Oldest daughter, Miranda Bring (25), was hired at Dublin Elementary School yesterday to teach the remainder of the school year.  Dublin Elementary is in a community close to where Miranda lives with her husband Ben in Blacksburg, VA.  Ben’s in the 2^nd half of his 2^nd year at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (“VCom”) affiliated with Virginia Tech.  They will be moving to another town after this school year in either Virginia (possibly Newport News) or in the Carolinas (possibly Spartansburg, NC) for his 3^rd year of study. 

Niece Bethany King and husband Larry of the D.C. area are expecting their second child, a boy, on or about 4/30/10.  Bethany is the daughter of my oldest brother, Fred, and his wife Linda.  Bethany and Larry had their daughter, Stella, in 2008.  This will be the second grandkid for Fred and Linda.

Our middle daughter Tashi (18) is back at class at U of Louisville, taking among other things, chemistry and biology.  She starts the dreaded winter conditioning Monday for field hockey.

Youngest daughter Clarissa (16) was selected to an indoor field hockey club team called the “Coyotes” and will play in a National Indoor Tournament qualifier in St. Louis on the last Sunday of this month.  A week later she heads to Orlando for an outdoor festival to play before college coaches.  She’s a sophomore. 

Wife Debbie and I saw Sherlock Holmes last week.  First movie in probably 9 months.  It was good.  Sherlock says something about not being interested in a theory, but in facts.  Having a theory, he reasoned, caused one to only pursue facts that fit that theory or to color the facts to fit.  Good advice.

Saw the NCAA national championship football game last night.  U of Texas QB Colt McCoy, one of the best QBs in Texas history, prepared his whole football career for this moment.  He was injured on the game’s 5^th play with his team leading 3-0.  Without their star and leader, the Longhorns fell to Alabama.  After the game, McCoy fought back tears, saying:  “I’d given anything to be out there with my team.  I don’t know these things happen, but I do know that I will still give God all the glory.  I'm still standing on the rock.”  Could be that his faith in face of such a devastating setback will resonate louder than winning the championship. 

Christmas 2009 was wonderful.  Oldest daughter Miranda Bring, who turned 25 on 12/21/09, was home with husband Ben and their two dogs, Mahollo and Cletus.  The dogs make our partially crippled dog, Teddy, feel young again.  Although Miranda was not in Columbus for her actual birthday on the 21^st because of work, Mom baked a cake and we had beef stew and celebrated Miranda’s birthday on Monday the 28^th.  As is customary, we went through the “10 Cutest Moments” in Miranda history, one of which was her pronouncement many many years ago that “Dad, I’m past the cute stage.”

Step Mom Lenora and brother, “Uncle Dan” were here for Christmas.  Mom cooked the ham, layered cheese potatoes, pies and cookies.  Saturday night, all of us ate at Cain’s (chicken fingers) courtesy of daughter Clarissa’s Columbus Dispatch Athlete of the Week that she earned with the game-winning assist in the regular season game against arch rival Watterson.  Athlete of the Week winners get a certificate for 8 free Cain’s meals.  Middle daughter Tash earned that honor last year and we took advantage of that at Christmas time 2008.  We’re hopeful Dan and Lenora can return for New Year’s Day and the Ohio State v. Oregon Rose Bowl game.

On 12/23 we saw high school buddy ret’d Air Force Lt. Col. John Jannazo and his kids, grandkid as well as John’s brother Lou, wife Annie and their two sons.  We played a touch football game on the tennis courts of nearby Bishop Watterson High School.  Lou and Annie live just 2 blocks from Watterson in the Clintonville area of Columbus.  It was great to see John, Lou and the families again.  We sat around, ate and talked of old times.  John went through a rough, rough year going through a divorce with wife Cindy.  Cindy was also a friend of ours from the James Ford Rhodes High School class of 1975.  They had been married for over 25 years.

Clarissa has finished her classes at driving school and is getting close to getting her license.  Tash goes back to the University of Louisville Tuesday for her 2^nd semester.  We got her a temporary fitness pass to Lifetime and she and I have worked out every other day. 

A couple weeks ago I mentioned that friend Denny Roe had died.  His wonderful wife, Sally, lost her battle with cancer and was buried this morning.  She was 82.  

