Champion Days

lewisrobinson.com

2006-06-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

46 days

2006-04-19T07:32:00.000-07:00

... until I move back to Maine. Here's what's on my docket: finish novel rewrites, say goodbye to the kind people of Deerfield, ride my bike more regularly, prepare a summer reading list. Not a bad agenda.

end game

2005-02-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

Never before has this highlight writer been faced with a tougher assignment. How can words corral the drama which bucked and snarled last Tuesday? The Flyers brought their (nearly) spotless resumé to Auburn for a rematch with St. Dominic. During warm-ups (which featured blaring rhythms from the Rocky III soundtrack), Waynflete seemed uncharacteristically intimidated: several players mentioned how much bigger and stronger the Saints looked. Despite Coach Robinson’s insistence that the Saints hadn’t changed their lineup since December 22nd (the date of the first tilt), the Flyers were timid and scattered in the early going, allowing St. Dom’s to bully their way to a 10-2 lead. By the end of the first half, neither captain (Gretchen Koch nor Annie Hancock) had scored, and the Flyers had less than 10 points at the break for the first time all season. Junior Laura Fralich had been containing the Saints’ best player, and Karla Stockmeyer and Emily Norris chipped in early buckets, but otherwise, the Flyers were grounded.

Nonetheless, conversation during halftime was light, and Waynflete started to strategize. They’d been getting hit by a lot of pesky pressure at midcourt, but post players Hancock and Norris were getting open. What the Flyers needed to do was turn up the defensive heat, force turnovers, and get the ball downcourt to players cutting to the hoop. It took a few minutes to implement this plan (in fact, Waynflete faced a 9-point deficit with 10 minutes to go) but in the last 2 minutes of the 3rd quarter, Koch looked like Joan of Arc storming the gates of St-Loup. She got angry—as did Hancock—and the two captains took over.

Heading into the 4th, Waynflete was still trailing by 5, but with Fralich and Nina Russem’s tough defense, the Saints were starting to show signs of panic. Karla Stockmeyer played heroically before fouling out midway through the quarter. Whenever Karla or Annie Cutler or Fralich or Russem or Lauren Hadiaris forced a turnover (which was often), they spotted Hancock downcourt, and Annie didn’t hesitate; she went right to the rim. She finessed two essential layups (Russem hit a third) and with less than a minute left, the Flyers were down by only 1 point. This time, Hancock got the feed down low and was hammered by a Dom’s defender, sending her to the line.

The fact that Annie hadn’t hit a freethrow all game—and she’d taken six of them—didn’t faze her. She calmly received the ball from the ref, toed the line, and drained them both. The Saints had plenty of time to respond, but the Flyers struck again, forcing yet another turnover. The ball made its way into Koch’s hands, and she lowered her shoulder and headed to the basket. The shot was good, and she was fouled on the play. She hit the clincher, of course, and the Flyers went on to a 29-25 victory.

After the game, uber fan Susan Koch asked Coach Robinson what he’d said to the girls when he called timeout in the waning minutes. He responded by saying he loved the team and he knew they could win. Such was the script all season.

The mighty Flyers--the j.v. girls basketball team of Waynflete School--finished the season 8-1.

subs

2005-01-27T07:12:00.000-08:00

On Friday, the Flyers were hoping to bounce back from the stunning loss they’d suffered against Traip the previous week, and bounce back they did.

Annie Hancock and Karla Stockmeyer stormed into the gym just before warm-ups, announcing they were cold from the sledding they’d been doing for much of the afternoon, and while coach Robinson was initially worried two of his star players would be tired for the game, he then remembered who he was dealing with. Both of these players are rarely substituted, and neither of them ever show any signs of fatigue. Sure enough, when the game started (color had finally returned to Karla’s fingers) the Flyers were En Fuego. Gunslinger Koch poured in a quick six points (she would go on to score 14, a season high) and by the end of the half, Waynflete had kept the Seagulls from scoring a single basket (they’d hit two free-throws). Laura Fralich attacked the basket with brilliance and courage, and Emily Franklin—as she often does—used the backboard like it owed her money.

Early in the third quarter, all five starters had scored, so Waynflete adopted a new offense: get either newcomer Virginia Drake (’05) or stalwart one-game veteran Page Nichols (’06) the ball, let them shoot at will. Both Nichols and Drake held determined expressions and peppered the rim with a pulchritudinous array of misfires. Those of us on the Waynflete bench were thinking: these are the types of players who fit right in to our strategy. These are warriors, plain and simple—these are j.v. marvels, mighty practitioners of the craft of effort. Both players are welcome back anytime.

