A month ago I was writing about tragedies in life - poverty, earthquakes, early deaths etc. Now as I sit here, our family is anticipating another state tournament in adapted floor hockey.
What's interesting to me is the amount of energy I (and many others) put into the up coming games. We read about the opponents, we talk about who we'd rather face, we prepare celebrations, we honor our kids for their hard work so far and we get nervous! Yes nervous! Why? I don't really know. Everyone likes to be on a winning team, but when you compare a sporting event with the more serious topics poverty and death, it really doesn't belong on the same page.
A bunch of kids from several teams are going to gather at one place and duke it out for the honor of "State Champ." Don't get me wrong, it's a great honor and it shows a dedication to a lot of hard work. But in the light of those more serious topics, it fades so quickly.
I am mashing this around in my head because I recall our first state tournament. We had never been there before and I had never played a sport so I had no expectations whatsoever. I was merely thrilled to be there. I remember talking with the coach briefly about the upcoming games and trying to size up our chances of any kind of success. It turned out that we not only had a good chance, we were "State Champs" that year.
This year with 3 tournaments under our belt and 2 previous championships, I find my nerves getting to me if I think too far ahead. The sad part about this is that if I don't get them under control, I am going to miss the excitement of simply being at the tournament. On the other hand, I get the nerves because we've had a successful regular season and we do have a legitimate shot at that coveted title again.
I've watched the kids go through these before and I prefer their attitude to some extent. In most games, win or lose, about 10 minutes after the game they're back to just being kids. They leave that emotional baggage on the floor and go on with life as if they'd never been in a heated contest.
So here's to a good tournament for every team, a fun time for all the parents, family and friends and may the best team come home "State Champs."
Showing posts with label Josh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Josh. Show all posts
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Soccer Pride
One of the joys of being a parent is bragging about your kids. Yes, I admit it is bragging, but it's a little more acceptable because it's not about ourselves. I want to brag about my oldest this time. He and his teammates just finished another trip to the Minnesota State High School League tournament for Adapted Soccer.
On Friday night, Josh lead the team with a double-hat trick (6 goals for you non-sports readers) and an assist in an 11-1 victory. The goals were nice, but I am most proud of his assist. Josh worked his way down low to the right side of the goal and passed to a waiting teammate on the left side of the goal. He had pulled the defense and goalie toward himself so all his teammate had to do was drill a shot into a virtually empty net. She did just that and we were all thrilled that she scored a state tournament goal.
I was proud because he could have continued to score on his own, but he showed that he had listened to his coach and passed at the right time giving another team member a moment of glory.
That win took them to the semi finals against an undefeated Dakota United team. The team played very well and they handed the Hawks their first loss of the season, and won 9-5. A fellow senior led the team with four goals while Josh added 3 goals and 2 assists.
This win took them to the final against their division rival the Robbinsdale Robins. It seems that in sports, you never get away from your rivals. The Mustangs and Robins have battled in numerous regular season and tournament contests. This one was one of the most intense and closely fought contests they've had. At half, the Mustangs were down 3-1. In the second half the coach changed the configuration of forwards to a "1-2-1" set up. That left Josh as the lone deep forward for part of the second half. He used his good footwork to move around the larger defenders and eventually score. He and his teammates battled back to a 4-4 tie at the end of regulation. After an aggressive but unsuccessful overtime, the teams went to a shootout.
At the very end of the overtime, one of our players injured his right foot. He is the player that usually is in goal for penalty shots or shootouts. With that injury, he would not be able to be the goalie. The coach decided to have Josh be in the net for the shootout. She showed great confidence in him by asking him to step up and take the pressure of a shootout in spite of the fact that he rarely plays goalie.
I was proud once again because he stepped up and gave his all for the team. He could have cowered from the challenge, but he didn't. He got in there and made 2 out of 4 stops - pretty good for not having been in a shootout before. Sadly the team did not score in their part of the shootout and lost the match.
While everyone wants to win a championship, I am still extremely proud of my son and the team. They could have given up when it was 3-1, but they didn't. Josh could have said "I don't want to be the goalie for the shootout," but he didn't. It takes some fortitude and confidence to take on a challenge you haven't faced before.
