Tanner Cobb
In the last five years of being a journalist, I’ve never actually written a column before, but now seems like a good time for a first. I’ve been the sports editor here for the last three school years and while this is a well overdo hello, it’s also a goodbye.
I’ve had a great time at the Platte County Citizen – and at my other stops in the field along the way – yet I’ve gotten to a point in my life where it’s time to move on from journalism. I’ve accepted a communication role at Swope Health in the Westport area, and this is the final story I’ll write for this newspaper.
The last three years in Platte County has been eventful; being a one-man sports team covering five high schools can be overwhelmingly busy at times, and I’ve met so many great people. From the coaches to the athletes to the people in the community, there’s so many faces that I’ll miss seeing at games week-to-week.
It’s been an honor and a privilege to cover so many great teams in my tenure, along with getting to experience several state trips in every season. I can’t even count the number of games I’ve went to on the clock and will always cherish the memories – and emotional connections I felt in heartbreaking playoff losses – that come with it.
Being from East Buchanan before graduating from Missouri Western State University in 2019, I grew up playing sports against North Platte and West Platte, so it’s been fun to see old faces along with meeting new ones. Getting to see the North Platte boys’ teams, along with West Platte girls’ basketball, go from bottom of the KCI to top-notch programs in my time has been fun to write about.
The fact that no North Platte girls’ sports team had won a state title before 2021 and this spring marked the third consecutive state title in track is nothing less than remarkable, not to mention the success that has happened in cross-country. Having to find ways to write about the 0-10 football team in 2021 then having the final game I cover be a state championship last fall is something I’ll never forget as well.
West Platte may not have brought home any state titles in the last few years, but their talented athletes have shown their skills on the track and field and each team in every sport had at least one deep postseason run. The friendly community speaks for itself, having familiar and non-familiar faces come up to me at games to show their gratitude, which I admire.
I didn’t know much about Platte County, Park Hill or Park Hill South when I accepted this job but have seen so many talented – and kind – athletes in all sports, along with making connections with coaches. Since taking over in 2021, I’ve been able to go to at least one district championship in every sport as basketball is the only sport that I didn’t get a chance to cover at state.
Platte County’s new facilities are some of the best in the Kansas City area and it’s been evident on the court, field and track. The turnaround of the girls’ basketball team and both running programs have shown the top-notch coaching staffs are making the most of the players.
The Park Hill District Soccer and Football Stadiums are two of my favorite fields that I’ve been to. Park Hill South has one of the best views in the city and the rivalry with Park Hill is evident at every crossover I’ve been to – plus the athletes at these schools never cease to amaze me.
I wish I had the space and time to go on and on about specific games that stand out or shoutout certain teams, coaches or players because there are so many. These past three years haven’t always been easy; however, getting to cover high school sports for a living hasn’t felt like a job, it’s been an unreal experience that I’m forever thankful for.
I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in my time here and while I look forward to my future endeavors, I’ll remember the last three years forever. When I headed to my car as I walked away from Jefferson City High School at state track knowing that it was perhaps the final sporting event I’ll ever cover, I reflected on this chapter of my life and realized that new beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.