Vicki Baker
The Olympic spirit is best expressed in the Olympic Creed, “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” And on Saturday, September 26, with this Creed foremost in their minds, the participants in the Water Volleyball Competition dedicated the Games to fellow neighbor, friend and team player, Pat Stephens.
Pat’s passion for water volleyball was unsurpassed. Each and every Thursday and Sunday evening, Pat was in the pool ready for some friendly competition-everyone yelling, splashing and teasing each other as we played hard but laughed harder. We all got excited and involved, and Pat was no exception. One of the best players in the pool, Pat was known to dive and lunge for the ball as it bounded over the net; no ball was too far out of reach for her.
This year Pat had to bow out of the Olympics due to medical issues, but we all know that in spirit Pat was there. Here’s to Pat Stephens, our Olympian.