NYR #6-Reconnect with an old friend

December 26, 2016

Throughout a players career with IWUHoops, they begin to value shared experiences with others more than accumulating possessions for themselves. That is why we have been everywhere from the Bahamas to Puerto Rico to New Zealand to the Dominican Republic. It is why we have hiked the Grand Canyon and gone on a cruise. It is through these experiences that memories are created and the bonds of brotherhood are strengthened, allowing each man in our program to grow closer to his potential. 

IWUHoops recently returned from a trip to San Francisco and Hawaii. The experiences from the trip stretched the team to grow in new ways.  Go behind the scenes as we count down the days to 2017, and accept the challenge to adopt some of these mentalities the team learned as your 'New Year's Resolution' for the coming year. 

Our Christmas trip turned out to be the perfect time to reconnect with old friends. During the trip I had the opportunity to see some a few people I had formed a relationship with through basketball that I had not seen in months.

In San Francisco, the team had a dinner at the family house of DJ Bettinger, an old teammate. I was able to play with DJ for two years and he also coached me for a year. DJ was one of the most unselfish teammates I have ever played with.  It was very kind for his family to host us, and it was a fantastic time to catch up on old times. His father came to our games and resumed his cheering support like his son was still on the floor.

Joining DJ was my good friend and past coach, Jay Mercer. In his two years in the program, he became one of my best friends.  In August, he moved back closer to his family in Oregon.  Though we've stayed close through the distance, reuniting in person was fantastic.

These relationships were forged through the ups and downs of a basketball season. While on the trip, our team took it upon ourselves to get to know each other even better.  It can be easy to exist and work alongside someone rather than learning about what makes these people tick. In my experience, the relationships on the team is what makes basketball special, and for me to take these guys for granted is a mistake.

The Christmas season has many distractions, but the love we have for one another - for the people God has blessed us with - should not go unnoticed. As we head in to 2017, if there is someone who is on your heart, I would encourage you to resolve to reach out, reconnect, and invest into their life.  Chances are you will be the one who is most blessed! 

Merry Christmas,

Lane Mahurin, Senior

NYR #5-Give someone else some juice

December 27, 2016

Throughout a players career with IWUHoops, they begin to value shared experiences with others more than accumulating possessions for themselves. That is why we have been everywhere from the Bahamas to Puerto Rico to New Zealand to the Dominican Republic. It is why we have hiked the Grand Canyon and gone on a cruise. It is through these experiences that memories are created and the bonds of brotherhood are strengthened, allowing each man in our program to grow closer to his potential. 

IWUHoops recently returned from a trip to San Francisco and Hawaii. The experiences from the trip stretched the team to grow in new ways.  Go behind the scenes as we count down the days to 2017, and accept the challenge to adopt some of these mentalities the team learned as your 'New Year's Resolution' for the coming year. 

Read past New's Years Resolution blogs at the following links:  NYR #6

Over our Christmas break trip, Coach Whaley challenged us to provide "juice " for our team. In simple terms, juice is about using your specific talents and abilities to energize and empower a teammate. This became our rallying cry for our 3-0 record on the trip.  To me, the perfect example that I saw juice in action was our game vs Menlo. 

There was a point in the game where one of the Menlo players used a few choice words that I cannot repeat toward Bob Peters and started talking some smack to him. One thing that I've learned here at IWU is to never talk trash to BP.  I remember him huddling us up after a dead ball, telling us that he was going to carry us through these next 10 minutes of the half. Bob went on to score 26 points that game, highlighted by a deep three to finish off his scoring rampage that he went on.

I remember how motivated I was to play hard for Bob because of him stepping up and fearlessly attacking on offense.  Bob gave me some juice, and it started to spread to the whole team!  I was pumped up and ready to battle with him, knowing that he was giving it his all every possession. The energy started to spread to the entire team.

This is what it's all about. If basketball was a one man sport then I am not sure anyone would be very motivated to play it the way we played that night against Menlo. The fact that we got to battle together with Bob leading the charge was empowering and motivating to our whole team, propelling us to a 24 point victory that night after being down 7 points early the first half.

As we head in to 2017, I challenge you to consider how you can you share "juice" in order to empower and encourage others around you.  We weren't given gifts and abilities to prop ourselves up but to make others better.  Make a habit of using your juice to make someone else better this year!

