Hello folks,
I hope people are having a fantastic summer! We are working hard in the main office to make sure that we will be ready for everybody's return for the 2009-2010 school year. More posts on that later.
This post is a bit more personal. I wanted to share what I think is a pretty amazing story from my own life...all true! I believe strongly in two concepts, following your dreams and never giving up. I think the best things in life are created and experienced through the power of human dreams. Dreams can captivate the world and galvanize a country like the United States quest to land on the moon or be a very quiet personal goal that might seem quite benign or ordinary to others. What both extremes share is the power and glory in the struggle to achieve heights you, and others, thought might be outside of your reach. My personal goal is in many ways a simple and common one: I always wanted to play football beyond high school.
I started playing football when I was seven years old. I didn't play earlier because the organization wouldn't allow it. My father will tell you stories about how I used to stop crying as a baby when he put a football game on...when all other strategies had failed. For some reason I truly can not explain, I absolutely love the game of football. It is in my blood...there have been many times when I wish it wasn't. I played football from the time I was a second grader all the way through high school my senior year. Each summer, I went to a rigorous football camp to improve my skills and chances to continue playing. I was a very good player: senior captain and most outstanding interior lineman. I even had several colleges contact me about playing for them. It seemed my goal was at hand...then I literally blew my knee out in game seven of my senior season. I finished the season (and even wrestled in the winter- somehow winning a heavyweight sectional championship on virtually one leg). Surgery followed the winter season, then a nasty post surgery infection. I was told that I had the knee of a 63 year old man when I was 18 years old...the many years of contact sports had seemingly worn it out. I was told I would never play again.
I know this is a familiar story- lots of athletes, from all backgrounds and levels have suffered the same fate. In many ways, it is probably one of the most common reasons people stop playing or advancing in a sport. The fact that this was not uncommon did not help my psyche at all. I had sacrificed a great deal to meet my dream, had it within my reach and then taken away.
The only college that still held out hope for me to play was Allegheny College, a small liberal arts school in the northwest corner of Pennsylvania. They were a division three powerhouse at the time of my graduation and also an outstanding academic institution. The head coach who recruited me told me that if I could come back, he saw me starting for the team as a sophomore...it never happened. The knee infection persisted and I could never get it back to 100% during my college years. Ironically, I wrestled for two years, even though it was probably my refusal to rest during my Senior wrestling season (I was captain and wanted to represent the team) that cost me my college football career. Allegheny had assembled a great team without me. In my sophomore season (my projected year of starting), Allegheny College went on to win the Division 3 National Championship on ESPN...I am still very proud of that team, I admire that entire group of great student-athletes and still wish I could have joined them... but it wasn't meant to be. I graduated Allegheny College with an outstanding education, my degree and the department honor award for my senior thesis. But the dream of playing football would still not go away, even with my eyes set on building my career.
Flash forward about twenty years...that's right, twenty years. During that time, I worked as a football and wrestling coach, special education teacher's aide, social studies teacher and assistant principal. I also worked hard to gain my Master's Degree and many other higher education courses. Three years ago it was my extreme honor and delight to become the Headmaster of Dover-Sherborn Middle School. Despite being very busy with my career and family life, I have always enjoyed working out, especially with weights. I continue to lift weights now. I find it truly relaxing and rewarding. One early evening, two years ago, I was working out at a gym when I got into a conversation with a gentleman named Dennis. We worked out together and I learned that he was the owner of a semi-professional football team in the New England Football League. His team is the Worcester Wildcats and he encouraged me to try out. As it turns out, I was not quite too old (although close) to try out and there were even a couple of other guys my age trying out. I took full advantage of my try out opportunity and made the team! Last year, I started in my first football game in 21 years. I am happy and proud to let you know that I am entering my second year as an offensive lineman for the Worcester Wildcats (number 68 last year and 57 this year). You just never know what opportunities life will present to you...and when they may present them to you.
A funny side note that is almost as hard to believe as me playing semi-pro football with many players almost half my age. One of the other older guys who tried out for the team with me last year, Paul, was in my class at Allegheny College! Paul was a multi-year starter and major contributor to the Allegheny College football program during the late 80's early 90's when we were at school together. We knew each other and had many shared friends. He had traveled west after Allegheny, completing his Master's Degree in Idaho before settling just outside Worcester, Massachusetts. Paul is now the all-star starting center for the Worcester Wildcats and when he and I lined up together for our first game last year, I was finally playing with an Allegheny College Championship player...18 years after my graduation! It was an emotional game for me...I will never forget how grateful I was to have that opportunity. We lost a very tough and close game that season opener but our running backs ran for over 300 yards against one of the most accomplished teams in the league. Another funny twist to the story: our efforts inspired one of the spectators in the stadium to try out for our team...as it turns out, Chris was one of my former high school teammates, he had been a sophomore when I was a senior! My Wildcats' football reunion was complete, with representation from high school, college and the present!
So if you ever feel like a dream is passing you by, just stop and remember this strange story of mine...you never know when your opportunity might arise...and who might be by your side at that time.
I encourage you to check out the New England Football League games. The football is really pretty good with many amazing athletes...and even more amazing personal stories to learn about.
Check out their web site at: www.newenglandfootballleague.com for league information, scores and team information.
You can check out my team at: www.worcestercountywildcats.com
If you are looking for a fun outing this summer and early fall, come check us out on Saturday nights, we play our home games at Foley Stadium in Worcester, MA. Our games have started, so be sure to check out our schedule on the website.
Hope to see you there. I will try to post some pictures for you on the blog later.
Never stop dreaming!
Sincerely,
Frederick
