Katharine's Photographs

More than 400 of Katharine's photos are up on Flickr at:
http://flickr.com/photos/69333708@N00/sets/72157606254763036/

Catch Phrases

Here are a few from the trip--let me know if you have any more:

Shawlett
Hiroooooooooooshi
Alooooooooooooooha
Bust it
Jailbreak
Good job, good job
They have that here?
In the morning?
I'll really miss palm trees
Drop, drop, drop
We play as a team and we lei as a team
We drew hearts on our hands to remember to be compassionate to others
Pull down your shirt
I can play, coach
Have it
Team Silvervan
Switch it
What are we doing for lunch?
What are we doing for dinner?
Where's [Player]? Aimee/Geena is braiding her hair.
A very capable waiter
Magic Japanese pain medication
Don't you know me well enough by now?
Put the B's on their A's
Are the boys coming?
POG
FROM THE WHISTLE GIRLS
c-o-b-r-a-s, c-o-b-r-a-s, c-o-b-r-a-s, We're not the cobras!/gooooooo Shooting Stars!
Breaking the rules again? Sigh.
I'm crying because it hurts, but I'm also crying because I love you guys.
Do you have your breakfast ticket?
Can we go to the ABC store?
I need to go to the first aid tent.
I need to get our ID cards because I forgot to get them yesterday.
Off the balcony
I can say that because we already won the Sportsmanship Award
We out.

Pictures from July 14

Charlotte, Anna, our capable waitress, and Adam at Eggs 'n Things.

July 14-15--It Is All A Blur

It has been a blur. I know that most of the girls are back home, or with their parents, but knowing the girls, I figure it doesn't hurt for me to give some details of our last couple of days.

Our last day in Hawaii started early for some of us. Susie and Hannah were off to Australia, with Susie's family, and they were leaving for the airport at 6:30 am. Most of the girls hadn't slept much, as they tried to keep the bonding going, so we bid farewell to two Shooting Stars. At 9, we said goodbye to Zoe, who was leaving for the airport at 9:15 with her family for a tour of Asia. Then, we went for breakfast at Eggs 'n Things, where our capable waitress, Anna, took great care of us. Breakfast was delicious and filling.

The team then returned to the hotel for final packing and room cleaning (don't ask). Our luggage was picked up at 11:45 and we checked out of the hotel. We loaded up 2 of the vans, without Kayla, whose family was checking out of our hotel and moving to another one for a few more days in Hawaii, and went to Hilo Hattie's, a famous Hawaiian souvenir shop. After buying a bunch of things, we moved to the Ala Moana Mall for more shopping and lunch. Since we had no hotel to return to, we figured that this was the thing to do, rather than get messy at the beach.

We shopped as long as we could, then returned to the hotel, where all of our luggage, and most of the other Tarrytown players, were waiting. We stuffed our new things into our bags and waited for the luggage truck and then the bus (but not TheBus) that took us to the airport. It is fair to say that no one was happy at this point, as our Hawaiian adventure was nearing an end.

The airport checkin went smoothly, and our flight to LA was quiet--I think most of us slept some during the flight. There was a short layover in the LAX, where we said goodbye to Sara Rod., who was staying in LA with her aunt. So we were down to 10 girls, me, Katharine and Adam. The flight to Newark was crowded, and again, I think most people slept. There were some bumps before we landed, but when we finally did, our luggage came pretty fast, and the buses arrived not long after. As most of you know, we got to John Paulding at about 5:30, where we said our last goodbyes, and headed home.

I'm still not ready to sum this trip up. but I will say one thing--this team is not done.

Pictures from July 13

A few of our places

The Hotel--The Doubletree Alana

The Cheeseburger Place: Fort DeRussy Military Recreation Area--The Crucible Where Our Team Was Forged:

The ABC Store--for everything Eggs 'n Things--for Eggs and Things

Fifth Floor Hallway--strangely without soccer players sitting in it

At Hanauma Bay

Don't we look debonaire?

The Bay
At the Pool

Meg Waits To Receive the Sportsmanship Award


We receive our awards, with people in cow suits:

Representing New York

We ate well at Maple Gardens


Coach makes allegedly touching and humorous remarks

The Captains think of stuff to say

A better picture of the Captains:
Group Hug. In accordance with Safe Haven.

July 13-All Good Things Must Come To An End

It is hard to believe that this is likely my last post from Hawaii. I will probably have a few follow ups after we get back, but eventually, the barrage of emails will slow, then cease. Probably, much to your relief.