UNDEFEATED! (had I not called timeout)

2005-01-18T19:39:00.000-08:00

The j.v. girls’ hoop team took a detour on the road to the Promised Land when Traip visited Spring Street on Friday. The Rangers countered Waynflete’s aggressive style with relentless rebounding, patient and steadfast defense, and mercurial full-court pressure. The Flyers were up to the challenge, though: Annie Hancock led all scorers, owning the post; Gretchen Koch’s shot was as merciless as ever; wonderkind Emily Norris played a smart, heads-up transition game; Laura Fralich knew exactly how to slice through Traip’s zone (and she shot 100% from the line); and Karla Stockmeyer was a defensive explosion (in fact, at one point in the second half she was so unconscious with defensive talent she asked Coach Robinson why the girl she was guarding was completely removed from every play). Page Nichols hit a clutch shot in the first half and never looked out of place (we hope she continues playing with us); 8th-graders Annie Cutler and Nina Russem fit right into our offensive and defensive schemes.

Clearly, it was the best game the Flyers played all season. The full-court press was clicking, forcing double-digit turnovers. Every ball was hard-faught. Waynflete struggled on the boards, but scored often enough that it didn’t seem to matter.

Unfortunately, paradise can only be appreciated when you realize it’s fleeting; just when it seemed Waynflete was going to run away with the game, disaster struck. The Rangers hit a breakaway layup to tie the game with 16 seconds left, and as Koch brought the ball up the court, Robinson tried to call a timeout. The referee didn’t hear him—he was yelling but the ref had her back to him—and when she finally heard his cries, it was just as Koch hit a beautifully-arced shot from the foul line. The ref waved off the basket, and gave Robinson his unnecessary, unwanted timeout with three seconds on the clock.

The team was stunned (Gretchen most of all). Even the 8th-graders were questioning Robinson and his graceless timing.

In an instant, a dream performance had turned into a nightmare. Like the seventh game of the 1986 World Series (coming just a day after the debacle of game six), overtime seemed predetermined. Waynflete put up a valiant fight, but Traip was energized by their good fortune, and ended up winning the game by five points, 35-30.

After the disheartening loss, the Flyers were struck by the following truths: 1. Traip is already worried about the rematch; 2. Robinson needs to take screaming lessons; 3. what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.

transcendental run-and-gun

2005-01-11T05:44:00.000-08:00

When the news that gunslinger Gretchen Koch needed to miss Saturday’s game against Greater Portland Christian, the Flyers didn’t panic. They recruited rookie Lily Hoffman and adopted an Emersonian attitude: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”

Karla Stockmeyer took the reins with some trepidation, but after a few minutes, it was clear that the new-look Flyers would be just fine; Stockmeyer led the way with her head-spinning defense. Annie Hancock shrugged off the jeers of the opposing team’s fans (who outnumbered the ‘Flete faithful 3-1) and was as dominant as ever in the first quarter, scoring twice as many points as the entire Lions squad. Junior Laura Fralich capitalized on the diffuse GPCS zone by attacking the paint and posting a season-high 8 points. Whenever the Lions attempted to beat Waynflete’s press by throwing the ball downcourt, heroic Freshman Emily Norris was there to intercept. Eighth-grader Anisa Khadraoui chipped in four points, and fellow-middleschoolers Mariah Monks and Lauren Hadiaris offered essential defensive intensity. After a slow third quarter in which the Lions outscored Waynflete 10-8, the Flyers downshifted in the final frame and Stockmeyer put on a clinic. She shut down her opponents—holding them scoreless—while filling the hoop at will, hitting four of five shots and draining her only free throw. If an NBA player were to score at that rate (9 points in 8 minutes), he’d finish with 54 points. (If the Celtics call, Karla, make sure you finish the season with us before signing.)

Despite being held scoreless and racking up three quick fouls, Lily Hoffman stole the show. Having never played basketball before, she was a divine portrait of lovely chaos. She reminded us all what it truly means to have j.v. blood in your veins.

The team looks forward to having Koch back in the lineup against NYA this Wednesday.

green mah-cheen

2004-12-28T15:35:00.000-08:00

Who'll stop the reign? Just hours before Christmas break, the mighty Flyers brought their flash-and-dash to the Flete Center home opener against St. Dominic. The Saints were one of the few teams who defeated Waynflete last year, so captains Annie Hancock and Gretchen Koch were ready to throw down the gauntlet. A new age had dawned, and a new team was primed to dominate the j.v. girls hoop world. It would be business as usual for the intrepid Flyers: full-court pressure, smashmouth defense, and a run-and-gun high-flying offensive attack.

