Area blessed with athletes who had ‘It’

Movie star Clara Bow was called the “It” Girl based upon the name of a movie she was in and on her appeal during the 1920s silent film era.

Like her, there are those special athletes who have “It.”

“It” is what I consider those intangible abilities that set individuals apart. Over the years I’ve witnessed the phenomenon among high school youth both in plays and on the fields of play, and constantly been amazed.

I was reminded of that once more while interviewing Angie Bjorklund for today’s Prep Page feature. She is the latest in a number of GSL players who are affecting Division I basketball programs.

Her coach at University High, Mark Stinson, said of Angie that she sees the big picture. It is one of those ingredients that sets such athletes apart from their high school contemporaries.

“It” people include high school thespians and musicians who excel before an audience like Broadway veterans sending chills down the spine and raising goose bumps on the arms.

In the case of athletes, they are not merely talented, but have a knack for raising their level of play in the most important games of their careers (I once named one such basketball player my all-league MVP for that very reason and took grief, but that’s another story for another time).

It always struck home while listening during the Greater Spokane League scholar-athlete award luncheon to the amazing biographies of 4.0 students immersed in community activities, who also found time to win state championships.

Achievers of that caliber of individual boggle the mind.

They become the difference-makers when a game is on the line, who oblige when there is a need to fulfill.

You know who has “It.”

“It” is a John Stockton who, through hard work and study goes from good Gonzaga Prep high school player to the NBA Hall of Fame. It is a Shadle Park’s Mark Rypien or NC’s Ryne Sandberg, who lifts their high schools to the heights in three sports and become a Super Bowl MVP and Major League Baseball Hall of Fame player, respectively. It is an Adam Morrison who has the ability through will of carrying a team to greatness on his back, whether at Mead or Gonzaga University.

Turn on the television and you see the face of the GSL in several current “It” girls playing for Arizona State University. Emily Westerberg, Briann January, Regan Pariseau have “It.” They did so from the time they began playing.

Take a seat in McCarthey Athletic Center. Jami Bjorklund and Heather Bowman have “It,” just as Morrison did before them.

There are also the players with “It” who respond when their name is called. I remember when current Central Valley basketball coach Rick Sloan filled in at quarterback for injured Idaho starter Scott Linehan (now the head coach of the St. Louis Rams) and led the Vandals to a conference championship.

Some of that must have rubbed off last year on his Bears, who received unsung heroics at the right time from unlikely starters and subs and finished second in state.

Not all athletes with “It” get it. I’ve also known those with the gift and they could not carry it over into their personal lives.

There are plenty of good athletes and every team needs them. But only the truly special few set themselves apart.

They have “It.”