One of the aspects of any journey is the people that you meet along the way who impact your path while they are exploring theirs. At Olympia, one meets so many positive people and positive influences, the allies who help us take on challenges and tests. 

 

One such ally is Adina Lopez.

Adina (née Franceschino) has a unique Olympia journey that took her from being a camper for only a year and led her to become someone we could call an Olympia lifer. Life took her from small-town St. Thomas, Ontario, to York University in Toronto, to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, and now to a teaching career in Halton and a beautiful family life in nearby Dundas, Ontario. This fantastic journey also took her from being an athlete to being an athletic therapist, and then to being an elementary school teacher. 

 

And every step of the way, Olympia played a role.

 

St. Thomas, Ontario, is one of those towns brimming with athletes who as kids played every sport and could achieve because of the hometown commitment to raising good people — who just happened to like winning and believe in the pursuit of victory. This is particularly true of those who went to St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in St. Thomas.

 

“I was lucky to have great coaching at St. Joe’s, but there also was a legacy of great athletes that made me feel like I had big shoes to fill and always aspired to continue the tradition of success,” Adina explains. “People like Michelle Mommersteeg, Nicole Bottineau, and Denise Perrier had brought Ontario championships to our school, and I always looked up to them. I wanted to be like them.”

 

Adina always thought she would like to play basketball at nearby Western or McMaster, but it was the Ontario championships in Peterborough that changed that path and changed her life. York University assistant coach Eric Tiessen was recruiting and liked what he saw in the game of this guard/forward from St. Joe’s. He told Head Coach Bill Pangos, who then offered Adina a workout to see her play and eventually a tryout with the Yeowomen (thankfully now called the Lions). 

 

“It’s funny how life turns based on opportunities and choices. York was never on my radar, as I always thought I’d stay closer to home,” Adina says. “York offered sports therapy, which I wanted to pursue, but I was quiet and never one to take chances and going to York would be taking a big chance in my eyes. My mom and dad always said to go to a school for the education and not the sport, but York offered both. And I liked both Eric and Bill.”

 

Coincidentally, both Eric and Bill were coaches at Olympia the week that Adina  attended when she was going into grade 10, but she never connected with either of them.

 

After finishing her career at York and getting her degree, she was looking for work when another  Olympia connection came through. Cindy Hughes was the head therapist at York and had worked at Olympia for three or four summers. Coach Grace would regularly contact Cindy when looking for sports therapists. Dave came calling and Adina’s name came up.

 

“Cindy thought it would be a great experience, as I would meet a lot of coaches from around the province and learn about a lot of different injuries. Cindy said a lot of therapists wouldn’t want to stay the whole summer, but I had been to the camp and loved the outdoors, so I applied and got the job.”

 

 Adina worked at the camp for two years when yet another Olympia connection opened her next pathway.

 

“Stu Julius was coaching at Lakehead at the time and told me about a therapy position opening up at the university. I worked at Lakehead for two years, and I also did some coaching and teaching. I enjoyed the teaching and found that I wanted to pursue a career in education, so I went to teacher’s college at Lakehead.”

 

Adina started to coach at Olympia in week 9. She says that while working with her university coach Bill Pangos was awesome, it was meeting Rich Lopez that was the highlight of her Olympia coaching experience. Adina and Rich married in 2004 to become another in the line of marriages that have Olympia beginnings.

 

“Olympia is like an extended family to me and through all my experiences at camp, I feel I grew a lot. I learned it’s okay to just be yourself and not worry so much about doing or saying the right thing. Also, my Olympia friendships have expanded beyond Olympia.” Adina adds, “People like Shannon White are year-round and lifelong friends. I also remember spending time with the people like Patty Pangos and Joy Dooley as we enjoyed campfires, going for runs along Limberlost Road, and just talking about life.”

 

The arrival of daughter Daniella and son Anthony created a new level of passion and enjoyment for Olympia. Adina came as a coach’s wife for a few years when the children were very young and that allowed Adina to enjoy all that Olympia had to offer in a different way. As the kids started into session, Adina balanced mom and coach duties.

 

“It’s so great to see the joy my kids have at Olympia, and it reminds me of the years with Kayla and Kevin Pangos and Nicole and Daniel Dooley. Just little kids running around camp and loving everything, then they got into session and loved it even more.” Adina adds, “It’s rewarding to see my kids have an experience that I never really did when I was a child. To see them interact with other kids and especially with other adults is inspiring. But for sure the best part is the confidence that they have gained from Olympia. This allows them to grow and be themselves. They may not realize it yet, but this confidence will allow them the inspiration to do other things.”

 

As an Olympia athletic therapist, coach and mother Adina sees the benefits of camp, the physical environment and the “people place” that it is. She loves the fact that there are people from all over the world who add their perspective to the camp experience and to every person they come in contact with.

 

“It helps with basic human understanding. The fact that we are all different enriches our lives and is celebrated at Olympia. This year, Dave brings kids up to the front every morning to teach the camp how to say “hero” in their native tongue. That is awesome.”

 

The grounds of camp also mean a lot to Adina. 

“We can go for a run or a swim, but more importantly we get to watch kids do the zip line or the giant swing or the high ropes and see the fear and excitement reign supreme.”

 

It’s her own experience with the high ropes course that Adina uses to reflect on the empowerment and mentorship of Dave Grace.

 

“I’m afraid of heights. It was the 25th anniversary of the camp and I decided that I was going to do the high ropes course,” Adina explains. “I got stuck in the middle and was shaking with fear and didn’t know what to do. Dave was at the bottom and started yelling at me that I could do it, to visualize that I was just a lay-up away from finishing. He basically talked me through to the end.”

 

“To this day, whenever I’m on a hike with a tough climb or whatever, I hear Dave’s voice. He is my voice.”

 

Adina adds to this. “As a teacher or a mother and I find myself in a situation, I often turn to my Olympia lessons. I think of how it would be dealt with at Olympia. How can this be made into a positive?”

 

“I think Dave is an example for all of us, as he has evolved over the years and his message, as powerful and constant as ever, has become even more ingrained in what happens at the camp,” Adina explains. “He always takes into consideration the wellness of each and every camper, staff member, and coach.”

 

But with any journey, it all comes back to family. Adina loves the family time that Olympia affords coaches’ families.

 

“At Olympia there’s none of the rush to get the kids to some sporting events or whatever is next on the schedule. We have time for a week just to spend time together, playing cards or board games. For that quality family time, I really have to thank Dave.”

 

Adina takes Olympia to her classroom on a daily basis as well. This takes the Olympia influence, the Olympia journey, her hero’s journey, to another generation, her students. 

 

“As I said, Dave is my voice on a hike or bike ride, but he also is in my class. Olympia is a place for growth of spirit, and I want my classroom to be the same,” Adina adds. “I never want to disappoint Dave.”

Adina feels the energy of Olympia in everything she does, and she appreciates every minute of every summer.

 

“For all that Olympia has given me and my family, I am grateful.  I appreciate the camp so much for what it has done for me, and more importantly, our kids.” Adina concludes, “Olympia is a constant in my life that drives me and teaches me to grow.”

OLYMPIA IS A PLACE WHERE....OLYMPIA IS A PEOPLE WHO

The link to the blog is TuesdayswithDave.blogspot.com

This blog is about the journey of the writing of the book A Hero's Journey: From Little Norway to Olympia Sports Camp. The blog will contain excerpts from the book and my personal thoughts on what the place and the people that make up Olympia's journey is all about. The title comes from the great book Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom. The blog's title is recognizing Dave Grace as Camp Director, but all content is my own.