Still recovering from exams, it took a while for the gears to click into place, but by the second quarter, Koch and Hancock started to show the home fans what all the buzz has been about. The Saints played a fierce man-to-man defense, but once Koch started attacking the lane, stopping on a dime and either dishing or pulling up for her patented quick-release gunslinging, St. Dominic found itself relinquishing a lead they'd never regain. Junior Laura Fralich provided some heart-stopping defense, stealing the ball and pressuring the Saints on the other end; Freshman Emily Norris balanced Hancock's attack on the opposite post. Free-agent eighth graders Anisa Khadraoui, Mariah Monks and Jenna Libby flew in and out of the game without letting the Flyers skip a beat—in fact, had it not been for Khadraoui's dramatic fieldgoal in the second quarter, Waynflete wouldn't have been leading at halftime.

The Flyers stepped onto the quart in the third quarter with unwavering confidence and some new apparel: green sweatbands adorning their legs, arms, and heads. Actually, only one head was adorned with the shamrock accessory: Karla Stockmeyer's. Accordingly, it was Stockmeyer who not only led the team in scoring in the third but also shut down the Saints' top scorer, not allowing her a single point in the second half. Coincidence? We don't think so.

Down the stretch, Hancock (with green armband) put on a show for her family in the stands: she came up big in the zone press, stealing the ball at midcourt several times and slashing to the basket. Koch, too, maintained a fearless intensity (despite jamming a finger on her shooting hand in the first half). The Saints pulled within three, but that was as close as they'd get.

The Flyers resume action against arch-rival NYA on January 6th.

OK, you're right

2004-11-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

the last post was a little glum.

Basketball practice begins in 10--count em, 10--days.

Got 85 new pages in the last six weeks.

Maggie is asleep on the couch, and Zoolander was actually pretty fucking good.

You satisfied?

depravity

2004-11-11T17:48:00.000-08:00

Eating leftovers and watching Zoolander in a dark house while my beard grows and Maggie sleeps on the couch.

The credit companies are calling.

Re-read the beginning of INDEPENDENCE DAY, the middle of MONKEYS, and the end of THE DEATH OF IVAN ILYICH.

When do the days get longer again?

on hold

2004-10-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

The newspaper stack is waist-high. The woodchuck is hungry. I have forgotten to buy cereal. Phone calls and emails will be left unanswered. The radio's set to 95.5, it's raining (but not in New York) and my basement is flooding. Life is on hold for baseball.

fazers set to stun

2004-10-02T18:02:00.000-07:00

After witnessing the varsity's thrilling come-from-behind victory, the stage was set for Waynflete’s energetic and highly-popular second team. Before warm-ups Coach Robinson and Coach Jones reminded their players of Traip’s style: aggressive, passionate, physical. Emma Morgenstern (’08) piped up, “We’re physical, too”—a remark which would aptly foreshadow the fierce 70-minute bout soon to transpire. Fueled by the inspiring limp of injured captain Lily Hoffman ('06), the j.v. took the field in the blustery weather with their watches set for GO TIME.
Early in the match, Grace “Rocketlauncher” Verrill (’08) gunned a shot just inside the near post to put the Flyers up 1-0, but the feisty Rangers answered with two quick goals, the first the Flyers had allowed all season. The second of the two was particularly unnerving—a chest-high free kick which when it bounced in the box doubled its loft and inexplicably slipped just inside the crossbar. Coach Robinson and Coach Jones had never seen such a freak bounce, and they wondered what kind of supernatural forces had been at play, but the team responded with noble, character-revealing intensity. The second half was hotly contested—every possession felt critical. Keeper Mary Hewey (’07) shook off the bad hop and bravely kept her team in the game. Angela Doxsey (’07) smacked a gorgeous outside shot against the crossbar, and Morgenstern and Brooke Luro (’07) created excellent chances for themselves, which unluckily didn’t bear fruit. The stars seemed misaligned, but the Flyers, to their credit, never blinked. After the loss, they walked off the pitch with renewed faith in their ability to work as a team under the most trying of circumstances. They look forward to the rematch with Traip on October 12.

