Our short season is coming to a close, yet the best is still to come. Our girls finished first in league while our guys finished strong to secure the second spot in league. Both of our teams have an excellent chance to make a deep run into the playoffs. Through hard work and a deep commitment to this program and the sport itself we continue, year in and year out, to improve this clubs game. I’d like to touch on something a little different.
Our teams’ have broken the stereotypical teenage mold multiple times this year. For the first time in Lincoln polo history, our presence at the MAC has not dealt us a single complaint. Each and every year we as a team have fielded complaints from the board, some warranted (no soap fights in the showers gentlemen!) and some not - we happened to be at State when “Lincoln kids” were destroying racquetball courts with their street shoes. Point being that high school kids can get a bum rap. When I get comments from flight attendants like, “wow, you’ve really got your hands full” or “we like to know where the chaperones are so that YOU can take care of the kids when they get out of hand” – really? My responses to these dumb comments are usually met with an equally stunned double glance. Lincoln water polo has great kids.
Where many of the adults we run into fall into the trap of stereotyping us with their own experiences or maybe even their own kids, our teams continue to break the mold. Again, we were complimented on our maturity and level of respect we have for the MAC and their members. For both of our flights, the girls to Sacramento and the guys to San Diego, the attendants complimented us on our savvy travel habits. I love it when these young adults make the rest of the people around them reevaluate their personal stereotype of a teenage kid.
The guys’ team had a great tournament in San Diego, but what was so impressive was how we acted not only as individuals but as a team outside the pool. When parents, coaches and officials found out we were from Oregon, they wanted to talk to us. Garnering that much attention was fun, we not only made an impression in the pool (they found out that Oregon water polo is legitimate), we made an impression out of the water as well. We were popular.
How does a team from the Northwest hit it off with a predominantly Hispanic, low income, inner-city high school? By being themselves! How do we take a hard-fought battle in the pool and turn it into a growth experience outside the pool? Again, by being ourselves. I guess it could be that we are just more outgoing in general than most other teams. We do tend to linger during hand shakes after games or approach other teams’ frequently, this usually finds both teams smiling and laughing before long. By the end of the tournament we had made friends in Southern California.
The definition of ambassador is “a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative” we definitely weren’t appointed by the Oregon Legislature to go tackle San Diego and spread goodwill and friendship – but we did it.
A good citizen can be characterized by a willingness to work hard, care deeply for neighbors and be willing to learn and change when necessary. Do we have these qualities, from what I have seen, yes. Does this mean we are good citizens, sure.
So what’s the common thread amongst all of this rambling on? Continue to break the mold; continue to be different and to have enough confidence in ourselves to promote confidence in others. Take pride in the ability to change a doubter’s personal view on the group with whom you associate. In general continue to be great kids!
Thanks again,Jeff
P.S. The guys went 4-0 in the tournament not losing a game and winning the consolation bracket. Due to us having to forfeit Thursday’s game, we ended up being pushed to the consolation side. The highest ranking we were able to achieve was 17. Top 10 is in our sights for next year. Keep the spirits high; we grew in many ways this weekend. I wouldn’t want to play us right now – excellent job Gentlemen keep the fire!
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