Stardate 06.28.2026
It was a big day on the University of Iowa indoor tennis courts yesterday.
Our men's 40+ team squared off against a talented and experienced opponent from the Des Moines area. After an afternoon of competitive matches, the score stood tied at 2-2. When all the tiebreakers were calculated, we came up just short.
Congratulations to our opponents on earning the state championship. They played well and deserved the victory.
The story doesn't end there.
Our team was awarded a wild card berth into the upcoming sectional tournament. To create a balanced tournament for all seven qualifying teams, we will be placed in a separate pool during the opening stage of competition. The road ahead may look a little different than we expected, but we're still on it.
Our team captain has been through postseason tennis many times before. Experience has a way of bringing calm after a difficult day, and I have a feeling he's already putting together a game plan for sectionals. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of this group. If my number is called, I'll be ready to contribute however I can.
Yesterday reminded me that a single result doesn't define an entire season. Sometimes a closed door quietly opens another one.
The apostle Paul understood that kind of perseverance. He wrote:
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair."
— 2 Corinthians 4:8
Those words have endured because they speak to every season of life. There are days when the scoreboard doesn't fall in our favor. There are also days when another opportunity arrives before we've had much time to reflect on the last one.
Our team may have taken a tough loss yesterday, but we're still in the tournament.
If I were a betting man, I'd keep an eye on the wild card team.
Stay tuned. It's getting interesting.
Join me here:
https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong
Captain's Addendum
Spock: "Captain, statistical models often overlook the resolve of a team that has already weathered adversity."
Bones: "I've seen plenty of folks get knocked down, Spock. The dangerous ones are the ones who keep getting back up."
Captain Michael: "Yesterday's match is already behind us. What matters now is how well we prepare for the next opportunity. Sometimes the next chapter begins with a wild card."
Mission Log
Every challenge carries the possibility of another chance. Keep showing up, keep encouraging one another, and trust that today's setback may become tomorrow's story worth telling.
Thank you for spending a few moments with me today.
May you live long and prosper.
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