Postcards From Asia: The 12-Legged Monster
September 13, 2018 | Men's Volleyball
Postcard 1 / Postcard 2 / Postcard 3
Head Coach's log…
In the past several days we have scrimmaged professional and university teams in Japan, eaten street food in Osaka, authentic Ramen in Hirikata and slept in the Myoshin temple in Kyoto. The last two evenings, we experienced the vibrant lights, sounds and foods of Shinjuku (Tokyo). Now, in less than an hour from sending this email, we enter the final stage of this tour: Shanghai, China.
Patrick Sohacki, RS-Sophomore, Middle/Opposite
The "12-legged monster" came to our lingo in the Fall training retreat of 2016. This was my first year with the team, and the first time I was given the opportunity to attempt a partner ropes course. Fear and fatigue hits hard while standing on a rope, 30 feet in the air, parallel to a teammate, leaning on each other for balance, with the simple objective of walking as far as possible. With each pair giving their best effort, the progression of trust and cooperation takes a powerful presence with each go. Sooner than the challenge is over, the two legs of each person wobbling to fight for another inch of distance becomes the four legs of one unit moving across the line. Two brains. One identical experience. Two brains, but one mind, like a four-legged creature.
Translating to the volleyball court and our 2018 foreign tour, fear and fatigue take the passenger seat quite often. Far away from home and contact with family, without access to comfort foods, and thrown out of a familiar sleep schedule, we lean on each other for balance. Our experience is identical, and so is our mission. When game time arrives, the six bodies on the court represent more than the skills that make them competitive volleyball players. They are a collection of minds that continue to connect through common adversity, constructive conversations, and the many valuable moments of mutual growth that our tour has presented. In constantly being challenged to make the conscious decision to become more like champions on and off the court, our 12-legged monster continues to take the form as the many characters that grow within, all in the early stages of becoming champions.
Head Coach's log…
In the past several days we have scrimmaged professional and university teams in Japan, eaten street food in Osaka, authentic Ramen in Hirikata and slept in the Myoshin temple in Kyoto. The last two evenings, we experienced the vibrant lights, sounds and foods of Shinjuku (Tokyo). Now, in less than an hour from sending this email, we enter the final stage of this tour: Shanghai, China.
Patrick Sohacki, RS-Sophomore, Middle/Opposite
The "12-legged monster" came to our lingo in the Fall training retreat of 2016. This was my first year with the team, and the first time I was given the opportunity to attempt a partner ropes course. Fear and fatigue hits hard while standing on a rope, 30 feet in the air, parallel to a teammate, leaning on each other for balance, with the simple objective of walking as far as possible. With each pair giving their best effort, the progression of trust and cooperation takes a powerful presence with each go. Sooner than the challenge is over, the two legs of each person wobbling to fight for another inch of distance becomes the four legs of one unit moving across the line. Two brains. One identical experience. Two brains, but one mind, like a four-legged creature.
Translating to the volleyball court and our 2018 foreign tour, fear and fatigue take the passenger seat quite often. Far away from home and contact with family, without access to comfort foods, and thrown out of a familiar sleep schedule, we lean on each other for balance. Our experience is identical, and so is our mission. When game time arrives, the six bodies on the court represent more than the skills that make them competitive volleyball players. They are a collection of minds that continue to connect through common adversity, constructive conversations, and the many valuable moments of mutual growth that our tour has presented. In constantly being challenged to make the conscious decision to become more like champions on and off the court, our 12-legged monster continues to take the form as the many characters that grow within, all in the early stages of becoming champions.
Players Mentioned
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