All Good Things Come to An End! Including Lightning!

Iowa Lighting Red Team, 3rd place Pella Tournament

We just got home from Elyse's last tournament with the Iowa Lightning.  The girls played well overall and ended up placing 3rd, again.  Elyse said she really wanted to win this tournament and end with a 1st place medal, but they were glad to get 3rd place.  They ended up losing in overtime due to a "hail mary" 3 point shot that the other team made to put us in overtime and then another one to win.  That put us 2 and 1 as of Saturday night.  Sunday we were the number 2 seed in the A/Championship bracket and ended up losing to a team we have beaten before, but the girls weren't quite ready at 8:00 AM this morning.  Elyse, on the other hand, had one of her best games and had a LOT of points with great defense!  She was bummed as she wanted to get in the championship game, but being we lost, we ended up playing for 3rd place.....and were successful at it once again winning by lots of points as well again. 

While my car is glad to have some time off, the girls were all a little sadden to see it come to an end.  Elyse put on facebook "Sad to play my last game with the Lightning today (until next year)"  She also put a chant on there that the Lightning girls sometimes say and that she will miss her "team".  Kind of brought tears to my eyes.  After the pictures were done and everyone was getting ready to go, a bunch of us moms were hugging and everything like we were family so it was nice, yet sad.  This has probably been the best experience for Elyse, not only for pushing her a little more in basketball, but for gaining confidence, life skills, and so many more freat friends! It has been great for our family as well (the kids and Wayne enjoyed the swimming pool time yesterday at the hotel...they were CRAZY)

Coach told the team to be proud of who they are, be leaders in their school, and of course, keep playing basketball.  He also told them he was so proud of them.....and they just stared at him with puppy eyes.....very precious moment (I think some may have a slight crush on him but it was still cute....)

When Elyse was saying goodbye to Coach Doud, he asked her if she enjoyed it (of course she said yes) and then he asked her if she will be back next year....I looked at her and she instantly said "yes" with a smile.  He said he was glad to hear that! We were glad to hear it as well! 

Thanks go Gma Janet and Papa for venturing to Pella on Saturday and watching three games in the HOT field house......Elyse appreciated and so do we!  She loves all your support!

No time to waste though, she got home this afternoon and has to go to a volleyball scrimmage tonight before I run her down to UNI at 6:30 am for a volleyball camp there for 2 days and return for a basketball camp here in Cresco.  I am exhausted for her....and I know she will be ready for vacation coming up in a few days.....but who is counting down????? (me)

Great season of Lightning basketball Elyse!  We are proud of you and loved every minute of it!  Until next year.....

Lightning Takes 3rd Place at UNI Tournament

Lightning Red team 3rd Place UNI (minus Coach Doud and Maddie)

We had another great weekend of basketball last weekend down at UNI.  Yes...it was close (at least under a 2 hour drive so that is close for us).  After 6 games, the girls ended 4 and 2 and came out in 3rd place! Their coach, Coach Doud was gone Sunday (he had a golf tournament....see why he and Wayne get along so well:), and we were a little worried Coach BL (can't say her name. She is in back row, left edge of picture and plays for Grandview College Women's Basketball) was not going to pull the team thru, but she did!  Even after another teammate (that is two now) rolled her ankle the night before, the girls pulled it thru!





It was a wonderful weekend not only because of that, but because Elyse had her own cheering section at the tournament.  Thank you to G'ma Judy, Carol, John, the girls, Randy, Lori, Justin, and Cody for coming down and cheering Elyse and the team on in their first two games! That was very nice of everyone and meant a lot to all of us!! Thank you also to G'ma Janet and Sara for traveling in for the whole weekend and seeing what a weekend with the Lightning is like.  I think having everyone there was good luck because the Lightning is usually not a "morning team" but they were this past weekend and came out strong. (Can't say that for the game that followed that day......:)  It was nice to have everyone there, cheering, and then celebrating/eating at Elyse and Alexs' favorite place to each on the Hill in Cedar Falls, Beck's.  (Sorry, one picture is fuzzy).  Fun family time!

Elyse is loving her time with the team and we are all a little sadden to see it almost come to an end!  One more practice in Des Moines on Wednesday night and one more tournament in Pella.  The girls are really meshing together well and playing good ball (when they want to) so it is sad for it to end.  Our family has loved the weekends away and spent some much time together with each other that it has been beneficial for all of us as well!  And we have also met some other parents of girls on the team that hopefully we will get to know very well over the next 3 years.  Not only has Elyse learned so much about basketball, she has received so much information on life skills and leadership and stepping "out of the comfort zone" that it is more about life in general than basketball. 

