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Gail Wood | The Olympian • Published September 10, 2009

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We all know about the talented athlete who grabs the headlines with a winning shot.

Players like Jill Webb, the Saint Martin’s forward who has scored five of her team’s eight goals in the first fives games of the season.

And players like Hunter Wood, the Olympia High School tennis player who won his team’s No. 1 singles spot last year as a freshman and reached state.

Two talented athletes. Two high achievers.

And behind the scenes, away from the headlines but always there to watch and support, have been the parents. I met Jill’s and Hunter’s mothers this week. Both of them were often in the role of taxi drivers when their kids were growing up, shuttling them to practices out of town.

Cindy Wood drove Hunter to Seattle when he was a kid for a tennis lessons. Julie Jensen, Jill’s mother, drove Jill to Tacoma for soccer practice. Besides the taxi duties, they're always there cheering.

There’s the commitment of the athlete that we all admire. But sometimes we forget that behind nearly every successful athlete there’s the supportive mom and dad.

posted by Gail Wood