NORTGHATE 2022 Coaches Recap

I had the opportunity to coach Northgate in a very small capacity. Originally, I was going to coach 2 mornings but not many people came so Lee took a morning and I took a morning. I thought it would be too much on my plate as I swim in the morning and had my own team starting. I didn't have the best attitude in the beginning but then I went to a meet and decided I needed an attitude adjustment. I realized that I could and wanted to be the kids cheerleader. I was going to make the most of my 1 morning a week and being a part of these kids high school swim journey. I had the same kids come to the morning practice. They wanted to improve. They wanted to be there. They wanted to contribute to the team. It is worth it if you just make one connection. I started to get to know the kids and was so impressed with who they were and what they were there to do. The team started to gel and magic happened. It was a pretty cool thing to witness. It made it really cool because Scott's friends were on all different teams. His Aquabear teammates are like family. They all had magical seasons. I was so proud of not just how they swam but more importantly, the athletes and people they are.

My ode to the Northgate Broncos....

The last time I helped coach this team was about 15 years ago. I didn't need to do any background checks and we swam at Heather Farms instead of Northgate. Fast forward 15 years and suits are significantly smaller and swimmers much faster. However, one thing that has remained constant over the years is the path to become a championship team.

Being a Northcoast or State champion takes the right genetics, a 7 foot wingspan for a sprinter, or weightlifter legs for a breaststroker, paired with an unparalleled work ethic and hatred to lose. A feat that most in this room will probably never accomplish. However, what every swimmer here can accomplish is being part of a championship team.

An elite coach or athlete will tell you that the two are very different. A champion can't win a team title no matter how fast he or she is. A championship team can.

Having a brand new team due to COVID takes some getting used to, mistakes by both coaches and athletes, victories, momentum, sacrifice and figuring out everyone's unique roles and strengths.

By now you are probably aware that our men won the 200 free relay at State. It was blasted on social media, in newspaper articles, and bolded the same 4 athletes over and over again. They deserve congratulations for swimming out of their mind, but what the article failed to mention was how that title was won. I believe the authors missed countless names that contributed to that championship relay.

One of them, a senior captain who led his teams with spirit and grit all season long. He swam insanely fast at NorthCoast and went to State for the opportunity to swim in just trials of that championship relay. He didn't take it for granted. I don't know if he fully grasped the power of his humility and excitement as he took his place on the opposite end of the starting blocks during the finals of his relay to cheer on his teammates. You better believe he was swimming inside every relay member who suited up. They weren't doing it for themselves. They were doing it as part of their championship team.

What about the swimmer who encouraged a teammate to try a new sport or to stick with it when they wanted to quit.

Or the swimmer who encouraged their injured teammate to still come to meets and be a part of the team.

Or the swimmer who got up to cheer no matter how tired they were.

Or the swimmer who had tons of homework but still found time to clean up after the meet or come to practice.

Or the swimmer who wanted to sit on a wall, but decided to do one more flip turn and try a little harder, motivating their lane mates.

Or the swimmer who didn't hold a grudge when their coach made a mistake or teammate said something wrong.

Or the swimmer who earned a relay spot but wanted to give it to a senior who they felt deserved to be at the meet.

Or the swimmer who didn't make the final but still came to cheer on their team with encouragement and belief.

Or the swimmer who without hesitation moved from that championship relay to a slower relay where he was needed. Understanding that the third place finish was just as important, if not more important, than the 1st place finish. Leading off each finals day with the hype and momentum of the little relay that should not have, but did. Taking it from 2nd place at dual meets to 4th place at state.

What about the swimmers who came to NCS to cheer on their teammates. When a relay won, those 4 members who suited up weren't looking at their time, competitors or coaches. They were celebrating with their cheering teammates at the end of their lane who they got to represent.

I saw countless moments this season of the Northgate Broncos figuring out what it means to be a part of a championship team. It is something bigger than yourself. It is when you collectively come together as a whole to do something better than you could do alone.

The newspaper articles this week concluded that these 4 young members of the 200 free relay team will most likely return with greater ability to break the CIF record. What the author failed to see is that these four members represent all the young members of the formation of our championship team. A team that will indeed grow in momentum and speed as we swim for each other and the school we proudly represent.

It is my hope that the seniors of this team bring their leadership skills and championship team mentalities to the many endeavors that are awaiting them. They have the capacity to elevate everyone and everything around them including their Northgate Bronco team in the next 3 years to come.

We can all look inside ourselves and recognize what we can do more to form the best team that Northgate Broncos has ever seen.

I want to thank every swimmer in this room for allowing me to witness the sacrifices and selflessness it took as we started to form a championship team. I am a better person, coach and athlete because of who many of you are in this room. The learning and growth never ends. So take this year and build on it for the years to come. Your potential is limitless.

I am proud of you!