Tom Purtell is Leesburg’s conduit of good sportsmanship

By Nellda Friend
HCP Leesburg correspondent

Years ago, with our children in grade school, sports teams were thriving in the Fairfield communities of Leesburg and Highland. My husband coached a softball team; his friend Tom Purtell was a serious rival as another team’s coach.  

Yearly, his girls’ team beat ours. As an onlooker, I noticed that Tom spread his encouragement and useful critique to girls on other teams as well as on his. From my observation, he wanted to win, but even more importantly, he wanted each player out there to become her best.

Those rivalries emerged again in basketball. In the 1980s/90s, basketball sign-ups, grades 4-6, were drafted by sequential selection by the coaches. These teams played against each other.

Once again, team Friend had its challenge to ever besting team Purtell. And once again, I noticed Tom advising players of all the teams.

Tom coordinated the schedules, acquired equipment, found the coaches, managed the budget, kept records, and used the computer before the rest of us were aware of that newfangled device.

Years passed. So quickly, my spectator role became that of grandparent. Team make-ups have changed. Now the teams are comprised of one or two teams per grade, and the coaching begins with students in grade 3. 

During the intervening years, Tom has joined a group of younger parents who coordinate a league to enhance skills by playing a wider area of competitors. Once again, Tom encourages the players of other teams, and this new system of early-play strengthens the teams of other schools as well. 

Just three weeks ago, our Fairfield Lions nearly made the Final Four in Division 7. Disappointment, yes, but losses are always disappointing, yet they teach. The lesson Tom exemplifies is “your opponent is not your enemy.” 

The goal in all sports involvement is to foster respect, good relationships, appreciation of others’ skills, and lifelong memories and friendships will ensue.
 
Players were honored for attaining Regional semi-finals for the first time since 1978. There in the stands at the Westerville, Ohio gym March 15  was Tom Purtell. Surely, he was observing results of his years-long, intensive work to mold athletes. This obscure benefactor seeks no attention; however, if student athletes could be aware of his input, perhaps they could make sure they know who this Tom Purtell is and just give him a warm greeting when they see him at games, especially basketball and base/softball.