HighFIVE: Bridger Galyardt
H5 Episode 37 / Spring 2020 / by Katie Newell
Albert Einstein once said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” Such is the life philosophy of the Galyardt family, who is finding smart and creative ways to stay together, play together, and bring value to their community during tough times.
The Galyardt clan consists of Wes and Carrie, and children Carter (17), Bridger (15) and Faith (12) A tight-knit tennis family, they decided to use the stay at home time to do some good in the community during these unique times.
Bridger, a Team Colorado CTS player and freshmen tennis player at Rocky Mountain High School, in partnership with Carter and Faith, speer-headed a no-parents involved initiative creating fun YouTube videos for younger kids in the area to keep them busy and having fun.
Followers of the videos will find the Galyardt siblings playing “neighbor tennis” which includes hitting the ball back and forth over the fence, garage tennis with a badminton net, hitting the ball in the kitchen with a frying pan (yes, really!), perfecting the service toss with a bucket, and even doing tennis inside the house on the walls with a softer ball, just to name a few of the fun drills.
“We started doing them because I thought all the kids needed to get some exercise and have some fun,” Bridger said of the short clips originally meant just for the neighborhood. But as the online presence has grown, there’s been a true appreciation for this creative content designed to promote tennis drills that netters can do anytime/anywhere. It’s also the important message for the community that we’re all in this together.
Bridger says he loves the sport because it’s great exercise and something he can do with friends. He also appreciates the mental skills that come with the game.
“When you get angry on the court it doesn’t help at all,” he said. “I still get angry sometimes, but I do my best to stay calm and collected.”
With the goals of doing well of doing well at No. 1 Singles in high school, playing collegiate tennis, and potentially shooting for medical school down the road a bit, Bridger said being driven is just part of his family dynamics.
“We are all really competitive and love to play together,” he said of the family sports battles, especially with his brother in ping pong. But that competitive spirit is complimented by his appreciation for good sportsmanship and helping others.
A Team Colorado mentor he’s always enjoyed helping younger players, which is why this initiative to connect with kids while promoting tennis through the internet has been such a great fit.
“I’ve always thought mentoring was fun – it’s a cool opportunity,” he said.
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