Actually sitting down to write a Senior Salute is not as easy as I thought it would be. It’s tough to think that four years of college soccer have already gone by. Soccer has been such a huge influence on my whole life since I could remember. The majority of my decisions in life have been based around the sport because almost everything I did was influenced by it. I remember being in high school looking for schools to apply to not even thinking about what I wanted to study, but where I could go to play college soccer. Ever since I started playing competitively I always told myself that no matter what, I was going to play somewhere. Saint Mary’s was that somewhere. Looking back at it all now, thinking of everything I have done and everything that has happened individually and as a team; it’s hard to believe it’s over. All the training, traveling, fitness tests, games, bus rides, visits to St. Joseph’s Hospital in the cities, teammates, coaches and everything else that made up my four years playing here are where I created some of the best (and worst) memories that I will remember forever.
Getting to the point that I am now, never would have happened without my family. Mom and Dad, it’s impossible for me to explain how much I love you both on paper, but I want you both to know I am forever grateful for everything you have done for me, not only in the soccer aspect of my life but every aspect. Making it up here for every home game and even some of the away ones has meant more to me than you guys know. The dedication and love you showed me by being there for me has transferred into a dedication that I have had to everything I do and I thank you for that. Having you both support me all these years has been amazing and I can’t thank you guys enough. Being able to play in front of you guys will always be one of the best memories I have from my college soccer career and I hope that I have made it worth all the time you invested in it and I hope I have made you both proud. Mom, I want to thank you personally for the countless number of rides to and from practices and games for my multiple teams, tournaments and weekends and thank you for always understanding how important soccer was to my life. No matter how much trouble I would get into I will always remember how I would get punished. You would always say, “No TV, no computer, no video games. You only get to go to school, come home… and go to soccer.” Dad, thanks for teaching me everything I know about soccer with your extensively vast soccer coaching knowledge. And though it gets annoying at times and most of your ideas are half thought out, thank you for always pushing me to be a better player and person and doing things for me like: weed wacking the hill, reminding me constantly about going to play with Brett Hull, always being on my case about going out and running or lifting or playing. I acted like I ignored it sometimes, but you know I never fully could. Casey and Kevin, I couldn’t have asked for a better “broder” and “seester” to grow up with and teach me how to not get in trouble for doing the same things you got in trouble for. I always know I can go to you and count on you guys for anything and I love you both for that.
I have been blessed in my life to have been surrounded by amazing people who have impacted me and made me the person I am today. I want to start by thanking my main “recruiters” to SMU: Lucas, Jon and Boussie. Lucas: What can I say; we’ve been from Hoffman to Winona to England (tearing all of them up) and back again and it’s been awesome playing defense with you for the majority of my soccer career (high school and college). Even though you moved on to the adult world where you have an office that smells of rich mahogany and is filled with many leather bound books, sometimes it seems like you have never left (because you still always LINGER around our house). You’ve always been a guy I could look up to and look towards for advice on anything whether it was school, soccer or trying to find ways to put Boussie to bed. You and your family have been there for me thru a lot and I know you all will continue to be in the future. For the record; yes, you will find a girl one day that you can take to the Olive Garden. Jon: I grew up watching you play when you used to have the coolest hairdo ever, now it’s all gone. I’m glad you decided to come to play soccer at Saint Mary’s instead of hockey, I know that must have been a tough choice for you considering how awesome you were in high school, but I’m glad you played soccer and I could help you earn the recognition you got. Boussie: the son my parents wish they had. I still remember meeting you for the first time, laughing at Lucas and Jon when they told me you actually played soccer at SMU. I still laugh now when they try to tell me you played soccer at SMU. I guess I still owe you my life from all of the protecting you did for me over the years, so thanks for that. Thank you for always keeping me humble and reminding me that I will never be half as cool as my parents. Someday were going to have to get together on a Saturday afternoon and make more ninja weapons. You are beyond the definition of psychotic, but it’s been real monkey. Say hello to all the homies in Cell Block D. Jermaine: MY YUTE!! I have to give you a shout out in my senior salute. It was awesome holding down the back line with you all those years and you know we’ll continue to do the same thing back home playing for the Vikings.
