14u squad wraps up national title campaign with summer gathering

Published August 24, 2015 | By Firecrackers

IMG_4484Firecrackers put finishing touches on a memorable 2015 with end of year retreat

On Saturday, August 15th, the 14u Firecrackers player and parents ascended on Camp Briggs (Palermo, ME) for a day of food, water recreation, lawn games, and reminiscing on this past season. In total 34 people were able to attend and as luck would have it, the weather stayed sunny and hot all day!

Coach Briggs took a moment to pass out some thank you’s:

  1. The Past – Coach Briggs commented on the following: “First, I want to always remember to thank the parents and players that came before you…that sacrificed for your benefit. Our first group climbed many mountains and broke through many barriers that allow us and you the opportunities of today. So to those players and parents – Thank YOU! Nina Davenport (Bill and Tammy), Olivia Smith (Andy and Andrea), Brianne Maloney (Lara and John), Sam Frost (Ken and Robbin), Bailey Cote (Paul and Crissy), Alisha Starbird (Harry and Sarah), Olivia Shaw (Jeff and Ruth), Allie Clement (Brian and Carolyn), and Ashley Briggs.
  1. The Players – for their willingness to sacrifice individual stats for the greater good. “it was truly a very special and unique team dynamic. The players cared so much for each other…genuinely cheered for their teammates success and were there picking each other up when needed. Adding 5 new players to the team in March could have presented some challenges…but true to their character, the kids put their ego’s aside and wanted to win more than anything else. It is because of this selflessness they were able to achieve to the level they did…and it was an absolute pleasure to coach!”
  1. The Parents – Coach Briggs had the following message… “without question, the best group of parents to be around. The way you cheered for every player, supported all kids and not just your own…remained positive throughout a long season. It was an absolute pleasure to coach your daughters. It is easy to see why the kids were easy to coach…the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. You allowed your child to have their own experience and all I ask is never change. Continue to be a role model for parent behavior…you truly make a difference!”
  1. The Coaches –
  • Brian Clement – A great program partner, an outstanding coach, and as quality of a person as you can be. We had a vision of a program 8 years ago…we have stayed the course and been true to that commitment of providing a great atmosphere for teaching and molding young female athletes into excellent basketball players, role models, and leaders.
  • Frank DeWolfe – Frank has been a head coach since he came into our program 3 years ago. For him to take a reduced role, maintain a positive attitude, and continue to have such a huge impact on the development of players in our program speaks volumes about his character. He was a pleasure to work with for the past 4 months and look forward to more in the future.
  • Brian Blethen – While Brian volunteers the bulk of his time coaching his own team (6th grade), he stepped in as an assistant coach on our trip to Orlando. He had the responsibility of keeping the book which is a big role as we have learned throughout our experience over the years. In addition, his can do attitude and willingness to help anywhere needed is an infectious quality.
  • Ashley Briggs – Not many people get the opportunity to coach your kid since kindergarten then have her sit on the bench for the last two National Championships. She has a great feel for the game, a very high IQ, and I appreciated her relationship with the players as well as her subtle in game suggestions. She is off to college but I will never forget the experience of coaching and traveling with her over the past 10 years!

IMG_2100Once that was completed … Coach Briggs passed out National Championship sweatshirts to the players. As he stated, “We only celebrate National Championships … so AAU States doesn’t count!” Coach also unveiled the Maine Firecracker Championship Banner. On the back it lists the National Championship teams and players – 2011 AAU National Champs, 2014 AAU National Champs, 2014 USJN Silver Div. National Champs, 2015 AAU National Champs.