What if I am a good luck charm?

I know I’m short, and yes, I have some Irish ancestry. Now, that doesn’t mean I’m an-honest-to-God leprechaun, but some people are starting to think that maybe I am a bit of a lucky charm.

You see, since I came to the Tribune-Phonograph four years ago, I’ve been privileged to see some amazing sporting spectacles. I’ve watched the Colby girls basketball team win their first conference titles and punch their first trip to the state tournament in school history.

I’ve seen the Colby girls cross-country team compete at state this last fall, and with everyone from their varsity squad coming back this coming school year, chances are good the Colby girls will win a fourth Cloverbelt crown and return to the state meet — which should be held in Wisconsin Rapids this time around.

In the last two weeks, I witnessed the Colby girls track and field team hoist up a conference title after they defeated Loyal and Neillsville on June 8. It was their first title since 1990.

A week later, and both Colby Hornets track programs picked up some hardware for the trophy case when they swept their home regional on Monday night. Once again, it was over three decades since the last time any Hornet track team achieved that feat.

I’ll be waiting for my own trophy, since clearly I’m a good luck charm, and my very presence ensures that my teams will win.

Obviously, I’m joking. And, if I’m being completely honest, I’ve never been a fan of the term “good luck” or even “The luck of the Irish.”

I’m a firm believer that people make their own luck, and the harder they work at something, the more “luck” they have. Of course, that’s the problem with work . . . it’s work.

To achieve anything of value in life it takes a certain level of commitment, perseverance and a ton of elbow grease. But what you get at the end of all that is pretty amazing. Just ask the Colby Hornets track team.

So, no, there’s no such thing as luck in my book. I’m more of a causeand- effect kind of guy. If you do Action A, Cause B will happen. Work out, grow muscles. Eat nothing but junk food and you’ll become one with the Lazy Boy and will need to hire someone to clip your toenails.

I’m sure guys like Colby’s Brent Jeske and Abbotsford’s Ty Falteisek would agree. Both young men are highly driven and motivated. Both have put in a ton of work in gym these last few months in pursuit of a dream. Brent is currently in the Dakotas, camping at South Dakota State as he pursues his dream of being an NCAA D-I football player.

Ty has the same dream, and has also attended D-I camps, including just recently getting back from Iowa State, a Power 5 team in the FBS. Ty is also coming off a broken leg, but that hasn’t stopped him from getting one meet away from state. He’ll be the first to tell you it wasn’t luck that caused the break, and it wasn’t luck that got him where he is now.

It was hard work, belief and drive. That will take you a lot farther in life than luck.

M USINGS AND G RUMBLINGS

ROSS PATTERMANN REPORTER