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

 

                                                                                    -- Charles R. Swindoll

 

 

 

 

 

Today would have been our son Nathaniel’s 21^st birthday.  He was born December 19, 1988 and died January 6, 1989.  Today would’ve been the day I would have taken him to get his “first” beer.  We’ve been so blessed.  I never understood when I read the book of Job from the Bible how, after the deaths of the righteous Job’s children at the beginning of the book, it could be said at the end of the book that God “restored” Job.  What kind of restoration do you give a parent that loses a child.  Without adequately being able to put it in words, I have some understanding of how God restored Job.  That’s because he’s restored us.  We had two daughters (Natasha, 18, and Clarissa, 16) who we wouldn’t have had but for the tragedy with Nathaniel.  We would have stopped at one girl (Miranda, who was 4 at the time) and one boy.  Tash and C have blessed us each and every day of their lives.  The full restoration comes some day – long into the future – when there will be a glorious homecoming with the Lord Jesus and we’ll all be together again:  Nathaniel, Debbie, Miranda, Natasha, Clarissa and me.  That’s a blessing.  That’s restoration.  21 years ago I put on the headstone the epitaph: “The flowers return in the spring, but not the joy”.  That’s how you feel when you lose a loved one.  Thanks to Jesus, the joy is in full flourish, with or without the flowers. 

 

Debbie, Tash, C and I were at Nathaniel’s gravesite today and said a prayer of thanks for him and for the family of another dear baby lost – Casey Adams.  Nathaniel and Casey’s graves are only about 40 feet apart in the cemetery’s Garden of Angels.  We saw that someone in the last year or so has continued to place various decorations, toys, manger scenes on Nathaniel’s headstone.  Don’t know who it is, but Deb and I are warmed by the fact that God has sent an angel to let us know that He and his special messenger haven’t forgotten our little boy.   Hope to know who the kind folks are someday so we can thank them heartily. 

The Christmas lights are up and tree is still to come.  The Christmas cards are printed up and soon to be mailed.  What follows will be appearing in a Christmas card near you:

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE LEICKLYS

            The photo on our Christmas card was taken at 18-year-old daughter Natasha’s graduation from Columbus Academy last June.  In the photo, Tash is holding the flowers with big sister Miranda (25 on 12/21/09) to her left in the blue dress and little sis Clarissa (16) on her right.  Proud mom, Debbie, is on Tash’s far right.  I’m in the middle back with Grandma (Lenora Leickly) to my right and my brother (Uncle Dan) to my left.  Son-in-law Ben (Miranda’s husband) couldn’t make it back for the graduation due to medical school obligations, so he’s not in the graduation photo.  This is the closest photo we have during 2009 of an entire family photo.   It’s the “you snooze, you lose” rule.

            Miranda and Ben live in Blacksburg, VA where Ben is in the middle of his second year of medical school.  Miranda earned her master’s degree in education at Radford University in May.  Grandma and I were able to come down for the graduation.  The couple have adopted 2 cute dogs that they bring to Columbus with every visit.  Debbie is considering re-adopting Ben and Miranda’s youngest dog, Cletus, as a younger companion for our dog, Teddy.  Can’t wait to invite Cletus into the Leickly Family Circle of Trust.

            Tash started summer classes at the University of Louisville in early July and went on to have a great field hockey season with the Cardinals, starting at left back all season.  The team finished 12-8 overall and third in the Big East.  Tash is majoring in psychology and is doing well in school.  We’ll insist she play her violin for us during her break.

            Clarissa smashed five out-of-the-park homeruns as a catcher for her fast pitch Lady Dragons softball team last summer.  As a freshman in high school at Columbus Academy, C started with Tash for the lacrosse team last Spring.  C was an all-conference performer for the Columbus Academy field hockey team as a sophomore midfielder this Autumn.  The field hockey team finished as state runners-up for the second year in a row.

            Debbie’s still enjoying working as a pre-school teacher at Stonybrook United Methodist Church’s Early Learning Center.   I moved my Columbus downtown law office to 145 E. Rich Street back in late May.  We’ve got a good group of sole practitioners on the floor – Gordon Shuler, Eugene Butler and James Connors – who all get along well.

            Hope for all of God’s blessings for you and your family.  God is good – all the time.

