Billy moved up a level this year in taekwondo, from Cadet (ages 12-14) to Junior (15-17). In taekwondo, you compete in the age group that you will be by 12/31 of that year. Since Billy is a mid December birthday, even though he's 14, he has to compete in the 15-17. They still do sort by weight, so he is in the lowest weight class < 99 lbs. However, other kids cut weight so..its entirely possible he could spar a 17 year old 110 lb kid that dropped 11 lbs to compete at a lower level. That's a bit scary.
Also, whatever weight you spar at state is the weight that you HAVE to spar at nationals in July. So...what are the odds that a 14 yr old boy will have a growth spurt between Feb and July? Pretty high.
In an effort to manage this, we signed Billy up to spar in the 99-110 lb weight class at Iowa State and the < 99 lb weight class at MN State and the US Open \.
Friday 2/22 and Billy, Ace and Tracy packed the car and headed to Iowa to kick some butt. The plan was to return late Saturday night so that Tracy could go to her annual work event, that she hosts, followed by Jimmy's baptism (see prior blog). It was not to be.
After weigh in on Friday night (Tracy made Billy weigh in with a 1 lb weight in his pocket to get over 99 lbs., they were off in search of food and the hotel.
Saturday, the weather started to look bad in Des Moisnes - upper 30;s and rain. And, there was no one for Billy to spar with in his weight class because they had all dropped weight to make the < 99lb. Still, we werent worried. He now was qualified to compete at nationals at the higher weight class (in case of said growth spurt) and was able to compete in forms. The coaches were letting everyone go after their events so we hopped in the car at 3:30, convinced we were ahead of the worst part of the storm.
They drove in pouring rain for 2 hours until they hight Clear Lake and the MN border, around 5:30. Then it turned to slush. They filled the tank and carried on. Not a good idea.
About 30 min later, the snow was coming down so hard that the windshield wipers couldn't keep up.
Then, it got dark. Then, the snow and ice on the highways formed a seriously hazardous situation. Unfortunately, here is not much between the Iowa border and Owatana. As they came into Albert Lea, it let us a bit and so she decided to press on. Another not good idea.
Immediately, it was impossible to see or drive. She was going 7 miles per hour, on the highway, with her flasher on and her headlights off, following a semi by 50ft hoping that he stayed on the road. They drove like this for 2 hours, going 14 miles, until they got to the Owatana exit. They managed to find a hotel and figured they'd camp out for the night. Now it was 8pm. She went in to get a room and immediately started shaking all over. Its funny how you can not be scared at all when you are in a situation like that and then you stop and it all hits at once. Thank god for the Holiday Inn Owatana. They had a restaurant, bar and water park.
After 2 glasses of wine, the boys suited up and played at the water park until 10pm, then it was lights out for all and a plan to get up early and be home before noon. Again, all the best laid plans,....
The next morning, they learned that Hwy 35 had closed down at 8pm the night before and wasnt slated to reopen in the foreseeable future. No one could get out of the hotel parking lot and there was a ground blizzard (all that snow from the night before was blowing at gusts of up to 50 mph and visibility was 0). There was NO way she was going back out in that so, after much deliberation, at 2pm, she extended her stay another night.
The hotel did an amazing job. All the staff were stuck there as well and were so kind and calm. They made sure everyone had a room, food and updates on the highway and weather.
There was a hockey and basketball tournament that was canceled so the hotel was full of kids and families. The hockey parents started drinking at noon on Sunday...
It should also be mentioned that the hotel was doing its best under the circumstances. The pipes it the restaurant had frozen in January with the polar vortex and the only food they could serve was deep fried food on paper plates. And, the hockey parents were eating and drinking them out of all their stock.
The boys swam all afternoon, Tracy got in a 2 hour work out, they all did homework and watched silly TV.
Monday came and the highway was open 4 miles north of them, all she had to do was make it 4 miles and she'd have a fairly straight shot home. She roused the boys at 6am and headed out. They made it!! In fact, she dropped them directly at school at 7:45, much to their disappointment.
Then, it was a quick change, uniforms washed, repacked and ... headed to Vegas on Tuesday afternoon for the US Open.
Their flight was slightly delayed but they managed to get in to Vegas, have a nice dinner and crash for the night, again with silly hotel TV (the mysteries of King Tut)
Wednesday was weigh in and he made it easily. They couldn't venture too far because they werent sure what time practice would be called. It was Mexican for lunch and then a long walk down the BLVD. In typical TKD fashion, it was called at 2:30, right in the middle of the afternoon.
The kids worked out for and hour and then had a super fun game of TKD paddle tennis. These kids are so competitive that even THAT game got intense. In fact, Grand Master Lee was leading the way. They had a blast.
Then, it was another really good dinner, Pokeman Go with Ross and more silly TV (botched) with an early night.
Thursday was his competition and he was match 16. As we've posted before, its impossible to know when the kids are going to compete so its a bunch of hanging around the tournament. Tracy figured that she had about 2 hours before he went so she worked out, packed up and checked out.
Sure enough, he was up at about Noon. Unfortunately, he this was his 1st ever match as a Junior and the nerves got to him. The 1st round was tough and the other kid was up by 30. Billy bounced back and held the kid to only 3 more points in round 2. However, he was up by so much that they called the match before the 3rd round. That's ok. He learned a lot and spent the rest of the day studying all the other competitors.
They had a red eye home that night so the plan was ... stay at the meet until released (around 8pm), shower in a friends room (thank you Webb's!) and then dinner and homework at the airport.
The plan worked brilliantly and they even managed to sleep the full 3 hours home. Then it was a nap from 6-8:30am and Tracy took him to school and went to work.
Yikes. They are both glad to be home and in their own beds. Its a totally normal week with MN state next weekend.
Go Billy Go!
We are so proud of your focus, determination and persevering even when you are behind.
Love you to pieces!!
Billy US Open 1
Billy US Open 2
My wine after the brutal drive
I love this truck driver!
Water park fun
More love
the closed highways, we are in the middle of it all
Good thing I pulled off!
Outside our hotel window, it was actually snowing into the room
Checked in and ready to go!
Billy biggest fan
Made weight!
Paddle ball tennis
The brackets
We did miss Grandma and Grandpa Murphy as they were a tad bit under the weather and did not make the parade. However the newest member of the Murphy Clan, Maui made his debut and my friend Joe and Carmen's daughter Kia was his ambassador for the day the two of them had a blast.
The crowd was the usual size with many repeat and new "Irish for a day "participants. The parade, I think for the first time in at least 5 years was a complete group effort leaving no-one behind everyone fortified their beverage and made the trek along the parade route, again it was a blast!
Sunday dinner - corn beef, roast cabbage, green beans, aunt minis and pumpernickel bread - best ever!
Parading
more parading 
parading
parading
cheering while parading
Maui did great ton the parade and Tracy looked amazing - always setting the standard
Wyatt and the start of the parade
Where are you going?! You can't leave before the parade!
Catching up
Castle Rock keg - yum