Alex, although he may appear bored at so many games, said he actually is enjoying the time away with all of us together as well.  He brings a basketball to shoot hoops at time outs and halftimes and is making friends himself with other "brothers" on the team.  So....although it is easy to feel sorry for him, don't.  He gets a lot out of it as well (plus usually some golf time with his dad).  This weekend he finally got his new Trek bike for his birthday and we are all looking forward to many bike rides as a family on the trails (whenever that will fit in).

So nice job once again Lightning Red team!  Keep it up!

Third Place Victory in Iowa City!

Iowa Lightning Red Team 

This is the first Sunday we have been home in weeks and it is kind of nice, although we aren't sure what to do with ourselves.

Happy Fathers Day to all the wonderful fathers in our family, especially to Wayne and my dad, Jerry!  Love you both lots!  Sending happy father's day thoughts and hugs to Joe, Wayne's dad, as well.  Missing him on days like today. (and always)

I bet you can't guess what Wayne is doing for Father's Day?  It's a tough one......right...golfing!  He is in some tournament today and hopefully he will do alright.  He hurt his back really badly Wednesday night at a fire meeting and is having a hard time evening sitting so we will see how he feels when he gets home.  The kids made him a HUGE breakfast and he and I had mimosas - maybe that will help him loosen up.  :)

As you can see from the picture, Elyse's lightning team got their first medals of the season.  They took 3rd in the Iowa City tournament.  Yeah!!!  They were very excited yet should have been in the championship, but due to a stupid loss to the other Lightning team as well as the tournament having point spread caps to determine seeding, we weren't there.  It was a bummer, but they should still be proud!  They came back and beat the other Lightning Team this time to get 3rd place so they were happy.   The team played fabulous basketball, except one game, and came out stronger than we have ever seen them.  It was a fun weekend to watch!  Elyse ended the weekend by fouling out of the last game (not a good official as they were not good calls) but that is a first for her for the Lightning, maybe ever.

So good job Lightning and happy Father's Day to all!

Big Tournament in Wichita....Success!

turning around.....

The family loaded up again Thursday night to head to Wichita, Kansas, for Elyse's next Lightning tournament.  This was the furthest one for the team and also the biggest one as there were 700 teams present at all levels.  It was very impressive and the organization was using 90 gyms throughout the area.  It would have been cool to play at Wichita University, but they used that for the older groups of girls.....next time! :)

This tournament was a kick off for the summer league and had teams


making a beautiful shot!



double teamed now



Lots of shoving between the two during this game



Elyse shooting...number 40

from all over.  Colorada to Texas!

Elyse's team did well and came back after a rough start.  The team had lots of turnovers the first two games and sometimes looked like they hadn't played basketball before. The sad part was they could have beaten both teams but had way too many turnovers.  They came back and played a team they had played before, The Force, and almost beat them.  The Force ended up getting 2nd place so the Lightning felt great with how they came out and almost beat them in pool play.  With that positive, the Lightning came back and won some games to end up playing for 5th or 6th place.  Out of 45 teams in their pool play, and 8 going to the Championship bracket, the team was very please making it this far and coming back.  It went down to the last minute, but we couldn't pull it off and ended up getting 6th.  You would have thought we were playing for the Championship though as some of the other Lightning teams were there cheering our Lightning Red team on and it was close!  Fun way to end the tournament.....although 5th place got nice, big medals. Sixth place got.......nothing!  :)

It was nice to have my aunt, Sheila, attend one of the games Friday night as she lives a few hours from Wichita.  Elyse and I also had a nice lunch with Sheila and my cousin, Kourtney, who is a Dr on part of her "rotation"? in Wichita.  We had a nice chat and loved the time with them.  Elyse's favorite part was the chocolate afterwards from this chocolate boutique!  :)  She wanted to go back for more on Sunday before we headed home as it was so good!  So thanks Sheila and Kourtney for spending some time with us and the great conversation over lunch!  It was wonderful!

Mom and Daughter Weekend of Basketball in Shawnee Mission

Elyse and I had a great "mother daughter" weekend.  We headed to Des Moines Friday night as Elyse had a choir competition and I had to work our PTO Family Fun Night.  We decided to go half way to Kansas City and stay in Des Moines, as we would get there later in the evening, and then head to KC/Shawnee Mission Saturday morning as the Lightning did not play until late afternoon.  We were both exhausted when we arrived in Des Moines and had a good night's sleep before heading to Kansas City.

