Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

It was 15 minutes into a 12-hour drive to begin Murken Family Vacation 2022 that one of my children realized they had forgotten something.

“It’s fine,” my wife attempted to explain through pleas to turn around. “Everyone forgets things.”

Behind my sunglasses I performed an eye roll that would make my 12-year old daughter proud. (Parents you know the type).

“Yeah, but how do you forget THAT?” I muttered toward my wife.

Before the words were out of my mouth I knew what was coming.

“I wouldn’t say much about forgetting things if I was you,” my wife quipped.

At least I believe that was her response, I was busy trying to act invisible as I knew what was coming.

It’s true. An adage as old as time.

If you forget one important thing, whether it’s a birthday, an anniversary, a special event or picking your kids up from school and no one lets you forget about it.

I’ll gladly admit I am guilty of this offense and I take my annual reminders of past memory slips in stride.

There is a positive of my ill-timed forgetfulness – every mistake is a learning opportunity.

Miss that important date once and you’ll (hopefully) never forget it again.

The reason you don’t forget? It’s likely the unpleasant memory of that one time you slipped up that lingers.

I have the exact opposite reason for never forgetting the anniversary of the day Your Prep Sports went live.

For several months leading up to August 16, 2021 I thought about how to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the first story published on Your Prep Sports.

I had plans for a leadup, a few stories and a column.

Fall sports planning, family activities and general life interceded and by the time August 16 arrived I had forgotten.

My wife (again) had the wherewithal to remind me in time and we launched a five-day donation drive to celebrate the five years Your Prep Sports had been publishing stories.

It is what happened next that will never let me forget August 16 as the birthday of Your Prep Sports.

I told my wife I hoped to get 10 donations during the last-minute five-day donation drive last fall.

10 I thought would be a home run.

There were 10 in a few hours.

As the donations rolled in my emotions got the best of me. It was truly one of the best days of my professional career.

Not the donations but the support.

When Your Prep Sports started there was a vision to focus on highlight the young people in your communities.

On that day and that week, to feel how many people appreciated what the team at Your Prep Sports has worked so hard for five years to do it was overwhelming in the best way possible.

This year we are running it back. We are extending the donation drive to six days.

If you appreciate what Your Prep Sports does to spotlight local teams, athletes and coaches and you enjoy our free content make a donation.

For a small business like Your Prep Sports any donation goes a long way.

I’m so proud of the team we have built at Your Prep Sports, the friendships that have blossomed, the stories we’ve told and the work that we continue to do.

There is simply no forgetting what Your Prep Sports has meant to me.

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