Ups and Downs

What a crazy past 7 or 8 days! As you know, much of the ebb and flow of the Pedersen house comes from sports. With the end of the basketball regular season nearing and the state tournament time just around the corner, games begin to have even more meaning. This past week is a great example of the ups and downs of emotions that come with a house full of athletes.

1. The Mt. Ridge Huskies finished their regular season with a big win over a great team. Dawson led the team in scoring for the game, and even the year, and loved having big brother, Easton there watching this final regular season game. Up!

2. Dawson's team was expected to play for the league championship. They won their division and had only lost 2 games all season. Unfortunately they were upset in the quarterfinals by a team that they had already beaten twice this season. Down. Dawson was sad (that is a very small word to describe how upset our Awesome Dawson was) but thankfully we have now moved on. Whew! He is excited to start some weekend workouts to help him get ready for next football season this Saturday. Up.

3. Tannon's team (Lone Peak High School) is experiencing highs and lows everywhere we turn. Our center, who had been out most of the season due to two severe concussions, came back and played 2 games only to be re-injured in practice the next day and is now out for the season. Down.

4. Tannon has been averaging just under 20 points per game this season, but has really struggled in his shooting this past week against Pleasant Grove and American Fork. Come on, T-Man! We've got to get that percentage back up. Down.

5. Although Tannon only scored 8 points last night against American Fork (Down), they were at opportune moments; like the 3 pointer he hit with no time on the clock to end regulation and put the game into overtime, where we won went on to win it. Definite UP!

6. Tannon hit two three pointers last night which helped him break two records (read the article about last night's game here). One was the single season three point shooting record at Lone Peak. Tannon has hit 57 threes this year. He also broke the career three point shooting record at Lone Peak with those two threes. He now has 83 career threes at Lone Peak. Another BIG Up! He also leads the state of Utah in 3 point shooting this season. HUGE Up! That said, I know that Tannon would prefer a state championship to any other record, any day.

6. Although Lone Peak has not fared as well as hoped in our talented region, we have now secured a birth in the state playoffs. Up!

7. Since Easton returned from his mission, he has been able to attend all of his brothers' games and cheer them on. He is a proud big brother. This means the world to Tannon and Dawson. Up! Easton also found a great job this week that will allow him to put some money away as he prepares to move to Cedar City to go to school and play football for Southern Utah University this coming year. He has hired a wonderful trainer to work him out 4 days per week to get him ready for the physical demands of college football. Up!

I'm happy to say in this week of highs and lows and ups and downs, the ups have outnumbered the downs. That's ALWAYS a good thing!