Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

I know this looks really long, but I promise it’s a quick read (kind of)! Every year, the graduating seniors tell the underclassmen to cherish the time you have because it goes by so fast. It didn’t hit me until I was sitting here trying to write my senior salute having to take in the reality that it’s almost over. It’s crazy that after 14 year of playing the sport I love, it is almost over. Even though I wish I had more time here, I couldn’t have asked for better teammates and coaching staff to share the best four years of my life with.
    
From the most memorable moments of making it to the National Tournament and being conference champs to the remarkable friendships I have developed off the court with my teammates. I am truly grateful for all the memories and time I have spent here at Saint Mary’s and especially on this amazing team. The hardest thing I will have to do is try to say goodbye to them and it is almost impossible to put into words the impact each person has had on my life. So here’s my attempt:
    
It’s a long list of thank you’s, so stick with me, I promise it will be worth it.
    
Starting with my family: I can’t thank you enough for everything you all have done for me and all the support I have gotten over the years both on and off the court. Mom: thanks for encouraging me to play basketball when I was younger and coming to all of my games and cheering me on. Also, thank you for driving me everywhere and anywhere for games and practices throughout the years. Dad: thank you for all your support and encouraging words. Although I am sure you wished I played hockey rather than basketball, I could always count on seeing you up in the stands at every game in your lucky white sweatshirt (I wonder where I get my superstitions from). I am so proud of how far you have come with your basketball knowledge and lingo! Barb: thank you for all the support over the years. I couldn’t ask for a better wicked step-mother?! Mike and Matt: thank you both for putting up with me and being supportive of me in whatever I chose to do. Growing up with the two of you made me extremely competitive and without that I probably wouldn’t still be playing basketball today.
    
The Regnier’s—my second family: Thank you guys for all the support you have given me throughout the years. Whether you’re at my games cheering me on or sending me good luck texts and watching the games online, I always know you guys are there for me. I can never repay you for all the rides you have given me to countless basketball practices and all the food of yours I have eaten. Thanks for putting up with me for so many years! Ro: I am beyond blessed to have you as my best friend. I can never repay you for all the advice you have given me and all the times you have been there to listen to what I have to complain about. Thanks for always supporting and encouraging me.
    
Coach Pearson: Even though if I had to explain our relationship in one word it would be awkward, I can’t thank you enough for everything that you do for this team and for me. Thank you for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself and helping me develop into the person I am today. Nobody realizes all that you do for this team and I want you to know that we are sincerely grateful to have such an amazing coach. Thank you for the opportunity you have given me to be a part of such a successful program with such great people. I couldn’t have asked for a better coaching staff!
    
Coach F: I also want to thank you for all that you do for this team and this program. Your energy and enthusiasm for this team is the glue that holds us together. Thank you for always believing in me and helping me become the person I have grown to be both on and off the court. You are and will always be my go-to person with defensive questions, or really any life questions. This team and program would most definitely not be where we are today without you! Also, your parents make the best snacks and I am really going to be deprived next year without them.
    
Coach Boese: I wouldn’t be the post player I am today without you. Just kidding, I will never be a post player. But, thanks for letting me think that I do good in the post, even though I’m pretty sure I give you anxiety when I play the 4 and whenever I touch the ball in the paint. Thanks for all that you have taught me and for always being patient with me. Try not to have so many injuries and health issues next year.
    
Coach Merg: Even though I only got to spend a year with you, thank you for all the behind the scene work you do for this team. You are going to be a great school councilor and an even better head coach some day!
    
Coach Post: Thank you for encouraging me to play basketball in college. During high school it never even crossed my mind to continue playing basketball in college until you encouraged me to. The main reason I chose to come to Saint Mary’s over the other school I was deciding on was because you told me that you thought I should go there. I am so glad that I actually listened to you and took your advice (for once-just kidding). I also have to thank you for giving me the confidence in myself and in my basketball abilities that I needed to be where I am today. You taught me how to believe in myself and be confident, even when I was a scrawny little ninth grader that barely had the muscle to shoot a 3-pointer. I can honestly say without you and the experiences I had in high school, that I would not be at Saint Mary’s playing basketball today, and for that I am truly grateful.
    
