Honoring Team Mates (Part 2) 6/8/12

The team just completed a short week of training, prior to jumping on a plane and flying half way around the world for the World League Super Final in Kazakhstan. It was one of my most difficult weeks as the coach of this team. I had to once again sit with two players and tell them that they did not make the final team. It is such a painful process. The deeper that we go into the year – the closer we get to the Olympic Games – for me to be the “dream taker” is terrible. My heart is too involved. I guess that this is a part of who I am - I love and appreciate the relationship that I have with each one of these guys. They are each special. In a way it is like I have sixteen sons. You can imagine what it is like to have to tell one of your children that they did not make the team. The players that are cut shed some tears and I usually cry along with them. I have felt emotionally drained for the past three days. This process takes so much out of me. I have been told by friends and family that the fact that I care so much is what makes me good at what I do. It is a special group and I am honored just to be a part of it. We all know going in that only 13 players make the final Olympic Team. There is a tremendous amount of risk involved in devoting so much of your life to making the dream come true. However, these players that have been cut need to know that I am proud of them and that their friends and families are very proud of them too. They are the best of the best in our sport and their efforts in training every day have made our team better. They are absolutely a part of every success that we achieve in London. These two gave it their all – they did their best and they deserve to be recognized for their efforts. Let me introduce you to these two team mates. Brian Alexander is 29 years old. He is 6’3 and 220 lbs. He was born in Santa Ana, California and attended UCSB where he graduated with a degree in psychology. He was a two time All-American while at UCSB and he has played professionally in Greece, Spain and Australia. He and his wife Erica live in San Diego. Brian played in the 2003 Junior World Championships and led the team in scoring. He has been a member of Team USA since 2005. He has represented our team in four World Championships, three World League Super Finals and recently helped us win the gold at the Pan American Games in 2011. He has played attacker and defender with the team and is one of the best pure shooters that we have. Along the journey is has scored some huge goals for the team. In 2008, he was one of the last players cut also. Brian is a man of high integrity and character. He has played a vital role on the team since I have been the head coach. As you can see by his credentials and accomplishments this was a very difficult decision. I hope that he will hold his head high knowing that he gave his best. I am very proud of Brian. Andy Stevens is one of the younger players on the team. He is 24 years old, 6’3 and 205 lbs. He is a graduate of LMU where he was named the best college goalie from 2008 – 2010. He is a four time All-American and was voted to the first team All-Tournament at the NCAA’s in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He joined the national team while still in college and has been one of our top goalies since. He has played in the World Championships, World Cup and World League Super Final over the past couple of years. He also traveled to Europe where he played for a few months with one of the best club teams in the world (Pro Recco). While in Europe he faced many of the best shooters around the world. He continues to work hard and improve each year. In my opinion, Andy will be one of our countries Olympians four years from now. It was also an extremely difficult decision to let Andy go. He has given much to our team and to the sport to pursue his dream. My heart is heavy as we leave for World League. I miss having these guys around and yet at the same time I know it is a part of the process. Our journey continues. By the time you read this we will have traveled half way around the world to Kazakhstan where we will be competing in the World League Super Final. We will play Kazakhstan, China and Italy in bracket play before crossing over to the quarter finals. The other bracket has Croatia, Spain and Australia. The tournament is another great test for us. It will be good to experience the international game and be able to measure ourselves outside of Southern California. This is our final tournament prior to the Olympic Games. It is also the final chance to evaluate the team. After World League, we will travel to Montenegro for 5 days of training with their national team. We still have 14 players on our roster and we still have to trim this to the final 13 when we return. Unfortunately, there will be a Honoring team mates (part 3). When we return we will be training for three weeks in Thousand Oaks for our final preparation. Less than 50 days to go now… See you at the pool. Coach