Falcon Punch! It’s one the first things most people hear/witness when meeting me on the court and has become synonymous with one’s own impending doom. The catch phrase eventually gave way to the nickname, Captain Falcon.
Though before this name was ever forged, it all began during the first year of college at Oregon State University. A crude court constructed by a broken piece of garden hose dividing each side and the most rag tag group of dodgeballers you could ever imagine. This band of dodgeballers inspired me to want more from the sport and within the first year of college we founded the official dodgeball club at OSU.
Fast forward many years later, I now coach the Oregon State Dodgeball team. A new swath of young dodgeballers every year, all eager to learn and improve on their skills. Every time I think I’ve seen it all in over a decade of non-stop competitive dodgeball, these young players still find a way to teach their coach one more trick, one more lesson, one more skill.
On the rare occasion I’m not playing dodgeball, I can be found at OSU where I work as software engineer, or at my Corvallis home working in the yard or building something in the garage. Dodgeball can be rough on the body and the mind. At the end of the day I take solace in sitting next to my koi pond, just feeding the fish.