Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

It’s funny that it is time for me to write this Senior Salute thing, and I don’t even think I am able still to pronounce the name of our field yet. I have been blessed to play here for four years of my life, and I can’t still get it right, Ochrymowycz Field …?  Seriously? That name’s harder than learning how to speak a second language! Haha

I remember when I first got here to Saint Mary’s to play college soccer. My dad was driving a rental car, my mom was sitting in the passenger seat, and I was in the back giving him instructions on how to get to the school. Coach Guinn was waiting right at the entrance of Saint Mary’s by the “security” station with coach Dembiec, Halberg and Nikki Fennern. He was waving at our car, making sure that we would see him and would stop. Well clearly, we saw him (he was in the middle of the road) and clearly my dad was going stop even if he did not know that was coach Guinn. He was not going to run over him. We stopped, and got out of the car to greet these people and you could just see how excited coach Guinn was for having us. He kept on pointing at everything or talking R-E-A-L-L-Y   S-L-O-W-W-W to make sure we were understanding what he was saying. Starting pre-season coach would say “Mariana kick, (as he was kicking in the air) kick the Baaallll (making a round shape with his hands)” I can’t remember how many times I told him that I spoke English and my parents did too. But this was really funny and I?could not let it just go, it was great to see how enthusiastic a coach could be to make sure you were feeling comfortable and at home!

Not so long into the season, coach Guinn gave me the nickname “Slow Poke.” I think it must have been within two weeks since we had started our season, he started calling me  that every time I was getting ready to go out on the field or to the bus. To be honest, that was one of the few words that I had no idea what it meant. He said to me, “Mariana, you are no longer Mariana, from now on, I am going to call you ‘Slow Poke’” I remember saying to myself, “Cool, I guess I got a nickname now …” hahaha. Later on, I asked, “Well coach, what exactly does my nickname mean?” Laughing, he replied back to me, “You don’t know what it means? (Giggles) It means you are the slowest person on our team to be ready, you are the first one ALWAYS to get to the locker room and the LAST one to be ready”… At this point I started laughing and said, “Well coach, I can’t help it, I love to talk and I get distracted way too easily … I promise I will be faster!” Ummmmmmm, yeah, I am pretty sure that I have not been able to keep my word on that promise. I am THE slowest person on this team … I guess I have been taking good care of my nickname!

When I first got here, the seniors on the team were Jennifer Johnson (known by JJ) and Kelli Kromptich. I remember looking at them and being like, “Wow that is going to be me in four years. I can imagine how they must be feeling this year, and it must be really cool to be the senior of the team …” Well, for those of you who are not seniors yet, it is not so cool.  You start thinking where did all this time go? Am I really graduating right now? Come on, JJ was just here sharing the goal with me. Really, am I that old now? The funny thing is that when my first season was about to be over, I remember seeing JJ and Krompi in the library writing their Senior Salutes and I said to myself, “Boy, I better start writing mine, too, so that when I am a senior I don’t have to write at all … .” and I said that sophomore year, and junior year, and now here I am … I am actually writing my Senior Salute for the first and last time. Come on, I am the “Slow Poke” — there was no way that I was going to be writing this salute way ahead of time, who was I trying to full around with? Haha

Oh yeah, by the way, if you have not figured it out by now, for those of you who do not know me, I tend to not believe in “short stories.” I don’t think I have been able to tell a short story in my life … I go waaaay into too much detail. My teammates and friends who do know me are probably laughing right now since it is so true. I am always like, “OK, I got to tell you a quick, funny story that happened to me … So this one time … so then I was like … and I said ‘No way’…. it was really funny because … so you know what I mean? ... you should have been there …” Half hour later, I finish a story that could have been one-minute long. So be ready to read a part of my life right now. I will try not to go into so much detail, but detailed enough that you would get why I like to tell long stories and not short! So make yourself at home, sit down, get comfortable, if you are not in a public place I would recommend to take your shoes off and have a nice hot chocolate next to you and really make yourself at home.

There are many good reasons on why I want to make this Salute long, a lot of those I have already started to forget since I sat down to write this. I am very well known to forget things as I am telling the story, but later on they come back to me, so no worries. OK, so I’ll just stop talking and write this, I just don’t want to but I guess Donny Nadeau would like me to get this done so he can print it!

