One of the greatest things about being involved with high school sports is the number of people you get to meet – players, coaches, officials and support staff.

Some move on to other jobs and fade away. Others are there year after year and you become friendly with them. Some are focused on a particular sport and when you see them. For example, you say, “Oh, there’s so-and-so. It must be football season.’’

That was the case for me on Friday night (Oct. 8) when Glendale Cactus played at Phoenix Washington.

There on the Washington sideline was a familiar face, one I had not seen in about 25 years. I wasn’t quite sure if it was the same guy at first because it had been so long. We’d both gotten older and wiser. Wider, too, in my case.

Sure enough, I knew when I heard the voice. It belonged to Jerry Kopke, keeper of Washington’s long-time statistics flame. He is 70-plus, has served as a substitute teacher after retiring from full-time duty 10 years ago, and still prowls the sideline with an eagle eye. Fifty-something years in all.

He can probably tell you just about every stat for every player, from quarterback Mike Pagel of the mid-1970s to today’s signal-caller, Devonte Smythe. He remembered the time when I had asked him to help out with a game in Tucson -- I was the prep editor for the old Phoenix Gazette.

He loves the game.  He loves the players. He loves his school. That’s part of the reason why he remains young at heart. There probably aren’t too many people on other sidelines who will do what he has been able to do and stay as long as he has.

You have to admire and appreciate someone like him. He is a true asset to the game.

Thanks, Jerry.