07/08/2025
As we approach this weekend, I can't help but get little emotional. The Gladiators team will play in the last baseball tournament of 2025, and will be the last time we all put on Gladiators uniforms in any sport.
My wife and I started Gladiators soccer in 2020 and we grew every year after. Soccer was a passion of mine in highschool and I loved being able to give back to some of the boys in our community. We made a lot of friends and some enemies over that 5 year period. Soccer is what got the Gladiators started and I am very grateful for everyone who put their trust in us to lead their kids. For the most part it was core group of kids for 5 years, we just added more players as the field got bigger. Last year in 2024 was the last year for soccer. It was tough to see it come to an end and I had a hard time letting it go.
We had a basketball team for one year in 2023 as well. It was fun but just wasn't something that we decided to proceed with. So we decided to not continue with basketball.
Baseball was also started in 2020 and it was more for just a way to play more games for us in the Big Game League in Sedalia ran by Brad Grupe . It quickly progressed into something a lot more. We grew quickly and I grew a new love for baseball. I also played baseball in highschool but just did not love it like I did soccer. After starting the Gladiators baseball team and seeing my sons passion baseball, my passion quickly changed. This team has seen a few players come and go, but basically for the most part once they joined the Gladiators they have stayed with us. Through baseball I have meet a lot of awesome people and traveled to many different fields over several different states. This weekend will be a tough one for me.
I huge thanks to everyone who has sponsored any Gladiators team, donated money to help out the teams, or just gave their time. Also to the coaches who helped, as for soccer Brandon Grose and Frankie Vanderpool and Kevin Grose every year. The baseball team has always been Bob Hladik, myself and we added Charly Wooster 2022. Thanks gentlemen, never could have accomplished what we did without you.
Biggest thanks to my wife Sarah Williams Grose for all the behind the sense help. No way I could have done all this without her. She kept me mentally strong and headed in the right direction with the teams. Also my son Hunter Grose, now I can just be dad and just watch you play. Hunter and I have had a rough go a few times keeping coach and dad separated. Love you both and thank you for this ride.
Last is to all the players that I have coached. I truly invest 💯 into every team, I tried my best to be a good coach, good dad, good friend, good teacher, good leader, and to love everyone of them. I wish everyone of you guys the best of luck in the future and look forward to seeing you play highschool or maybe even college. Doesn't matter to me if it is soccer, basketball, or baseball, I will be cheering for you.
THANK YOU
