Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

I can’t believe the time has come to write my senior salute. My time at Saint Mary’s has come with many amazing memories, some completely unexpected. Eight years ago I made a decision that would change my life forever and eventually led me to Saint Mary’s. When I was 14, I decided that I wanted to leave home and go to Shattuck St. Mary’s to play hockey. I attended Shattuck all four years of high school and then the time came to decide where I wanted to go to college. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to play hockey at the collegiate level, but I looked at some Division III schools in Minnesota and out east in case I decided to. Saint Mary’s was the last team I came into contact with and the last school I visited. I had a blast on my visit and loved the girls on the team and it just felt right. Two weeks later I called Coach Mannor and told him that I had decided to come to Saint Mary’s. Looking back now, hockey at Saint Mary’s was nothing like I expected, but I have some amazing memories from the three years I have been a member on the team and in the end I know that’s what matters the most. I am happy I decided to play again after taking a year off to study abroad because I rekindled some friendships and have made some amazing new friends this season as well. There are several people that I would like to thank for making these three years on the team unforgettable and several people that have always been there for me through everything.

Mom and Dad: Words cannot describe how thankful I am for everything you have done for me. You guys have always supported me through everything and have always stood behind my decisions. You have always told me that I can do anything I set my mind to. I am so grateful for all the sacrifices you have made for me to have the opportunity to play hockey at a high level. You never complained about taking me to hockey or soccer practice almost every day and for all the miles that you drove to take me to the tournaments. You never fail to tell me how proud you are of me and I know that no matter what happens you will always love me. I want to thank you for hardly ever missing a game while I was growing up and now because none of this would be worth it if I didn’t have you guys supporting me and cheering me on. You are always there for me win or lose and if it wasn’t for you I would have never played at the level I am at for hockey and soccer. You taught me that if I want something in life I have to work hard for it and I can’t rely on other people to get me to where I want to be.  Dad, you also never failed to sign me up for absolutely every hockey camp available in the area without telling me about it first, but I know that you just did this because you wanted me to be the best player I could be. You were never too busy to work with me on my hockey shot or drive me from soccer practice to hockey practice. I feel so blessed to have a father like you that just wants me to be happy and I am so thankful that you are supportive of my decisions.  Mom, I know I can always count on you for anything and I am so glad that we have become closer these last four years. Thank you so much mom and dad for everything you have given me. I love you both so much!

Bailey, I don’t even know where to begin! Before my freshman year of high school we had a rocky relationship, and I remember it wasn’t until after I left to go to Shattuck that we became so close. I think the time we spent apart made us realize how lucky we are to have each other. You are one of my best friends and I am so lucky to have an older sister like you. I wish I could see you more, but the times we do get to spend together are always a blast. I know you are always there for me and that I can tell you anything. I have always admired and looked up to you. You are such a hard worker and always set high standards for yourself. You have influenced me to be the best possible person I can be and you have pushed me to set high standards.  You have already accomplished so much at such a young age and I know you are not slowing down anytime soon. You are such an amazing, beautiful person and I am happy to call you my sister. I love you more than anything and want to thank you for everything you have done.

Abby: You are the best little sister anyone could ask for! I think you understand me better than anyone else on this planet and I know that I can talk to you about anything. I have always tried to set a good example for you and will always be protective of you. I can’t believe you are a freshman in college; the time has gone so fast! You are probably one of the strongest people I know and I admire you so much. You have faced more struggles in your first 19 years of life than some people face their entire lives and your resilience amazes me every day. You have accomplished so much in the past two years and I could not be more proud. You are so determined and driven to accomplish your goals. Once you set your mind to something there is no changing it. I love how we can not talk for days or not see each other for weeks at a time and the second we are together it’s like we were never apart. I honestly don’t know what I would do without you. I know you are always there for me. You are such a caring and beautiful person and I love you more than anything! You will always be my baby sister no matter how old you get!

Brittany (Sparky):?You are truly one of my best friends and I honestly don’t know what I would have done without you these last four years. I know I can always trust you and talk to you about anything. You are someone that I can truly be myself around and I know that when we are together we will always have fun no matter what we do. Thank you for hardly ever missing a soccer game these past two years and for supporting my decision to play. I want to thank you for dealing with my ridiculous sleep schedule and my constant coming and going. We have both been through some pretty hard times these last few years and I just want you to know that I always felt better knowing that I have you as a friend. You are an amazing friend and I know you always have my back. I will never forget all the amazing times we have had together and all the memories we have created. I know we will be lifelong friends and I can’t wait to see what the future brings. I love you Brit!

I would like to thank all the girls on the team; you have made this year so enjoyable! I love all the classes on the team and you have all made an impact on my life. There are a few people I would specifically like to thank as well.

First-years: I am happy I decided to play hockey again this year because, if not, I would not have had the opportunity to get to know all of you. At times this year I felt a little bit like a first year player because I took my junior year off and came back for my last season, so I think this helped me fit in with your class a little more.

