What got approximately 300 San Benito athletes off of the field
and courts and into Mattson Gym on only the second day of
practice?
Hollister – What got approximately 300 San Benito athletes off of the field and courts and into Mattson Gym on only the second day of practice?
Roger Crawford, who has conducted inspirational workshops in some 2,000 high schools across the country, spoke on Tuesday at San Benito High School’s Mattson Gym in an inspirational workshop called, “Building Character and Sportsmanship.”
Crawford has four impaired limbs, but managed to become a Hall of Fame Division I athlete at Loyola Marymount University, and was recognized by Sports Illustrated as the most accomplished physically challenged athlete in the world.
“I think what motivates me is that I can positively influence the youth of America,” Crawford said after his speech on Tuesday. “My mission isn’t to impress them, it’s to positively influence them.
“We want people to be their best. Success isn’t necessarily being the best, but being your best.”
Crawford spoke of his youth, watching the “able-bodied” players run around on the field. Whenever he would get discouraged, he said, his mother would tell him that he’s an original, not a carbon copy.
“If someone puts you down, that’s their cheap imitation of strength,” Crawford said. “If you ever find yourself discouraged, I want you to hold onto this thought: 65 billion people have lived on this planet, and they’ll never be someone like you again.”
Crawford told those in attendance to ask themselves how they’re gifted, how they’re unique and how they’re talented.
“Looking into the future,” he said, “what you see will greatly influence who you’ll be … If you know where you’re going and you set high expectations, you can do great things and I believe that with all my heart.”
The workshop, which had SBHS athletes from all the fall sports present, was sponsored by San Benito County 4-H, the San Benito County Office of Education, San Benito High School Athletics and ASB.
Student Sam Doty, a three-sport athlete and captain of the football team, organized the event with the help of some of his mentors. He said the workshop started as a 4-H All-Star Project after he heard Crawford at his FFA State Convention.
“I thought this was a great event,” Doty said, “and its always been my dream to bring down a speaker to our community and teach our community how to reach for their goals.”
Last week, SBHS Athletic Director Tod Thatcher spoke of The Baler Code, “pursuing victory with honor.”
“They are ambassadors for this community,” Thatcher said last week of the student athletes, “and when they go on the road, they are to act as such.”
It took the 46-year-old Crawford 16 years to learn to tie his shoes, and at the end of the workshop, he asked the student athletes at SBHS to leave with one thought: “Never let failure go to your head.”