Jacob Johnson, Junior

NYR #4-Learn something from the past

December 29, 2016

Throughout a players career with IWUHoops, they begin to value shared experiences with others more than accumulating possessions for themselves. That is why we have been everywhere from the Bahamas to Puerto Rico to New Zealand to the Dominican Republic. It is why we have hiked the Grand Canyon and gone on a cruise. It is through these experiences that memories are created and the bonds of brotherhood are strengthened, allowing each man in our program to grow closer to his potential. 

IWUHoops recently returned from a trip to San Francisco and Hawaii. The experiences from the trip stretched the team to grow in new ways.  Go behind the scenes as we count down the days to 2017, and accept the challenge to adopt some of these mentalities the team learned as your 'New Year's Resolution' for the coming year. 

Read past New's Years Resolution blogs at the following links:  NYR #5   NYR #6

We often hear that “the past” is one of life’s greatest teachers.  The past can give us insight on things that have happened, those that are occurring right now, and those that are yet to come.  On our trip out to San Francisco we were able to make a trip to Alcatraz. We were all ecstatic to learn about an island that has so many legends, tall tales, and movies made about it.

Alcatraz is a small island in the San Francisco Bay. It first served as a military garrison and was then transformed into a military prison until it became the famous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. Some of the worlds most well known criminals spent time at Alcatraz, such as Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Robert Stroud aka “The Birdman.”

We took a ferry over to the island where we got to walk around and eventually go to the prison. When you enter the building, you are handed a headset that has a recorded audio tour that takes you through and dissects each part of life in Alcatraz. We learned about many interesting things such as the attempted escapes, rights they had while in prison, and what happened when they had good (or bad) behavior. The part that stuck out to me the most was that the worst part of prison wasn’t the small cells or tight security, but the fact that a booming city was right across the water. Inmates talked about how they could smell Ghirardelli chocolate being made, the lights and fireworks from Fourth of July, or even hear laughter and glasses clinking on New Year's Eve.  

It's interesting how studying the past can help us to refocus on our present situation.  I saw a direct parallel between the inmates who were living in prison so close to San Fran and us being on earth with heaven not so far away. We catch glimpses of heaven just the same as inmates caught glimpses of the city.  I think sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in looking forward to what is next that we lose sight of where we are now. If we are so focused on heaven then what are we missing on earth? Or on the flip side, if we get so distracted with our lives on this earth, then what joys of heaven are we missing out on?

I think this is solved simply by love. 1 John 4 says, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” We are not able to live a life to the fullest without love. We cannot know God without love, and therefore his Spirit cannot live within us. If we invite his love into our hearts we can then through the spirit be connected to him and empower others to live a life of freedom and joy. This is how we bring others to him and in a way bring heaven to earth.

So I ask you, have you accepted Gods love into your heart? We must receive grace to extend grace.  Perhaps a history lesson of some kind will give you the opportunity to adjust your perspective and refocus on the bigger picture in 2017!

-Ben Carlson, Junior

NYR #3-Take the road less traveled

December 29, 2016

Throughout a players career with IWUHoops, they begin to value shared experiences with others more than accumulating possessions for themselves. That is why we have been everywhere from the Bahamas to Puerto Rico to New Zealand to the Dominican Republic. It is why we have hiked the Grand Canyon and gone on a cruise. It is through these experiences that memories are created and the bonds of brotherhood are strengthened, allowing each man in our program to grow closer to his potential. 

IWUHoops recently returned from a trip to San Francisco and Hawaii. The experiences from the trip stretched the team to grow in new ways.  Go behind the scenes as we count down the days to 2017, and accept the challenge to adopt some of these mentalities the team learned as your 'New Year's Resolution' for the coming year. 

Read past New's Years Resolution blogs at the following links:  NYR #4  NYR #5   NYR #6

“It’s private property.  Even if it was open to the public, it’s nearly impossible to get there on your own because there is no path.” 

As soon as the word ‘impossible’ was spoken, there was no doubt that Coach Tonagel, Coach Whaley, Paul Crisp and I were going to find a way to go where few non-natives have gone. 

We stood at the bottom of the Waipi'o Valley, but we were well over a mile from the 1200 foot water fall.  While the view was incredible where we stood, we knew we would leave the island unsatisfied if we did not get close enough to feel the intensity of the fall up close.  Without an attempt to take the road less traveled, we knew we would not get to experience an unforgettable moment. As Coach T often says, ‘greatness favors the fearless.’ 

The next few hours would prove to be some of the most memorable of our lives.  We found a native man named Jonny who lives off the land in the valley at a nearby house.  Jonny farms the area and hunts wild boar (he kills over 200 per year!  After some convincing, he agreed to take us to the falls in exchange for cash, but not without some warning about the challenge of the ‘path’ ahead. 

