Thank you

MidMaine Lacrosse hosted a 12 team Lacrosse Tegenhondi Tournament today. I suspect many think it was about lacrosse. I suppose it was, in part, about lacrosse. I actually know very little about lacrosse. I think today was about team building and team work. Layer upon layer of team work…..
There’s the team that Breac started with and from whom we borrow ideas Gardiner. Thank you Gardiner Lacrosse and Gardiner Youth Hockey.
There is the team work required to organize a program and run an event. Thank you MidMaine Lacrosse Members and Board of Directors.
There’s a solid team of support from Somerset Valley Middle School and Warsaw Middle School. There is consistent, encouraging, practical, financial, growing and generous support from the Town of Palmyra. There will be team work and support from many more as they learn of the popularity of the program and see how it benefits our youth.
There are the teams of our athletes. There are the teams of MS players and HS players supporting each other and the growth of their program. There’s the example that these athletes set for our newest 5/6 team and 2-5 program. There’s the coming together of students from home school and three school districts on our team. Ours is a rare teaming of school districts. There is the gathering and friendships of teams from away but from within our geographical area. Thank you, Winslow HS, Lawrence HS, Mt. Blue HS, Mtn. Valley HS and MS, Eastern Maine Youth Rec, Saco Youth Rec (x3) and Central Maine Rec. for sharing today.
There were outstanding examples of team work as we negotiated wet fields and moved the tournament from a two field plan to one field. The grace displayed by participating teams made the tournament successful for all.
Today there were the teams of purchasers, chefs, photographers, financial wizards, referees, field ready-ers and repairers, artists, bake sale bakers, boutique sales representatives, cheerleaders, entrepreneurs, movers, sweepers, sign posters, transfer station workers. Thank you very much.
And there are the dedicated and caring coaches. Coaches Bolliger, Mitchell, Boreham, Henaire, Rowell, Hubbard, Wilson, Dickerson, Gould and Simpson. We thank you very very much. The manner in which you share time, energy and effort is exceptional.
The US Air Force participated in the events today. The US Air Force is a critical member of our team every day.
I was so impressed with the startup team. Group of teens arrived, even before the food supply, and were ready and waiting to assist adult team players. I was even more impressed throughout the day. Every single time I requested assistance, and much was spontaneously offered throughout day, teen members of MidMaine Lacrosse sprang to help. The cleanup job, completed by tired and mud covered athletes was inspiring. I was proud to be a member of such a team. Thanks to recent weather, we did not leave the fields (yet) better than we found them but we may have left the grounds overall in a cleaner state. MidMaine Lacrosse players picked up every small piece of trash they could fine on the grounds of Somerset Valley Middle School.
There are poignant team moments. Mr. Bruce Brown’s trumpeting delivery of the United States National Anthem was mesmerizing. He brought many to tears with the excellence of his delivery. We were so privileged that he agreed to participate on our team this day. Ms. Kristen Gilbert, Principal from Warsaw Middle School, worked tirelessly timing field events. She began the day directing a spelling project. It was amazing how she spear headed team after team in our photograph spelling lacrosse. Thank you Mr. Brown and Ms. Gilbert.
Our teams are of made of athletes with natural talents and developing skills. Our teams are made of athletes with financial and cultural advantages as well as athletes from lessor opportunity. Our athletes cheered each other on one and all.
While I am positive I am neglecting to mention, acknowledge and thank additional teams and team layering...and I recognize that we will benefit from team feedback about what went well and what we can improve upon…I am beat. I ask that all wait 24 hours before team players and parents deliver negative feedback. There are many moments of opportunity and pride associated with the role I play as ‘President of MidMaine Lacrosse.’ There are some dubious honors to being ‘President’ of MidMaine Lacrosse. I think, as I cleaned the bathrooms, three different times during the Tegenhondi Tournament, I might be spared, constructive team feedback, for at least 24 hours.
And, in turn, I promise not to have any grand new ideas about colossal adventure for 24 hours. (Smiles...)
It was a wonderful day. Ready yourselves for field repair industry.
(More smiles and perhaps bug spray...)