So where was I? Hmmmm ,oh yeah, coach Guinn and freshman year. I will never forget my freshman year, it was a remarkable year. We had a chance to go to play to Ireland and I will never forget that. It was just like a dream come true. I remember the first game that I played for Saint Mary’s, it was away and I?totally thought I was not going to play at all, JJ was a phenomenal goalkeeper, she was just unstoppable. All of the sudden in the middle of the game, coach Guinn turns around and says “Sanchez, get ready …” And I’m like (GLUM…really?) well of course Sanchez had forgotten her shin guards, but was terrified to tell her teammates or coaches, so I?ran into my soccer bag and grabbed the shoe insoles from my other cleats and wore them as “shin guards.”  I played the entire game like that, and not till the game was over, I was jogging off the field laughing and showed my team what I had done. I think on my part, I was really creative on making up shin guards! I will never forget that from that year.

There are so many people that I want to thank, coming from a different country and being able to adapt here for four years I have made many new friendships and met many new great people that have done so many things for me. So please bare with me, and if I forget someone, I want you to know that I am so thankful and lucky to have been able to meet you through these four years, and hope in future years we can still be in contact and remember all the stories we shared together!

First of all, I want to thank my family. Sorry folks, but this part will be in Spanish … and yes the crazy lady jumping up and down at today’s game against St. Thomas is my mom ?: Mami y Papi: ene verdad es que no encuentro las palabras suficientes para agradecerles todo lo que han hecho por mí. No solamente han estado ahí siempre y en todo lugar para ayudarme a pasar cada reto que enfrento en mi vida, sino que me han convertido en la persona que soy hoy y que seré. Ustedes al igual que mis hermanas han sido los mejores modelos de mi vida que he tenido. Ma, a ti te quiero agradecer por haberme dejado jugar futbol todo este tiempo. Desde que empecé a jugar en la calle con los cuates y con puros chavos, hasta que me dejaste estar en un propio equipo de mujeres. Sé que nunca te gusto el hecho de que siempre estuviera lastimada o con raspones, pero al mismo tiempo sabias que eran mis triunfos y trofeos al tener esas marcas en mi cuerpo o vendas. Sabias que las habían adquirido haciendo algo que siempre traía felicidad en mi día pasara lo que pasara. También debo de agradecerte a ti y a Papi, por siempre haberme apoyado a tener el mejor equipo para entrenar. Desde empezando con mi guantes de portera hasta mis tacos de futbol. Yo creo que cada año o ni siquiera, siempre me tenía que comprar unos nuevos tacos, que porque esos tacos eran mejores que los que tenia, etc. Siempre me dijeron que si, costara lo que costara, recuerdo que me decías “bueno Mari pues esto es de tu cumple eh… estás segura que  quieres tacos otra vez…?” Fueron tantas las veces que me dijeron que “si” todo el tiempo, que por eso mismo es que estoy aquí enfrente de ustedes jugando el deporte que eh amado toda mi vida, futbol. Recuerdo haber regresado ese verano de Minnesota, y que les conté que había la posibilidad de que pudiera hacer mi Universidad en EUA, papa luego luego (ya lo conocemos) dijo que sí, pero tú me preguntaste “Mari, son 4 años… estás segura?” Y luego luego dije que si, y luego luego estuvieron ahí siempre y en todo lugar para apoyarme. Los quiero muchisisimo, son en verdad el amor de mi vida. Ahora que escribo esto, me doy cuenta que el amor que le tengo al futbol no se compara con el amor que les tengo a ustedes, por ustedes es que este amor a crecido hacia el deporte. Los amo, muchas gracias por ser quienes han sido esos 21 años de mi vida conmigo.

Berni y Bi: Hermanas, wow… en verdad no le podría haber pedido a Dios un par de hermanas mejor que ustedes. En verdad es que le agradezco a él todos los días por cómo nos llevamos y como nos queremos. Me encanta hablar con ustedes todos los días y decirles lo mucho que las quiero, aunque nos lo digamos 10, 15, 20 veces al día, siempre que se los digo siento mariposas en el estomago como si fuera la primera vez que se los he dicho. Gracias por estar siempre ahí por mí, por levantarme y seguir caminando con la cabeza en alto y luchando por mis sueños. Nunca, nunca hemos peleado o tenido algún argumento por celos, o por cualquiera de esas estupideces, siempre haga lo que haga me han apoyado en todo y han sido mis fanes numero uno! Por ustedes y mama y papa, es que me levanto todos los días y voy a entrenar, a estudiar, a trabajar, etc., porque sé que les trae mucha alegría y orgullo hasta Puebla. Las Amoro hermanas, gracias por ser mis hermanas favoritas de este mundo.