The words ‘path’ or ‘road’ would be generous to describe the way to the water fall.  We traversed a rainforest, climbed over slick boulders, crisscrossed a stream with chest high depth and had more ‘close calls’ than we care to admit. When it seemed like there was no way forward, Jonny used his machete to clear the way.

There are moments of temptation to turn back on every journey along a road less traveled. A fall off of a large boulder was one of those moments for me--I’d like to think Paul Crisp was slightly exaggerating when he said he thought I might crack my head and die as he watched it unfold!  I know there were moments of similar doubt or concern in the other men I was with. It was in these moments where we were able to push each other on so we wouldn't miss out on what was ahead. 

When we got to the end and stood at the base of the waterfall, we knew we were in a moment that we wouldn’t forget. The intensity of the water falling was too much to describe, and words do not do justice to the beauty of the surroundings.  The thrill of sitting on the ledge behind the falls and then diving through can not be experienced sitting on a couch playing a video game or watching YouTube. The four of us had a shared experience that we will talk about for the rest of our lives

The road less traveled could take many forms:

-Maybe it is a career decision--a change of job that comes with great risk but potentially great reward, or choosing to turn down a promotion because you value relationships, family and influence more than reputation or salary.

-Maybe it is in relationships--choosing to forgive and love the person in your life who challenges you the most, perhaps a spouse, a sibling, a boss or an employee.

-Maybe it is financial--choosing to be generous with what you have rather hoarding possessions for yourself.

-Maybe it is in prayer--choosing to be someone who actually prays rather than just saying you value prayer or telling others that you will pray for them.

Whatever it is, the road less traveled will not be easy, and the end result is not guaranteed.  Still, there is something special that happens when you take on a challenge with a group of people who have a common purpose. We see this each season with our team as we spend hours in prayer leading in to the year and then walk together through the ups and downs of the season.  Sometimes we have swung for the fence and struck out, but other times we have gone all out and found ourselves on top of a ladder cutting down the nets. In either case, it sometimes the journey on the road that is as rewarding as the final destination.

What is the road less traveled you are feeling compelled to go down in 2017?  Who are you going to be traveling down the path with?  It won’t be easy, but regardless of the outcome, we have seen time and time again in our program that when the group commits to taking the road less traveled together, working relationships turn to deep friendships and teammates become lifelong brothers.  Perhaps you will step out in faith and find this for yourself in 2017!

Jeff Clark, Associate Head Coach

NYR #2-Move from support to investment

December 30, 2016

Throughout a players career with IWUHoops, they begin to value shared experiences with others more than accumulating possessions for themselves. That is why we have been everywhere from the Bahamas to Puerto Rico to New Zealand to the Dominican Republic. It is why we have hiked the Grand Canyon and gone on a cruise. It is through these experiences that memories are created and the bonds of brotherhood are strengthened, allowing each man in our program to grow closer to his potential. 

IWUHoops recently returned from a trip to San Francisco and Hawaii. The experiences from the trip stretched the team to grow in new ways.  Go behind the scenes as we count down the days to 2017, and accept the challenge to adopt some of these mentalities the team learned as your 'New Year's Resolution' for the coming year. 

Read past New's Years Resolution blogs at the following links:  NYR #3  NYR #4  NYR #5   NYR #6

We all come into situations in life with expectations. For some of us, our reality exceeds expectations—and that’s a wonderful thing, isn’t it? However, for many of us, we know all too well the feeling of reality not meeting our expectations.

I came into college with great expectations for how my basketball career would pan out. For one reason or another, it hasn’t panned out exactly how I planned it would. We have an extremely talented team this year and we are extremely deep at the guard position.

At first, I became bitter with the fact that we had recruited so many people at my position. It made it especially hard because most of my closest friends on the team are the guys at my position. We all are best friends off the court, but I’d be lying if I said we weren’t fighting to play on the court.

This year, we brought in a freshman Canaan Coffey whom I’ve known since I was young. I’ve known Canaan’s family for a long time and idolized his older brother who played at Taylor a few years ago. Canaan came into this year and began to play extremely well. In fact, he’s been having an incredible season for a freshman in our league. I love Canaan and consider him one of my closest friends at school. We have a lot in common.

Somewhere down the line however, I became content with simply supporting Canaan. I assumed since he was performing so well, he didn’t need me. He was playing well, and so I cheered for him and rooted him on to keep playing well.

