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Brothers on 3. 1, 2, 3, Brothers!
I'm Larry Gelwix, the head coach of the Highland rugby team.
This isn't namby-pamby, let's- hold-hands-singing-kumbaya.
I mean, I love to compete.
(background noise and music)
Our varsity win-loss record is 415 wins and 10 losses.
We've won the national champ- ionships 19 of 26 years.
When I volunteered to coach this team,
that was 36 years ago. I think I did it because,
well, I love the game and I thought it would be fun.
Looking back, my motives have changed.
Winning is important. We're a sports team.
But to me, it's not the most important thing.
What we have to do now is stay humble, healthy, focused.
It's about building champion boys before a champion team.
I didn't have a very close relationship with my dad.
I grew up, and I never felt good enough.
I never felt I fit in or measured up.
I think that's shaped a lot of my life.
I don't want these young men to feel they don't belong.
One of the things I try to do with my players
is connect with them and have a close relationship.
I think what drives me is that this is something I can do
that makes a difference,
that maybe I can influence a group of 200+ young men
each year, helping them become better young men.
We're a team of Christian values, but nondenominational.
I tell the boys, "If you're a Catholic boy,
I want you to be the best Catholic boy you can be.
If you're a Baptist boy, you be the best Baptist boy you can be."
I expect all the young men to honor and live their religion.
I believe we're all children of God.
I think a faith-based life helps us be better citizens,
better students, husbands, better fathers,
and better rugby players.
I'm Larry Gelwix. I'm a husband,
I'm a father, I'm a rugby coach,
and I'm a Mormon.