Remembering Jesse

This week, at my request, The Glasgow Courier is honoring Chinook’s Jesse Dannels as Athlete of the Week.

Jesse was killed in a motor vehicle accident on Sunday.

As many of you know, when your child is involved in sports for any length of time, that sport and its participants become family. Jesse had a huge family. He was a Sugarbeeter, participating in multiple sports.

In Glasgow, our student athletes knew him from swimming and wrestling. At the divisional wrestling meet in Big Sandy last weekend, Jesse placed second in his weight class and was on his way to state.

Last swim season, he was honored as a senior swimmer at the divisional meet in Plentywood and the state meet in Roundup.

Jesse was a young man who people just liked to be around. He was always ready with a smile and encouraging words. He displayed sincere sportsmanship and was a positive role model for anyone in his vicinity.

At swim meets, you could find him at the heat benches before and after races encouraging and congratulating other swimmers.

Before his races, he would stand on the starting blocks and look around the pool until he found his mother. Once he found her, he would shout out, “Hi Mom!”, with his huge beaming smile. Once he was done with that, he would adjust his cap and goggles, put his game face on, and take his mark.

Jesse’s death is an unfortunate reminder that we can’t take anything or anyone for granted. Please keep his family and all who loved him in your prayers this week as they lay him to rest and honor his life.