            “In football, everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team.”                                                                                  -- Jean Paul Sartre, French existentialist

            “ I like to think I win two out of three times when the other side doesn’t show up.”

                                                                        -- James Leickly, American litigator

VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT:  JamesLeickly.com

Friend Denny Roe died of cancer November 30^th.  Debbie and I attended his funeral last Saturday.  Denny was a pilot, ham radio operator and U.S. Army veteran.  He and his wife Sally, who survives him, were roommates with my entire family up in Lakeside, Ohio in a summer cottage during the United Methodist Church’s West Ohio Conference for a few years.  We served together as lay delegates to the conference.  The Roes were the most hospitable people I’ve ever met, welcoming our girls as if they were their own grandchildren.  Denny was 82 years old.

On Thanksgiving Day friend and legal colleague David Levine died after being diagnosed with lung cancer just a few months earlier.  David was not a smoker and was a big health nut.  His son eulogized him as having a “sharp wit and a clarity of thought.”  No doubt true.  David was 56 years old. 

Grandma, Uncle Dan, Miranda and Natasha were back for Thanksgiving as Deb made the feast.  16-year-old Clarissa and I were in Palm Springs, CA at the annual field hockey festival.  It’s a chance for high school players to be seen by college coaches.  I was a driver/chaperone.  C had a good festival playing with a team of mostly seniors.  Natasha played over the Thanksgiving holiday in an alumni field hockey game at Columbus Academy with her (and C’s) personal coach, Christina Williams (a former Stanford all-American) and Tash’s former high school teammates Sue Ferger (Duke), Layne Averill (Michigan State), Ellie Szkowny (Davidson). 

Tash returns from her final exams on Tuesday night.  Miranda works until December 23^rd, so she, husband Ben and their two cute dogs will arrive that evening.  Grandma and Uncle Dan are expected Christmas morning. 

We are told by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” -Ephesians 2:8,9 (all quotations will be taken from the KJV)

But we are also told by James:
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” -James 2:14

Here, as with many apparent contradictions in the Bible, the difficulty disappears when we critically examine the possible meanings of the terms (words) used. Once we know the different possible meanings of those terms, we can examine their usage, in Scriptural context, to determine which of the possible definitions was originally intended.

In the question of whether salvation comes by works or faith, we first need to get a clear understanding of what the term “faith” (and its synonym “belief”) really means. Looking up “faith” and “belief” in an unabridged dictionary, such as Webster’s, reveals that they both have about a half dozen possible definitions. Further, except for the modern legal usage of the term “faith,” the two words are virtually interchangeable.

Although the words, themselves, are interchangeable, their definitions are not. The first thing we need to do is get a clear understanding of what differences exist between the different definitions so we will not confuse them with each other. There are two different definitions which we need to understand particularly well.

First, the terms “faith” and “belief” can be used to mean: “To hold to be true, unwaveringly.” A non-biblical example of this kind of belief can be found in the story of Peter Pan. In order to save Tinkerbell, children hearing the story must convince themselves that fairies exist and shout, “I believe in fairies.” This sort of belief has been suggested as a model for what is required for salvation in the Biblical sense. For our discussion we will refer to this definition of belief as, “definition one.”

The other definition of “faith” and “belief” that we must consider is: “To trust in or rely on.” A non-biblical example of this definition would be “belief” in the U.S. Dollar. In this example, the question of whether or not Dollars exist is not an issue; a person’s level of trust in the Dollar is what matters. A person who “believes” in the Dollar, in this sense, will probably not be selling his Dollars to buy Swiss Francs or Japanese Yen. This sort of belief has also been suggested as a model for what is required for salvation. Here we will refer to this as “definition two.”

Now that we have a clear understanding of the differences between these two definitions for “faith” or “belief,” we are ready to examine the Scriptures. When we apply these two possible definitions to individual verses, the surrounding context can tell us which definition is correct. We will start with John 3:16. Correct understanding of this verse is very important because the verse is foundational to Christianity.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “ -John 3:16

As we learn from the first three verses of John, chapter three, the speaker is Jesus and he is addressing a man named Nicodemus who came to Him at night. When Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must “believe” in the Son of God, the question of whether or not Jesus exists is never an issue. Nicodemus is standing right in front of Jesus and can verify that for himself. Instead, Jesus is telling Nicodemus that he must trust what Jesus is saying about Himself. What is important is whether or not Nicodemus will rely on Jesus – not whether he believes Jesus exists. Belief in the sense of "definition two," not "definition one," is what Jesus requests here.

