Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

It is hard to believe that the end of my basketball career is here. It seems like only yesterday I was arriving on campus as a freshman, and here I am today a senior.  Basketball has become much more than a sport over the years it has become my life and I accredit that love to a man that never got to see me play, my dad. Even at a young age he brought me with him to his team’s basketball practices and we spent hours in our driveway playing ball. Even though I can’t remember those days I know that they helped shape me into the person I am today.

I would like to take the time to thank those people that have contributed to my basketball career. I would like to start by thanking all the coaches I have had throughout the years and man have there been a lot of them.  My high school coach Tina Fruechte really helped me to find success on the court. She pushed me in ways no other coach had pushed me before and at the time I hated it but as I got older I learned to appreciate it. I do not think that I would have continued my career in college if it would not have been for her. Also as many know we have had many coaches here at SMU and they have all had an impact on both me as a person and as an athlete. Coach Stimmel came in and turned our program around and was able to make basketball fun again. He also helped me to overcome a hard time in my career with my knee injury and multiple surgeries. And finally Coach Pearson, thank you for all that you have done. Even though at times I thought that you were being too protective of my knee, I am sure I will thank you for that years down the road. This team has a ton of potential and I think that you will really bring that out and SMU will be at the top of the conference again. Also thank you to Coach Hall and Ray for all that you have done over the years and Coach Ehlert thanks for coming, you are a great addition to this coaching staff. 

I would also like to thank Nicholle Hanson’s parents, Dale and Denise, you have always been there throughout the years and your support really means a lot to me. I knew that no matter where we played I could always look up and recognize one face in the crowd even if we were six hours away from home.

Thanks to all of my teammates. Because of you I was able to get up every day and go to practice. All of you are great people and have so much talent. One day real soon it will all come together and when that day comes I would not want to be the other team. Believe in each other and great things will happen.  Always remember the name on the front of your jersey because it is what you represent and play for each day and it is hard to appreciate it until it is gone.  

Kim, Cherie, Jess, and Jesa you guys will do great things next year. You guys are great leaders on the court and have so much talent. This program has a great foundation and it is in large part because of you guys. Keep up the great work and I look forward to coming back next year and watching you guys rock the conference.

To the freshman: Jenny, Sarah, Michigan, Princeton, Brittney, Kels, Ashley, Kristen, Emily, and Jess you have all grown so much throughout the year. I have enjoyed getting to know all of you and wish you all the best of luck with the rest of your career. This is a talented group and will continue to bring good things to the program.

To my fellow senior Nicholle; we have come a long ways throughout the years and I am glad that I got to experience it all with you. You have been a great friend both on and off the court and I know that my experiences here at SMU would not have been the same without you. Thank you for always being there and for being a person that I could always talk to.

My roommates have been amazing and have really helped me to have an outlet from basketball. Amanda and Hadley, thank you for putting up with me during the season, your support has been unwavering and knowing that you are always there to listen means more to me than you know. Thank you so much, you are the best roomies ever.

Finally I would like to thank my family for putting up with me all those years.  Many of you didn’t think that I would be able to walk by the end of my career, it was close but I survived. My grandparents have been a big influence on my career and have supported me every step of the way. Grandpa Slim you were my inspiration to keep playing even after having so much knee problems. Thank you for the words of encouragement and showing me how lucky I was to have the opportunity to play college basketball. Thank you to my other grandparents; Grandma Lois, Papa, Grandma Nancy, and Janet you are the best grandparents ever.

Chelsey: Thank you for all your support throughout the years both as a teammate in high school and as a fan. Your voice can definitely be heard in a crowd, I guess all those years of cheerleading really paid off. But thank you for your continued support and I knew you always had my back.

Oh where do I even begin to thank you Neil. You have always been there for me and that means more to me than you could ever know. If I was ever having a bad day I knew that I could call and you would always cheer me up. Thanks for all your support throughout the years; I know that next to my mom you were my next biggest fan.

Mom, we made it! Thank you for all that you have done throughout my career. Not only have you taken me to camps and AAU practice, but you answered phone calls at three in the morning and stayed by my side throughout all my surgeries. Sorry, throughout my career I really put you through your paces and I can’t even put into words what it all means to me. Thank you for allowing me to follow my dreams and letting me keep playing when really I was suppose to stop. I admire all that you do and I know that you are an extremely strong person and I know I don’t thank you enough. Thank you for your support in everything that I do and I know that no matter what the next path I choose in life is you will be there with me.