Sometimes when you are young, hopes and dreams really do come true.

Sometimes.

It's not often that you visualize something and believe that it can happen, and then it really does. For Nina Passen, Emily Vlahakis and Maria Swartz, the captains of the Watterson High School field hockey team, it happened last Saturday when they captured the state championship with a 1-0 win over Columbus Academy in a game that showcased just how good field hockey is in central Ohio.

"When that whistle ended the game, I was in utter shock," Vlahakis said. "I'm overjoyed at what we accomplished. I'm overjoyed that this team developed the chemistry it took to win it all, and I don't think any of us can put into words what it means to us to accomplish our goal."

"The state championship is like nothing else I have experienced and it comes to a team that wanted to win so badly," Passen added. "We are such a close-knit group, and it is something we will never forget."

"We all put pressure on ourselves to reach this goal and even though we had to overcome some obstacles along the way, we did it and I emphasize, did it," Swartz said.

Reflecting on the successful tournament trip, the three seniors agree that they were at their best as the games got tougher.

"I really believe things changed when we started the tournament," Passen said. "We were pumped up for every game and truly made a leap in the way we played."

Swartz said it was all about proving things.

"Every game down the stretch, we proved we had the fire to win. We had this motto about fighting back and that is exactly what we did in almost every game and it paid off."

"There are so many good teams in our area and our team felt like we constantly had to prove ourselves and in the end we did just that," Vlahakis added.

Watterson coach Janet Baird said leadership and experience were the key to the title run.

"These seniors have been terrific. They stepped up and made things happen throughout the season, and I am so happy for them. Bringing the title to Watterson is a tribute to them. The difference in this final weekend was their confidence and the play of Domini Paradiso, our goalkeeper who was so good in the clutch. I'm very excited and proud of my team."

The players were quick to give credit to Baird.

"I have been with coach Baird four years and each year she made it harder on us and that is why we won the state title," Swartz said. "She taught us the fundamentals of field hockey and we displayed them."

"Coach Baird is the best motivator in every aspect of our sport," Vlahakis said. "She knows when to push you and when not to."

"She has been so great to work with and she wanted to win the championship just as bad as we did," Passen added.

So on a beautiful, November afternoon, two outstanding programs represented central Ohio sports in the best way possible, and it was a memorable win for Watterson.

"It was our ultimate goal and we did it," Vlahakis said.

"This title was for all those players that came before us and all those who are coming to play at Watterson," Swartz said.

"When we saw Watterson win the state title when we were in eighth grade, we all looked at each other and said someday that's gonna be us," Passen said.

Sometimes Nina, those things do really happen, but only sometimes.

I'll see you at a game.

Larry Larson is a former athletics director at Grandview High School. He can be heard as "Mr. High School Sports" on WTVN 610 AM.