Next we will examine a verse from James: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” –James 2:19

Here we are reminded that the question of God’s existence is not an issue to the devils. Their “belief ,“ in this sense, is unwavering. Here James is telling us that the kind of “faith” specified by "definition one," although good, is no more than what the devils possess. It is not enough to usher in salvation. This is why James says:

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” –James 2:14

We can see from context that James is using "definition one" for his meaning for the term “faith.” This kind of “faith” cannot save anyone. James provides some more information in verse 18:

“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” –James 2:18

Here James reminds us that the kind of “faith” which is required for salvation will produce actions. Returning to our non-biblical example, a man who is selling his Dollars to buy gold, proves, by his actions, that he does not “believe” (definition two) in U.S. Dollars as much as he believes in gold. James’ argument is that a man’s actions will tell us where his trust (belief - definition two) really resides. The kind of faith which the devils possess (definition one) can stand alone, apart from works, but the other kind cannot.

Finally, let’s examine Paul’s statement about faith in his letter to the Ephesians:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” –Ephesians 2:8,9

Let’s suppose that I intend to give you a Dollar; I hold it out and offer it to you. Because you believe the Dollar has value, you reach out your arm and take it, making it yours. Your physical action of acceptance shows that you believe the Dollar has value; but that action is not enough work that you could claim to have earned the Dollar. It is still my gift to you. What Paul is telling us is that no matter how much work our faith (definition two) causes us to do, it will never be enough to earn the gift of salvation. That is still a gift that we can never claim to have earned.

In conclusion, are we saved by works? Certainly not. The works, which our faith (definition two) demands, could never pay for salvation. Are we saved by faith? Faith (definition one) will not save us; but faith (definition two) is the means God has chosen for delivering his free gift.

Field hockey banquet

The 2009 Columbus Academy field hockey team had its banquet yesterday.  Jewel Benson and the senior parents put on a fantastic celebration for the state runners-up at the Benson’s barn.  Jewel’s husband Frank is at home now but still recovering from double pneumonia.  It was touch and go for awhile with Frank, but the Lord was gracious and it looks like he’ll make a recovery.  My sophomore daughter, Clarissa (“C”) was one of three Vikings winning all-conference.  The other two were senior Mia Wise and sophomore Dina Sinno.  Mia was team MVP; senior Caroline Casey was most valuable offensive player; senior goalkeeper Alicia Tamarkin was defensive MVP; sophomore Rachel Viets won most improved; and sophomore Allison Martin won the coach’s award.  The Viking award (most inspirational) went to senior Taylor Long who came back despite missing the prior two seasons with 2 ACL’s.  Our 2 second team all conference players were seniors Sarah Burley and Caroline Casey.  Sophomore Liz Benson (Frank and Jewell’s daughter) earned honorable mention all-conference for the second year in a row.   The evening and fellowship was great.  Coach Anne Horton sang a rap that summarized the entire season with the refrain:  “No respect, No respect.”  It was a great hit and unfortunately may become a You Tube sensation. 

Phil and Jonathan Kramer’s visit

Old college roommate and buddy Phil Kramer made his annual pilgrimage to Columbus with son Jonathan over the weekend.  They came for the OSU v. Iowa game.  We had a great time even though we had to scrounge for tickets outside the stadium.  Tickets were going for $300 a piece since this game was for the Big Ten championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl.  We were able to avoid the scalpers and just collect 4 tickets from fans with extra tickets.  (You just have to stand in the pedestrian traffic patterns from the parking lots and put your fingers up.)  We got 2 from a couple OSU employees for $40 each and 2 from a fan for $60 each.  So 4 tickets in for all under face value!  Clarissa and I sat together and even stormed the field after the game to celebrate.  The 4 of us went to our traditional post-game meal at Max & Erma’s. 

