Poland Bulldogs receive a spirited sendoff

The Bulldogs will play Upper Sandusky in Columbus tonight.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- What's blue and white and loud all over?
Students, teachers, faculty and staff at Poland schools welcoming the high school boys basketball team before the state semifinals with cheers, high-fives and well-wishes.
The Bulldogs will meet Upper Sandusky in a hardwood matchup at 8:30 tonight at Ohio State's Value City Arena in Columbus.
Students and teachers at the district schools donned the blue and white Poland colors to meet the team in style. Team members visited each school Wednesday, garnering congratulations and wishes of good luck.
A pep rally open to the public is set for 8 a.m. today at Poland Seminary High School's fieldhouse. The team will leave for Columbus after the rally.
"We hope to see a lot of you in the stands in your blue and white; if not, you'll be in our hearts," Chris Lovell, a senior on the team, told McKinley Elementary pupils.
The team snaked through the elementary school gym, giving high-fives to each of their admiring young fans.
Young fans
Sixth-graders Alyssa Carline, 12, Brenna Gebhardt, 11, Annamarie Cipriano, 12, and Quynn Latsko, 12, wore blue-and-white ribbons and headbands in their hair, showing their team spirit.
Each of the girls says she plans to attend tonight's game.
"We love Poland," Annamarie squealed.
"I really love basketball," added Alyssa.
Quynn plans to make the trip with a friend and her family, and Brenna will go with her family.
More blue and white accompanied by handsprings and cheers greeted the team at Poland Middle School.
Nick Sebastian, 14, an eighth-grader, also plans to make the journey to Columbus.
"I've got to support my team," said Nick, whose been playing basketball for seven years.
Bill Hill, 14, and also in eighth grade, also plans to watch the game.
"We're going to win the game," he assured.
An avid basketball player himself, seventh-grader Kyle Davis, 13, has been following the team through its season.
He, too, is confident they'll be victorious.
Jordan Smith, 13, is a post/forward on the middle school's seventh-grade basketball team, which also enjoyed a winning season this year. He hopes to keep playing and join the high school hoopsters when he's old enough.
He too will watch tonight's game with friends.
"I know our team's going to win," he said. "They've had a really good season."