Striving Together

These remarks were shared at the Athletic Hall of Fame event on Sept. 27, 2025.

It is wonderful to welcome all of you to this third Athletic Hall of Fame Celebration. Let’s begin by gathering ourselves into a spirit of prayer and gratitude.

Invocation:

O God of Many Names,
we gather here in gratitude for the gifts of athletic talent,
perseverance, and teamwork.
We give thanks for alumni who, through their dedication and discipline,
have brought honor to this school and inspiration to all who follow.
Bless them for the countless hours of training,
the lessons learned in both victory and defeat,
and the friendships forged.
We pray for the athletes of today and tomorrow:
that they may be strengthened in body, mind, and spirit,
and that they may carry forward the values of teamwork,
perseverance, and respect.
May this celebration unite us as a community,
And remind us that when we reach the end of our race,
We are measured not by whether we won or lost, 
But how we played the game.
May it be so. Amen.

Yesterday at Homecoming, we experienced an amazing night: homecoming games on that beautiful new field out there and in here on the volleyball court. The Aardvarks triumphed over the Eagles, and the energy, the joy, and the sense of community were incredible. How fitting that we follow that celebration with this third Athletic Hall of Fame Induction here on the Morrisette Court. This gym is not only for playing games; it is, more importantly, for nurturing community. And that is exactly what we are doing tonight.

We will honor three outstanding teams and six remarkable individuals, all athletes who represent excellence across generations. Welcome to all of them, their families, alumni, parents, and friends. I also want to thank the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, chaired by Chris van Hatcher, and Sara Berglund, our Alumni Director, along with the Advancement Team. Their hard work made this evening possible.

Why do we play sports? Why do we compete? Athletes understand that team comes before self and competition brings out our best. When I was rowing in college and then coaching for three decades, I would remind my athletes that the word “competition” literally means to strive together. It is not about winners versus losers. It is about giving your best to your opponent, pushing each other higher than you thought you could go. Being part of a team magnifies what any one of us can do alone. Together, we rise. One of tonight’s inductees, John Koroma, put it beautifully. Coming to OES from Sierra Leone, he said that by joining teams here he learned “to love strangers.” That is the power of sports: bringing people together across differences, united in purpose.

At OES, we challenge our students with hard things and we teach them how to do hard things well. Athletics is one of the great classrooms for this. On the field, court, or track, athletes cultivate courage, resilience, and creativity. They learn how to meet the moment with integrity and compassion: skills that will matter long after the last whistle blows. We build scholar-athletes and leaders who play with grit and heart. Our no-cut policy, together with our commitment to excellence, ensures that every teammate matters; every player has a role.

And yes, we have also won, a lot. Almost sixty state championships in the last twenty years. Yesterday, we received the OSAA Cup Award for only the second time in school history – a recognition of excellence not just in winning, but in sportsmanship, leadership, and community. It is a tremendous honor for our school and a reflection of who we are.

Tonight, we gather together on the shoulders of others and as we induct these athletes and teams, they are woven into the fabric of our school. We celebrate not only their victories but their spirit—their courage, their love for teammates and competitors, and their ability to inspire. Their names will be inscribed on the wall outside, and as generations of OES students walk past, they will be reminded of what is possible when we strive together.