18-year-old University of Louisville freshman, Natasha, found out Tuesday night that her field hockey team, the 12-8 Louisville Cardinals failed to make it into the 16-team NCAA tournament starting this weekend.  It was especially crushing for Team Cardinal’s three seniors.  The season is therefore officially over for Tashi.  She’ll be home in two weeks for Thanksgiving.  Big sister Miranda and husband Ben will also be in from Blacksburg, VA for Thanksgiving as will Grandma and Uncle Dan.  Youngest daughter, Clarissa, and I will be in Palm Springs during that time for a national field hockey festival.  Clarissa will be on an Ohio club team.  I’m a chaperone/driver.  Clarissa, by the way, was named all-conference as a sophomore. 

Buddy Phil Kramer, Ohio State roommate, and his son Jonathan, will be flying in tomorrow morning to visit and see the OSU v. Iowa Big Ten championship game.  Look forward to seeing them, although they fly in on a red-eye arriving at 10 a.m. Saturday and out at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.  Quick trip.  Jonathan is now about 14 years old. When he was only 10 we were doing some site seeing in Columbus with a larger group of mutual friends when we stopped at a MacDonald’s so some of the group could use the bathroom.  Jonathon remained in the second seat of his mini-van with the door rolled open while I stayed in my pick up parked next to him.  Clarissa was with me.  So the three of us caught up with each other while the others took care of business.  I gave him some good natured teasing and he fired back.  When the others came out of MacDonald’s and it was time to leave.  I said, “Well, see ya Jonathan,” to which he answered:  “Jimbo!  I’ll see you in HELL!”  Hilarious – could tell he’d been watching too many movies.  (Got me to wondering how many movies have that line in it:  Unforgiven, Gettysburg, Point Break, plus many others I’m sure.  Jonathan says he may have gotten from Harrison Ford in Stars Wars The Empire Strikes Back.)

Also, my buddy Derik Hines, the former pastor at Stonybrook United Methodist Church who did Ben and Miranda’s wedding in 7/08.  Is in town this weekend from Phoenix.  I’m hoping to get together with him for breakfast tomorrow.

Wife Debbie, C and I are going to see some kids we know in the Gahanna Lincoln High School presentation of “Christmas Story” tonight.  It’s the play version of the popular movie about the Red Rider bb gun. 

FIELD HOCKEY JUDGMENT DAY FOR THE BABY LEICKLYS

"Smile through the tears.  Speak above the pain."

1. Cards fall in Big East tournament

After a fantastic finish to the regular season, the University of Louisville Cardinals field hockey team headed to the Big East tournament at the University of Providence determined to avenge a regular season double-overtime loss to 6th ranked UConn in the semifinal round.  The Cards fell 2-0 and now must hope for an improbable at large bid when the NCAA field of 16 is announced Tuesday night.  18 year old daughter Natasha played well.  It's strange in that the Cards will have to practice and train through Tuesday evening as if their season is still alive because, if they do get in, the first round game is just a couple days thereafter.  We're proud of Tash!

2. Viking fall 1-0 in state title game.

Columbus Academy's field hockey team's incredible run to the title came up just a little short.  The Vikes lost 1-0 to arch rival Bishop Watterson in a game that was very well played and could've gone in either direction.  We knew the Vikes would just get stronger if they fell behind.  They had trailed Thomas Worthington 1-0 in the district final and trailed defending state champs 1-0 in the state semifinals.  In those games, they drew together and increased their intensity.  The same was done this time.  The Vikes played extremely well.  I told my buddy Scott Barkin standing next to me that CA would force Watterson to make at least on or two great plays at the end to win their championship.  Watterson did just that.  On two penalty corners in the final minute, 16 year old daughter Clarissa got of two blistering drives from the top of the circle.  The first was just wide left while the final one was saved by Watterson's outstaning goaltender.  Congratulations Vikings!

Academy, Sistuh C in the state final again.

Columbus Academy's ("CA") field hockey team beat Cleveland Hathaway Brown ("HB") 2-1, Friday November 6, 2009 at Upper Arlington to make it in the state championship game today at 1 p.m. against arch-rival Bishop Watterson.  In a rematch of last season's state title game, won by HB 3-1, the first half was dominated by HB, which held a 5-1 advantage in penalty corners and scored with just 2 minutes left in the half.  The underdog Vikings regrouped and came out with a different intensity after the intermission.  The Vikes tied the score about 4 minutes into the 2nd half when youngest daughter, Clarissa ("C"), a sophomore, smacked a penalty corner into the HB goalie's pads.  In the mad scrum that followed, freshman Courtney Deena put the ball into the cage.  CA continued to control, commanding a large edge in penalty corners.  Then with exactly 6 minutes left in the game senior all-stater, Mia Wise, scored the clinching goal. 

