There used to be a time when I didn’t interview high school players. They didn’t understand that whatever they said was fair game for print even if it was so-and-so is a jerk or that school stinks.

It’s not like I’m an East Coast sports writer raking muck just to stir the pot. But people run fast and loose with the idea, “Don’t put that in the paper,” when I have every right as a professional journalist.

But the more I thought about, the more I decided the kids are the ones playing the game. They’re the ones on the field. They have the best seats in the house, so I started easing into their opinion.

Now, I’ve decided the New Millennial kids are pretty cool. Yeah, they type with their thumbs, but other than that they’re OK.

I just got done talking with Ephrata junior Kenedee Peters. I’m man enough to admit I was trying to pick up golf tips from a girl. Hey, she’s headed to Washington State on a golf scholarship, just shot 69 the other day at Lakeview Golf & Country Club. As a freshman, Kenedee fired a 68 on the final day at Meadowwood Golf Course in Spokane to win a 2A state championship. Talking golf with a kid that’s going places was a lot of fun.

I’ve spent a little time with the Othello baseball team this year, Sonny Garza’s first season as the Huskies skipper. I didn’t know Abel Gomez all that well before the season started, but I’ve come to enjoy our conversations.

He blew a knee out during football and missed the entire wrestling season. For a returning state placer, ranked No. 3 in the preseason polls, that must have been rough. Abel worked hard on his rehab and came back as the Huskies ace on the mound for baseball season.

Othello beat Quincy in the CWAC 2A District 5-6 Tournament to advance to the crossover game for the first time since 2009. As I walked around the diamond doing interviews afterward I noticed Abel just standing there with misty eyes. Usually tears are for the guys who just played their final game. “You OK?” I asked.

He nodded, “I’ve been working my butt off to get back just so I could play, now we’re going to the crossover game. I never expected to get this far.”

‘Nuff said, I get it.

Then there was that time talking to the Moses Lake big guy Chandler Fluaitt at the non-league dual with Othello. I have this philosophy, always make friends with the heavyweight, the defensive tackle, the shot putter. That way when the little guys start peppering you for more ink, you have a guy named Bubba to run interference.

Chandler’s a sharp dude. He was just off a Tri-State Tournament championship over in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Having covered Tri-State for years, we talked a little bit about that level of competition, Moses Lake wrestling tradition and what it’s like wrestling for Jaime Garza.

“So are you a fat-man roll kinda guy?” I asked.

He just smiled, “I don’t like wrestling like a big guy with all the pushing and shoving. I like to shoot.” A big dog with a single leg, I like that.

They’re all fun to talk to. I finally managed to get more than three words in a row out of Othello 103 pounder Chris Melo. I’ve had some great conversations with Huskies 190-pounder TJ Martinez.

TJ won a 2A state championship and he talked about watching teammate Reese Jones win a state title with a take-down in the last 10 seconds and how that inspired him.

Warden pitcher Jizelle Pruneda isn’t quite used to people with pencils and notebooks writing down her every word. She did fine, but she was quick to volunteer her sister Julianna. “She talks a lot,” she said with a smile. Everybody’s sister talks a lot.

Looking back, if I didn’t talk with the kids I’d be depriving myself of getting to know Generation Next and what a shame that would be. The kids are alright.

Rodney Harwood is a sports writer at the Columbia Basin Herald and can be reached at rharwood@columbiabasinherald.com