To my Amazing American Family: The Barnhills

Michele, Phil, Stoddard, Hallie, Fletcher and Roxy: There are just no words that would describe the persons that you have been to me. You guys have been beyond amazing to me for the past four years. Or should I say since I came to do 8th grade as an exchange student and you guys were my neighbors? Ever since, we have stayed in touch and visited each other, and by doing so, the summer of 2005 was when you guys became my family. You guys brought me up to see this school and we all fell in love with it.  You guys have treated me just like one of your children. By giving me my own room decorated with pictures of my family back in Mexico all over. By taking me on trips with you guys, like Montana for example! By not only having pictures of your kids around the house, but also of all my family and myself. By always baking me my favorite food when I came (what I call home) over, and putting on the dinner table my limes and spicy sauce! You have gotten to know me just like one of your own kids — you know what I like, what I don’t like, you know when I ‘m having a good day or not a good day. You have completely changed my life here in the U.S. I have never met such family that is able to provide so much love and care to someone, and make him or her feel like she has belonged in the family forever. Thank you, thank you for always being who you are, for treating me with equality and respect, same way you do to your children. Thank you for being there for me when I felt lonely or was going through something tough in my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you, I cannot address it enough, you guys are my family, you guys have my heart, and you guys will always be in my thoughts and prayers no matter where life may lead me to.

Coach Halberg: I will never forget our fun conversations in between practices. We had so much fun talking about soccer all the time and both of us always made sure we had a smile on our faces. The story that I will never forget will be the one from our “ritual” that we have before every game of hitting the cross bar. I remember you telling me the story from the pro-athlete from England, that people thought he could not do anything because of his size and age and he was a great striker to hit the upper post … I guarantee you, Coach, you keep this ritual with your future goalies and I am sure you will become that person, the coach who can hit the cross bar like any other pro-athlete!  Coach, I want to thank you so much for being the glue and the heart of the team that kept us together. After switching from different coaches, you were always there supporting each of us and making sure we believed and knew everything in ourselves! Thank you coach, you have been by far the best Assistant Coach I have had and will ever have in my career. I cannot thank you enough … Keep being the person that you are; you bring happiness to many people in our team. Thank you, stay in touch coach!

Coach Dembiec: Thank you very much for always giving me the best advice on how to pursue some of my goals in soccer and in my future career. You have made me become more familiar with what I want to do after college and I want to thank you for that. Also, I want to thank you for stepping up as our head coach my sophomore year and coordinating your time with two teams, you did a great job and I respect you for that and thank you for that. Good luck on your upcoming years with soccer!

Coach Zimmerman: I really do believe now on the saying “Third Time is the Charm!” (Giggle) haha. You were my third coach through my four years at Saint Mary’s, and guess what? You still are! Coach, you truly did something amazing this year with our team. You have changed every single one of us. You have been able to share your passion and love of the sport, not a lot of people can do that. You see the game with the same eyes that I have always seen it. Thank you for sharing that with all of us. I will never forget the story when me, Keirra (Canada), and Marnocha; your three captains were sitting in your office having a meeting and arguing about what we could do to improve, change, manage, etc. to our season and I right away wanted to say my point of view (as usual) and said “You guys don’t understand, you need to put yourself into the other person’s PANTS and then you would know…” Well, clearly after I said that there was silence in the room for like ummmmm I would say 5 seconds until the three of you started laughing and Marnocha (of course being an education major) said to me “It’s shoes, not pants!” haha. Awwww (sigh) those were good times. I’m pretty sure you will never forget that story as well! Take care coach and I wish you and your family the best!

