Putting down their mark: OL Boys deliver signature win over Springman

This one had been circled on the calendar well before the official schedule had been released.  It was The Big One.  A benchmark.  Whatever term you choose, there was not one practice nor previous game during which the Springman game was not brought up.  In those 9 previous practices and 3 previous games, the hope was to distill a clear message to the team: we are building towards Springman, and we will beat Springman.

Indeed, the OL Boys appear to have received that message loud and clear.  In a resounding win, the Warriors never trailed.  Earning an 18-12 edge into halftime, the margin was reduced to 4 quickly in the 3rd quarter, and hovered between 1-4 points until early in the 4th quarter.  That's when the Boys dug deepest, and proved their mettle beyond a doubt.

One will often hear the term "flipped a switch" in reference to a team turning the tide in their favor late in the game.  In this case, the switch had been flipped from the opening tip onward.  It took all 24 minutes of intensity and focus to pull out the win.  The 10-point final margin belies the tension throughout the game, a game in which every possession carried seemingly immeasurable significance.

Message delivered, message received.  Heading into a well-deserved Christmas Break, it was relayed to the players the importance of reflecting on their accomplishments to date.  These include a 4-0 record (which of course required defeating tonight's opponent), and building the cohesion, confidence and work ethic required to be great.

If the season is a 4 month trek to the top of a mountain, it's important at times to set up camp, take a deep breath, and look down below, reflecting on the heights achieved to date.  This is certainly one of those times.  The coaches- and Program at large- could not be prouder of the grit and hard work exhibited so far from each and every member of the team.