I am proud of his athletic accomplishments during the tournament and the fact that he was honored to be selected to the "All-Tournament Team," but I am more proud of the qualities he displayed. He was selfless in the first game when he made a great assist. He played as a team member working hard with his fellow teammates in the second game. And he showed perseverance, guts and confidence as he worked to tie the third game and take on the goalie role.
Now that I've bragged about my son, I want to commend all of the Mustangs. It amazes me every time I watch them play how hard they work and how well they work as a team. You have to realize that each of these kids is already battling some type of physical limitation - some are more obvious than others. Add this to trying to be coordinated enough to kick a rolling ball and execute a pass or a shot and you have an amazing spectacle. When you think of gifted athletes who have done amazing feats and compare them to these kids, there is no comparison. I'll take an adapted soccer team over a Beckham team ANY day.
On Friday night, Josh lead the team with a double-hat trick (6 goals for you non-sports readers) and an assist in an 11-1 victory. The goals were nice, but I am most proud of his assist. Josh worked his way down low to the right side of the goal and passed to a waiting teammate on the left side of the goal. He had pulled the defense and goalie toward himself so all his teammate had to do was drill a shot into a virtually empty net. She did just that and we were all thrilled that she scored a state tournament goal.
I was proud because he could have continued to score on his own, but he showed that he had listened to his coach and passed at the right time giving another team member a moment of glory.
That win took them to the semi finals against an undefeated Dakota United team. The team played very well and they handed the Hawks their first loss of the season, and won 9-5. A fellow senior led the team with four goals while Josh added 3 goals and 2 assists.
This win took them to the final against their division rival the Robbinsdale Robins. It seems that in sports, you never get away from your rivals. The Mustangs and Robins have battled in numerous regular season and tournament contests. This one was one of the most intense and closely fought contests they've had. At half, the Mustangs were down 3-1. In the second half the coach changed the configuration of forwards to a "1-2-1" set up. That left Josh as the lone deep forward for part of the second half. He used his good footwork to move around the larger defenders and eventually score. He and his teammates battled back to a 4-4 tie at the end of regulation. After an aggressive but unsuccessful overtime, the teams went to a shootout.
At the very end of the overtime, one of our players injured his right foot. He is the player that usually is in goal for penalty shots or shootouts. With that injury, he would not be able to be the goalie. The coach decided to have Josh be in the net for the shootout. She showed great confidence in him by asking him to step up and take the pressure of a shootout in spite of the fact that he rarely plays goalie.
I was proud once again because he stepped up and gave his all for the team. He could have cowered from the challenge, but he didn't. He got in there and made 2 out of 4 stops - pretty good for not having been in a shootout before. Sadly the team did not score in their part of the shootout and lost the match.
While everyone wants to win a championship, I am still extremely proud of my son and the team. They could have given up when it was 3-1, but they didn't. Josh could have said "I don't want to be the goalie for the shootout," but he didn't. It takes some fortitude and confidence to take on a challenge you haven't faced before.
I am proud of his athletic accomplishments during the tournament and the fact that he was honored to be selected to the "All-Tournament Team," but I am more proud of the qualities he displayed. He was selfless in the first game when he made a great assist. He played as a team member working hard with his fellow teammates in the second game. And he showed perseverance, guts and confidence as he worked to tie the third game and take on the goalie role.
Now that I've bragged about my son, I want to commend all of the Mustangs. It amazes me every time I watch them play how hard they work and how well they work as a team. You have to realize that each of these kids is already battling some type of physical limitation - some are more obvious than others. Add this to trying to be coordinated enough to kick a rolling ball and execute a pass or a shot and you have an amazing spectacle. When you think of gifted athletes who have done amazing feats and compare them to these kids, there is no comparison. I'll take an adapted soccer team over a Beckham team ANY day.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Hockey Pride
We just completed the MN State Adapted Floor Hockey tournament this last weekend. It was the 3rd time we've been involved with Matt and Josh on the team.
The first two years we were State Champions. This year's finish was not first, but still an impressive 3rd place.
The teams we had to play to get 3rd place were tougher than in previous years because we were not the number one seed.