It was phenomenal.  When the Vikes face adversity (they've trailed in the last two games) they get stronger.  When HB went down 2-1, the wind left the sails of the defending champs.  CA beat Watterson 1-0 in overtime in the last regular season game, so today will be exceedingly difficult.  Our outstanding sophomore right midfielder, Dina Sinno, was hit in the hand with a shot with 4 minutes left in the game.  The ball cracked the bone on the ring finger of her right hand, which tore through the skin.  Dina had surgery Saturday afternoon and had a pin put in.  Our prayers are with this outstanding brave and talented young lady with her recovery.  The rest of the Vikes will have to elevate their games to overcome this loss.  Let's go Vikes!

Louisville, Tashi, start Big East tournament today.

The University of Louisville plays UConn today at 1:30 in the Big East tournament at the University of Providence.  This is a semifinal game with the winner playing the Syracuse/Providence semifinal winner on Sunday.  The Big East tournament winner gets an automatic bid into the 16 team NCAA tournament.  All others must hope for an at large bid.  18-year-daughter Natasha starts at left back for the Cardinals.  Go Tashi! Go Cards!

Tashi plays old teammate.

Natasha and the U of Louisville field hockey Cardinals beat Stanford 4-1 Sunday in a game played at the University of Maryland.  Tash and the Cards played very well against 12^th ranked Stanford.  Tash played against former teammate, senior Rachel Mozenter, who plays forward for Stanford.  Since Tash is the Cardinal’s left back, the two had a number of great battles.  Rachel was a high school freshman when our oldest daughter Miranda was a senior field hockey captain at Columbus Academy.  By the time Rachel was a senior at Academy, Tash had made the varsity as a freshman.  When Rachel gave her Columbus Academy junior speech, she honored Miranda by stating that when she was a freshman field hockey player and having a hard time trying to compete at the varsity level, Miranda called her after  a summer practice and reassured her and told her to hang in there.  She said that call made a big difference in her life.

Tash and the Cardinals, 14^th ranked, head to Providence, R.I. this weekend to play in the Big East tournament.  They play UConn in a semifinal Saturday with the winner to play the winner of the Syracuse/Providence semifinal.  The final is Sunday with the winner getting an automatic bid to the 16-team NCAA field.  Louisville, which made the NCAA last year, may need to win the Big East Tournament (or, at least, do extremely well) to make it to the Big Dance.  The selections are made one week from today.  The Cards lost to Syracuse 3-2 and then lost at UConn in double OT during the season.  The Cards are playing there best hockey now, however.

Go Team Cardinal!

Clarissa preparing for state semifinal.

Clarissa and the Columbus Academy Vikings are getting ready to play defending champ Hathaway Brown (“HB”)  in the state semifinal at noon Friday at Upper Arlington.  If successful, the championship game is Saturday afternoon against the winner of the Bishop Watterson/Cincinnati St. Ursula semifinal.  The Vikings lost to HB 3-1 in last year’s state title game when Tashi and Clarissa were teammates.  HB, 13-3-1, has pretty much its entire team back so it will be a challenge.  The Vikes, 13-3-2, beat Watterson 1-0 in OT and were tied by St. Ursula 1-1 during the season.  Both of those games were on the road.

Go Team Viking!

University of Maryland trip today.

Wife Debbie and I are getting ready to leave our Hampton Inn in Washington, PA in a few minutes to make it to College Park, Maryland to see daughter Natasha and her University of Louisville Cardinal field hockey team take on Stanford at noon.  The Cardinals defeated Big East opponent Georgetown 5-1 Saturday (10/31). Tash played extremely well.  The game was played at American University in Washington D.C.  This is the final regular season game for Team Cardinal ("TC").  Tash takes on another former Columbus Academy teammate.  Rachel Mozenter, a senior, is a high-scoring forward for Stanford.  She and Tash played together when Tash was a freshman.  The Mozenters are a fantastic family.

