2011. Hoban Team 1 was defeated at Regionals. When the dust cleared, Hoban Team 2–Jeff Schobert’s team–was still standing. Team 2 went on to win the whole damn thing. “The little engine that could”, he nicknamed them.
15 years later, Hoban Gold was eliminated in a stunning upset at Regionals. Hoisting the 1st place Jeff Schobert trophy over their heads was Hoban Blue–an omen that we could not, and did not, yet understand.
We told them the lore: the story of 2011. You *have* to believe that you “can.” Why not us?
We arrive at States, and over the course of an exhausting three days, history begins to repeat itself. Trial 1. A hope is kindled. Trial 2. A spark is ignited. Quarterfinals. A blaze starts to catch. Semifinals. Finals. We cannot be stopped. Through trial by fire, we witness an evolution of a team unfold before our very own eyes.
To Jeff and Peg: Thank you for lighting the way in our time of darkness. We found the way.
— Carol Tran, Esq.
