With a tear in my eye …

My mom loves to garden.

Every year she plants and upkeeps one of the biggest ones you’ll ever see.

Her greatest joy is seeing the fruits – mostly vegetables in this instance – of her labor and sharing them for others to enjoy.

It’s her gift.

I believe everyone has a gift they can share.

That’s what I’ve always tried to do through my writing, photos or videos.

I’m a storyteller at heart, and I started this website over two years ago because I didn’t want my gift to go to waste just because it wasn’t my job to be a reporter anymore.

I’ve enjoyed capturing moments and memories for high school athletes, and sharing them with you here.

This place has been my creative escape as I transitioned to a different line of work to make a living and gain the skills needed to open new doors for myself.

I’m excited to share that on Monday I’ll begin a new job as the Communications and Marketing Specialist at Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay.

Words can’t describe how much I’m looking forward to this opportunity.

This is exactly the type of position I was hoping to land after my days at the Green Bay Press-Gazette came to an end a couple years ago.

I’ve learned a lot in dusting myself off and getting back up to carve a path to get to this point.

I’d like to thank Kim, Melissa and Teri of UnitedOne Credit Union for giving me an opportunity when nobody else would. Manitowoc wasn’t where I wanted it to be, but it’s exactly the place where I needed to be.

I’ve been fortunate to share an office the last two years with one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Annie is a fellow farm kid and a tremendous graphic designer. Thank you for teaching me about the marketing world and even more about life.

Starting Preps Agenda has definitely been one of the best decisions of my life.

It has allowed me to stay in touch with so many great individuals and continue to meet new ones.

Dayna, thank you for always being at my side and encouraging me to pursue my passion. I’d be lost without you.

My goal when I started this website was to find a niche and build a community that will appreciate the coverage I can provide for football, wrestling, and track and field. I think I’ve done that.

I’m not sure what the future holds for my passion project here, but this is not an ending.

I’ll do what I can. Right now, that will probably be limited because I’ve been burning the candle pretty hot at both ends.

In the past month, I’ve posted photo galleries, videos and articles from 15 football teams’ preseason practices. I’ve had photo galleries from eight different games through the first two weeks of the season.

I personally feel it’s some of the best content I’ve ever produced. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

There is just something about those early practices and the start of the new season that I’ve always found special in documenting.

Although I try to act as just a fly on the wall when I visit practices, I appreciate the incredible access coaches give me.

For example, Luxemburg-Casco coach Dillon Maney mistakenly gave me a wrong time for a practice. I arrived at the end when I thought there would be about 45 minutes remaining.

Maney extended practice for another series for me to get some photographs. I didn’t ask him to do that. He just did.

It meant a lot, just like the countless letters of recommendation individuals wrote for me. I appreciate that people genuinely care about the person behind the byline or lens.

When I informed West De Pere coach Jack Batten about my new job, the veteran coach grasped me by the head, like he would with one of his players, and shouted with excitement for me.

I believe I’ve showed the difference one person can make if they are passionate about something.

I bought my first DSLR camera two years ago because I knew I would be a one-man shop in starting up this venture and wanted to learn photography.

I initially shot photos for about the first quarter of a game and then went back to my clipboard to keep statistics because I thought the camera prohibited my view of capturing what was happening in the game.

I was wrong.

I’ve since gained a greater appreciation of how much of the game you can see through the lens. It’s amazing to see plays develop frame by frame and get a true understanding of where technique can take over to allow a 180-pound nose tackle knock a 250-pound guard to the ground.

People often tell me there is less coverage of high school sports today than there was in the past.

I’d argue against that.

The online world we live in has allotted so much more. Just think about all the different photo galleries that are posted to social media by parents or community members.

There are a large assortment of games or events that are being streamed online, allowing family members and friends from across the country to watch.

There are multiple websites or apps available to enter and distribute statistical information.

That’s in addition to the traditional media outlets, which continue to do a tremendous job with the resources they have to spotlight high school athletics. Given there is an NFL team in our market, we are truly spoiled with the coverage they still dedicate to high school sports.

You’re probably wondering what’s next for my Preps Agenda?

I’ll be photographing the Notre Dame versus Bay Port game Friday because it’s the next game I had marked on my schedule.

I’ve always mapped out the first three weeks of the season to try to see as many teams as possible. The Tritons will be the 14th different local team I’ll see play this season.

However, I plan to cut back how much content I’ll produce in the immediate future as I turn the page to a new chapter in life. I’ll do what I can, but I don’t want to ever set any unrealistic expectations.

I’m sorry to say that one of the things I will no longer be posting is “Standings in the Stands.” The student sections that have participated in this have been awesome. I’ve been honored to spotlight your passion and creativity because you are so important to making Friday nights special. Thank you.

I would like to pursue some bigger projects at some point in the future, including pieces that would require months or years to put together.

Thank you for reading and viewing my content. I appreciate everyone who has shared it and especially those who have contributed monetarily over the years to help offset my coverage costs.

I’m honored and take great pride in covering the teams from the Green Bay area. Each one is special to me.

Some of you may have first come across my work in recent years, and then there are some of you who have been following my writing since my byline first appeared in the Kewaunee County weekly newspaper over 10 years ago. Thank you.

I hope I’ve been able to use my gifts to do my part to help grow the high school sports landscape in the area over the years.

Just like the Tweet pinned at the top of my feed says …

I will always stick up for high school sports. They are the fabric of local communities.

– AP