C wins to fight yet another day.

Youngest daughter Clarissa ("C") had a defensive save and scored a stroke as 6th seeded Columbus Academy won its regional final game against Thomas Worthington in strokes.  TW scored early and controlled the first 10 minutes of play.  CA came on and took over the rest of the first half with the Vikes' Jesse Pickering scoring on a penalty corner to tie the game at one.  Worthington then took over in the 2nd half and the Vikes just held on.  It was during this time that C had her defensive save when the ball got past goalie Alicia Tamarkin and appeared on its way in.  With about 5 minutes to go in the game the Vikes regained their edge and had some great chances to win including a penalty corner as time expired when senior all-stater Mia Wise was just wide right on a shot from the top of the 16-yard circle and senior Caroline Casey just missed tipping it in.

TW then reasserted itself in the first part of the first 10 minute sudden death overtime and had several penalty corners against the Vikes.  At that point, Worthington hit its high water mark as the Vikings gained  a foothold and took over the final five minutes of the first OT and all of the 10 minutes of the second overtime.  But although the Vikes threatened to score several times, they couldn't put the ball in the cage.

Then came the stroke shoot-out to decide the issue.  The teams desigmate 5 strokers each and they alternate shooting strokes from 6 yards out against the other team's goalie.  Whichever team gets the most after the five tries (if necessary), wins.  CA went first.  Sophomore Dina Sinno scored; then TW's all-stater Anna Simmons, who played splendidly, was stopped by CA's Tamarkin.  CA's second stroker, senior Taylor Long, missed the last two seasons with ACL surgeries, then hit her stroke, while the TW stroker was again stopped by Tamarkin.  CA was up 2-0 in the strokes.  Then came C, who scored to put the Vikes up 3-0.  TW was on razor thin margin at this point, having to score its last three opportunities and stop the Vikes on their last two.  The next Cardinal stroker kept it alive by scoring her stroke to narrow the gap to 3-1 with both teams having 2 more strokes each.  Then came Wise for CA to the stroke line to try to win it for the Vikes.  Perfect!  Game over.  Jubilation for the Vikings who head to the state's Final Four.  The semifinal is noon Friday (11/6) against nemesis Hathaway Brown from Cleveland.  HB beat the Vikings in the state championship game last year when C, a sophomore, and Tash were playing together.

C's big sister Miranda and my brother, Uncle Dan, were at the game with us cheering on the Vikings.

Vikes beat Ottawa Hills 3-1 to advance to regional final

            16-year-old daughter Clarissa’s Columbus Academy field hockey team traveled to powerful Ottawa Hills Wednesday and defeated the Bears 3-1 to advance to the regional final Saturday at 3:30 p.m. against Thomas Worthington at Dublin Scioto.  The winner advances to the state Final Four.  Clarissa assisted the game’s first goal about six minutes in when her drive from about 25 yards out found teammate Rachel (the “Machine”) Terveer for the score.  The second goal, before halftime, was by Caroline Casey (assisted by Dina Sinno).  Ottawa scored about 10 minutes into the second half to narrow the margin, but the Vikes responded with another goal (by Jesse Pickering) to put the game out of reach.  Thomas Worthington, the winner of our league, won its second round game 3-1 against Olentangy Liberty.  The Vikes, league runners-up, handed Thomas its only league defeat with a 1-0 win at Thomas on 9/30.  The Vikes are 12-3-2 and are red hot.  They start five sophomores, four seniors, one junior and one freshman -- so they're still a pretty young team. 

Clarissa gets 2 goals 1 assist in 3-0 tournament win

Clarissa (“C”) scored twice, including once on a penalty stroke, and assisted teammate Mia Wise on another goal as the Columbus Academy Viking field hockey team defeated the Irish of Dublin Scioto 3-0 at home to advance to the 2^nd round of the tournament.  Next opponent is Wednesday (tomorrow) against powerful Toledo Ottawa Hills, who have at least two future Div. I athletes, Katherine Jamison and Lane Smith.  The team travels to Toledo for a 4 p.m. game.

Frank Benson, father of C’s teammate Liz Benson, is doing better in trying to recover from double pneumonia.  He is on a ventilator to help him breath.  Got the update from Fank’s wife, Jewel, yesterday.  They are all still in our prayers.