Elyse's Lightning team is made of freshman and sophomores as many tournaments are by grade level.  Well, not this one.  They moved Elyse's team up to play in the 11th and 12th grade division!  At first, the girls were freaking out.  Then they saw what they "thought" was one of their opponents and realized they could win some games.....later they found out those teams were Jr High teams!!!!  Then the "older teams" showed up and the real games began!



Elyse scoring (hidden in middle)

 The Lightning Red gave it a good go the whole weekend, even after starting out slow and having many turnovers.  They could have won the first game but just did not come out strong enough.  The second game that evening was against a new team we have not met before, and they were giants!  All the girls played well but couldn't pull off the win due to the other teams pressing us and us turning over the ball.

This was the first tournament all of the girls on Elyse's team were there for a tournament so it was nice that was nice to see.  The frustrating part was they hadn't played all together and obviously, the other teams there had. 

We ended up going out for dinner as a team, parents and all, as well as Elyse's coach, Coach Doud.  It was fun and the girls had a wonderful time, even though they were exhausted!  All you could hear was giggling and laughing until the food came.....then you needed to stand back as they were HUNGRY!  We got in the car to head to the hotel and Elyse turns to me and says, "These girls are like family to me Mom!"  It was so sweet.  They are a great bunch of girls who are there to have fun, play basketball, and not worry about the petty stuff teenagers sometimes do. 



Elyse makes the shot - number 40

 Sunday we returned only to find out we were to play the Lightning's top team of juniors, Lightning Black.  Elyse did not sit out much the day before in the first two games, and being the team is a lot about equal play time, she sat out the first part of the game.  When it was time for her to go in, she was ready! She faced the biggest girl on all of the Lightning black team and did fabulous with her!  It was fun to watch them play each other, but again, we did not come out on the winning end. 



Elyse ready to go in...on floor with head on elbow.

 Elyse was so sweet the whole weekend, giving me my mother's day gift late Saturday night at the hotel, lots of hugs, and we had a lot of giggles the whole weekend.  The drive down and back was quick as well and easy (that is a sign we are in the car too much)!  When we were leaving the hotel we had been at two of the last three weekends, I said, "Goodbye Shawnee Mission", and Elyse quickly added, "until next year"!  I know she is loving the Lightning!  I am so glad as we are too!



Lightning vs. Lightning.  Elyse number 40

 She has practice this weekend on Sunday and then we have a weekend off.  When June hits, it is 3 day tournaments every weekend and Wednesday night practices!  Elyse finishes Lightning play in July, goes to volleyball camp, and we go directly to South Carolina for a week and North Carolina for a week.  Then it will be August and we start all over.  What a summer!!!!  Gotta love it!!!

Go Lightning!




Coach Doud giving the "after game" talk.  Elyse in back left corner.




Elyse and her new friend, Madison



Tournament 2 of Iowa Lightning......Nailbiters all Weekend...Alex and Grandma Time



Elyse posting up against "The Force"

 We made our second trip for an Iowa Lightning Tournament.  This time down to a suburb of Kansas City called Shawnee Mission.  We woke up to leave early Saturday morning to some snow and ice so we were glad to be heading south.   When we arrived in Shawnee Mission, the clerk at the hotel said that he was sorry we didn't arrive on a nicer day.  Little did he know we left snow and were glad to be where it was almost 60 degrees. 



Elyse on defense against The Force



Elyse scoring against the Eclipse



posting up against big girl from "Force"



Team after 2 point loss to the Force... Elyse is exhausted!

 While Elyse's Lightning team did not pull out any wins at this tournament, they played some rough matches and lost all the games within a few points. The second game was against a very good Kansas City team called the "Force".  They practice all year round, 3 times a week.  Elyse's coach told the girls afterwards that this team usually beats the Iowa Lightning by 30 at the beginning of the Lightning season.  Elyse's team was down by as much as 12 but pulled it within 2 points with 1 minute left.  Elyse even made the basket to put us within 2 points, but it wasn't enough and the Force stalled to pull out the win.  It was a very, very agressive match and I thought the girls were going to come out in pain, and tired considering we didn't start this game until 9:30 at night.  When the team was done chatting, Elyse said the girls on the team thought that was the best game ever and the most fun!  Well....they definitely played awesome and agressive, but I think if she plays like that in Iowa when the high school season starts....she will probably foul out in the first 5 minutes.  :)  She loved it.

