Discussion: On the Road With the Future Champions' Cup
in: Orienteering; General
Jan 22, 2017 6:17 AM
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Borrowing an idea from the National Hockey League and its Stanley Cup, Orienteering’s Future Champions’ Cup is going to spend the next two years occasionally visiting and staying with the orienteers who helped to win the Cup for the USA. The Cup is awarded to the winning team in a competition between Canada and USA juniors at the biennial North American Orienteering Championships.
Last weekend the cup was in Georgia and now it is in the Suncoast area of Florida with Todd Park of SOAR and the Venice High School Raiders orienteering Team. Todd competed in the M 17-18 class at the last NAOC and two weeks ago he was in a car accident that left him fighting for his life with cracked vertebrae and needing surgery to relieve pressure from bruising in his brain. The surgery was successful, the vertebrae are healing thanks to wearing a neck brace 24/7 and yesterday Todd was out at our Oscar Scherer Orienteering Meet. We thought he was there to cheer on his team mates but much to the concern of many he managed to finagle a spot in the Start List and walk around the Advanced course. His mother was there and could not stop him but did manage to send along Todd’s girl friend to make sure he was only walking. The amazing young man still managed a top ten (out of some 30) finish while walking.
At the event Award ceremony organizers managed to surprise Todd with many friends and relatives showing up to see the event we presented Todd with the Future Champions’ Cup which is his to have and display until needed in another location.
Plans are in the works for local newspaper and television interviews to highlight Todd and the Cup.
Last weekend the cup was in Georgia and now it is in the Suncoast area of Florida with Todd Park of SOAR and the Venice High School Raiders orienteering Team. Todd competed in the M 17-18 class at the last NAOC and two weeks ago he was in a car accident that left him fighting for his life with cracked vertebrae and needing surgery to relieve pressure from bruising in his brain. The surgery was successful, the vertebrae are healing thanks to wearing a neck brace 24/7 and yesterday Todd was out at our Oscar Scherer Orienteering Meet. We thought he was there to cheer on his team mates but much to the concern of many he managed to finagle a spot in the Start List and walk around the Advanced course. His mother was there and could not stop him but did manage to send along Todd’s girl friend to make sure he was only walking. The amazing young man still managed a top ten (out of some 30) finish while walking.
At the event Award ceremony organizers managed to surprise Todd with many friends and relatives showing up to see the event we presented Todd with the Future Champions’ Cup which is his to have and display until needed in another location.
Plans are in the works for local newspaper and television interviews to highlight Todd and the Cup.
Jan 22, 2017 3:02 PM
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That's great. I hope it provides even more inspiration to that great group of kids you're helping with.
Jan 22, 2017 8:51 PM
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Yikes, I thought I was going to hear about how the cup was moving around and instead read about an awful accident.
Glad to hear Todd is doing well.
Glad to hear Todd is doing well.
Jan 22, 2017 9:43 PM
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There were 21 names engraved on the Future Champions Cup for 2016. I hope by the time the next NAOC rolls around there will be 21 unique stories to tell. However I hope none others are as dramatic as Todd's.
Jan 23, 2017 12:13 AM
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So glad to hear that Todd seems to be recovering quickly. Wishing him the best!
This discussion thread is closed.