To everyone who has played with me the through the years, thank you. Bobby: I don’t even know where to start with you. You’re welcome for letting you make me look bad at that indoor tournament so you could get recruited here. You’re one of those kids that can only be described as “himself” and I love you for that. Too bad I’m one of the few people who actually understand you when you speak, otherwise I’m sure more people would have liked you too. Playing soccer with you these past 4 years has been awesome (except for when you keep getting megged). It’s a shame you wasted all those years playing forward and mid when your true calling was as a center back all along. There’s too many stories and jokes to bring up but you know them all. You’ve been like a brother to me these 4 years and it’s been.. we’ll just call it an experience knowing you. Chris: You still terrify me. Thank you for giving me the privilege of living with you in Gilmore Hall sophomore year and I apologize for constantly waking you up with my shenanigans. Jua: You are the whitest African I know (literally). Playing with you these past years has been great and I’m really glad you decided to stay and play and extra semester just so you could finish your soccer career with us. Kam: My little Georgia peach. Keep studying Messi and I’m sure you’ll continue to do great things. If you want we can still go to the local deli and pick up some lunch meat. You’re always going be my little diaper head. Good luck with your World Miniature Strongman competitions. Lusch: Lusch-puppy. I always had a great time visiting you and Bourgoine in Ed’s and terrorizing you and your room. You’re still a dupey-loopey-doo-doo and you always will be. Meyer: you probably will never read this because you are busy playing league of legends, but keep working out those glutes. Gunnar: HHHEEEEEEEAAAAAAA!!!! A conversation with you is like talking to an air horn, but somehow all the loud noises and faces are understood. OOOHHH-OH-OH-OHHH. Sorry for making your college career so tough because you always had to play through the epic cloud of dust. Bina: even though you resemble the “tall red-headed defender” from practices you’re much better than it. It’s been awesome playing with you these past years. You’re one of the most reliable players on the team, keep it that way. To all of you young guns: you guys are extremely lucky to be in the position you are in right now. You have a few years left to make these the best years of your life, and believe me, once you’re writing this looking back on it all, they will be. I can tell already that you guys will change the image of Saint Mary’s soccer and I hope that my last year here set you all in the right direction. Continue to work hard and for each other because that’s what families do. Understand that nothing will come easy; you and only you can bring yourselves to the top.
There are a few people who didn’t play soccer with me but still deserve a lot of credit and a very large thank you. Natalie: Thank you for always being there for me. Whether it’s a good time or a bad time I can always count on you to make me feel better. I know right now my dad is reading this (with his shoulders hunched) saying “NAAATTAAAALLIIIEEEEE….”. Always being so far apart isn’t easy but I’m glad we make it work. Thank you for being able to come watch a couple games, it means a lot that you were able to. I love you Nat. Chad: thank you for constantly getting me up early everyday and kicking my butt in the weight room for the past few years. Thanks to you I was always ready for whatever fitness test was thrown at me. Thank you especially for working mainly working on muscles that would help my throw-ins too. Big Bob Gas: there should be a monument or a statue devoted to you for your commitment to Saint Mary’s Men’s Soccer. You did not miss one game (Home or Away) all 4 years. That is amazing to me. Mary: what would I do without you? I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for me. All the time and effort you have put into keeping me and our team healthy is unbelievable and greatly appreciated. Please also thank your parents again for the ride to the hospital when I broke my ribs. You are an amazing person and an amazing trainer. Thank you so much for everything.
As one of the largest parts of my life comes to an end, it’s sad thinking that I won’t suit up in the cardinal colors again and take the field to play, but I can say that I am proud to look back at my four years playing Cardinal Soccer. Because of it I know what it means to be a part of something more important than myself. The relationships I created on and off the field with teammates, coaches and anyone else can never be replaced. I learned to have pride, Cardinal Pride, in everything I do and that will carry with me the rest of my life. |
