CrossFit Athletic Group

Oakland University might as well be the Taj Mahal of the Horizon League. Or the Vatican of the Horizon League, whichever sounds better. While other schools have mascots like the Mastodons, the Norse (?), or the Penguins (??), or are named after this dude, or are crammed in concrete acreage on 6 Mile right past Nicky D's Coney Island, the mighty Golden Grizzlies have their den in the beautiful hills of Rochester and support an athletic program that matches the aesthetics. Despite a number of luxurious athletic facilities on campus, the Oakland University soccer dome is the standout. A dome is genius, really, and is imagined, designed, and built around the simple truth that soccer is much more enjoyable when it is protected from razor-sharp wind and freezing rain. Teams from all over the state realize this and use this dome to play their games that would otherwise be held in razor-sharp winds and freezing mist.

And yet...

Literally, the dome is RIGHT OVER THERE!

...........

I don't know what made me go last night. Actually, I do: it was Priti. She has been coming in 6-7 days per week since Summer and I wasn't sure if/when I'd catch another one. Plus she told me Ashlyn would be playing too, and I really enjoy making fun of Ashlyn for various reasons. Somehow Mr. Bennis and Josh consented to come as well. But what I originally thought was going to be a Priti/Ashlyn show turned out to be the ENTIRE FREAKING CHAMPIONS CLUB SOCCER CREW! Well, not the entire crew, but about 30% of it: Priti, Ashlyn, Sam Curtis, Allie Good, Makenna, Katelyn, and Lily all played, while Sarah Curtis and Jenna came to watch.

It was awesome! The girls were literally doing handstands at halftime trying to stay warm. This is cool on many accounts. First, uh... the girls were doing handstands! Secondly, they were doing them well! Like rolling out and holding freestanding ones, despite odd looks from the other team's girls who were not as willing to be upside down and instead did boring stuff to stay warm like high-knees. Third, Ashlyn ruined Priti and Allie's best handstand attempts by pushing them over like a Derrick Henry stiff-arm.

Soccer things also happened. Mrs. Teri's horde of Champions Club girls ended up winning either 3-0 or 4-0. Sam scored 3 goals I think. I got to kick the ball! It did not go where I wanted it to go. The goalie punted the ball high in the air only to have the wind blow it right back in front of her (if only there was some place...) The ref was cool and understood the fine art of trash-talking. Katelyn smiled(!) when I yelled WAY TO KICK THE BALL KATELYN. In other words, it was glorious girls soccer in which I have no idea what is going on, never will, and yet appreciate it more than anyone can imagine.

Thank you guys! That made my day for real!