For the last four years, I’ve had the honor of coaching the Woodinville High School improv team for the Hogan Cup, a competition that Unexpected Productions hosts each year. Thirteen high schools from across the region compete for a spot in the finals. Last night was our home match, and it was a great one.

This year, we only had three returning players, and all of them were brand new to the program last season. If this were a sport, that would be a rebuilding year. But improv is different. In improv, a wealth of eagerness often beats a wealth of experience. And this group? They were overflowing with eagerness.

I threw a lot at them in a short time, and like any good movie about a ragtag group of misfits, they rose to the occasion. Both teams gave strong performances, but what made me proudest was watching my students transform from nervous newcomers to confident performers, supporting each other and even the players they’d just met. That kind of generosity can’t be taught. It comes straight from the heart.

The team stuck the landing. Total pro level up there. Both teams did.

There was so much heart in the show last night. After, both teams were laughing, congratulating each other, and making friends. That’s really what matters most: we showed up, we played, we connected, and we had fun.

Improv will never make you rich, trust me, I’ve tested that theory thoroughly. But the real reward is the joy in the room, the laughter, and the smiles. There were plenty of those last night. I still have one on my face today.