UPA Westerns Results -- It's What's Inside that Counts

Some say that success cannot be seen on a scoreboard. And after this weekend, I'd have to agree.

Several times per week we get together and drill. We work on mechanics. We work on strategy and technique. We drill for situations, we address our weaknesses, and we hone our skills. We tweak our zone, we mix up our lines, we continually work on catching and throwing. Heck, we even do killers and call it "fun."

But there one thing that determines success more than any other. What truly determines success on the field is the heart inside each of the players.

Two games in particular gave us our best moments of this past weekend, one against Mpls South, and the other against Seattle's Nathan Hale. In both those games, we believed in each other. We believed on what we could do, not what we couldn't. We saw the big picture and were able to execute on valuable components of our game plan. In doing so, we not only earned the respect of ourselves but our opponents and families. Good things are certainly coming our way. Thankfully, the picture is coming into focus and the puzzle pieces are just now starting to fit together.

Don't get me wrong, we've got a ways to go. Discipline during practices will be critical. We'll need to install more order to our offense. We'll need for our handlers to swing the disc, to reliably lead our receivers, and to get it off the line when needed. Continuation cuts up field will need to become instinctive.

When it comes to practice, we'll need to bring our A game. The greater the effort during practice, the better preparation. The better the preparation, the more confidence is instilled. The more confidence instilled, the possibilities become endless. One example of this came last weekend at the Hopkins Hustle, where we were able to knock off last year's state champions, St. Cloud Cathedral. Also, we have given a rising Minneapolis South team a run for their money twice this year in close matchups.

Our team is a contender; on paper we maybe not as good as Hopkins, or South, or Cretin. But don't you dare count us out. Cause we're not.