Matthew speaks:

"Hello to you all. You guys have made me do some thinking! I haven't ever really thought about all this stuff before.

Thanks for the defensive comments. I did/do love defense. Thanks for including me in the top 10. I don't know if that really is deserving. My scope is so limited to the time that I was there. I don't know that guys that came before me, nor many after me. You all can hash that out.

I do think the best family was us Dutch men. Jeff have you voted multiple times for that category? :-)

My favorite guy to play with was Jamie. We didn't play long together, but he understood the mental part of the game well. He made the game fun. I wish my brothers and I were closer in age to play on same teams.

I think my number was #23 my senior year... could be wrong, but I remember Coach Hart presenting it to me before the game (I think some guy namedBrunell had it before and didn't turn it in). That was the Cabot game when Fleming scored ton-o-points and He and I made all tourney my senior year, I believe.

My most favorite memory was shooting the "spit wads" with those miniature chicklets through those McDonalds straws. They made a humming noise when they were shot. Mr. F was so upset with me and whoever was party to this. I smile as I type. Funny stuff. (I did have to clean the bus)

A close second would be (someone mentioned this)... I yelled "go back door"on an inbound play to a guy at Austine and it was wide open. Ohhhh... funny.

Biggest regret? Not one, three. Not displaying the Fruit of the Spirit in humility. Ball was my god for some time. I wish that I would have been more mature in this. 2nd: the time that I talked back to Coach Hart during a game (somewhere out past where Smiths lived). He told me that I could coach and I remember my dad's disappointment. 3rd: Not taking even more opportunity to befriend Matt Peacock. Worried to much about relationships and ball. Those then "important" things should have been in the shadows.

Persons to make biggest/greatest impact: Definately my dad and Coach Hart. My Dad is my hero (and not cause of ball). My Dad taught me defense. He taught me to think. He built us boys a court outside and lights so we could play for hours on end and video tape Lucas' dunk disaster. (Ha! Sally) He played with us boys for hours too. He just encouraged me so much. Coach Hart was/is one of the most humble people that I have known. Honestly, he wasn't the smartest coach when it came to X's/O's (I do not mean this to beunkind). BUT, he was the smartest coach when it came to people and to godliness. He knew what I needed to hear, when I needed to hear it. He knew when to be stern when I needed it. He knew I would love that #23 when he did that. He was patient with me. He cared more about me than he did winning agame. He was/is a great man. I will never forget the photo of he and I at Cabot.

Well, that's my musings and recollections. I remember great times with Buzeman, Flem, Jamie, Jack, Shankle, and THE class boys. I hope you are all well!

Does anybody remember locking someone out of the room at the resort room at Bolton landing during school camp? Does anybody remember TU (team unity)?

blessings,
Matt Vanderwarker"