We got up a little bit earlier than the girls wanted to go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, a nature preserve that is the place to go snorkeling around here. Only 9 of the girls wanted to go, so we loaded up 2 vans and headed east. The bay is incredibly beautiful, and we watched a brief educational video before walking down the hill to the water. We rented our gear and without waiting, waded into the water. There is a huge area that never gets more than chest deep (at least on me), and much of it is waist deep. Once we all got comfortable with the gear, it was off to see fish. We floated around for about an hour and a half and saw abundant sea life. Lots of big and little fish (that is their scientific name), all over the place. No one really wanted to leave, but we had to, so we grabbed some food and ate in the vans on the way back to the hotel.

After a quick change, and a reunion with the rest of the team, we "busted it" out to the fields, where the playoff rounds were still going on. It was much quieter there then it was during pool play. We received our Sportsmanship medals on a podium, with a couple of people in cow suits (Meadow Gold Dairy is the main sponsor of the National Games) and received the adoration of the crowd for our remarkable sportsmanshipness.

Then, back to the hotel for relaxation, packing, the pool, or whatever, until dinner time.

We had reserved a private room at a local Chinese Restaurant, Maple Gardens (which still sounds to me like a hockey arena). The food was plentiful and delicious, and we had very capable waiters. After we ate, I took my last opportunity to address the whole team, and make a few remarks. I handed out gifts to all from the coaches, Katharine and AYSO, some serious, some not. Then, our captains addressed the team, and after making some poignant general remarks, they made positive and funny comments about all of their teammates, chaperones and coaches. Their good humor and grace reminded me of why I enjoy their company so much.

After dinner, it was back to the hotel. The kids are hanging in the hallway, socializing and enjoying themselves, although, I am about to do bed check and send them to bed.

Hannah and Susie leave early tomorrow for Australia, and Zoe leaves a couple of hours later for Tokyo. So, the 2008 Shooting Stars will be breaking up. The rest of us will have the big breakfast from Eggs n' Things, check out of the hotel and spend the rest of the day shopping until we are picked up at 5:45 pm for the trip to the airport, without Kayla and Ginger, who will be staying a few extra days. Sara Rod. leaves us in LA, so our diminished band will return on Tuesday.

I don't think I want to sum up the trip now. It is too soon, and I need a bit of time to get perspective. This trip has been everything that I was told it would be, and, at the same time, totally different. And if that makes sense to you, then maybe you were here.

Lots of pix will be up on the blog at some point.

Mahalo

Captain's Post 3

Aloha everyone!
It is 10 pm on our last night in Hawaii and I think it is safe to say that nobody is ready to leave. This has been an amazing experience for everyone involved, despite the many ups and downs. There was definitely some fighting and some crazy stuff going on, but it's all part of becoming an ohana and we know we are stronger for it. Our team has come such a long way since we all first got together last fall. We obviously had some difficult times and disappointment on the field, but we pushed through it and grew a lot as a team.

Life is not going to be the same after this trip. Some of us were talking in our room last night about how we don't think we are going to be able to function without each other. Every single person on this team has become a part of one another and we share so many memories and good times.

Today was our last full day and we had a blast. About half of the team went snorkeling this morning at Hanauma Bay and it was incredible. We saw so many beautiful fish and coral and everyone who went had so much fun. We had lunch at an awesome salad and hamburger place and then returned to the fields one last time to pick up our sportsmanship awards. We got nice shiny medals and some other cool gizmos from the sponsors.

We then came back to our hotel and rested for a while and then went out to our last team dinner. Jordan gave us each individual gifts which were both funny and meaningful and a few of the girls were even crying. Then us two captains talked for a while and said something about every girl (and adam). We ended with a huge group hug and a lot of tears.

Everyone on the team deserves to be so proud of themselves because we have all come so far. We will never forget the Shooting Stars.

We out.
Sarah and Sara

Pictures from July 12

Our regular hangout at the fields

View of Diamond Head from the beach

At the Old Spaghetti Factory

Coach and Mrs. Coach

Placemat Art

Goofing around

July 12-We Will Be Bringing Home Hardware

So, the National Games are essentially over for us. Hard to believe. We made it out to the fields and set up. It became kind of routine. 14 of the girls were able to play in the last game--unfortunately, Meg's ankle was too sore to play. We knew that North Hawaii was a strong team, and I told the girls that this was their last chance to win and to score a goal. Also, I knew going in that we were leading in sportsmanship points, and made it clear that we needed to be positive and sportsmanlike in order to win that award.

I spent countless hours over the past month working out lineups and rotations, but between injuries, and things that I saw here, the lineup that took the field was nothing like the ones I thought I would use.

