Brendan Quealy: Kingsley Stags proved they had purpose
Nov. 25—Ahead of the Stags' regional championship win over Gladstone, Kingsley head coach Tim Wooer played a short clip from standup comedian Michael Jr. after film study in the high school media center.
The heartfelt message from the comedian was simple but effective: You know what you're doing, but do you know why you're doing it?
The Stags "what?" is pretty simple. They play football.
But the "why?" ... well, that's a little more complicated and certainly much more personal for each and every one of the 48 Stags that made up Kingsley's roster.
After the clip ended, Wooer asked his players to offer up a few of their own "why?"s.
Not a single one said to win a regional championship. Not a single one said to win a state semifinal. And not a single one said their "why?" was to win a state championship.
But that is exactly what those 48 did Saturday against Almont, claiming and earning the Division 6 state title with a 38-24 victory over Almont at Ford Field in Detroit.
The Stags played with a purpose. They absolutely knew — deep in their bones — exactly why they were playing.
They were playing for themselves, for each other, for the coaches, for their families, for their classmates, for their fans, for those still here and those no longer here.
The Stags played for Kingsley, and they won for Kingsley.
From the moment that first whistle blew to the moment the final second ticked off the clock, the Stags didn't just look like they belonged on that field — they proved they belonged with a 14-point victory that truly was a team win in every sense of that first word.
Team. Family.
Those words have been interchangeable for the Stags this season, and it wasn't just some sentiment cavalierly thrown around without any meaning. All of those players truly see each and every one of their teammates and coaches as family members.
They all bleed orange, and it was clear that Kingsley-colored blood was pumping through the Stags' veins for two-and-a-half hours Saturday. And I expect that blood will continue to course through all 48 players for the rest of their lives, forever remembering November 25, 2023, as the day their family became champions.
As the celebration kicked off, those watching on TV could hear Kingsley players saying "I love you" over and over to their teammates.
That love was earned in the trenches, in practices, in film sessions, in the weight room, in the offseason workouts. A love truly well-deserved rewarded with a championship that was truly well-deserved.
What Tim Wooer has done as head coach since returning to Kingsley in 2018 is nothing short of remarkable. He will no doubt pass the praise along to his players — as he should — but Wooer changed the culture in Kingsley.
And the culture isn't about valuing wins and championships. It's about valuing one thing, and it's the word the Stags say after every game as they gather in a circle on the field.
It's their "why?" — through and through.
Family.
