Walmart Tees & The National Indoor Soccer Championship

I arrived in Cleveland on Saturday afternoon, not knowing much of what to expect. It was a hectic morning, therefore I hadn't much time to process the reality of attending my first soccer tournament without Ethan.

We settled into our hotel, then immediately had to drive over to the soccer complex in where Nationals was being held. As I walked through the door, that reality came full circle.

Looking around, I observed a large amount of people. There were players on various teams from all over Ohio, Illinois, Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Canada. Teams with sponsors such as Puma, and Lexus. At that moment, it hit me how proud E would have been to have the opportunity to play in such a soccer tournament of this magnitude. I could imagine the smirky little smile he would have had walking into that tournament.

To think of him missing this opportunity, and the bonding experience we could have shared as mother and son, was too much for me to bear.

The Walmart Tees went into the tournament without five of their original players. They were able to recruit three new ones. The team played two games that night, and one the next afternoon. The games were organized in a 6 v 6 with forty minute games. They had a total of seven players, leaving them with only one sub to give breaks. It was apparent by the middle of the game, our players were becoming tired. But they pressed on. At this time, the opposing teams began subbing their players. I watched as they replaced their players with what seemed another whole team.

What struck me though, was how well our team played under these difficult circumstances without a single complaint. They pushed on till the very end, not giving up, scoring a few goals in each game.

As I watched them play, I went through every emotion one could imagine. For the first two games, I wanted to cheer them on, but every time I tried, flashbacks to the many years of cheering my E out there on the soccer field, consumed me. His absence, hurt my soul. Deeply.

But as they continued on with sheer determination, I observed that same passion I did when E played. Those thoughts began to pass, and by the last game, I was able to cheer for them.

They gave it their all. In every way. Those boys ran, passed, dribbled and kicked the ball till they were physically and mentally beyond exhaustion. Their tennis player goalie blocked shot after shot.

At the conclusion of the final game, the scores were against them. But that didn't matter to them...or me. No, because this tournament wasn't about the scoreboard. It was about much more.

Perseverance, courage, a love of the game, playing with all odds stacked against them, and coping with the loss of their friend and teammate. They played hard, and well to honor our beloved E. And for that…..they are true winners.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Posted on Facebook 3/2/16 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205512894370747&set=a.1400614824401.2057436.1503211485&type=3&theater

The Walmart Tees

Ethan loved playing for the Pirates, and when the season had ended, it was almost as if, he didn't know what to do with himself. After losing districts, in which he played the best game of his entire high school career, he came to me very emotional, almost crumbling in my arms, and told me it was over. Expressing emotions was not an easy thing for him, much less any teenage boy to do, especially to me his mother, no doubt. But at that moment, I realized how vital my response was. I knew it had to be brief yet encouraging, so I simply told him, “It wasn't over. He was just entering a different phase of his life, and whatever he set his mind to, he could do.”

And that is what he did.

Almost immediately, E turned his attention, to the indoor season. The Burg team he had always played with didn't have enough spots for the seniors. Since he wanted to play in some of the tournaments at Quantum, he decided to create his own team. Little to my knowledge at the time, he contacted players he knew around the tri-state of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. These were teenagers around the same age group, that he felt were competitive on the field. The fact that he was able to make friends and recruit those he played with and against from such a widespread area, is a testament to the importance he put into developing and maintaining relationships throughout the years.

The first indoor tournament would be the Gobbler Classic. I recall the day he showed me the schedule was when I first learned of their team name. The Walmart Tees. Both perplexed and amused, I asked him how they came about choosing it. He replied, “Because that is where we are buying our team shirts.” Then I asked him who the coach was. “As of now, we don't really have one,” he said. I asked him if he thought he should. He replied, “No. We don't want a real coach.”
So on Saturday, December 5th, the Walmart Tees entered their first official tournament. The competition were long-time, established teams that had experienced coaches, team moms, and some even had secretaries. Teams with uniforms, and printed rosters.

And here was Ethan and the Walmart Tees. Submitting a hand written roster merely scratched on paper, shirts from Walmart with their team name stenciled in black sharpie and members that never once practiced together prior to the tournament. Since they had to list a coach, and the one friend they had in mind could not attend that weekend, they asked one of the player's older cousins to fill that role. Who, as only as they would have it, had no previous soccer coaching experience.
And guess what? They played against those teams. In all their sweaty, stinky glory with sharpie ink running down their shirts, they won the Gobbler Classic.

As I mentioned before, most of this was unknown to me while it was all transpiring. I found out when one of the mothers of E's teammates approached me. She told me how glad she was that Ethan contacted her son with this opportunity and how fond they were of him. She said they didn't hesitate in agreeing to play. I think back at that moment, and how proud I was of him.
It was one of those little things I learned about my own son that day.

Because as a parent, you are always worrying about your children. That doesn't stop when they become young adults. It deepens. They become their own person with their own relationships, activities, and dreams. They grow to be..independent. They aren't always open with you while establishing this independence. And sometimes it is hard to connect with them. So you try and guide them the best you possibly can. It seemed I did more guiding though, when I really should have taken some of that time to get to know him better. It is through those little things, you get a glimpse into the person they're becoming.

A month later, the Walmart Tees played another tournament at Quantum that was to determine their ability to qualify to enter the National Indoor Championship hosted in Cleveland. This tournament had even more teams competing, but they pulled it off, winning that one as well.
I wasn't able to attend because family had arrived in from Michigan and we just couldn't get there on time. Missing that tournament is something I will always regret.

Now that E is gone, the Walmart Tees have decided to go on to play this tournament in his memory as they know it is what he would have wanted. They will be playing the National Indoor Soccer Championship in Cleveland this Saturday and Sunday. These boys will need extra support. Playing without E on this particular team will be one of the hardest things for them to do. The bonds that develop on the field grow deep throughout the years of playing with someone. The loss of their friend, teammate and player will truly be felt by this team.

I have made the choice to go. Though hard as it will be not watching as my beloved E is cherishing the fruits of his labor while playing on that field, I know with certainty, that his spirit will.

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar like wings on eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk, and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

Posted on Facebook 2/23/16
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