Ambjor: “Ugh… Ambjor, so I was diving and I felt like a ‘WHOOP' and then I was like ‘UH-AH' and then I feel like a ‘PSSZZT' on my back, and every time I bend down it feels like it’s gonna ‘BOOM!’ and then "BANG!' on my ‘this, this part, like right right here of my body…’” This was me freshmen year coming into the training room knowing nothing about pain vocabulary and how to describe it. I had the hardest time explaining to Ambjor my pain and what had happened, but somehow Ambjor, you always got what I was trying to say to you and you always tried really hard not to laugh at me … Well Amb, today I am able to come into your office or the training room and tell you what pain I have; if it’s a pinching nerve, or I pulled a muscle, or probably it is my lower back and the last two discs in my back, or I just sprained something … I am able to say that I am graduating not only with a Graphic Design degree but also with an extended vocabulary on Physical Therapy. Through my four years here, Amb, you were always there for me. Freshman year I broke my thumb, and I had a stress fracture. Sophomore I had my hand surgery, junior year I broke my tail bone (worst pain ever people) and senior year my back … it’s falling apart. Somehow you always had the best treatment to get me better and back on the field as soon as I could. In name of my Mom (giggle) I want to thank you for taking care of me and making my four-year career not so painful! I will always miss telling you jokes everyday and saying “Hola!”… But promise me that you will remember my favorite joke. “What did the green grape say to the purple grape…? Breath, Silly Breath!!!” Take care Amb, can’t wait for you to come to Mexico next summer, can you picture it now?

I don’t really want to continue writing this anymore, all of the sudden it is really hitting me the great people that I have met here and the great memories I have made. It is amazing how time can fly; so bare with me still because there is so much to say about the wonderful community I have come to meet here in Winona.

Mr. Don: “Mr. Don!” “Well how you doin’ Ms. Mexico!”… This is the way our conversations always started and I hope that they continue to be like that no matter where I am or you might be. Mr. Don, you are, I don’t even know how to tell you this, but you truly are a person that completely change my life here. You are always greeting people, making sure they are doing OK, and if there is anything you can do to help or at least advice, you are always and I mean always there for all the students and athletes. I have come to love you as a friend, but also as an American Guardian that will always have a special place in my heart and prayers. I wish you the best Mr. Don, and don’t you ever forget that you have a special smile always here for you!

Athletic Staff: Nikki, Jamie, Donny, Toni Winter, Coach Lester, Miller, Coach Landrum, Bob Biebel, and all of the rest of this amazing staff. I can’t thank you enough for always making me feel at home. You guys truly made my stay here so special and joyful. As all of you know and that’s why you are here, to train great athletes. But you know what you guys did to me, all of you trained me to be the BEST Cardinal MASCOT around school, and because of that I will always be a proud Cardinal! Donny, thank you for always writing those great game notes and making our website the way it is, I have always enjoyed reading what you write on every sport, thank you very much!

TEAMMATES:

Canada: “Ohhhh Caaaaanadaaaaa…” that’s it Can, I lived with you for almost three years and that’s all I know from your anthem ?! Can Soup (that, by the way, is one of the nicknames I have for Canada) thank you for always being my right shoulder. For all the great conversations we have shared together, all the times that we have cried together but they somehow always turn into laughter. I have gotten to know you like the back of my hand, same as you to me.  We can always tell when we are having a good/bad day, and we know how to help each other. I can’t ask for a better friendship, you have become more than a friend to me these last couple of years, you have become a sister to me, and a sister that I will have with me no matter where we go. No matter if you go back to Canada and I go back to Mexico, somehow we both know how to “jump borders,” so I’m sure we will see each other more after this four-year journey that we lived together! I love you Can, I wish you the best in your future career as a PT. Oh! Guess what…? “We’re going to London!” Oh and one more thing … I forgot. Canada, if you ever want to get a tattoo together, remember that you would get a “Sandwich” (for San-chez) and I will get a “Can Soup” (for Can-ada) lol.

Marnochis: I just love saying that “Come on Marnochis!” ugh I’m going to miss saying that so much on and off the field… but I guess I have your number so I will give you a call sista from anotha mista! ? Marnochis, ever since we started our soccer career here at school, I knew right away you were going to be an education major. You have always taught me so many new words and have been very patient with my English (until this year, windshield?) haha. Steph, you are such a great teammate, player and friend, we have shared so many fun memories, memories that will be hard to forget but will always be present no matter where we are in our lives. Every time you hear the expression  “be in someone’s shoes…” in the back of your head you will remember me at coaches office saying, “be on someone’s pants …” and busting out loud laughing — you, coach and Canada at me! I love you Marnochis, and I must say I love your parents, too. You guys made me feel somehow part of your family, thank you Ma-Ma-Marnochis you were always great to me!