Our girls played their hearts out. There is a cliche in sports about leaving everything on the field, and this team really did. The quality of play, the decisionmaking and the courage of this team was unbelievable. However, when faced with a much stronger, battle tested team such as North Hawaii, we had no chance to win. The game ended 5-0, but our girls walked off the field feeling like they had achieved an enormous amount. I think that many of them found things inside them that they didn't know existed.

After the game, we watched our U16B team lose to Ontario, CA, taking them out of any chance to advance to the next round.

And we waited for the sportsmanship results. The team was justifiably proud of their victory. It is easy to be upbeat and positive when you are winning, but how great is it that they could be that way when they were getting pummeled and hurt?

After the boys' game was over, we returned to the hotel, had lunch, and about half the team went to the beach for a while.

Then a dip in the pool.

Then dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory, which was fun and delicious.

Tomorrow is our last full day in Hawaii. We will try to snorkel in the morning. Then, we need to go back to the fields to receive our sportsmanship awards. We are planning a final dinner at a Chinese restaurant, and then, I guess, we need to pack.

By the way, this team wants to stay together and is already planning for West Palm Beach in 2010. Who am I to say that it won't happen.

Pictures from July 11

Mililani Game

Yeah, that's a rainbow.

July 11-Some Trouble In Paradise

This was in many ways a very tough day. Our sidelined players, except for Sarah, were all ready to play, as best they could, when we took the field against a strong Mililani, HI team--from right up the highway from the soccer park. They were as good as advertised, and we had trouble keeping up--although the team never gave anything less than the maximum effort. We even tried a new formation--5-4-1, to protect Geena's sore leg, and to try to keep the game close. It didn't work. We lost 6-0. Despite that, I think that the team continued to improve. Unfortunately, during the game, Geena had to leave and was taken to the hospital for observation. She is OK. Our other players with minor knocks did the best they could.

After the game, we had to wait until 5:15 for the next game, so we tried to take the team to a typical Hawaiian fast food joint--L&L Hawaiian BBQ. They had various varieties of the "plate lunch", usually meat, fish or veggies, with rice and macaroni salad. We saw the local teams eating this every day, and I thought that the kids would find it fun. NOT. Instead all of the traveling party whose name was not Becker or Swibold opted for fast food Chinese at Panda Express--just like the one at the Palisades Mall. Our plate lunches were delicious, and I teased all of the players for being scared. They didn't care.

We returned to the fields to set up our new canopy (the one we originally got when we arrived blew over yesterday and broke) at the field where our second game was to be played. Unfortunately, another player needed to be taken to the hospital (her parents will be called in the morning, so I can't give more info now). She is also OK.

As the afternoon went on, the girls watched our U16B team win a game, and then they relaxed, chatted with, yes, some of the Diamond Head girls, and kicked a ball around. Some iced their sore legs and wrapped their ankles.

I found out that our next opponent, Santa Barbara, had not won a game, so I thought that we had a chance for victory--or at least a goal. Even without Geena and our other missing player, we were dominant in the first quarter, but could not score--but they did, against the run of play. As the game went on, we continued to play well, even when Sarah had to leave the game, yet Santa Barbara kept playing better as we tired and weakened. We lost, 4-0.

After a brief team meeting, we returned to the hotel, to order in Pizza Hut, and went to bed.

Tomorrow, believe it or not, the National Games will be over for us. We play a tough North Hawaii squad at 9:15, and since we have no chance to move on to the next round, we are done playing--soccer that is. More fun is expected to follow, before we leave for home on Monday night. I should also mention that it appeared that, after the first day, we were in a close second place for the sportsmanship award. Not sure where we stand after today, though--it hasn't been posted yet.

I feel like I need to say again that your daughters are remarkable young women in so many ways. I wish you were all here to see how amazing each of them is.

Pictures from July 10

Kayla makes a decision:

Layla makes her move

Tough D

Coaches Jordan and Preston are happy

Friends again

Trying to move upfield

Throw in

Today's pix courtesy of Martin Wilson.

July 10-Let the Games Begin

This was quite a day in so many ways. Everyone was so excited today to actually get started. As you know, we have been managing expectations because we knew that the competition would be fierce, and because we understood that our team has limitations. Nevertheless, we have had some strong practices, and as I said yesterday, soccerfest made it clear that we could compete.