Before our trip to Hawaii, I sensed the Holy Spirit firmly placing a word on my heart. It was intentionality. To be intentional means to make a concentrated effort. To be intentional means to invest. Specifically, I felt called to begin investing in my relationship with Canaan.

On the court, Canaan and I have always competed but been extremely supportive of each other. Off of it, he’s encouraged me and invested in me in all areas of life. Our trip to Hawaii seemed like the perfect opportunity to truly begin to invest in Canaan.

As only God can, he specifically designed Canaan and I to love nature, photography, and exploration. Each day on our trip to Hawaii, Canaan and I were able to spend time together just the two of us.

I continued to feel the pull of the Holy Spirit and finally just asked Canaan how he was really doing. Asking him that simple question led to hours of conversation between the two of us that included all kinds of subjects. We laughed, we were serious, and we truly spent time sharpening one another.

Canaan and I left that island closer as friends and teammates than we ever have been before. We’ll always compete on the court, but we also will always have each other’s back no matter what position either of us are in.

This New Years, what if you made a resolution to not only support someone of equal or greater status as you, but to genuinely invest in that person? What would it look like if you made a concentrated effort to build them up when the world around you is telling you to pull them down?

I think Jesus best exemplified this, didn’t he? It started with the fact that he was confident in who God created him to be. He knew what his mission was and what his role in society was. He didn’t need riches, fame, accolades, or attention to perform the task God had set out before him.

Would you choose to love like Jesus loved in 2017? Love with an absence of selfishness. Be confident who God has created you to be and push others to be who God has created them to be as well. You’ll be surprised how you end up receiving everything you could have ever asked for and more.

Micah Davis, Freshman

NYR #1-Resist the path of least resistance

December 31, 2016

Throughout a players career with IWUHoops, they begin to value shared experiences with others more than accumulating possessions for themselves. That is why we have been everywhere from the Bahamas to Puerto Rico to New Zealand to the Dominican Republic. It is why we have hiked the Grand Canyon and gone on a cruise. It is through these experiences that memories are created and the bonds of brotherhood are strengthened, allowing each man in our program to grow closer to his potential. 

IWUHoops recently returned from a trip to San Francisco and Hawaii. The experiences from the trip stretched the team to grow in new ways.  Go behind the scenes as we count down the days to 2017, and accept the challenge to adopt some of these mentalities the team learned as your 'New Year's Resolution' for the coming year. 

Read past New's Years Resolution blogs at the following links: NYR #2  NYR #3  NYR #4  NYR #5   NYR #6

The last day on the island was quickly approaching which meant we had one more day to experience something special together as a team. One of my favorite things to do as a coach is to get young people out of their comfort zones.  I like to stretch them and challenge them in uncomfortable ways. 

You can imagine my reaction when I was approached with the idea to “sleep in and chill” on the resort for our last day. Sleep?! I can’t think of a better way to waste a day’s worth of opportunity!

Maybe it was growing up on a dairy farm or perhaps I don’t fully understand millennials, but when it comes to opportunity and adventure, sometimes we stand in wide disagreement.  For me, opportunity and adventure look a lot like hard work.  And in order to maximize our opportunities and adventures in life, we must resist the path of least resistance.  

It worries me that far too often our “Me1st” culture is undermining the potential of our young people with its fruitless promise of a comfortable life.  We’ve been sold a lie that the central goal of life is not to sacrifice or deny ourselves, but rather to be happy and comfortable.  This thinking not only impacts our sense of adventure, it also forms our faith.  Thus we prefer a form of faith that does not ask us to encounter pain or adversity and grow in areas that may be uncomfortable. 

Our opportunity for adventure found itself rather quickly.  Knowing there are only a few places in the world where you can see an active volcano, we pointed our sights toward Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  We surveyed two hiking trails—an easy 2-mile hike and a rugged 14-mile hike over crusted lava and through a rain forest.  It became apparent that the obstacle to our adventure was the comfort looking back at us in the mirror.  It was an easy choice because we knew the 14 miler would stretch us and make us uncomfortable.  The choice would be one of ‘resisting the path of least resistance’. 

Tough things never fail to look you directly in the eye and challenge you to the core.  Answering that challenge with everything you've got is where the adventure starts.  I’ve seen a basketball team experience ultimate opportunity not in the comfort of attending to one’s self, but in the toughness of attending to others.  This year, resolve to learn that life’s greatest joys come not in seeking comfort but in choosing what is uncomfortable and hard for the sake of others’ joy. 

-Greg Tonagel, Head Coach