Spirit of the Sword Award - Summer Season 2025

Hi Invictus Family,

We are pleased to announce our first ever recipients of the "Spirit of the Sword Award" for the Summer 2025 Season. This award will be given to a group of players who best embody the Invictus spirit by consistently honoring the game, their teammates, and coaches. These players are selected by the entire coaching staff and will receive a trophy in honor of this distinction.

The four players selected for the Summer 2025 season are:

Marco Vezzali

Marco's enthusiasm was always on display with his vocal participation in all drills and games. And he isn't yelling at teammates; rather, he always maintains a positive attitude and aims to help his teammates in any way that he can. This positivity is infectious and enhances the ability of his teammates to enjoy the game - even in the brutal Sacramento heat.

Parker Ikeda

If there is one thing I heard over and over again from the other coaches, it was that Parker stands out in his willingness to help clean up at practice. This may seem small, but it certainly is not! The point of having the players be responsible for setup/takedown of equipment at practice is to create a sense of ownership of their program and to instill discipline. Inevitably, this is most player's least favorite tasks, and most players will attempt to avoid their share of the duty. Not Parker. And, when his teammates see a player of his exceptional skill willing to do the little things, it makes them want to follow his leadership.

Brayden Daigle

Brayden is an elite competitor. He is always hungry for victory, but he does not sacrifice his character to achieve it. He can often be found hopping into practice drills as many times as possible to get maximum repetitions. Brayden sets the standard for attendance - the way that he shows up everyday is a testament to his motivation to reach his full potential.

Ricky Reyes

If Ricky's essence could be summarized with one word, it would be: effort. He has a seemingly endless motor and is incapable of going any slower than max speed. He does all of his playing with his actions - you will never hear Ricky complaining or demeaning his teammates, coaches, or opponents. He means business in the best possible way.

We are so proud of you all. The game is better with players like you in it.

Sincerely,

Invictus Staff