Dana: “Mi hombre de nieve, es felíz y está muy gordo, una boca y narií y dos ojos…” Awww Dana, I am never ever going to forget the first day that you sang that song to me on the bus. We were sitting in the front of the bus (you know, freshmen get the front) and you just came up to me and randomly started singing the song! Thank you so much Dana for the friend and teammate that you have been to me. We have had so many great memories. The parties at your house will always be hard to forget, I really hope that in the future we all come back to Winona and play “soccer” and hang out again soon!

Mazzuca: Zucca, Zucchini, Zuc’s. Do you remember how we met?  It was at Oral Communications class freshman year. I had never met you before and it turned out to be that our first speech we had to give it together …  Not only did we talk about our families, but also, we shared the same passion for soccer and I could not believe you were not playing soccer for our school. So I pretty much recruited you to come out next year for our team because “you are amazing.” You have so much speed and your ball skills are “ridiculous” by the way … “Excuse me ma’am, the back of your head, it’s ridiculous!” haha remember? Anyways, Zucs I love you so much and I’m looking forward for our friendship to keep on growing and growing. Take care and I wish you my best!

Sibik: Next goal you score I want you to dedicate it to me! Sibik, you are amazing when it comes to finishing the ball. You know exactly when and where to place the ball and how to get over players and that is such a great talent you have. It is amazing how you control and place the ball … But you know what? I think that now I can figure it out where you would place it when it comes to a P.K. haha I don’t think you can score on me on P.K’s anymore! Keep it up Sibik; I am sure you will become one of our school leaders in scoring!

Erin: Hola Amiga! Erin solamente te quiero decir que eres una amiga muy especial para mi. Se que estabas muy emocionada de leer mi “salute” porque iba a escribir en español, así que decidí escribirte a ti también en Español. Erin te voy a extrañar muchísimo, eres una amiga muy especial para mi. Voy a extrañar todos los momentos que pasamos juntas este año, en especial cuando vamos al baño! Haha. Te deseo lo mejor Erin, sabes que siempre tendrás una amiga que te quiere y que estará ahí siempre para ayudarte en todo! Cuídate mucho, “Ciao Pescao” ?

T: So here is the thing, I do not know what is going to happen after I graduate. But if for some reason I cannot find you here in Minnesota, I will make sure I go look for you at the highest mountain in Montana, I am sure you will be snowboarding there! T, I want to thank you for being such a good friend and roommate to me. This year living with you, I have gotten to know you much better. You truly are a person who cares for others before yourself, that’s why you are going to be a perfect soldier now that you are in the Army. Take care of yourself T!

Peyton: Pe-Pe-Peyton!!! Ohhhh my crazy Peyton, I am going to miss playing with you so much, You are a person and teammate that has been always working really hard in order to improve and keep our team focused. You are very dedicated to what you love, and I hope it stays the same fore ever! I have a confession to make you Peyton. I still do believe that your last name came from a fruit family. For some reason, your last name sounds to me like a fruit name; ever since I met you I have always pictured your name as a Peach… It’s great though, because now no matter where I go in the world I will always see you in the market! ?

Caity: Knudson … can I just say WOW! I am so impressed and proud of the way that you have improved this season. Caity, I do not know if you see all your improvement, but let me tell you this: When we started our season and you injured your shoulder I remember you telling me “I have no confidence in myself, I feel if I dive I’m going to hurt it more …” Did you actually mean this or were you joking? Please tell me you were joking, because you are crazy with a capital K! You have shown not only me, but our whole team how fear is no longer in you, of course you get nervous and you will get nervous when you play in a game, but you know what? It’s part of being so competitive and disciplined to the sport that you care for and love. So please, keep it up because you will only get better!