We got to the fields early, set up our canopy and began to prepare for our first game against our new friends from Diamond Head. I told the girls that they needed to give a maximum effort, from the opening whistle, if we were to have any chance. We came out hot, firing on all cylinders, and knocked the Diamond Head team back on its heels. But we could not score. After the first quarter, the game seesawed back and forth, with both teams getting some chances, but not scoring. Charlotte was awesome in goal, and made a number of amazing saves. Geena anchored the defense, which played wonderfully. The entire team possessed the ball and passed and cut with surprising aplomb. At one point, Adam said to me--"who are these people wearing our uniforms?" Late in the game, Diamond Head put on pressure, and we held on for a 0-0 tie. So, yes, we got points at the National Games. This was, without a doubt, the best I have seen this team play.

After the game, we took a joint picture with the Diamond Head team, which you can see in the blog. But all was not great. Sarah needed medical attention for her breathing issues, and Adam needed to get his wrist x-rayed from yesterday's injury, so Katharine took them to a medical clinic. We are still waiting for Adam's results, and for more info on Sarah. In fact, our team, like many in the tournament, is suffering from a number of sprains, strains and bruises. This is clearly the most intense tournament that most of these players have ever participated in. In fact, it is unclear who will be able to play tomorrow, but we hope for a full roster.

Between games, the girls watched our U16B team beat Diamond Head 1-0, and had lunch, and explored the National Games site. The excitement built as we prepared for our second game, against Central Torrance, the birthplace of AYSO. The girls were confident that they could do at least as well as they did against Diamond Head. But it was not to be. Torrance played beautiful soccer, passing and moving the ball with ease. We were quickly playing desperation soccer, clearing the ball away from goal, and not being able to get much rhythm. A number of our players needed to sit out some or all of the game with injuries, resulting in a jury-rigged lineup, that, nevertheless, played hard and well. Although we were ultimately able to get some flow to our game, Torrance was just too much, and we lost 5-0. Again, Charlotte was amazing in goal, making great saves. Kudos also to Susie for some amazing defense, and to Kayla for singlehandedly getting the ball up field and giving us chances. It was a courageous performance by our team, out classed and undermanned, but still playing hard until the final bell.

We limped back to the hotel, Katharine, Adam, Hannah and I went to dinner with Katharine's friend and her family (the ones with the great beach house) at their regular house in the hills above Honolulu. Great view. The girls dined at the Cheesburger Waikiki around the corner and returned to the hotel for a well deserved rest.

I have to tell you that this is one tough bunch of girls. All of the injured players insisted at bed check that they would play tomorrow. They have pulled together as a team and are really a sight to see.

Tomorrow, we play the fearsome (or so we hear) Mililani team at 11, and Santa Barbara at 5:15. Wish us luck.

Pictures from July 9

Scenes from Soccerfest:

No, that isn't one of your daughters hogging the camera, it is Kapua, from the Diamond Head team.

Yeah, this is fun!!

Watching Adam play:

Resplendent in their Soccerfest jerseys:

July 9--Soccer Breaks Out

Today, we played soccer. It was Soccerfest, a wonderful AYSO tradition where the teams are scrambled and the kids play 2 short games with new teammates before the competition begins. We pitched our canopy at the team formation site and the somewhat chaotic process created 10 teams, all given new, and in some cases, garish uniforms. Ginger served as our head coach today, and I think she had fun trying to learn everyone's name, create lineups and substitution patterns and generally keep track of the craziness. This also gave me a chance to walk around and watch our players perform with their talented new teammates. I saw some great stuff, and I think that the girls not only made new friends, but got new confidence in their ability to compete. The only person in our group to score a goal today, though, was Adam, playing in the U19 division. And Katharine and I, and most of the girls, were there to see it and cheer him on, in appreciation for all that he has been doing--and will continue to do this week.

We have continued to be friends with the girls from Diamond Head, who have hung out with us under our canopy and around the fields.

It was a hot day, and we made sure the girls drank plenty of water and applied lots of sunscreen.

After Adam's last game, we cleared our area and rushed back to the hotel for a quick change and turnaround to the Hawaiian Waters water park for the "Youth Event". The place was packed, and some of the girls had a blast in the wave pool and on the other rides. Others were less impressed, but it was fun seeing the new Soccerfest friends, and, of course, the Diamond Head girls.

We got back about 10, because we have a game at 9:15 tomorrow. Considering the terrible Honolulu traffic, we will be leaving for the fields at 7:15. Our first game is against our Diamond Head buddies, and we play at 2:15 against Central Torrance.

Our girls have great spirit and think that they can win tomorrow, and I refuse to disagree. But I have told them that I will only be disappointed in them if they don't give a great effort. What happens in the game is less important than them knowing that they did their best.