This year was special for a different reason. In the first game, we were tied with Rochester 0-0 going into the third period. Around 5 minutes into the 3rd, Josh scored the first goal. He followed it shortly thereafter with his second tally and we led 2-0. The reason he scored those two goals was his dogged persistence in the corners. He worked so hard to earn those goals.
In the semi-final they lost a heartbreaker to Dakota 3-2 in OT. Let's just say that I don't want to talk about the officiating. However Josh once again led the way with one goal and one assist. Once again he was often the first player to the puck digging hard to gain possession for a shot or a pass.
In the third place game, he and teammate Jacob Wiehle were gunning for top honors in the scoring department. They played a formidable Brainerd team, but with these two "hot shots," Brainerd struggled to get the puck in our end. Josh tallied 4 goals and 1 assist and his teammate scored 5 times for a 10-3 victory and third place honors.
I mentioned that this year was special for a different reason. For the first time, Josh made the All-Tournament team. A dozen players are selected for this honor based on effort, sportsmanship and productivity. In past tournaments, Josh has been in the shadow of other deserving players from our team who won the honor. This time his hard work paid off.
I told him after the first game that I was so proud of how hard he worked. His coach told him that he felt it was Josh's best game to date. Many other players, coaches and parents complimented him throughout the weekend.
This award was special for me because we have worked with Josh over the years to be more aggressive and work hard to attain things. When he played community basketball in elementary school he often waited for the ball to come to him. He really didn't know better at that time. We worked and drilled on the importance of hunting down the ball in order to help your team. Those years of seemingly unrelated events and drills paid off in this tournament.
I told him once again after the loss to Dakota that I was equally as proud of him because he worked so hard.
These kinds of events come so few and far between that when they do they're sweet and worth savoring. Now I am savoring and sharing the pride of my star floor hockey player with you - enjoy.
The first two years we were State Champions. This year's finish was not first, but still an impressive 3rd place.
The teams we had to play to get 3rd place were tougher than in previous years because we were not the number one seed.
This year was special for a different reason. In the first game, we were tied with Rochester 0-0 going into the third period. Around 5 minutes into the 3rd, Josh scored the first goal. He followed it shortly thereafter with his second tally and we led 2-0. The reason he scored those two goals was his dogged persistence in the corners. He worked so hard to earn those goals.
In the semi-final they lost a heartbreaker to Dakota 3-2 in OT. Let's just say that I don't want to talk about the officiating. However Josh once again led the way with one goal and one assist. Once again he was often the first player to the puck digging hard to gain possession for a shot or a pass.
In the third place game, he and teammate Jacob Wiehle were gunning for top honors in the scoring department. They played a formidable Brainerd team, but with these two "hot shots," Brainerd struggled to get the puck in our end. Josh tallied 4 goals and 1 assist and his teammate scored 5 times for a 10-3 victory and third place honors.
I mentioned that this year was special for a different reason. For the first time, Josh made the All-Tournament team. A dozen players are selected for this honor based on effort, sportsmanship and productivity. In past tournaments, Josh has been in the shadow of other deserving players from our team who won the honor. This time his hard work paid off.
I told him after the first game that I was so proud of how hard he worked. His coach told him that he felt it was Josh's best game to date. Many other players, coaches and parents complimented him throughout the weekend.
This award was special for me because we have worked with Josh over the years to be more aggressive and work hard to attain things. When he played community basketball in elementary school he often waited for the ball to come to him. He really didn't know better at that time. We worked and drilled on the importance of hunting down the ball in order to help your team. Those years of seemingly unrelated events and drills paid off in this tournament.
I told him once again after the loss to Dakota that I was equally as proud of him because he worked so hard.
These kinds of events come so few and far between that when they do they're sweet and worth savoring. Now I am savoring and sharing the pride of my star floor hockey player with you - enjoy.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Athlete of the Week!
As if the championship didn't burst my buttons enough, we received a call from Josh's coach on Monday stating that he would be a Star Tribune athlete of the week! WOW!
In the last week, he's been a part of a team that won the state championship, been on KSTP Sports Wrap, been in the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press and now this!
What else can I say, but I'm proud of him!
Check it out here (never mind that they say he's a senior).
What else can I say, but I'm proud of him!
Check it out here (never mind that they say he's a senior).
Sunday, March 16, 2008
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.
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
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.
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.
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