Moving forward with or without

I'm doing all I can. We had FT Challenge fundraiser in the spring and generated just a fraction of what we did last year. For whatever reason, parents and players just didn't make the same effort. Not even close.

We have still managed to make plans for Maui, and though the list is just 6 intermediate players and 2 JV players so far, if that's what God has in store, so be it. Maybe we only travel with 8 players in two divisions and give it our all, as always.

Two years ago, we went to Las Vegas and Anaheim, an 11-day trip that so many parents doubted. We went to Vegas, won four out of five games and probably would've won that tourney if not for a strange change of rules by the tourney organizers (Swoosh) at the last minute.

Then we drove to Anaheim and won that tournament (Swoosh Showcase), winning all four games against bigger, taller, deeper teams. It was a great, great experience.

Last year, we traveled to Kona, beat two mainland teams, went 5-0 and took the WYBT title. When we've been unified and traveled, we've gone 13-1 in the past two years no matter what the adversity or challenges were.

So it's baffling to me that so many parents are saying no to the Maui trip. I know finances and schedules are tight. But when I ask about the 2016 trip to Las Vegas and LA soon, will we get a strong response? Or will it be more silence and apathy?

I'm not looking for parents who are rich or overbearing when it comes to sports. I just would like to see a higher level of commitment to fundraisers, practices and excellence. We get that most of the time from many of our Thunder parents and players, but from this point on, I would really like to see it for all travel plans from everybody.

Selling huli huli chicken tickets is a blessed opportunity in terms of profit for your child (or children) that is unmatched with the exception of fishnetting. Between now and the summer of 2016, we will have (I hope) at least eight huli chicken fundraisers that will raise more than $10,000. That would cut the cost of mainland travel in half or more depending on how long we stay there. If the chicken sales and other fundraisers go extremely well, we might cover the entire cost and then some.

But none of us can do this alone, and right now, aside from the committed 6 intermediate and 2 JV/V players, I'm feeling very alone. Sometimes it feels like I'm running in circles, repeating the same things to parents and kids, wondering when they'll catch on and actually jump in with both feet instead of tip-toeing in and out. But I have massive faith in the Thunder who continue to march forward. We are strengthened each day and nothing can break our joy.