Charity Brings Championships

The University of South Carolina won its 2nd National Championship in baseball ... the below comments speak volumes about the need for the virtue of CHARITY on your team.

Some think virtue is for those who don't know how to win - tell that to this team.

South Carolina (55-14) became the first team to ever go 10-0 in an NCAA tournament and the first since Oregon State in 2007 to go unbeaten in a CWS.

The Gamecocks' streaks of 16 NCAA tournament wins and 11 straight in the CWS are both the longest all-time. They became the sixth team to win consecutive national titles and first since Oregon State in 2006-07.

"We're not the most talented team, and we don't have the best players position for position," Roth said, "but we go out and stick together as a team. We battle. I can't describe it. We're a bunch of average Joes and love each other and come out and battle."

"They earned this one," Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "They were a little bit better than us in all phases. They pitched a little bit better. They hit a little bit better. They played a little bit better defense and they earned it."

"Just the fact we can stay loose in situations like this," Walker said. "These guys have an unbelievable amount of love for each other."

We Need Meaningful Experiences

On my way to a training with the Lebanon, IN HS football team I heard the above song that I found inspiring: The Breath You Take by George Strait.

I would like to encourage you to share what you are doing with your players this summer. Coach Chris Willertz gives us an example here below.

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I wanted to give a "Shout Out" to Chuck and Trish Brooks, Dave Getter and Family (son, Thomas and daughter, Victoria) and Bill and Barb Liedhegner for giving our Warrior wrestlers work this spring and summer. 

In referring to "Poverty: Opposing Viewpoints", children in poverty experience their parents not working much, as little as 16 hours a week.  They are not given example of consistent hard work and effort.  I am not claiming that our kids are the only poor kids necessarily.  

In fact, I would argue ALL kids are poor in some way....poor in spirit, poor in experiences, poor financially, poor in virtue....poor meaning "lacking".  

All young people need meaningful experiences regardless of socio-economic distinction.  So all young people need to work!  The above Warriors filled the gap and helped our boys out by providing VALUABLE work experience.

Thanks!  You are making a difference for our boys!  Medals that are won, championships that are earned, scholarships that are awarded, distinctions that are won......are all partially YOURS! Thanks to all for contributing to our Boys to Men program at Winton Woods.....we can't do it without you!

Sincerely,
Coach Willertz
Winton Woods Wrestling: Faith, Focus and Fight!

Facebook and The Running Buddy/Mentor Program

We have a new Facebook page. Please "Like" us and forward this to your coaches, parents, athletes and friends.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/SportsLeader/223927884292066

We have a YouTube channel where we have 77 videos posted ... Testimonies, short talks and some other fun things

http://www.youtube.com/user/SportsLeaderUSA

We also have a Twitter account.

https://twitter.com/#!/sportsleaderusa

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Running Buddy/Mentor Program

Two of our first Cross Country coaches in our association, Dave Quinn and Dave Wolbert of Flint Michigan Powers Catholic are installing a great tradition this year. I encourage you to consider this for your program.

They will be assigning a running buddy to all new runners, incoming Freshman, as well as, upperclassmen new to the sport of Cross Country. 

The goal is to provide yet another form of support for the new runners. A seasoned runner will be paired with a new runner. 

The seasoned runner can answer any questions or concerns, occasionally run with the new runner, and "show them the ropes" of the sport of distance running. We expect that this additional form of communication will enhance our programs ability to train and prepare new athletes.

Buddies will form a special relationship, that will touch base on a daily basis. This not only helps facilitate the learning of the sport for the new runner, but enables the development of leadership experiences for the seasoned runner. 

We are excited to add this program to our Powers Catholic running traditions. Running buddies will be set up in the first few weeks of summer conditioning.

Characteristics of a Great Father

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Thank you to all of you who are faithful, loving, dedicated men who sacrifice in so many different ways for your children.

Here is a video about a Dad who does something special and heroic for his son. It is the story of Dick and Rick Hoyt. I encourage you to share this with everyone you know as you wish them a Happy Father's Day.

We need more men like you. Society NEEDS more REAL fathers.

CHILDREN SHOULD ALWAYS SEE THEIR DAD:
• Loving and serving God through prayer and charity. 

• Loving and serving his wife with self-less dedication. 

• Living around other men who are strong in virtue and great role models. 

• Correct Scale of Values: God, Wife, Family ... everything else comes after these.

Thank you for all you do.

Model the Behavior

Coach Todd is progressing slowly but surely. He was able to sit up in a chair for 3 hours over the weekend. The goal for this week is to get Trent out of the ICU and back to the 8th floor of the Cleveland Clinic (Transplant Unit) by this weekend, when Sophia and Bryce, his children, will finally get to see their dad with his new lungs.

A New Set of Lungs

Some great news. Coach Trent Todd received a pair of lungs last week and thus far his body is accepting them pretty well.

This is extremely encouraging because Trent's health was going downhill pretty fast. You can follow his progress at the blog they set up for him at http://trenttodd.blogspot.com/

You can check out some of Trent's video messages on our You Tube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/SportsLeaderUSA

Knowing someone who has a life-threatening illness can put things in perspective pretty quick.

As many of you are preparing for this next season, ask yourself:

What is truly what you want the most this season?
Can you narrow it down to that ONE, SINGULAR most important thing?

What do you want second?

What do you want third?
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If you are new to the blog ... Coach Trent Todd is a member of our coaches association and the kind of man that you definitely want coaching your son.

Trent was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

In short, Trent needed a double lung transplant. His doctors gave him five years to live. That was a few years ago. At first, things did not seem so "bad". I confess I didn't even notice much of a change. He continued to work, continued to coach ...

But now things have taken a different turn and he needs an oxygen machine to help him breathe. Please pray for Trent, his wife Jill and his two young children Sophia and Bryce.

And yet, Trent wants to continue building SportsLeader. He recorded some short video messages to encourage others about what life, coaching and mentoring are truly about. My family and I had the opportunity to visit with Trent and his family and it was such a blessing. Being with a man who only thinks of others, who you know cares about everyone ... it is an inspiring experience and I could see that all of my children learned a great deal from him.
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Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease marked by scarring in the lungs. Tissue deep in the lungs becomes thick, stiff and scarred. The scarring is called fibrosis. As the lung tissue becomes scarred, it interferes with a person's ability to breathe.

In some cases, the cause of pulmonary fibrosis can be found. But most cases of pulmonary fibrosis have no known cause. These cases are called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis can develop slowly or quickly. There is no cure. Many people with the disease live only about three to five years after diagnosis.