It has been four seasons of SMU soccer already!? Oh goodness how these past four years flown (like a cardinal, haha) by so quickly. Playing SMU soccer has been one of the best experiences of my life at college. I have learned how to live away from home, how to communicate within a family, and just have fun. Participating on the soccer team has provided me with so much! SMU soccer truly is a family; a day does not go by without someone looking out for me, checking in on me, being there for me, and just someone to make me laugh when I am having a bad day. Without soccer things would just not be the same here at SMU. I would like to thank all members of my family. I will start with those who brought me here…
THANK YOU Mom for well, being my MOM! Let me just tell you all a little story first. A couple weeks ago when we had our Parent’s Day I showed my mom our locker room after our activities and she thought it was a quite messy one so she wrote on the chalk board “Your Mother Doesn’t Work Here!” And that statement was not meant to be mean, but she thought we could do better by not expecting our mother’s to clean up after us. I just told her that our locker room was nothing compared to MY room. Mom, thank you for being the greatest mom ever! Thank you for driving me around my whole life; to and from all those soccer games, stopping at Dairy Queen after every practice, washing my jersey, putting up with my crabby-self after we lost games (good thing you didn’t have to deal with me this past season), and finally thank you just for being such a great sport about me participating in everything possible and encouraging and motivating me to do my best! Everything not sport related mom, has been your thing. You have had to deal with so many of my problems relating to school, boys, and just any drama thinkable and without you there to support me through all of that I would not have been able to play soccer, let alone keep my head on straight. If there is one thing that I could pick out that I have learned from you it would probably be that I should keep and save everything because I will never know if I will need or use it later in life?
Dad, thank you for making your children your priority. If Nathan, Carly, or I had anything ever going on you were there. It doesn’t matter if it was for sports, academically, or even for band (Carly), you were always in the crowd Dad. The best feeling in the world is looking up in the stands from the field and seeing you, Dad, smiling back down at me. I will never forget all those games looking up to you in the stands exchanging waves right before the kick off, or the smile on your face after the game whether we won or lost you always had that smile because you were so proud of how I played. I have never had anyone be as proud of me as you have been and hopefully still are Dad. It has been a tough season this year for soccer and I know you wish you could have been to more games, and I wish you had too, because you always know how to cheer me up and make it all better. One thing that I definitely wish is that I would have had you as a soccer coach sometime in my life. Every game that any team that I was on lost or tied or just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net you, dad, would tell me to ask my coaches to push me up to forward. You have constantly insisted that I play forward, and its nothing against defenders, you just want to see me score. After the Saturday game against St. Kate’s my dad called me and the first thing he asked me was “what position were you playing Rachel when you scored?” Dad, you were so excited, so proud, and so happy that I had scored…it had been a while since I scored last (freshman year). Thank you Dad for being so supportive, encouraging, and believing in me!
Carly do you remember when you and Brad had to bring me to college my freshman year for preseason because our parents decided they wouldn’t miss me much and did not even say good bye? I was so nervous to try out for the team and the only way I could relax on the two and half hour car ride was to play the ‘WAWA” game with you to annoy Brad. The game is played like so: Every last word you say in a sentence has to have a ‘W’ added to the beginning of it. For example: If I was going to say “I like to eat apples,” then I would say “I like to eat apples wapples,” or if I were to laugh I would say “wawawah,” and it goes on and on and on. It was a really fun game! What I am trying to say Carly, is that you are my best friend and you have always been by my side through the thick and thin. You have taught me everything I know…so if I get in trouble for something it is probably your fault for teaching me it! My whole life I have wanted to practically be you! I admire your sense of humor, beauty, smile, intelligence, talent, but most of all I admire how you don’t care what people think of you. You always seem to make the best out of every situation and have so much fun if it is that last thing you will do! Thank you, sis, for being a best friend and a role model.
