I will never forget the past four years I spent here at Saint Mary’s playing softball with some of the best people in the world. It is hard to put into words what each and every one of you have meant to me and every moment that has made this dream come true. I never in my wildest dreams thought that playing collegiate softball would be so much fun each and every day. Every day I would laugh and have a smile on my face because I knew softball would be the best part of my day. So I guess the point I am trying to make is that I would like to say thank you to everyone who got me to where I am today. Thank you to everyone who made this experience something I will never forget.
First, and most importantly, thank you to my parents, for traveling the thousands of miles to my games since I was a little kid. I feel truly blessed that I can count on one hand the games you were not able to make it to. There are not many people who can say that their parents were able to put in that time commitment away from work and other things to commit to their daughter. Thank you for believing in me even when I had trouble doing so. I truly appreciate Dad coaching me in middle school and practicing with me for the many years after. Thank you, Mom for being the favorite Mom in the stands handing out your rally pops with smiles and your many baked goods.
Thank you to my sister, Brittlyn, who pushed me in every sport we ever played together. When we were little I always thought it would be you playing sports in college and not me. Thank you to my brother, Brady, for supporting me and coming to my games. Even though you think that anyone could do what I do, I know you are just kidding and you really think it is pretty cool.
Thank you, Grandma Jo for coming to all my games throughout the years. From sitting in those terribly cold games and the ones that seemed to last forever. Thank you to the rest of my family who have supported me for the past four years. For those who came to haunted forest and those who asked how the season was going.
To Cole, thank you for being by my side. You have put up with me for 4 softball seasons, plus some, and never once stopped believing in me more then I believed in myself. Thank you for supporting me as much as you do. Thank you for being you.
Next I would like to thank my teammates and coaches. It is really difficult to say everything that I want to say without writing for hours, so if I miss something I am sorry and know that I love you all.
Thank you to all the girls I started this dream with; Amanda, Morgan, Erika, Sam, Jess, Rachel, Kristy, Krista, and Nicole. To Kristy, my roommate, thank you for putting up with me. Listening to all my softball talk and being my weight lifting partner. To Sam, who I am sure is sick of hearing about softball every day because of our many classes together; thank you for listening and thank you for making me keep my head in the books. To Nicole, thank you for being with me for the past 4 years; and thank you for being my softball twin “Olson Twins”. Michelle thank you for joining our team and family, you always can make me smile. Thank you to all who contributed to being the best Miss Cardinals SMU Softball has ever seen and sweeping the past 4 years starting with Rachel freshman year, myself sophomore year, Michelle junior, and Nicole, the current Miss Cardinal.
To my first captain’s freshman year, Bood and Cassie, thank you for teaching me the ropes. Thank you for having faith in this little scared freshman and helping me through the scary fall ball. Especially thank you to Cassie, being my outfield coach for the past year, it seems like you never graduated and continue to lead me every game, along with many others.
Thank you to Hanna and Angie for being great leaders and showing me the ropes when I was first starting out. Thank you for appreciating my base running.
To last year’s senior class — Katy, Jo, Kellie, Mal, Jess Sharp, and Jaci — thank you for teaching me so much. Being able to play softball with you for the past three years has been so much fun. It would have been a totally different experience without you. Katy, Ballz, you taught me so much. Kellie, thank you for always smiling, it made me remember that we play softball because it is fun. Thank you, Jo, for being there for me to jump into your arms last year against Augsburg when I stole home to keep the game tied in extra innings. I always remember that when games get close. Thank you to Mal who truly appreciated my base running more than anyone else, and thank you for being an amazing hitter so I could run for you. Jess Sharpe, thank you for being yourself. I think you are the funniest person I have ever met.
To this year’s juniors, Julie, Erin, Paige, Hailey, Kayla, Leah, Anna Buege, and Anna Ramboldt thank you for putting up with me for the past three years. Paige thank you for being such a great leader in the outfield, keep it up. Hailey and Julie, thank you for being there after I scored the winning run in Florida this year and giving me a big hug. I will always remember the smiles on your faces.
Thank you to the freshmen and sophomores, Sammie, Angie, Kristen, Laura, Sam, Tessa, Mel, and Alex. Thank you for all the good times we have had together, and good luck with everything else you do in the future. A special thank you to Kristen who insisted on being my conditioning partner and kicking my butt, without you I would not be as Breezy.
Thank you to the coaches. Thank you, Jen Miller and Carolyn Bray for always believing in me and trusting in what I can do. Thank you for teaching me more and more about the game of softball. Thank you for not only being my coaches but a friend, and someone I can talk to.
So good luck to every SMU softball team; I will be cheering you on wherever I may go. My advice would be, to put in every ounce of energy you have every day and to enjoy it. When starting my freshman year I never thought it would be the day, I would be saying goodbye, but that seems like yesterday. I hope that this is not goodbye but rather a see you later.
So, see you later and thanks for the memories.
Bre (Breezy) Olson |
