Fusion Gold

Ventura, California

Standing (l): Jazmin Roman and Marena Mazurek

Middle, left to right: Michele Flynn, Christina Gonzalez, Emily Devericks, Alyssa McLaughlin, Bianca Collazo, Casey Collet

Below, left to right:  Alyssa Pando and Marissa Garcia

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Four Hours

to celebrate

Four Years

Ventura, California

May 15, 2009
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Fusion Gold comes to an end . . .

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After four years of `winning tournaments, struggling through setbacks, staying in `hotels, working` hard, and training for` high school` basketball, Fusion Gold officially ended it’s mission in Ventura on May 15, 2009.

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With all ten players and family members gathered, coach Jim Pando arranged for a two-hour limousine tour of Ventura, compliments of K.C., the limo owner.

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Gold’s first stop was at the Ventura pier where the girls posed for pictures and sipped Martinelli’s.

The Fusion trek headed for the Pacific View Mall where the girls asked for money` to go shopping,

altogether missing the  point that this was photo-op day at Pacific View Mall, Ventura.

And from there, the caravan returned to the Concord Pool for volleyball, dinner, awards, and emotional good-byes.

Coaches thanked the girls and families for their commitment and hard work| and the joys of being together on such a long and memorable journey.

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Each of the players was handed a 9×12 plaque with her name on it and a prosaic inscription of “You’ve Got What it Takes”, an adaptation from the song “Better Days” by the Goo Goo Dolls.

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Each player received a collage poster of team activities in the past few years and each girl was handed a single white rose to reaffirm that each of them is strong and beautiful.

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Families graciously prepared the meal and honored coaches Jim and Bobby with signed collages, handwritten thank you cards, and fabulous stad|um blankets with the name “Fusion” and each of the player’s names boldly shown on the front.

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Nora Flynn was given an ovation for her untiring service to the girls and families of Fusion.  Without Nora, much of the good that came from the past few years might never have happened.

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While travel teams must end at some point, saying goodbye after hundreds of hours together, through thick and thin, and sharing so much joy, is not easy because `our time of  being together on a regular basis ends.

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For all who were involved in the wonderful mission of Fusion Gold — thank you!  You are loved and forever remembered.

To the girls of Fusion Gold —

“Well, you ask me what I want this year,

And I want to make this good and clear,

Just the chance to show that you’ve got what it takes.

And you don’t need  courts all draped in bling,

Or designer shoes or shiney things,

Just the chance to show that you’ve got what it takes.

So take these words,

And play them out,

“cuz everyone,

Is watching now,

And tonight’s the night your world begins again.”

Adapted from “Better Days” by the Goo Goo Dolls

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You’ve been trained and you’re ready.

(All of the eighth graders made their high schoo| teams.)

Fusion Gold was a travel team produced by the Ventura Wildcats to prepare players for high schoo| basketball.

More photos of the team are in the Photo Gallery.