Today is a good day to celebrate all of our area athletes, regardless of season.

While only a finite few will ever win state championships, every one of the hundreds of teenagers in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties is worth admiring. Each and every one of those athletes, even those whose name never appeared in a newspaper headline or even in agate type, deserve a round of applause.

Congratulations as well go to Jamestown High School, coach Tom Langworthy and his players for winning the school’s first state championship since the 2000 season. It would take something truly noteworthy to eclipse the Red Raiders’ amazing run of success over the past couple of years.

That something has taken place about 15 miles up Interstate 86.

We take our hat off to the Randolph Cardinals for winning three consecutive state championships, a feat rarely accomplished in the professional ranks, much less at the high school level where players change so frequently. We note, too, that Randolph saved its best for last. On Saturday, the Cardinals found themselves facing a 27-6 halftime deficit in their bid for a third consecutive Class D state championship. Rather than simply roll over, play out the second half and settle for a nice run to the Carrier Dome, Randolph lived up to its motto: keep playing. Randolph stormed back to take a lead in the fourth quarter only to see Chester score a touchdown with about a minute left to take a 41-40 lead. Randolph fired back to score on Bryce Morrison’s 5-yard quarterback keeper with 26 seconds left to secure the team’s third consecutive championship.

Coach Brent Brown and his coaching staff re-evaluated what they had been doing, made some adjustments and put their players in position to make plays. And, make plays the players did.

Don’t think that this championship was won solely on the football field, however. Championships are won during off-season passing leagues and weight training sessions, with a strong volunteer-led midget football program and by parents who do their part to make sure their child is both following their coaches’ direction, make sure their child is at practice and ensures their child is doing their part in the classroom to be eligible to play.

Congratulations Randolph – you’ve done it again.