COMMENT: Perfection carries several meanings

Seasons are defined by wins and losses; district, regional and state titles; and record-setting performances.

But what exactly makes for a perfect season?

Some would argue a perfect regular season record. Others would say a season isn’t perfect unless it culminates with a state championship.

And still others would be satisfied with making school history, becoming the first team to achieve an honor that had eluded all of the teams that have gone through the program before — such as the Lakewood Ranch High volleyball team, which won the school’s first district title Oct. 27.

More often that not, how you fare in the postseason carries the most weight, outweighing any regular season accomplishments — even a perfect record.

The Lady Mustangs had a perfect 5-0-district record during the regular season, but the girls weren’t satisfied with a regular season district championship. And who could blame them?

They wanted a district tournament championship. They wanted to be the first team in school history to have its name etched on a championship banner.

The same can be said for the Lakewood Ranch boys golf team, which also is battling for perfection. Only the Mustangs’ idea of perfection isn’t nearly the same. Lakewood carried a perfect 88-0 record into the Class 2A state championship Nov. 1-2.

They’ve spent an entire season on top. They’ve practiced for several hours every day to be perfect. So, to say the season wouldn’t be complete without a state championship would be an understatement. In the case of the golf squad, a perfect season isn’t just a perfect record or just a state championship — it’s both.

Still, there are other teams across the East County who would rather forget their regular season records. At 2-6, the Braden River football team is by no means in the midst of memorable season. But still, the Pirates are one win away from reaching the postseason — a perfect ending to a not-so-perfect season.

After all records are meant to be broken — no matter how perfect they are. And sometimes, the teams that appear to be anything but perfect are the ones that find themselves on the verge of perfection.