Take the Bat off the Shoulder

We always talk about the amazing people that we meet on our journey. After decades, Olympia people can still hear Dave Grace telling the " Bat off the shoulder" story. The batter lets three pitches go by him, all called strikes. He then blames the umpire, says stuff under his breath, then throws his bat against the wall in disgust. The message is that the batter should take control of the situation by swinging at a pitch instead of putting his fate with another. Take the bat off the shoulder and you'll never know what happens. We are all heroes of our own journey and in order to reach where we want to go we need to take control and not let others, or the world, impact our choices or path. It truly is up to us.

When thinking of amazing Olympia people and taking the bat off the shoulder I introduce you to Maggie Murray Murch. And Dana Stephenson.

This blog may be one of the most heart-wrenching stories of love and friendship overcoming loss that I came across in the process of writing A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp. Added to the beauty of the story is that Erin Murphy, who I've known for 30 years and a fellow Week 9 coach, told Maggie that the letter she had written to Dave Grace belonged in my book, and to forward it to me. The letter made me cry the minute I read it. The chapter the letter is transcribed  in is called The Soul Of Olympia. Maggie Murray Murch epitomizes the Soul of Olympia. I am humbled to share an excerpt from that beautiful letter.

 

Although I wasn’t a long time counsellor, just one summer - 1989, Olympia had a big impact on my life as I think working there has for a lot of people.  After that summer, I started my first year at Western and met another former Olympia counsellor (1988), Dana Stephenson, through the Olympia network of folks at Western and we became best friends, roommates and even moved to BC around the same time.  Very sadly, in 2007, Dana passed away from cancer at a very young age.  At that time I had a one year old and was pregnant with my second.  Dana, while not having a lot of assets to leave behind, left both of my kids money in her will to go to camp one summer.  She said to me before she passed, of course I “hope it is Olympia.” 

( Dana Stephenson, Sean Murch, Maggie, Matt Akler)

I have enrolled my 12 and 13 year olds at Olympia this summer with this money and we are flying back from BC in August to go and I am sure that I am more excited than they are (simply because they have no idea yet of the experience they will have).

I just wanted you to know Dave, that even as a 47 year old adult, and clearly Dana felt the same way, the camp that you have created, nourished and loved for all of these years, really has such an impact on people and kids for a lifetime.  So thank you for all that you have done with this camp and I am sure Dana would absolutely love to know that my kids are going to our favourite place and I hope that they might work there one day too.  And I know she would be happy that I passed along this message to you as well.

In this beautiful letter Maggie captures so much about Olympia and takes it to a higher level. But who exactly is Maggie Murray Murch and how does her journey show the continued impact of Olympia  and the deep friendships she still has from one summer on staff.

At the suggestion of her basketball coach, Maggie went to Olympia as a camper for three years. It was her first experience away from home and she loved it. She made friends to whom she wrote letters to for years. She thought the counsellors were the coolest people on earth and especially loved the Campfel production videos. 

"  As a camper, I really loved all of those inspirational videos. High energy and great music.  They really made us want to be the best version of ourselves, set goals, take the bat off our shoulders and not be afraid to fail. "

This line echoes in Maggie's life to this day. More on that later.

Sort of a late bloomer as a counsellor, Maggie only worked one year, the summer after graduating grade 13. In those days Dave did a lot of his hiring simply through the recommendation of coaches he trusted and Maggie got on staff through the kind words of coach Tom Ellison.

" That summer before university was a big one.  I met a lot of the friends I still have now, including Anne Stevenson, whom I  lived with at Western for the next 5 years and just had lunch with her 2 days ago in Vancouver! "

When Maggie speaks of the impact of that summer, she credits Matt Akler and Rob Simmons for giving her a feeling of belonging and excellence.

" In 1989 when I was a counselor, Rob was definitely someone we all looked up to.  Kind, welcoming, wise!  Very wise.  He was like our big brother - the one we all wanted!  I learned a lot about leading with integrity from him. Friend Matt Akler basically got me an internship with the Toronto Raptors that lasted seven years. Not only that, Matt  brought Dana and I together at a Raptor game and we realized the deep Olympia connection we shared. And the great irony was that Dana was looking for a place to live and we were looking for a roommate."

The hero's journey of Maggie Murray Murch goes much deeper. Born in Hamilton, her family moved to Mexico City when she was 2 and then to King City when she was six. She played every sport, going from basketball to volleyball, from badminton to throwing the javelin in track and field. 

At the age of 12 Maggie's mom passed away from breast cancer, which drove Maggie more onto sports.

" Sports gave me a purpose and sense of belonging and they gave me a real connection to my dad. who was a huge sports fan and rarely missed any of my games" 

A sad, but beautiful example of getting up and taking the bat off the shoulder. Maggie's journey in sports continues into her 50's, and as the Hero's return calls, she is giving back by coaching.

