REGION CHAMPIONS!

The undefeated Union Park 1st Ward Young Men won the region championship yesterday 29-28...


Without me in for majority of the time.

The game was against a team in our stake that we had beaten two times before. We were ready for a tough game because we knew these guys were going to be good. We had won the past two nights and weren't about to give up the championship. We were on a roll.
Near the beginning of the second quarter I jump up for a rebound. As I come down my foot lands on another players shoe, a loud pop is heard, and the next thing I know...

I'm on the ground and my ankle is killing me. A timeout is called and I am helped by my teammates to a couch outside of the gym. I can't believe it. I've had nightmares of getting hurt in the big game and not being able to play, and now it was actually happening!
I'm so frustrated that as people come to help me with my ankle I'm telling them to bandage up my ankle and get some ice so I can go back in. I wanted to play so badly.
No, I didn't have tears of pain. I had tears of frustration. Yes, it may have been just a churchball game, but its my team. Its my team of brothers. I refused to accept that I could not play.
The Guitar Hero's mum helped me the rest of the game as I watched my brothers battle it out on the court. The refs weren't calling squat and everything seemed to be going in the oppositions favor. I would like to thank Addison's mum for helping me out. She helped calm me and keep me updated on the game.

Final seconds roll around. Marcelo fouls out. We are down and we need a three.
Eric comes down with the ball and passes to The Guitar Hero-- He is our money three maker. GH misses. Rex pulls down the rebound and dishes it to Eric. Eric, with two seconds left, steps up and shoots.




The ball flies

hits the rim






and rolls in.

We all start screaming. I jump up from the couch and hop across the gym to my team. We were ecstatic. We won!

It was awesome. We went the whole season without tasting a loss. At the end of the game we received t-shirts. Eric and I are going to try and get some CTR rings engraved with "Region Champs 2009" on them. How Mormon-Gangster would that be?
This is when sports become more than sports. We, as young men, worked together for a common goal. When we reached that goal it was that much more joyful because we could celebrate it together, as a team, as friends. I think this successful year of churchball will be a happy memory to recall in the future.

I went immediately to an orchestra rehearsal (merely ignoring my ankle and not bothering to examine it) to find that my ankle had swollen up BIG time. My ankle was HUGE! Alyssa freaked out and I had Mrs. Dalgleish look at it.
This is how I played at the rehearsal:

It was quite comfortable!
Mum took me to the Insta Care. I discovered that I had sprained my ankle and got a brace to help it out. Ice, Elevate, Ibuprofen.

Ice, Elevate, Ibuprofen. Over and over and over again.
Having a sprained ankle has made me more appreciative for my body. I am hindered to the point where the common practice of walking is now difficult.

Keep it a secret! I want to heal up before coach can find out. Shhh!

Region Champs! Region Champs! We did it boys!
Thank you to everyone for their concern and help. You guys are great friends.

Melina and Lauren- I would have kicked your guys' trash if this fat ankle wasn't holding me back! I will get you next time!