CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR

This week, we are in Kansas City for the Midwest Regional Championship. Cate's team, Michigan Tigers, won the first game, drew the second, and won the third, sending us to the semi-finals.

Cate has played exceptionally well in all three games, scoring a goal in the second game that gave us the draw. In the third game, she unleashed a vicious free kick that missed by mere millimeters. Enjoy!

A MASTERSTROKE IN MILAN

Like life, soccer is full of ups and downs. Last night, the Greenhills Gryphons evinced that saying on their way to the 2025 District Championship!

The Gryphons started off strong with a goal within the first five minutes. Soon thereafter, their opponent, Milan High School, countered with a goal of their own after the Gryphons' goalie bobbled a weak shot on target. From there, the game became a tight affair with few scoring opportunities. Despite the lack of additional goals, there was still plenty of excitement - mainly due to hard fouls committed by the Milan players, most of which went unpunished without yellow cards.

Time and again their players came in hard on our players, often knocking them to the ground after clattering into them. The referee had completely lost control and seemed quite unfazed by the violent level of play on the pitch. Similarly, the Milan parents were unbothered by their team's tactics. On spectator, presumably a father of a Milan player, echoed the same refrain every time one of their players victimized our girls, saying, "It's called soccer!" Needless to say, I was infuriated by that attitude and phrase.

The game went to extra time. Immediately after the kickoff, a Milan player rammed into Cate, who was defenseless and without the ball, sending her to the ground. There she lay for several minutes, though it  seemed like an eternity. I was so worried that it might be a ligament or a joint injury. Fortunately, Cate was able to walk off on her own power after sustaining what turned out to be a quad contusion. Within a few minutes, Cate was back on the pitch but visibly limping.

As the first period of extra time was winding down, the Gryphons won a corner. The ball was delivered expertly, and Cate rose up to meet it with her head, scoring what would turn out to be the game winner! Somehow, I had decided to film this play, and you can enjoy it for yourself below! Even more surprisingly, after the goal, I bit my tongue and did not utter the oft-repeated line, from the Milan supporters, "It's called soccer!"

Greenhills were able to run out the clock in the second period of extra time and seal the victory. Afterwards, we all basked in the golden hour of pre-dusk, late Spring, soaking up the win!

I could not be more proud of these young ladies, especially our Cate. She was a fearless leader all game long. I cannot wait to see what this team does in Regionals next week!

A MEMORABLE MEMORIAL DAY

It has been slow-going the last few years making friends outside work and finding a community here in Ann Arbor. In part, this is explained by the pandemic, but it is also a function of many people having existing, established friend groups at this stage of life. Undaunted, we have spent a lot of quality time together as a family, but sharing experiences with other people often makes things more memorable. That is why we were so happy to spend Memorial Day Sunday with the family of one of Cate's closest friends from school, whose older brother is also one of Nicholas' friends from the same school, at their lake cottage nearby Ann Arbor. 

There was great food and conversation and time spent on the water. Kathleen and I kayaked. However, the kids were the true adventurers, partaking in inner tubing behind the powerboat. Somehow, they hung on for dear life for several minutes! They were even brave enough to get back on the saddle and try it again after their first time out! 

Simply put, it was a Memorial Day to remember!

COME ON YOU MIGHTY OAKS!

We have always been major supporters of the local soccer teams where we lived, especially in Portland. This weekend, we attended our first match for Ann Arbor's United Soccer League semi-pro team, Ann Arbor Football Club (FC). The team's mascot is the Mighty Oaks, and their saying or motto is "Come On You Mighty Oaks," or COYMO for short. 

It was a beautiful Memorial Day weekend night in Ann Arbor with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60s. The atmosphere was vibrant in the football stadium where Pioneer High School plays it games with adults and children in attendance.

We met up with one of Cate's friends from soccer and enjoyed the Mighty Oaks 2-1 victory, including a sensational free kick by the home team!

Nicholas is writing feature articles for the team this summer and doing player profiles, so I will look forward to learning more about the team and its exploits. Until then, COYMO!

MY WORD THAT GIRL'S A STAR

Cate has been on an absolute terror these past few weeks on the Greenhills Soccer team. In the last three games alone, she has scored seven goals, including two occasions when she was the team's only scorer. Notably, nearly all of these goals were scored from shots taken outside the box, i.e., at least 18 yards from goal. That is a remarkable achievement over such a short stretch and something that few footballers at any level can claim, even Lionel Messi! 

As the team continues their playoff run next week, I look forward to seeing the magic that Cate will weave. She is truly one in a million!

BYLINE

Making one's way in the world has always been hard for people starting out in a new career. However, these are especially challenging times. That is why we were so thrilled that Nicholas landed an internship this summer with the MLive media group and the local paper "Ann Arbor News." You can find a link to all his work for that publication here.

He started work on Monday and by the next day, he had been dispatched to nearby Ypslanti to cover a local news story about a camp for students with disabilities at a local university. In the past week, he has knocked out three more articles, ranging form an award-winning local vegan bakery, the Taste of Ann Arbor food festival, and the Peony Garden in the U-M Arboretum. 

The articles are detailed and insightful and are written with a caring voice designed to inform the readership about their community. I cannot wait to read more of his work this summer and beyond!

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WORK HARD FOR THEM!

Last year at the time time, Nicholas did not have an positive responses to his internship inquires. He was quite sad, but he quickly got over it and focused on making some money working at the Racquet Club down the road. 

He returned to campus ready to hit the ground running last fall. He was bear writer for the track and field team, then the women's basketball team. More recently, he has been assigned to the flagship team on campus, men's lacrosse while successfully competing for an assistant sports editor position. He is three for three on being named to the Dean's list, and he is beginning to cultivate relationships with professors and fellow student alike. All in all, he is thriving and making the most of what Syracuse and Newhouse have to offer.

Because of that, I was so happy for him to hear that he had been offered a paid internship at our local paper, the Ann Arbor News, a publication of the MLive media group. He will be working in news this summer. On the side, he will be helping the local soccer club, AFC Ann Arbor with public relations and game recaps and player profiles.

It is so wonderful to see this hard-working, curious driven young man hit his stride. I could not be more proud. Keep reaching for the stars, son!