Bear and Schmutz thank you for never failing to make an appearance to my games. Between teaching, fire drills, Barrett’s activities, and taking care of Schmutz you managed to drive me around and make sure I was in line. You helped me get into soccer and encouraged me to strive to be the best that I could be. Thank you for supporting me as a youngster and for continuing to throughout high school and college! It has been so great to see you at my games in college, whether the games are near or far you will hop on your motorcycle and put those goggles on Schmutz just to see me play! Thank you so much for your knowledge and insight into the game, you most certainly have something to do with the type of soccer player that I am today, so thank you!
Barrett, thank you for the BROWNIES! Yumm, they were so good and gone in just two days. I know you have always been dragged by mom and bear to come to my games, but you have to know that I have appreciated your support this whole time. I know I was only your coach for a couple years for summer soccer, and I was still just an assistant, it was so much fun to play with you and coach you. You really are a fun kid; cracking jokes all the time, and bugging the parents! I know we don’t always get along, but if it wasn’t for you this summer I don’t think I would have been able to get through my surgery and recovery. Thank you Barrett!
Nathan and Leslie I am so glad that you two met and got married. So Nathan I don’t remember the last time you saw me play soccer, but I am glad to have you and Leslie at my last game ever! This is making me too sad to speak of…Thank you for coming!!
My grandmother and grandfather mean the world to me! My grandpa has been watching me play soccer and hockey and running track since I can remember and grandma has supported me in everything that I do. It is always great to see that my grandpa has made it to a game even if we cannot talk too much about it because his hearing aids don’t work very well, haha. I will never forget the time when my grandma when to a game for the first time and without even knowing who she was a parent from our team walked right up to her and said “you must be Rachel’s grandma, she looks exactly like you.” If you ever see my grandma, my mother, and I lined up next to one another you would think we are all sisters. Thank you grandma and grandpa for buying all those flowers, fruit baskets, cookies, and wrapping paper to help our fundraisers for soccer!
Finally, to my teammates I would just like to say a few words.
Caitlyn: Thank you for being so passionate about soccer, and life in general. You are a great role model; you are so studious, smart, and funny. I don’t know anyone that knows as much as you do about soccer. And I most certainly do not know anyone that is as obsessed as you are with PUMA. Thank you for all the memories on and off the soccer field and in the Old Village.
Kels/Portland/Schneids: What is your name anyways? I never remember what I call you! I cannot tell you enough that I am going to take the Amtrak to come and see you in Portland…it is definitely going to happen after we graduate. How fortunate have we [SMU soccer] to have you here with us? Let me tell you, so fortunate! Without you, I’m not sure how our team would look. You have been such a great addition to our team on the field, to our family, and to our group of friends on the weekends. I have so much to say, and I feel like I am writing in your year book lol. But I will just end with this we have so many memories…most are too inappropriate to speak of in here so I will end by saying meow meow ;)
Amanda: What can I say Amanda, you are obsessed with dogs and everyone knows it!! There is so much more to you than most people know. You have so much power in your hands, and you have to own it Amanda. You are such a talented person. You are so consistent on the soccer field…all those free kicks! An amazing artist and you can do biology! Keep being yourself and don’t worry about what others think, you have so much to offer.
Kels Brown: WE HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY! Need I say more? Probably not, but I will. So we have the same birthday and you are just hilarious. Every year you have tried and tried to get me to party as hard as you and I just can’t. I don’t think it is physically possible for anyone to party as hard as you. You bring so much laughter to my life, to our team, and to our friends. You are a great person and have a lot going for you… obviously since you already got your dream job set up for you!
Smashley: You are gorgeous and everyone knows that. But I want everyone to know how sassy you are. Ashley you are so sarcastic all the time, it’s hard to tell when you are being serious, but no one ever takes it too badly because they can’t you are ASHLEY. Thanks for being such a great friend and always having my back. I know if I was ever in a pickle and needed help with some butt kicking I could look to you for help.
Cassie H.: Umm…waders anyone? If anyone is ever looking for a science fair project look to Cassie, she can be your biology encyclopedia. If you ever want someone to bring a snake into your room, ask Cassie. If you ever want to pet a Boa Constrictor, ask Cassie. If you ever want to discuss reptiles, creeper crawlers, fish, mammals, any living organism known to man just ask Cassie. You are one of the smartest people I know, and probably one of the biggest smart-a** I know. Thank you.