We lost our last game on Sunday again by 2 points.  Lightning girls just couldn't pull it together, missed a lot of shots, and the refs were pulling for the local Kansas City team.  In the first half, we had over 11 fouls called on us and they had 2.  It was worse the second half so there was no way the refs were going to let us win.  Even in the last seconds, Elyse and the other big girl on the inside were shooting with the opponent on their backs and fouling, but no whistle was called.  Oh well....all in all, the team played great and it was another weekend of fun for our family. 

Being Alex had baseball practice this weekend as well, Grandma Janet and Papa came up to stay with him for the weekend.  I think they had a nice, quiet weekend.  Alex had just returned from a sleepover in which I don't think he had much sleep.  Alex told his G'ma Janet that Saturday was his day to rest because he "gets up early two days a week to lift weights, plays baseball two days a week, and lifts two days after school."  He said Saturday was his "day off"........  Really Alex?  :)  Could it have been you were just a little tired from your sleepover???  He told us he had a super time with Gma Janet and Papa!  Thanks to them for coming up and helping out!  I think we are going to need a lot of that this summer....

Until next tournament.....Mother's Day weekend.....back to Shawnee Mission down by Kansas City.....Alex also has his first baseball tournament so it looks like a mother - daughter trip to Kansas City.  Anyone want to ride along???? 

Check out the New Player for the Iowa Lightning Basketball Team - ELYSE!!!

Well, now that it has officially started, I can share our news about Elyse.  (She has been making us wait until practice was official.)  After many girls trying out (you can read about it on the website I have at the bottom), Elyse was asked to join the state AAU time called the Iowa Lightning!!!!!  We are so, so, so, so proud of her!  She had her first official practice yesterday in Des Moines, and she loved it.....worked very hard....and loves her new team.  She is on the "Red team" which are freshman and sophomores.  You will see there are other teams (white is jr. high, another is sophomores, 2 are sophomores/juniors as this is kind of done by age) when you check the site below.

She was very excited yesterday, as well as a little nervous at first, to join the many girls there for serious basketball.  She was excited as each player gets their "Lightning" practice jersey, a "Lightning" duffle bag, as well as some really cool uniforms.  She absolutely loves her new teammates, and she already "friended" some on Facebook.  Wayne and I were personnally overwhelmed at the "size" of some of these girls, especially the older ones. We will be the first to admit that we were also very overwhelmed with emotion as Elyse walked onto the court with all these strong basketball players.....there were even tears of "proud parent".....I'll admit it.  She could have asked Wayne for a new car yesterday and she could have had it!  That is how proud we were.

 Elyse may be tall but these girls have "meat" on them....wow! This is just what Elyse needs as she needs to get "mean" in the inside. The great part is the coaches consider all five teams "one team" and "one family".  We are very impressed with the program, the emails the players get for both shooting and life skills each week, as well as the communication involved.  It is a fabulous group to belong to.

A funny is we had to order "Lightning T-shirts" yesterday and turn in our order.  Our family ordered so many that you'd think Elyse was playing for the WNBA!  Elyse is even a little embarrassed and told me that I had to pick them up from the coaches next week as she was totally embarrassed!  hehehe  Her grandpa even said he might have to retire so he can be at some of the weekend tournaments!   Proud Papa!

So if you go to the website I have below, read all about the Lightning, then go to the side and click on "Red Team Profiles"......go down the team and there is Elyse!  Click on her name and you will see information as well as be able to click on her player profile.  The "player profile" just tells info extra info about her.  You can also see her schedule.....anyone free for a "roadtrip"?????

http://www.iowalightning.com

You can also select their schedule......our family theme will be "On the Road Again" as we have lots of traveling ahead of us.  Looks like we are heading to Missouri this weekend.  Besides these big tournaments, she has practice every Sunday in Des Moines until summer.  Then it is every Wednesday night.  So....sing along....."On the road Again......Just can't wait to get on the road again......."

Yeah Elyse!  We are so, so, so, so proud of you!  (Even Alex is so proud of his big sister that he had to go along yesterday and skip basketball).  He is now determined to get on a state AAU team in the future.  We know he can do it as well!  Great.......but I hope gas prices go down by then......:)

Go Iowa Lightning!!!!!!