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Letter signings stir memories from past

Sylas Wright
Sierra Sun

A wave of deja vu washed over as I shuffled across an icy Truckee High parking lot and entered the gym’s hallway, where a couple of high school athletes were penning their National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.

I couldn’t help but flash back. Way back and#8212; all the way to my first day on the job.

The date was Feb. 1, 2005. I was fresh out of college, trying to figure out this new gig on the fly when a news tip came across my desk. A Truckee senior was signing a letter of intent to play football for the Army Black Knights.



My first story.

I asked our staff photographer, Josh Miller, if he could accompany me for photos. We needed to hustle. The signing was about to happen.



Miller lagged in collecting his gear as I waited anxiously, nervous about my first assignment. Finally we departed the office, the weather clear and crisp as we drove into an icy Truckee parking lot and#8212; much like Wednesday of this week. We were late.

We walked through the main entrance and found senior three-sport athlete Jamie Maehler sitting at a small table in front of the trophy case and#8212; much like Aleigh Krug and Annie Reiswig’s letter signings this week. He was flanked by his proud parents, Wes and Melinda, as well as Truckee football coach and then-athletic director Bob Shaffer, who also stood proud.

Maehler, an amiable guy and a stud of an athlete and#8212; he still owns the NIAA record for career receiving yards in 11-man football and#8212; had already signed his letter.

Not a problem. Miller, who was not shy, sprung into action, instructing Maehler to pick up the pen again and stage like he was signing. It worked.

I interviewed both parents and Shaffer, stumbling through my words as I nervously scribbled on my pad. Maehler was an easy interview, genuinely happy, polite and well spoken, and the feel-good story almost wrote itself.

Fast forward nearly seven years and here I am, still, wondering how all that time could have passed. Truckee, meanwhile, is still pumping out the athletes, providing everlasting fodder for a local sports editor.

I’ve found that, whether accomplished by Jamie Maehler or Reiswig and Krug years later, high school athletic achievements still evoke the same electric vibe and a real excitement. I felt honored to share in the experiences then, and nothing has changed.

and#8212; Sylas Wright is the sports editor of the Sierra Sun. He may be reached at swright@sierrasun.com.


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