athletes, their coaches, parents and fans, all of whom deserve to savor the sweet taste of success. And good luck in the playoffs.

Wolves, Spartans, Tigers win, too
It was also a big weekend for other Michigan sports teams.
The Wolverines of the University of Michigan rode tailback Michael Hart’s shirttails into the end zone Saturday, earning a hard-fought 20-6 victory over a well-prepared and stubborn Iowa team.
The win moves Michigan to the No. 2 spot in the college polls and sets the table for a battle royale against Ohio State, a game that could decide who eventually sits atop the national standings.
It was also a huge day for Michigan State Spartan fans who have endured plenty of frustration at the hands of opponents this season.
The never-say-die Michigan State offense made one of the greatest comebacks in the history of NCAA football, coming back from a 38-3 deficit against Northwestern, and winning 41-38.
It was a huge win and could save Coach John L. Lewis? job. Especially if he can rally his troops from here on and earn a bowl invitation. Lewis deserves the chance to come back.
Then, of course, there are the Tigers who hope to avoid running out of gas and momentum after the long layoff that followed the sweep of the A’s.
Pitcher Kenny Rogers continues to lead by example, spinning inning after inning of no-run baseball. His masterpiece in Game 2 keeps the Tigers? world championship hopes alive. The much-traveled and maligned pitcher has emerged as the emotional leader of this team.
Win or lose in the World Series, stories of Rogers and the 2006 Tigers will help keep us warm well into the cold of another long Michigan winter.

And those Lions…
Close (31 to 24), yet so far. Oh well, even if the team ends up with fewer wins than last year, the 2006 Lions are more fun to watch than Joey Harrington’s hapless misfits of the past few seasons.
Quarterback John Kitna appears to have some promise, as do wide receiver Roy Williams and running back Kevin Jones. But it still appears the team has a long way to go to challenge for the Super Bowl. No quick turnaround (a la Tigers) expected here. Maybe in about 2057.