The Cajun spirit is characterized by collaborating as a community to lift each other up, making the most of the least. The 200-year-old local customs were adopted by Harry Spavin as he led the Cajun team to the Syndicate Waterskis 2019 NCWSA Collegiate Water Ski National Championship.
Arriving at Lafayette in 2015, he and Carlo Basic joined the Cajuns as the remaining team was poised to graduate. They were immediately thrown into the inner workings of an elite team, and by their second semester, responsible for the future of the team. Harry stepped up to the challenge, leading the team. Starting with recruitment, the two brought a crew of 3 Americans and 10 international freshmen to campus for Fall 2017. It was an impressive feat, but they had to still build the team athletes from 9 different countries and cultures into a family, and the family into champions.
Harry followed in the footsteps of captains Taryn and Cole Grant before him, with incredible devotion to the team. A civil engineering student, he wanted to know the ins and outs of every aspect of the team. Everything had a cause, and his engineering brain found out what that was. While learning how to lead at the lake, he also worked with team Coach Ryan Gonzalez on budgets, planning travel, and receiving resources. Gonzalez taught the Cajun values and leadership tactics, but Harry had the skill within.
“Harry leads by example, setting the standard for character of excellence – he is always happy, humble, listening, and remains calm in a crisis, level headed. Harry will not ask anything [of the team] he won’t do himself. Harry was the first in the water for repairs, never a finger pointer, but a hand waver, calling for people to follow.”
Ryan Gonzalez, ULL Head Coach
Harry amped up the team. While the team was grateful for the lake and facilities nearby, along with athlete scholarships, running the team required an immense amount of communication and resources. Harry brought an unmatched level of precision to the operations. His attention to detail birthed his greatest legacy: Spreadsheets.
Harry was the spreadsheet master, with an estimated 25 sheets defining gas budgets, buoy replacement timelines, bus rental specifications, and more. When the team had a question, he had a google doc with the answer, already in their inbox. He had travel scheduled down to the minute. The detail of his planning allowed the team to operate as a machine – unstoppable.
On and off the water, excellence became a habit. Between community events, dry & wet training, and team bonding events, Harry had the team dialed-in. After teaching a team of young international skiers the rules of collegiate and competing as a team, they fell short. The team was a mere 60 points away from a championship in 2018. Carlo remembers looking at each other “You’re not leaving until we have that [expletive] ring” – “Yeah, you better get me a [expletive] ring!”. They knew what was necessary to take the championship, so Harry rallied the team. As a family in training and recovery, the skiers synchronized into a force. Everyone knew their role, and how to execute with consistency to support the team. Cajun Style.
“He pushes and challenges everyone to be their best self on and off the water. He encourages team members to help out in the community and to be involved on campus. He organizes community events and makes sure his teammates understand the importance of giving back to the community.
This year, Harry succeeded in obtaining sponsors and rekindling relationships with ULL ski team alumni. He has put substantial importance on recruitment, social media, and community involvement. He assists with coaching, boat driving, maintenance of the ski site and field of play, boat maintenance, poster making, driving the team van to tournaments and academic tutoring, always going above and beyond the expected duties of a team captain.”
Taryn Grant, Former ULL Captain, Nominating Harry for NCWSA Outstanding Leader of the Year
Harry led with the ULL Motto, “Fortiter, Feliciter, Fideliter” – “Boldly, Happily, Faithfully”. At a tournament, you could find Harry calling tricks, coaching, pinning, dock-starting his teammates, judging, while competing himself. Through all of it, he is the rock for the whole team, maintaining a calm demeanor.
“At a tournament, Harry’s priority is to make sure his teammates are comfortable and ready to compete. He then switches roles, puts on his skis, and becomes one of the competitive members of the Ragin Cajun Family, contributing to team scores.“
Carlo Basic, ULL Ragin’ Cajuns’ Water Ski Leadership Team
At the 2019 nationals in Rio Linda, the team knew they had what it would take to win, But as they won event after event, they saw 3 years of planning all align. No doubt, the Cajuns were so ready – ULL planned to win, and ULL did. As the tournament progressed, they knew it was all happening in order. Harry reminded us we just needed to “keep it on the gas.”
ULM Head Coach Michael “Woody” Woodgate grew up skiing with Harry back in England. Gonzales recalls a moment with the opposing coach at the 2019 Nationals where they shared a moment of pride for his countryman. Woody approached Gonzalez at the tournament, coach-to-coach. Teary-eyed, he expressed his gratitude to see the growth Harry displayed – as a skier and as a leader. “It was one of the most validating reasons to keep working with this team,” said Gonzalez.
Harry showed what could be achieved with a precise focus, as the team entered the final event of nationals in the lead, with just 4 landings required to win. “That’s all it took,” he said, after years of developing a program that made it look easy.
“We did it Harry” – Carlos shares excitedly, a year following the event, rings on hand.
We are honored to have Spavin join the elite group of NCWSA Outstanding Leaders, recognizing the efforts to build and develop a team from within.
“What is his secret to leadership? – I can’t tell you how he did it, it’s just how he is”
Huge congrats to Harry for his accomplishments & legacy. We are eager to see the bright future ahead of you, in skiing, and in life. Thank you for your dedication to the sport, the organization, and your team to support and grow water skiing.
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