Week 3 at Camp Takajo has flown by. Without a doubt, our boys are loving the routine and extra curriculum events. We are in full camp spirit.
Once again, we packed a lot into our day. Our Braves (campers who finished third grade) boarded a bus and headed to Seacoast Adventure for an amazing day at the water slides, miniature golf, and arcade. Our Junior Greens (boys who finished fifth grade) made their way to Old Orchard Beach, where they had a fun day of riding roller coasters and playing in arcades. Our 12-year-old boys participated in a basketball round-robin tournament at a neighboring camp and at Takajo, creating an opportunity for more boys to participate in this popular sport. Our 14-year-old boys hosted a neighboring camp in a baseball game and continued our winning streak on our home field.
Today, Camp Takajo was also the host of our annual sailing regatta and tennis invitational. Temperatures reached the low 80’s, and there was a slight wind coming across Long Lake. It is often said that the mark of a true sailor is one who can handle a boat in light wind. Our boys showed great skill in sailing our sunfish and took first place in this long-standing event.
Our tennis team competed with great passion and heart but fell short of winning the invitational. It is easy to hold your head high in victory, but the true measure of one’s character is how one handles the difficult moments. I was incredibly impressed with our tennis staff, their coaching style was full of encouragement, and boundless energy fueled our boys to try their hardest against some very talented opponents. However, there are two matches in particular that stood out to me.
The 14-and-under singles was a full Takajo final. As I watched our boys compete, I reflected on the first time I met each camper seven years ago. One camper lived in New York City. I remember visiting him in his home and sitting at his kitchen table as his mother graciously offered me sushi. I remember feeling so welcomed in their home as we spoke about the opportunities we would provide for this little boy. The dad was a college tennis player and wanted to make sure our program would offer his son quality instruction and the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.
The other camper resides in Bethesda, Maryland, and he visited me with his parents in my office when he was eight years old. I remember sitting with his mom and dad as they described their shy son as athletic. While I was incredibly impressed with the skill these two young men displayed on the court, what stood out to me even more was the mutual respect they had for each other’s game. They complimented each other after each winning shot and at one point shook hands and chest bumped as they switched sides in the middle of the match. Their friendship and respect for one another were far more meaningful to those who watched this match than the final outcome. To see these boys walk off the court together, you would be hard pressed to know who won and who lost. Keeping competition in its proper perspective is one of our standards.
The other match that stood out today was a 10-and-under tennis doubles match against an opposing camp. Our doubles team found themselves behind two games at the beginning of the match. It is not uncommon to see little boys become frustrated and tense up under this extreme pressure. The bleachers were packed, and campers from both camps cheered on their players. Our boys battled back and tied the match and from that moment in the match, the score was never separated by more than a game. More campers from each camp lined the tennis fences. The applause grew louder after each point, yet somehow, our boys managed to keep their focus and composure. We fell behind 7-6 with our team trying to hold serve. We scratched and clawed, brought the game back to deuce and eventually tied up the match 7-7. Could there be any more pressure than playing in a tiebreaker at the final of a Takajo Tennis Invitational? With remarkable poise and confidence, our little guys never lost faith in each other and squeaked out a heroic victory to claim the 10-and-under championship.
Competition is a microcosm of what takes place in our daily lives. It takes drive, determination, handwork, and perseverance to reach your goals and even with all the effort, you sometimes come up short. While our team may not have achieved their main goal, they had a great time trying.