"I played on Western's varsity badminton team for 4 years. It took a toll on my back though and I couldn’t really play after university.  My cousin got me into the competitive Ultimate scene in Toronto and played at the nationals for a few years with the top Toronto women’s team."

Another person Maggie met at Western was Sean Murch. The romance didn't bloom until 10 years later after running onto each other in Toronto. After dating for only four months Sean got a job offer in San Francisco and asked Maggie to join him.

Take the Bat off the shoulder.

Maggie was at her 'dream job' at MLSE for seven years and thought she'd be there forever but decided that she and Sean were San Fran bound. Their journey in Northern California only lasted a year before they moved to Vancouver where they now live. North Van. They've been married for 22 years.

Those two children who were left money from Dana to go to Olympia? Duncan is 19 and in his third year at UBC business and Zoe is 18 and just left the continent to start her first year  at the Royal Veterinary College in London England. 

Two Olympians on their own journeys. 

Maggie the athlete became Maggie the coach, coaching her kids teams in basketball and Ultimate for years. But there was always Maggie the athlete. Always with  social side.

"I first saw and tried pickleball in 2020 just before Covid.  I absolutely fell in love with it and to my good fortune, it did not strain my back the way badminton did.  I made so many incredible new friends during Covid playing pickleball!"

Once tournaments started running again, Maggie was all in. Her first tournament was the Canadian Nationals in 2022 in Kingston Ontario, in an 8 rink arena in the middle of the summer with no air conditioning.  She and partner Ruth Johnson and came away with a silver in 4.5 50+.   

Pursuing being the best she can be, In 2024 Maggie “took the bat off the shoulder” and went down to Dallas to try out for the National Pickleball League, a 50+ professional league. She impressed and was drafted by the Coachella Scorpions.

" I had  one of the funnest, most challenging experiences of my life.  And once again, met some of the best, like minded people!"

This past year Maggie stayed closer to home in BC and won a gold and a silver medal in the open age provincial championships. She was part of the gold medalists Team BC at Canadian Nationals and won silver & bronze in ladies doubles. 

But for this hero, the best may still be to come. She was selected as one of four women 50+ to play for Team Canada  at the pickleball World Cup at the end of October, w

"This is the 3rd year of this event but the first year of including 50+ teams.  The growth around the world has been incredible to watch and there’s going to be 64 counties participating this year in the World Cup!!  What an incredible honour and I can’t wait!!

Erstwhile the athlete is giving back. Always playing in the present while planning for the future.

 " Once I started playing pickleball in 2020, I saw a huge need to introduce the sport to our youth as I knew this sport would only continue to grow.  To get this game into the Olympics one day, we would need young athletes! For 5 years, I have been our club’s youth development coordinator. With a focus on grades 4-7 we offer a free introduction to school clases and even teachers for staff socials to learn pickleball each spring.

 The goal is to reach as many kids as possible and get the schools to realize the benefits of pickleball.  In 2024 their program impacted almost 1800 pickle ballers. Way to go Maggie!

Maggie also loves coaching privately and especially coaching intermediate players looking to really raise their levels and compete in tournaments.

The life and journey of Maggie Murray Murch seems to echo many of the teachings of Dave Grace and the Hero's Journey. and all the great leaders she met in that one summer on OxBow Lake. Striving to be her best, to take the bat off the shoulder, she encourages others to do the same.

Maggie Murray Murch has been swinging for the fences on her journey to today. Good luck at the World Cup and especially good luck in developing future Olympians!

The summer of 2026 registration is open!

Have an idea or direction for a blog entry? Email me at coachdools71@gmail.com and lets talk possibilities. 

A Hero’s Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp chronicles the people that make up the history of Olympia, but it does far more than that. It serves as an inspirational guidebook for readers to become the hero of their own path. In order to do this the book examines the history of the land on which the camp has been built, from its indigenous origins to the European settlement process of the 1800’s. and the use of the land by the Royal Norwegian Air Force during WWll. The book is built on a collection of stories related to mentorship, sports psychology, and community building. This book honours the 50-year history of the camp while giving us all a window into seeing a deeper level of understanding of the world and our place in it.

Books Available at: 

-  Tuck and Pro at Olympia ( ask about the coach's deal)

 - Amazon and Indigo.ca

-  Indigo, Burlington Brant Street location.

- The Different Drummer Book Store on Locust Street in Burlington\

- Cedar Canoe Books on Main St in Huntsville

- Etransfer me $30 and I'll drive it to your house ! 

- available online at aherosjourney.ca

- audiobook version is available at Audible, Amazon, and iTunes 

If you would like us to come to your town for a book event or get copies into your favourite bookstore , email me at coachdools71@gmail.com. We travel well.