Jess: I am so happy you were my partner for individual practices. Even though you are a first year player, I still look up to you a lot as a hockey player. I admire your love for the game and your intensity and hard work on the ice. Thank you for taking extra time outside of practice to work with me on different shooting drills, this really meant a lot to me. I know you will continue to have success as a SMU hockey player and I just want to tell you to never lose your love for the game!

Taylor: I have enjoyed playing on your line this year in practice. You are always making me laugh. I love singing along to songs during games especially “Summer of 69”! I will miss you next year!

Ingrid: I still remember the first time I found out that your uncle is thee Mr. Curwin from my days at Shattuck. I enjoyed getting to know you this season! I’m happy you could enjoy my game day buddy treats even though you are not my game day buddy! I will miss you next year!

Sophomores: A lot of you I did not get the chance to know last year because I was only at SMU the first semester of school. Even though I didn’t play last year when you were first-year players, you all made me feel welcome when I joined the team again this year.

Sierra: I am so happy that I joined the team again this year because I would have never gained such an amazing friend. When I heard there was a girl on the team that is a health nut and that loves organic food I was so excited! I am glad our love for healthy and organic food has led to such a great friendship! I know that whenever I want to spontaneously drive to Lacrosse to get Panera and Cherryberry, you will always come with. You have helped me through some rough times this season and I don’t know what I would have done without you. Your hard work and perseverance is very inspiring and I just want to tell you to keep working hard and it will pay off! I love you and will miss you next year!

Juniors: I can’t believe you girls are juniors! It seems like yesterday you were all little first-years and now you are all grown up! It has been amazing seeing you girls grow into the players and people you are today. You are such a fun class and I am happy I got to play two seasons with you.

Kelly: I don’t even remember how we became friends your first year on the team, maybe it was our undying love for the Blackhawks! All I know is that you have become one of my closest friends at SMU. We have had some great times together and I definitely missed you last year when I was in Italy. I am so happy there is a fellow Hawks fan on the team and I hope someday we will make it to a game together! I am glad we have become close friends again this year. Thank you for being there whenever I need someone to talk to. I will miss you next year!

My seniors: I can’t believe the time has come for us to graduate. Even though we lost a lot of girls from our original freshman class, I am happy that this is the group of girls that I am sharing my senior year with. I have had some amazing times with you girls that I will never forget.

Sarah: I will never forget when I first met you on my visit to SMU, and I am so happy that we decided to room together freshman year. I will never forget living in Eds with you and all the ridiculous things we did. You helped me through some rocky times freshman year and I am happy we are still close today. You have already been through so much and you are one of the strongest people I know. I hope we continue to stay in touch after we leave SMU. I love you and will miss you next year!

Brooke: I am happy I got the opportunity to play with you one last season. You are always someone I can go to if I ever need to talk and I thank you for that. You are such a fun person to be around and we have some great memories together over the years. I love that you march to your own drum and do your own thing. You are such a hard working person on and off the ice, and I know you will be successful in anything you decide to do in the future. I love you and will miss you next year!

Haley: It feels like yesterday I was walking down the hall in Eds to come to your room! We had some fun times that year and I am glad we are still good friends now. You are a great hockey player and I admire your hard work and love for the game. I know I can always talk to you about anything whether it is something with hockey or something outside of hockey. I am so happy I got to spend one last season with you Hales! Love you and will miss you!
I just want to let all my teammates this year know that each and every one of you has made an impact on me this year. Thank you to everyone for accepting me back on the team late because of soccer and after I took a year off. The friendships I have made this year have definitely made it worth it to be on the team again. I will never forget the memories we have created and I wish everyone the best of luck in the future. I truly love this group of girls more than any other team I’ve been on and I wouldn’t change it for anything. Good luck to everyone in the future. I love you girls and will miss you!

Momo: I am so glad I met you two years ago when I decided to join the soccer team. You have become one of my best friends. I know I can always talk to you about anything. We always have a fun time together and I love our spontaneous trips into town. I love coming over to your house for family dinners too! You are such a caring person and I know that you are always there for me. I will definitely miss you next year and will be back to visit. Love ya girl!

Coaches:
Greg: Thank you for all the hard work you put into coaching this team. I can see you have a true passion for coaching and it definitely benefits our team. Thank you for constantly telling me what I need to improve on and helping me to become a better hockey player. I am happy you have taken on a bigger role as a coach on this team since my first year. Thank you again for everything.

Terry: Thank you for allowing me to play hockey again for my last year at SMU even though I did not play my junior year. I appreciate the extra time you put in for individuals to help me to improve. Thank you again for everything.

I am so happy I decided to play hockey at Saint Mary’s my last year here. I have made so many great friends and have had a blast. I want to thank everyone who supported my decision to join the team again and everyone who believed in me. I want to thank my team for always being there for me and for making this last year unforgettable. I love all you girls and will never forget you!