Undefeated Champions!

You may have heard of the New England Patriots. If not, they're a football team who were almost perfect this past season. Well almost doesn't cut it.

You may have heard of the Anoka-Hennepin Mustangs. If not, they're an adapted sports team who were perfect this past floor hockey season. Yes sir, a perfect 15-0 record! 12-0 in the regular season and 3-0 in the state tournament to capture their second Adapted Floor Hockey championship in as many years.

We are the proud parents of two of the members of this perfect team. Yes I admit pride is bursting out of me. Since I can't contain it I'll share it here. Before I talk about our boys, I want to acknowledge that each member of the team contributed to this perfection in such a way that a LOT of it goes unnoticed.

There are paraprofessionals who do so many things that I don't even know all of their jobs - equipment, scoring, checking bus lists, encouraging etc.

There are the coaches who put in countless hours planning, preparing, scheduling, worrying (maybe a little?!) coaching, training, working, encouraging, challenging and many more "ings."

There are all of the players who work hard at practice and at game time. If they're not on the floor, they're cheering and encouraging the others.

There are the parents who make sure that their kids get to practices and games and have the right snacks and their uniforms.

There are bus drivers who we rarely if ever see.

There are PCA's who dedicate extra hours to making sure their charges are at the assigned destination. There are fans who come from near and far to cheer on our kids.


Yep, it's true. You've heard it said before, there's no "I" in team. My oldest son exemplified this when he was interviewed by the Star Tribune in this quote "It feels pretty good," said Josh Price, a sophomore winger, "But I'm not the only person that's a star. I'm a big part of it, but I'm not the star."

He knows like all of the kids do that they are a star on our team. He also knows that he can't (and didn't do it alone).

So while my buttons are burstin with pride, I must also say that I am moved. Moved because each and every one of these kids is out there playing SO HARD while dealing with some kind of physical or cognitive challenge. These kids have a 1000% more heart than any paid athlete I have ever watched. You can not help but be impressed by these kids.

In addition to their heart, is their ability to let go of the things that just don't matter. Very shortly after each game, they return to being just themselves. They chat with each other, or play in the pool or turn on their iPods, while the rest of us adults try to figure out why the officiating might have been good or bad or why some coaches seem to play for blood or even why we ourselves are so concerned about these things.

So the pride wells up in me and the things that move me take me back down.

I realize that it's important to be proud of my kids - not because they've won a championship, but because they gave their all. It's important to be proud of them - not because they were perfect this season, but because they work so hard to overcome their challenges both on and off the floor. It's important to be proud of them - not because they scored a lot of goals or made a lot of shots, but simply because they are my sons.

Yes I am proud, and thankful that God himself gave me my sons to teach me some of the really important things in life.

I mentioned that I would be talking more about our boys.  In the first game, Josh scored 5 of the 11 goals as they beat Mpls South 11-2.  Matt (number 4) played enough to record a few shots and as he put it to me "Dad, I was really movin out there."

In the Semifinal, Josh got one assist as they beat a tough South Suburban team 4-2.

In the championship game, Josh led the team with 2 goals to beat their rivals by a score of 4-2.

There are a few short articles at the following locations about the Mustangs and their victory. Josh was interviewed by the Star Tribune and was seen on KSTP Sports Wrap on Saturday night.

Star Trib wrap

Star Trib article

Pioneer Press article

State High School League Article