Thank you, coach Ed

Kyle Ediger never let the emotions of a game get too high or too low. 
In front of a packed house Friday night, though, the Hampton grad, teacher and coach surely had a little extra juice. 
It still makes no sense. It’s hard to wrap your head around. The news still leaving you gasping for air, a 10-ton weight pushing on your chest. It’s still difficult to hear, harder to read, impossible to understand. 
“Kyle Ediger is gone.”
Man, and just hours after Ediger and his Hawks picked up a big road win at Dorchester. There are times where life doesn’t make sense and it sure didn’t in Hampton last week. 
Kyle was quiet, calm and confident. He cared more about his boys’ grades than their field goal percentage.
School first, basketball second. It’s the Hampton way. 
Those kids meant everything to Kyle. In their successes the Hampton coach gave the kids all the credit and made sure to step out of the way. 
In defeat, he talked about the process, how Hampton was getting better, always pointing out that one day, the Hawks would be back. 
Kyle won’t be here to finish that process. 
He wanted to rebuild a program that was once great, following in the footsteps of his high school coach, Jerry Eickhoff. 
Jerry was at Friday’s game. He’s been part of many Hampton vs Giltner contests. The two teams added another thrilling chapter Friday. 
Next to the definition of Hawk pride, there would be a photo of Kyle Ediger. 
Life is much more important than any basketball game. Kyle knew that and lived every day by that sentiment. 
He showed his boys how to tie their ties on game day. Dress for success. Basketball lessons are great, but the life lessons don’t come with a price tag. 
Kyle was always the first one in, last one out. Doesn’t matter if it’s Kyle the player, coach or teacher. 
He had such an impact on so many people, whether it be in the classroom or the basketball court. That was clear through social media last week. 
But, was there ever any doubt if Hampton would take the floor Friday night against arch-rival Giltner? 
Put it this way -- would Kyle pack up his shoes and go home?
No chance. 
Kyle’s basketball shoes and coaches shirt sat at the head of the bench Friday, a reminder that there’s work to be done and the process still in the works. 
Carson Klute, someone with similar goals as Kyle trying to return Hampton to glory on the gridiron, stepped in Friday, but made it clear this was not his team. 
It’s Kyle’s team. 
How about that game on Friday? Felt like two teams playing for a state tournament spot in front of a near-capacity crowd. It was the first step in healing. 
The support from Giltner to Hampton was heartwarming, too. Coach Scott Dangler sporting the purple tie. The purple dress shirts from the Hornets entering the gym. 
But, at the end of the day, it’s a game and the Hornets want to win, too. It’s exactly what Kyle would have wanted. 
Cooper Reeson and the Hornets dashed Hampton’s picture-perfect ending to an emotional Friday night. Yet, Kyle would have let out a big smile. “We’re close,” he’d say. “We’ll go back to work and get better.”
Fly high, coach. And thank you. 
RICHARD RHODEN can be reached at sports@hamilton.net.