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Do IT this week: Layering
New Zealand team is 0-2, but players show a winning attitude
By David Lee Morgan Jr.
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Saturday, Jul 04, 2009
NORTH CANTON: Team New Zealand hasn't won a game during the IFAF World Championship.
The Iron Blacks are 0-2 but you wouldn't know that by the way the team members carry themselves.
New Zealand will end the tournament Sunday at Fawcett Stadium when it faces France (0-2), and both teams are looking to go home with at least one win.
''You can't tell that they haven't won a game,'' said USA offensive lineman Micajah Reynolds, who will play at Michigan State next season. ''You can tell they are loving this.''
It's not that any of the teams aren't enjoying the experience. But New Zealand went into the tournament knowing it would struggle. Still, it hasn't taken away from the players' enthusiasm and vigor.
''Man, they are funny guys,'' said USA linebacker Robert Bell, a Toledo recruit.
Bell and members of Team USA were sitting a few tables away from several members of New Zealand's team during lunch at the cafeteria at Walsh University, the headquarters for the tournament.
''The way they walk around campus, you would think that they haven't lost a game,'' Bell said. ''You could tell that they are happy to be here.''
Being thousands of miles from home, New Zealand wanted nothing more than to make it the most enjoyable experience possible, and that's what team members have done.
For instance, center Lorenzo
Berking turned 18 on Thursday. And his teammates made sure that they celebrated.
They wanted to show that they cared about him.
So strong safety Jacob Teleiai got things started with an impromptu rendition of Happy Birthday as the team finished lunch and was walking out of the cafeteria.
Then later, back in the dorms, Berking received gag gifts from members of the team that would have made comedian Andrew Dice Clay blush.
The point is that the players wanted to make Berking's birthday special, even though they were all miles away from home and not having much success on the field.
''We were all laughing when we watched him open the presents we got him,'' Teleiai said as his teammates giggled. ''We thought they were funny.''
New Zealand starting running back and safety Jerry Key said the experience of traveling to the United States for this tournament was more meaningful than anyone could imagine.
''We learned to become more of a team player on and off the field,'' he said.
Teleiai said winning is important, but not the measure of success for his team in this tournament.
''The experience has been incredible,'' he said. ''We haven't won, but to play against some of these teams is a great opportunity. And we met so many good people from different countries.''
Punter Mitch Crosslands-Scott said: ''It's been a chance of a lifetime for most of us.''
And New Zealand coach Michael Mau'u knows the experience will stay with his players for the rest of their lives.
''With us, gaining respect from the other teams and the coaching staffs, even though we haven't won a game, has been huge,'' Mau'u said. ''We could've had our heads down, but we haven't. Other than the United States team, I think our team is the most popular, mainly because our guys have no problem mixing with everyone.''
Berking said the gag birthday gifts were funny and he appreciated the fact that his teammates thought enough of him to even take time to celebrate.
But he said they can give him one more gift.
''The perfect birthday gift would be beating France and finishing in seventh place,'' he said.
David Lee Morgan Jr. can be reachedat dlmorgan@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Varsity Letters high school sports blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/varsity_letters/.
NORTH CANTON: Team New Zealand hasn't won a game during the IFAF World Championship.
Get the full article here.
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