where's the occasion / we will rise to it

2004-10-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

On Thursday afternoon, the j.v. girls soccer team answered a new and imposing challenge. Earlier in the week, Varsity Coach Jon Shardlow had asked Coach Robinson and Coach Jones if their fearless team would be willing to play the second half of the varsity match against Old Orchard Beach, and the j.v. coaches didn’t hesitate: they knew their players were ready, able, and up for the task. After the word was spread—thanks to team social coordinators Katie Campbell (’07), Susannah Rosenfield (’07) and Addie Thompson (’07)—every member of the j.v. squad (except the injured and the theatrically-disposed) answered the call.
After a brief half-time warm-up, the second-team Flyers took the field with the unwavering intention of preserving the varsity’s 5-1 lead. Just by looking at the resolute and self-possessed expressions worn by Brooke Luro (’07) and Nina Coates (’08), all on the sidelines knew the Gulls were in trouble. Center-midfielder Addie Thompson and forward Grace Verrill (’08) scored goals to extend the Flyers’ lead, and the stingy defense stretched their shutout streak to seven straight halves of play. Midfielders Louisa Smith (’07) and Chelsea Leighton (’07) demonstrated tremendous concentration and tenacity in their pursuit of middle-of-the-pitch possession, and forward Susannah Sprague (’08) nearly notched her first goal of the season after a perfectly-timed run past Old Orchard Beach’s left wing fullback. Midfielder Ashley Allen (’08) showed her talent for controlling and distributing the ball, thanks to a dexterous first touch. When the defense was whistled for a foul in the box, keeper Mary Hewey (’07) read the penalty kick perfectly; the shot went wide, but if it hadn’t, Hewey would have vacuumed it up.
As the players lined up to shake hands at the end of the match, one Old Orchard Beach player was overheard saying, “You guys have an army!” Indeed. The j.v. Flyers will be taking their determination and heart to Traip on Saturday.

3rd win

2004-09-28T05:56:00.000-07:00

The j.v. girls soccer team brought their shutout streak and intrepid style to Hebron for an afternoon game on Monday. Unfazed by a short warmup and lengthening shadows, the Flyers struck early in the first half when forward Grace Verrill ('08) crossed a ball into the box for Addie Thompson ('08), whose fierce shot was deflected, giving Verrill a chance for a putback—and as we've come to learn so far this season, Verrill doesn't miss such chances. After twenty minutes of nearly flawless defense, Katie Campbell ('07) put the Flyers up 2-0 with a thunderous outside strike past the Hebron keeper. Meanwhile, stopper Glennie Hill ('06), forward Brooke Luro ('08) and midfielder Emma Morgenstern ('08) were fearlessly putting their bodies in harm's way to win the ball. Sophia Ordonez-Gamble ('07) made a splash in her debut with the team, keeping her mark off-balance by relentlessly shadowing her. Kristy Andrews ('08), Susannah Rosenfield ('07) and Beth Lowry ('07) were unflappable in the back, and after Verrill got her second goal of the game—assisted by Nina Coates ('08)—Mary Hewey ('07) completed her third straight shutout, having stopped eight shots with the kind of tenacity that can only be described as heroic. After netting two goals (and hitting the post twice) Grace Verrill was also the first player in recent memory to pull up her socks while maintaining possession of the ball.

It's not just a hot-spot in FLA

2004-09-23T07:18:00.000-07:00

Went down to Newtonville Books last night to hear Sarah Bynum read from her new novel MADELEINE IS SLEEPING, and had one of those rare listening experiences when there's something in the author's voice that unlocks the story. I had already read the book--in the weeks after I got out of the hospital, Theo gave me a galley--and I was hugely impressed by it, but listening to Sarah last night was a charm. Also, she fielded a number of inane questions with Bynumesque grace. Had dinner beforehand with my sis and Theo and Emily Franklin, another high-school classmate who writes books. Gotta catch up on my reading.

The evening was capped when I got back in my land yacht--85 caprice classic, v8, 305, power windows, steering, brakes, locks, and cruise control--and headed East on the pike. Was rolling by Fenway in the bottom of the ninth, just after Foulke blew another lead, and was fully expecting the syzygy--Fan In Car on Pike Catches Cabrera's Game Winning Blast--or at the very least, was hoping to hear the cheers from their point of origin (I was listening to the radio). No luck. It wasn't until I got to Portsmouth, an hour or so later, that Cabrera was up again, this time in the bottom of the 12th. Walk-off bomb, putting us just three-and-a-half in back of the yanks.

Orlando! Orlando! Orlando!