France: OK, so … for real France, what was your trick? Did you like watch ESPN every night and day during the summer to learn soccer? Or, please explain to me how are you so talented at soccer.  Last time you had played soccer in your life, you played with a size #4 ball, and now you decide to try out for the team and realize that the ball size it’s a little bigger … You started being a soccer player, but now that the season is over, I consider you a soccer athlete. You are for me the most improved player on this team, it is amazing all the moves you have for not playing soccer in who knows how many years. France, your personality and attitude truly has changed this team, you are an amazing friend and teammate who will always look up to you to make them laugh and show them how to have a great time! Keep it up France; you’re a great athlete!

Friedl: Or should I say Fritto??? Because that’s how A: I have you saved in my phone, and B: How I have been calling you all year, until now that I just Googled your name and realized my big mistake, but I like it more ?. Fritto, all I have to say to you is that you have improved a lot this year and that I only hope that you keep getting better because you deserve it. Oh yeah, and one more thing, Fritto why are you so negative? Haha lol jk.

Amanda: Oh Amanda, I am going to miss you and your family. You have been such a person. Your ability to play and kick the ball it’s amazing! I was so happy this summer when you came down from Rochester to play with me and then we went out to dinner. That was a lot of fun, and you know what? I can totally see us doing that again in the future, but maybe this time I will drive up there and then go over to have dinner at your mom’s and have some of that amazing pasta she made for us one time! Keep it up “Nemo” you are a really good player and can’t wait to hear how you do in the future!

Rachel: You are by far the second-loudest person on the team (of course after me) so that means that the cheer “Comote Comote Cora Cora,” it’s now in your hands. I have sang that cheer for four years and it would be a pleasure and honor for me to leave it to you and be the one who carries this tradition on now. Rache, you are a natural leader, your dedication and commitment to your teammates have made you the player that you are today on this team. Your head it’s always looking up no matter what the result may be or how you may be feeling, you are always focused and dedicated to what you love to do the most! I will never forget you and your muffin joke.

Caitlyn: Go PUMAS!!! Haha you will for sure be considered my number one fan towards the Mexican soccer leagues. You have shown that you have passion and commitment to this sport so much that it always makes me happy to hear you talk about soccer and different teams on how they are doing and how they should have done! Caitlyn, you are truly a great friend to talk to, I know that if I ever need any advice I can come to you. You have always been there for people and are very honest when it comes to tell us the truth. You do not care if it will hurt us or not, you say it making sure that we realize that whatever is going on it’s not right and should change. Keep up that attitude, only like that you will get really far with your major and will make you a better leader!

Ellie: I will always remember saying hi to you like the movie “The Little Rascals” waving our hands at the bottom of our chin. It is always great to talk to you Ellie; it seems to me that you always have the perfect joke or comment to say. Every time I hear you talk, I can’t hold myself from not laughing! Thank you for playing with me these two years, Ellie, you have really proven to me to be a hard worker and a committed teammate. Keep it up Ellie!

Ashley: I will never forget you trying to make a straight line down the field with the cones. When you made it, it looked more like a snake than a straight line to me! Haha. Ash, it is amazing how hard you play on the field, you and your crazy slide tackles and kicks … seriously, whenever we are warming up and you shoot at me, I can totally tell you that your shots are the most powerful ones, my hands always hurt after you shoot at me! Keep it up Ash; you are going to be a great player on this team next year!

Kelsey Brown: Kels, can you believe that we only got to play two years together? I can’t. You played amazing these two years. It was really fun getting to know you and sharing so many great memories. I will never forget the one when we were at practice and for some reason I called you ESPN instead of Kelsey, I just don’t understand how that works! Keep it up these upcoming years you are going to be a great player for our team!

Schneider: I remember driving back from the Cities in February of this year and getting a phone call from coach saying that you were coming to visit this school and that you were from Portland. I was getting gas at a “Freedom” gas station in Red Wing. You ended up spending the night at my place, and I am pretty sure you must have thought that I was crazy and super hyper at first (or still) but hey, I guess that by me being like that, I convinced you to come to our school. I have really enjoyed playing with you this year, you are a great player and you have shown it to al of us. Your parents must be very proud; I know that because of my own experience. Keep it up Shneid’s!

Kate: Can I tell you a little secret, Kate? You were my favorite freshman this year … I know, don’t tell anyone that I said that. But it is true, you really were! Haha. Kate, you are unbelievable, you have such a nice defensive game. Nobody can stop you, and you never give up. You always know that you can push yourself even harder, or when you make “mistakes” (which by the way, there is no such thing as a mistake, mistakes are only lessons) you always seem to find a way to improve your game and get it off your head. That takes a lot of courage Kate, specially being the only freshmen on the team, you had a lot to prove on this year and you sure did. I wish you the best for the upcoming years!

