Beech Tree News Network

Large display photos of athletic teams hanging in school gymnasiums have become a common occurrence in recent years.  However, when fans see the current Butler County Lady Bears photo this season, it may raise a few questions.  It's not your traditional team photo that most fans have become accustomed to - and that's exactly what the team and coaching staff were shooting for.  

"There is an ample amount of symbolism in this photo and I felt that it would be best to explain it so when people come to our gym and see it, they will understand why it looks the way it does," said first-year head coach Brian Bivens.  

The various elements of the photo came about from a desire to honor the past while moving toward the future.  

"Our coaching staff came up with the general idea of the team photo including the goal to honor the past and the sunrise to symbolize the changes occurring within the program," said Bivens.  "We contacted Julie Hudnall of Julie Hudnall Photography to work out the plans. After some thought, Julie came to me with the idea of doing a silhouette, with individual pictures included around the border. The more I thought about it, the more it tied in to what we believe as a program," added Bivens.

Blending the individual components with the broader team concept was essential for Coach Bivens.

"The fact that each individual brings their own unique set of skills and talents, and when we use those talents as one team in order to complement each other, we lose those individual identities as we become a part of something greater," said Bivens.

The coach is happy with the result.  

"We are extremely pleased with the way the photo turned out. We certainly hope that everyone appreciates the uniqueness, quality, and symbolism that is contained within this year’s team photo," said Bivens.  "I want to extend a huge thank you to Julie Hudnall for making this possible."  

Three concepts are in play with the photo - one is the individual vs. team dynamic, the "old" basketball goal, and the sunrise.

"The number one question that I anticipate regarding the photo is, 'Why can’t you see the girls in the team portion of the photo?'” Bivens explains it this way:  "At the top of the layout, you will notice that there are individual pictures of each team member. This symbolizes that, above all, each girl is her own individual self on the outside with her own personality and set of skills. However, when we come together as “One Team,” we lose that individual identity because we are a part of something that is bigger than ourselves. That is the reason for the silhouette photo of the team."

Although the "old" basketball goal is a representation of the past, Coach Bivens is quick to point out that his program has nothing but respect for the Lady Bears of previous generations 

"The 'old' basketball goal is a representation of the past. We wanted to honor the players and coaches that have come before us. We are not putting the past behind us. Good, bad, or indifferent, it is important for us to remember our past if we want to grow in the future," said Bivens.  "So instead, we are putting the past beside us, always remembering those that paved the way and made the Lady Bears basketball program what it is today."

Finally, the sunrise in included to signify the changes that have occurred since last season.

"With the loss of three key seniors from last year’s team, who were integral parts of this program for so long, coupled with the coaching change, there is a “dawning of a new era.'  The majority of our team is made up of sophomores and freshmen who are going to have to step in and become that next group who grows together and plays together as well as Lynsie (Clark), Katie (Graham), and McKenzie (Smith) did," said Bivens.  "As far as the new staff is concerned, anytime there is a coaching change in any program, certain traditions and philosophies are going to change. We wanted to represent all of these changes in a manner that would complement the new direction of our program, while paying tribute to the past."

Both the Butler County High School Bears and Lady Bears will be in action tomorrow night at home agains 12th District foe Edmonson County.  The Lady Bears play at 6 p.m. with the Bears to follow.  

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Story by John Embry, Beech Tree News.