Here’s the MLK WinterBump run down. Please read to the end as there is a special message.
3 days of bonding, fellowship, and competing.
I love this tournament for the atmosphere and the ability to watch the girls, parents and coaches cultivate relationships throughout the weekend on and off the court.
14s….
Day 1 going undefeated! Qualified to be in the Bronze bracket where they finished 3rd with an overall 5-3 match record and ranking 20 out of 52 teams.
16s….
Only got better as their tournament progressed from a slow start. Qualified for the Sapphire Bracket where they were able to win 3 straight matches and claim the Sapphire title! Finished with a 5-3 match record and finished 31 out of 48 teams.
17s….
2 straight days of undefeated play!!!
Into the GOLD BRACKET Monday ending up with a 5th place out of 28 teams and boasting our best weekend record at 6-1.
18s….
Obviously have the most to say about these 9 young ladies as I was always with them. Won both their pools despite 2 very late night and battling through a sick athlete each day and one fire alarm! Received the overall #2 seed heading into the GOLD BRACKET where we had no problem in our Semi match to coast into the FINALS where we played the #1 seed and undefeated USPAV team from Virginia who has numerous DIV 1 recruited players. A complete team effort sealed our 1st set win 25-22. Set 2 was a different story as we fell 10-25. Set 3 was nothing but electric. Switching up 8-7 and holding a 10-9 lead, the ‘lucky’ wheels completely fell off and we just couldn’t get the ball back. I’ve never coached a group of girls who completely bought into and executed a system that was put in place. In a nutshell, these girls are very special. We finished with a 6-2 record(lost both in 3 sets) and ranked #2 of 24 teams. By the way, this is the first tournament in which we have had all of our players and I’m sure they were unaware there were many college coaches watching this little ole team from Burlington beating up on the team they were there to recruit. I know we opened some eyes and put us on the map even more.
Here’s where you grab your tissues….
As we departed the venue, the Wofford family had graciously driven my family back to our car(and many other places) where we noticed a homeless man sleeping on a bench in the parking lot. I had packed one of our ‘mission’ bags as we packed Friday so I grabbed the bag from my car, my kids, and Kristen and headed over to the man. We told him who we were, and what we were doing. We were greeted with a ‘god bless you’ and ’that’s just what I needed’. He was an older man from GREENSBORO. Super friendly with a big heart and a bigger smile. He completely reminded me of why it is so much better to give than to receive and why we should never take for granted what we have in our lives.
Thank you for everyone’s help this weekend, especially my Asst, Emily Lott, for taking care of all the little things and the girls when I was with the 17s, my team mom, Susan Berry Wofford and her husband, Ron, for the taxi service and coordinating just about everything we did, to all the photographers, Kelly Best Stout, Tonya Guthrie Barham, Renee Jackson Johnson, Jennifer Seal Young, Kristen King, Heather Daughtrey Rabalais.
Coach Frank.
I win or I learn something…I never lose