Friends:

Bood and Tara: Thank you for being part of my number one fans. You guys made it to some of my games this year even though you both have already graduated and that meant a lot. Not only did you guys make it to the games, but you guys also printed out two big pictures of my face and cheered for me on the sidelines. Thank you for always being my friends, and at the same time my family at school. Love you always!

Jewski (Ashley): I am calling you Ashley just because I don’t want to be disrespectful and get in trouble ?. But Ash, you have been one of the few people that I have met here and truly been a friend to me. No matter what time of the day and how busy you are studying, you have always been there at my games, or at least tried. I always love when you say, “Let’s go sexy Mexi!!!” I can hear you form the crowds and I know it’s you; those cheers will always bring me back to great moments and memories that we have shared. You are a lifetime friend that I will always love and keep in touch, take care Ash and good luck this year at your season!

Jaci: I’m sorry to disappoint you, Jac, but you have to face the truth and realize that soccer is in fact a better sport than softball! ? haha jk… But seriously! Jac it has been great getting to know you more and more through these last couple of years. You truly have become a great friend to me, we have shared many fun stories that I will never forget, but I can only hope that they keep on happening. Jac, I forgot… did I mention that you are awesome?! Oh well, I did not, but just so you know “YOU ARE AWESOME!”

Molly and Becky: You two by far went from being my favorite teachers, to be my favorite people to go talk to and hang out with in between classes. Even though you guys only taught me my freshman year, I was always back in your offices trying to get some positive feedback on my papers or just life itself. I love running down the hallways (going late usually to class) and saying “HOLA!” as I wave and keep running. You two have been there to support me and give me the best advices that I can do here at school. I want to tank you for all of that, you two made my stay here way more comfortable and also joyful. I sure hope to stay in touch with you and talk about life and English papers… jk; just life itself will be good!

Brother William: So here is the thing, I really think you and I should work some things out and let me play one more year??? Oh I see, no I get it; I understand … it’s not in your hands is it?  Well, I guess I’ll just have to become the second number ONE fan and attend all the Saint Mary’s athletic events as you do! I wanted to thank you for always being so passionate about our athletic events. I do not think there are many presidents who take the time to go and walk around the cafeteria, sit down with new and old students, have lunch with them, or go to the library and help students to stay focused studying … you are just everywhere … our community has gotten to know you very well and you have already helped our community to interact and get to know each other better than before. The way you support every team in our school is very special, every time I see you out there standing by the crowds, I see you talking and cheering on our school just like any other fan. Thank you so much for being who you are to all of us, and becoming so familiar to all our community. Also, I want to thank you for taking the time to meet my family and talk to them during my games. I wish you the best, Brother William, take care and I hope to see you in the future at some of the other games that will be starting soon!

It has been a great pleasure to write this Salute. As you can see guys, it is not easy at all to write a four-year lifetime story in only four pages (as originally Donny had said to me). There is so much to say. As soon as you start typing and you think that you are only going to write about this person, then your brain can’t stop thinking and you start remembering all these great lifetime experiences. I cannot believe again how much I wrote (wel,l actually I can) but guess what guys; I have a confession to make. Remember how I said I was the slowpoke of the team? Well it only took me two weeks to write this Salute and I am just sending it in the last minute to get it printed out … I guess that I have truly loved my nickname and that’s why I have been taking these four years at Saint Mary’s so slow. It has helped me to enjoy the place where I have loved to live these past four years of my life. My nickname had a purpose; a purpose to enjoy life, a purpose to enjoy and meet new people, a purpose to not live life with any regrets, a purpose to become a real Cardinal and leave footprints at this school that will last forever! Thank you, Saint Mary’s community, for allowing me to become part of this family, of this nice community and always making me feel like I was at home. This is by far the best school that I have been blessed to come to and I will always keep you guys in all my thoughts, memories and will recommend this school to many people. There is nothing that I would switch about this school … well, maybe  just one thing …. Put it back in MEXICO!

“MUCHAS GRACIAS, Viva Saint Mary’s Cardinals … Arriba Arriba!!!”