(It's a family name, hence the points of exclamation.)

hot breaking news: WOODCHUCK RETURNS TO ROBINSON'S YARD

2004-09-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

Was thinking that my first post upon returning from Iowa City would be something about how depressed I am that I don't live in the same town as Aaron/Antoine/Arda/Sabrin-A, and it's true, but the pressing story is that the w-chuck is back. And true to his word, he's setting up shop. I was sitting on the steps by my back door and as with the other important moments between us he chose not to look me in the eye. But we had this understanding, see. His coat did the talking. It said: I'm a serious but fun mammal, and while I look like a seal you won't ever catch me sunbathing. I have an agenda. There's a lot of grass to eat, and I have children to care for, and I pride myself in my unpredictability. The fox who lives back here is not as graceful as you think. In fact, he's kind of an ass. The skunk? He's more my kind, though I discourage the trash-eating.

boys gone wild

2004-09-10T19:57:00.000-07:00

got back from the pats game last night at 3 in the morning, broke into my sister's apartment in s. boston and took a bath. (Someone dumped a glass of whiskey on my crotch; I had pizza under my fingernails and mustard on the back of my neck.) I thought I was a football fan but I guess it's been a few years (approx 14) since I've been to a game and something has gone terribly wrong. This is not fathomable if you are like me and generally just watch the occasional game on t.v. I go to baseball games all the time and love them, but this nfl shit is nasty. It's not just the excess--hundreds of tailgating limos, Toby Keith, seven-dollar plastic bottles of beer, Elton John, an hour of dizzying fireworks, Mary J. Blige, endless legions of drunk guys from Natick, Destiny's Child, endless legions of drunk guys from Goldman Sachs, Lenny Kravitz, hours of pre-game traffic, Jessica Simpson, hours of post-game traffic, the Boston friggin Pops--it's the attitude. The game itself is great, but all of the framing crap is tiresome and satanic. Baseball is just baseball. Football is trying to become the ultimate American statement. Toby Keith needs a boot to the ass.

bustin'

2004-09-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

To Foxboro for tonight's NFL season opener with my old friend Sven; to Quebec City for the weekend with my pop; to Iowa next week with "Iowa-City-favorite" Aaron McCollough. It's all about the work.

creature

2004-09-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

I don't need to link you to
Sabrina's blog, do I? Here's the thing: I have a corduroy creature of my own, an intrepid woodchuck who lives out back. Real wildlife, a varsity mammal. We coexist nicely. When I'm back there, he's respectful of my privacy. He mows the lawn. (He really does; maybe his family helps--I haven't had to buy gas for weeks.) As he grazes, he occasionally glances up at me. As I read, I occasionally glance out at him. We're wary--"a little bit uneasy" as the Portland Phoenix might say--but ultimately we honor the symbiosis. I'd like to take the next step, domesticate him, have him spend some time indoors. He knows I've been thinking along these lines and he fears the unknown.

the test

2004-09-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Zone or man-to-man? The perfect litmus. Zone is more effective; man-to-man is prettier. Zone clogs while man elucidates. Size is stymied by zone. Man necessitates personal responsibility. Then, remember Syracuse: a gorgeous zone. Uglier man: Rip on Kobe. I prefer a combo: a defense which looks like man but acts like zone. Man with lots of help.

Ready for hoop season.

babies

2004-09-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

Am I the only ass-slicing barnacle who hasn't publicly congratulated Sabrina on her forthcoming book? Of course I am. Well, here it is: Sabrina Orah Mark rules, and her book will rule, too. And best regards to her sweet little cow.

fine

2004-09-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

and i'm talking seriously fine:

the lounge chair in my yard; sox win big; yanks lose bigger; warm clothes on the dryer; reading boobar's novel; riding the bus from windham last night while my team (the intrepid j.v. girls) laughs at defeat; motorcycling to reid state park and swimming therein; it's september and the real work has started.

Hot damn!

iowacitystyle

2004-08-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

Just had a good chat with my friend Matthew Vollmer who recently started his tour-of-duty at the Workshop, and as he described a reckless stint at George's, I got wistful. Fire up the time machine, baby. Ronnie McCollough and I are headed back to Iowa City on September 16th for a reading at Prairie Lights. Looking forward to seeing M.V. and Kate and Arda; looking forward to the eternal undergrad smiles; Kinnick Stadium; Hamburg Inn; olives at the Foxhead.

birds i admire

2004-08-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I saw Sandpipers today at Reid State Park in Georgetown, Maine. They can run nearly as fast as they can fly. A good combo. I prefer to watch them run, and they seem to enjoy running, too. It's actually more like a speed-walk than a run. Straight-legged and addictive.