By: Chris “Topher” Aderhold
The heart of a Camp Gray staffer is filled with love, passion, determination, selflessness, and joy.
Actually, it’s filled with blood. Those other things are figures of speech.
For the past four years, Camp Chi – a nearby Jewish Camp – has fielded a team of their staffers to compete in a game of soccer against the Camp Gray Football Club. (Read about Game 1, Game 2, and Game 3)
Late last July, with hearts full of blood – and those other things which are figurative – the Camp Gray Football Club journeyed to Camp Chi for the annual clash. Adorned with pristine, blue, custom-designed jerseys (thanks Gutekunst Designs!), the team arrived at Camp Chi filled with hope to end a 2-game losing skid. 
On the front of the jerseys, resting atop the blood-filled hearts of the CGFC, is the crest of the 2015 Camp Gray Football Club. The 14 stars represent the 14 states from which the 2015 Camp Gray Staff hailed from. The 13 stripes represent the original 13 colonies of this fine, fine country. In the middle of the crest, in bold, block letters, the team for which the players shed their blood, sweat, and tears: The CAMP GRAY FOOTBALL CLUB.
On the backs of the jerseys, a fierce looking goat, with beams of un-breakable steal on either side of the goat. The image is the logo of the company that figuratively had the backs of the Camp Gray Football Club in their annual showdown: Endres Manufacturing of Waunakee.
According to wikipedia.com, “Goats are extremely curious and intelligent. They are also very coordinated and widely known for their ability to climb and hold their balance in the most precarious places. This makes them the only ruminant able to climb trees, although the tree generally has to be on somewhat of an angle.” 
Camp Gray Staffers aren’t ruminants. We are, however, curious and intelligent and very coordinated. And we can climb trees (if it’s at an angle).
At the starting whistle, atop the pitch at Camp Chi, the CGFC moved like curious, intelligent, and very coordinated goats.
Before long, the CGFC found themselves with a 2-1 lead.
It’s not commonly known, but goats tire quickly. The CGFC also tires quickly, and before long, Camp Chi scored 5 unanswered goals to take a commanding 6-2 lead.
Most teams might have given up at this point. However, if you’ll recall in the aforementioned list of figurative things that fill the hearts of a Camp Gray staffer, “Give up” is not on the list. Nay, I say. Additionally, “Give up” is not found in the heart of Endres Manufacturing. Found in the heart of Endres Manufacturing is steel. Unbreakable steel. And that’s not figurative because Endres Manufacturing isn’t a person. It’s a high-quality steel fabricator. (In case you’re wondering, and I’m certain you are, Endres Manufacturing is an AISC certified fabricator of structural steel, piers, and shoreline equipment.)
Again, per wikipedia.com: “Due to their agility and inquisitiveness, goats are notorious for escaping their pens by testing fences and enclosures, either intentionally or simply because they are handy to climb on. If any of the fencing can be spread, pushed over or down, or otherwise be overcome, the goats will almost inevitably escape. Due to their high intelligence, once a goat has discovered a weakness in the fence, it will exploit it repeatedly, and other goats will observe and quickly learn the same method.”
In the latter part of the second half, the CGFC intelligently found a weakness in the Camp Chi defense. Two goals were scored by the CGFC, and several close attempts were missed. Unfortunately, the whistle sounded before the Gray could overcome such a large deficit.
It was a hard fought battle. Even in hard fought battles, one team must lose. At Camp Gray, during competition, we teach our campers to win with grace and to lose with dignity. On that beautiful sunny day in late July of 2015, the CGFC held their heads high as they accepted their respectable 6-4 defeat.
Summer is fast approaching, which means we’re excitedly preparing to welcome 1,350 campers to Camp Gray. Also, it means the CGFC will be back on the pitch soon. Game 5 of the series against Camp Chi will no doubt be epic. Indeed, the CGFC will get back up on the figurative horse, with hearts full of figurative love, passion, determination, selflessness, and joy, and they’ll strive to end the 3-game losing streak.
Thank YOU for your support of Camp Gray! Thank YOU for your support of the Camp Gray Football Club.
Lastly, once again, abundant thanks to Endres Manufacturing for their never-ending support of the CGFC.
Click here to view all the photos from the 4th game of the Camp Gray vs. Camp Chi series!
Peace!
