The coaching world is intricate, social, and founded on one common principle: Alcohol.

I grew up an athlete, sports dictated my life from an early age, and it made me an all around better person. The focus of my graduate studies was on the fact that extra curricular activities prepare for work world readiness, that’s Sunny Brous Erasmus, M.Ed. to you, sir. Networking is a huge and crucial part of most jobs, and this weekend’s shenanigans are proof of that.

Every year, hundreds of coaches gather together for two consecutive weekends in March to network, catch up, job hunt, brag, cry, and somehow fit in basketball watching. A couple of years ago this meeting of the minds shifted from Austin to 45 minutes down the road in San Antonio. Everyone has their own opinion on this, but mine is that it’s gooo-oood!

I’m not a coach, but I know a lot of them. I do not have a great interest in high school sports, but I support and admire the investment of so many of my close friends that I really have no choice in the matter. This is happening, our lives still revolve around which sport is in season and I still find myself discussing offensive strategies and securing playing film from schools I’ve never even heard of because: Sunny Knows Everyone! By now, surely by now, you’ve figured out that I’m social so weekends like this are what my soul craves, even when my body is exhausted and refuses to cooperate.

So this past weekend we went to San Antonio and saw most of the familiar suspects, some even got some time on the hardwood for the first time, and one super sweet Hiconian coached herself to a State Championship. I was there for the food and fellowship, so the weekend was affectionately dubbed #operationeatallthemexicanfood  

If you’ve never had the opportunity to eat your way around San Antonio, Texas I suggest you leave right now and beat the rush that accompanies the Boy’s State Tournament which is this coming weekend. You will not be disappointed. We worked our way through flautas, then enchiladas, a chile relleno or two, then tackled tacos with everything we had left – it was a delicious weekend to say the least.

This was the first State Tournament that my ALS was noticeable. That is hard for me to accept, much less verbalize or acknowledge. The trekking poles were a hit, and I slept really, really, really hard every time I closed my eyes. I hate to admit that I’m slowing down, but that part isn’t up to me anymore. What is up to me is going, hugging necks, dancing like idiots, and eating all the Mexican food I can hold.

Here are some of my favorite pics from the weekend:

The Gartman Duo

We ❤ the Coach!

#Twinning for the #Winning