High school sports don't just benefit the athletes playing the game.

And the games themselves extend far beyond the athletes.

Case in point:Chris Wagner.

A number of years ago, Butler school teacher and longtime Golden Tornado boys basketball scorekeeper Bill Ellis began a program in which students were trained to keep statistics for the basketball team.

Wagner was one of the first products of this program, which was designed to get youngsters who weren't athletic enough to play for the team involved with the team.

Wagner became the first official "stat kid"for Butler High School boys and girls basketball.

He got to know the players on both teams, the coaches and officials. Before each game, home or away, he stood ready with an updated statistics package for whichever Eagle sports reporter — often it was me— who was covering the game that evening.

Jokingly, I would see Chris by the scorer's table as I entered the gym and would extend my hand, but not for a handshake.

I wanted my numbers — and Chris delivered.

Everything a reporter could ask for was on that sheet:Field goal percentage, free throw shooting percentage, points per game, rebounds, assists, steals, even balls deflected or blocked, for each player.

Chris Wagner was never a basketball player for Butler, but he knew more about the team than anybody else. And the statistics he compiled proved to be invaluable to the coaches as well as to the media.

His involvement in high school sports led him to Point Park College and guided him toward the electronic media. He broadcast Pioneers basketball games while in college and eventually landed an internship at a Pittsburgh radio station.

The past few seasons, Wagner became the public address announcer at Butler home football, boys and girls basketball games.

Last week's Erie McDowell-Butler game marked Wagner's last behind the microphone for the Golden Tornado.

He left this weekend for Hastings, Neb., where he landed full-time work as a producer for a television station there.

One of Butler High School's original "stat kids"has officially left the nest.

It's more than likely Wagner will continue to be involved in sports in some way, shape or form. He may end up doing public address work for a high-school football or basketball team in Nebraska, for all we know.

The moral of this story is that high school athletics are not just for athletes. They provide an arena for any youngster interested in sports to pursue that interest.

Butler basketball didn't have any "stat kids"last year. And it's a shame.

Just ask Chris.

He never shot a free throw, made a basket, grabbed a rebound or even suited up for a game.

But his absence will be felt every bit as much, if not more, than every 1,000-point scorer to step foot in that gym.