It’s with a heavy heart that I write this week’s column because it’s about someone that is more than just a colleague, he is, more importantly, a member of our South Valley Newspaper family unit.
For the past year Josh Staloch has served the Hollister community as the sports editor, roaming the sidelines at football games. He has sat perched in the bleachers at basketball and volleyball contests and watched baseball, track and cross country from a birds-eye view.
His demonstrated passion, enthusiasm and love for both the area and the teams he has covered is clearly evident in his work. It isn’t anything out of the ordinary to find Josh chatting with two volleyball players in the afternoon and doing his best to pump up the water polo team hours later. If you didn’t know any better, you’d swear he had a twin because he seemed to be everywhere, doing his best to cover all the local events.
But 10 days ago, I got a call at the Dispatch office that quickly changed all that.
Last Wednesday, Josh was in a motorcycle accident while en route to our Gilroy office for our weekly sports meeting. He was immediately airlifted to the Regional Medical Center in San Jose in very critical condition. The news spread throughout the sports community like wildfire, especially in the Hollister, where Josh has become an easily recognizable figure in town.
We have received a tremendous outpouring of support since then and speaking in behalf of our entire newspaper family, I can’t express to you how much it means to all of us.
One of the most touching moments of the week came this past Monday when sports writer Ana Patejdl, working on the Tri-County Athletic League cross country story, talked with San Benito Head Coach Jess Morales. He told Ana that before Satuday’s TCAL Final, the team decided to run the event for Josh. The ‘Balers came through with sweeping individual and team victories. The team also signed a card which Morales hand delivered to John Yewell, the city editor at the Free Lance.
I can tell you that as word spread of the incredibly moving gesture, many were moved to tears. It’s a living testament to what Josh means to this sports community. He is an incredibly enthusiastic and passionate editor whose love for San Benito sports is evident in his work.
This is by no means an isolated incident. On almost a daily basis San Juan Oaks general manager Scott Fuller has called for an update on Josh’s condition. Boxer Kelsey Jeffries and her manager Bruce Anderson check in often to let us know Josh is in their prayers. And many others have done the same.
It’s no wonder that you all have embraced him the way you have. In the month that I’ve had the privilege of being in Josh’s association, I learned quickly that he has a finger on the pulse of the sports community in Hollister. It’s more than just a job to Josh – it’s his love.
He is proud of you and has bragged on you often. He was particularly excited about the strength of the cross country and the volleyball teams, that he strongly felt could go all the way. His passion for ‘Baler football has also been evident in his work.
The concern that you have shown as a collective community has inclined me to provide you with as accurate an update on Josh’s current condition as possible. The best way to describe his present state is that he’s critical, but seemingly as stable as you can be in his current condition. There is no certain prognosis.
In the sports world, of which Josh is an integral part, when a teammate is seriously injured, particularly in football, the entire team removes its helmets and drops to one knee.
Rest assured, at this time we as a collective team in Hollister, Gilroy and Morgan Hill have symbolically done just that. We appreciate your genuine concern and at this time ask you to join us in taking time out this weekend to drop to two knees.
What Josh and his immediate family need right now only God can provide.
I speak for not only our South Valley family but for his father, mother and two sisters when I say that we can’t begin to thank you for all the thoughts and prayers that have already been extended. We miss Josh as much as you do and while we are pinch-hitting in his absence we are all hopeful that the all-star will be back roaming the sidelines much sooner than later.
Please continue to keep our friend and colleague in your thoughts and whisper.
He just might hear you.
Josh, get well soon. We miss you. It’s just not the same around here without you.
John Coscia can be contacted at
jc*****@gi************.com
or at 408-842-9858.
