So this weekend instead of studying I went on a road trip to Des Moines for the 25th annual American Mock Trial Association national championships.
Kostandinos, a former teammate and protege of mine had been begging me to make the trip for nationals since the beginning of the year. After talking to my former coaches about it I found out that my old program would put me up in a hotel and pay for some of my food. Against my better judgment I decided to go.
It was a strange feeling. This was the first time in 5 years I wasn't competing at this tournament and, although many of my friends were still around, nationals had a distinctly different feel to it than it usually did. Now my job wasn't to win, it was to help keep the new competitors get mentally right so that they could try.
The new competitors weren't just people I had known before, my school also brought along some first years which was kind of strange to me. Apparently, since I graduated I have become something of a legend to my old mock trial program. Kostandinos and others have been telling stories about me constantly which made me more myth than man. One night during the tournament, on request I literally held a meeting in the lobby of the hotel for all the young kids and had a "story hour" (pictured below)
Although it is cool to be worshipped like a hero, the main reason I was there was to watch mock trial. The kids did really well, placing 8th and 13th in their division but weren't happy with the results. Despite their displeasure I was happy I went to see them. I got to see kids I had coached as freshman (or even some I had coached since high school) all of a sudden become huge players on the national circuit. Kids I had taken under my wing a few years ago were now surpassing anything I had ever done. I felt so proud.
So for those competitors who read this blog (I don't know how many of them do): Keep your head up. I am so proud of all of you. I don't know when I will see you again, but I consider myself honored to know you.
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