By Carleen Wild
Moody County Enterprise

I wasn’t prepared for what I encountered a few weeks ago when I stopped into the football field in Colman.
It was a Friday night, and the Hawks were well into their game. I had stopped by for a quick photo of a couple of players for a story we were working on, with little time to spare before another commitment. My plan was simple — grab a shot or two and leave.
But once I arrived, I didn’t want to go.
Under the glow of the Friday night lights, the entire community seemed to be gathered — not just to watch football but to partake in a tradition that felt as deeply rooted in the soil as the crops surrounding the small South Dakota town.

It was simple, yet extraordinary.
I grew up in a small town, marched in the band during halftime of our own school’s games in a small town, and have attended countless high school, college, and professional games since.
But never have I seen such a heartwarming rural America setting: pickup trucks backed up to the sidelines, tailgates down, with fans perched on lawn chairs and snacking while cheering on their beloved Hawks just feet away.
Kids darted in and out of the crowd, playing tag or tossing their own footballs, while parents chatted nearby with longtime friends.
“It’s probably unlike anything you’d experience in a larger school or city,” a student remarked when I mentioned how captivated I was by the scene.
“It’s just who we are,” she added with a shrug, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
In a time when sports increasingly lean toward bigger and better — flashier scoreboards, grander facilities, and endless amenities — this was absolutely striking to me.
No unnecessary flair. Just two nine-man teams, their fans, the cheerleaders, the lights, and a stunningly beautiful fall night.
The Colman-Egan Hawks don’t seem fazed by their modest accommodations, either. Year after year, their football and track teams can dominate. The track team trains a couple times a year on a neighboring school’s facilities, but mostly runs on the blacktop streets surrounding the school. Their success is a testament to the grit and determination of these young athletes.
For what it’s worth, to an outsider like me, their accomplishments shine even brighter against this humble backdrop.
As the school considers how to use an additional $2 million in leftover funds from a current expansion project, a new track and field complex is back on the table.
May they dream big, but also hold on to the uniqueness and magic that already exists — a community gathering under the lights, of kids running free, and of neighbors celebrating their team together in a way that’s timeless and priceless.