Ellie: We have had our ups and downs, mostly due to my horrible mood swings which I am very sorry about. But in the end what is most important is that I know you love elephants and that I would never want anything bad to happen to Elliephant! I was very sorry to hear about your knee this year, I knew it had been an issue for a while and it was not the best news to hear. But Ellie, you handled it very well and have been such a trooper through it all, and for that we are all proud!
Kate: Kate, Kate, Kate…you are my twin! We play the same position, we both love lifting weights (squats mostly), we look alike (blue eyes and blonde wavy hair), we mean business, and guys are intimidated by us…what more could a girl want? You have so much drive and passion in whatever you do and I admire that. Keep up the good work in the back and maybe one of these days coach will move ya up! You are a great leader and role model and a huge asset to the team. No one and I mean no one goes up for a ball like you do. You will be a tough spot to fill when you graduate. Keep it up. And don’t worry I will teach you how to scream and holla like I do, teach how to do the laundry, and just teach you the ways, after all you will be the only senior next season.
Katie and Kenz: Sorry to group you two together like this… but it always makes sense. Kenz you are the serious one of the two, always making plans and having schedules and busy work to do. But you can get a little sassy if you know what I mean. Katie, you are the jokster, but don’t be fooled all, Katie can be a real meany. Has anyone counted her yellow cards that she has been collecting this past season? Jk ahha. You two are so fun to hang out with and be around…definitely a reason to come back and visit SMU after I graduate!
Tessa and Beth: Goofballs. Crazies. Musicals. Dancing. Laughing. Yelling. Being loud. Obnoxious. Fun. Those are just a few words that I associate the two of you with. More importantly, I would like to thank the two of you for being so fun and bringing smiles and laughter to every practice and to every game. Without you two, I’m not sure our team knew what it was like to let loose. Thank you.
April, Miranda C., Cassie K., and Teri: We will just call you guys the four stooges. I was never so sure if any of you four even liked me, or maybe you still don’t. But I have found that all four of you are actually pretty cool in your own unique way…especially Teri. I am so glad that you, April, Miranda, and Cassie decided to come out this season. I think the three of you might actually help Teri stay on task. You guys all brought a lot of fun to this team, a kind of fun that we were lacking. So thank you!
The freshmen:
Mari, you are very tough to read, but I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you better and better as the season went on. I will never forget meeting you for the first time and showing you to your dorm and how to get your keys. I could tell you were a little nervous and shy, your parents didn’t speak much English and I wasn’t quite sure how to handle all of that so I am pretty positive I did not help you much on move in day. I know it has been a struggle this season with not being able to play because of your injury but I am so glad that you have stuck with the team and been so supportive. Do you know how to tell when a lime is a good lime?
Melissa, you are quiet and reserved but you know exactly what you want and exactly who you are. I think those are great qualities and something that you share with the team that helps the team understand you and one another.
Momo foshosho ( thanks Tessa), you are a great keeper with so much going for you. You have stepped up tremendously and have a lot to look forward for your next three years in soccer. Keep your head up and stay positive. And whatever you do keep laughing!
Mandy, you are such a nice person with not a bad bone in your body. You are always so encouraging and supportive of your teammates on and off the field. I can see the leadership qualities in you…keep it up, your teammates look up to you.
Outside my family, and my family away from my family (SMU soccer team) I would like to thank so many others that have had a great impact on my life and my athletics. Thank you to my coaches for the support and believing in me when I doubted myself; Bill Mauricio, Eric Zimmerman, Neil Cassidy, Jen Geske, and Jeff Halberg. Oh, and Drew Taylor thanks for helping me with my senior thesis … well you will be helping me whether you want to or not! Thank you to my close friends for always supporting me, being my backbone, loving and caring for me; Alex Braun, Jermaine Walker, Jordan Anderson, Jovenel D’Haiti, Kristen Rappa, Nicole Olson, and Zachary Palma <3! I love all of you and you all have had so much impact on my life and I cannot thank you enough for your support and involvement in my life. |