Paul Stang: You are the one that taught me almost everything I know about basketball. You are the first person that taught me how to shoot a basketball (the right way) and the one that instilled the desire to always want to win. I am so grateful to have had you as my coach for so many years growing up and cannot thank you enough for all that you have taught me.
 
Ben: Thanks for putting up with me even when I am being dramatic and high maintenance. You truly are trainer of the year (sorry Bill). Keep my girls healthy next year!
    
Coach Sager: Thank you for helping develop our strength and conditioning program. Your preseason program was the best one I have ever had and helped us tremendously. Make them run lots of quarters next year.
    
Dr. Fox: Thank you so much for all the support. I have kept all of your email you have sent us over the past four years and I can’t tell you enough how much those emails mean to us knowing you are there cheering us on even when you can’t be at the games.
    
All faculty, staff, and SMU Community: Thank you to the Saint Mary’s community for all the support over the years. We have the best fans in the MIAC!
    
My roomies: Thank you guys for coming to all of my games and being great friends. I can’t thank you enough for putting up with me all of the time and still willing to be my friend. It means the world to me that I can count on you guys to be front row at my games cheering me on and supporting me. I can’t imagine not rooming with you guys next year and not having you around all of the time to give me a hard time. Love you guys!
    
My Seniors:
Emily: You were my first senior and I couldn’t have asked for a better person to call that. I will never forget your humor and crazy comments that never failed to make everyone laugh.
    
Court Athnos: Oh Court, were do I even start. You are truly the craziest person I know. Thank you for understanding my shoe squeekin and for showing me how to be enthusiastic on and off the court for my teammates. Also, thanks for all the support after you left; the good luck text messages always made my day.
    
Janice: My twinny! Thanks for setting such a great example for me when you were a senior. It’s been hard to play without my twin on the court and having the jokes of the day. Also, thank you for forcing me to like Disney movies on the bus.
    
Brit/Sir: Thanks for being a great role model for me as a senior. You taught me how to be a great team player and always work hard through whatever adversity.
    
Jess: You were a great senior to have, you were so talented and I went to you whenever I had a questions. Thanks to you we brought the yee-haw back this year.
    
Curtney: I truly can’t say in words the impact you had on me throughout my basketball career and the time I got to share with you. You are an amazing leader and player and I learned so much from you. Thank you for teaching me how to be positive and to work hard at everything I do. I miss having you around to say eassyyyy Saaarraaa but I am so thankful for the friendship we have developed. Keep taking care of Snuffy for me!
  
Darc: I am so glad that you transferred here and even though we only got to play two years together, I am extremely grateful for that time. Your 3-point shot is amazing and I will forever envy it. Thank you for taking on strategies with me and letting me beat you on Hefel exams ;)
    
My fellow Seniors:
    
Tay: I can’t believe it’s almost over. It’s so crazy that we are the only ones left from our grade when we started playing together freshman year. Even though we have always been extremely competitive, I couldn’t have asked for a better person to share my senior year with. You are an amazing leader for this team and an even more amazing person. You are going to go far in life and I can’t wait to see what you end up doing next year!
    
Andrew: You always make us wait a long pleriodically time for our water ?. You are the best manager in the MIAC and I am so thankful for all that you do for us. My vote for Manager and Divo of the year goes to the one and only.
    
Natalie “Nasty” Jewel Williams: I am so glad that you decided to play this year so that we could share the senior year experience together on the court. You were a great manager and player, but an even better friend off the court. We have come so far from neighbors in good ole Eds freshman year! I have no doubt you will kill it next year at your big girl job. Oh p.s. you are the only person that can rock the hair down girl.
    
Juniors:
    
Shelb: Oh Shelby, I think we are the only two that are constantly laughing about who knows what and I’m pretty sure you’re the only one on the team that laughs at my jokes, so thank you for that. This year wouldn’t have been the same without you and I am truly going to miss you next year. Also, thanks for partaking in my crazy superstitions so that I didn’t feel so weird. Cherish every game and every practice (yes, I did say practice) next year and most importantly have fun (but not too much since I won’t be there).
    
Bridge: You are an amazing leader both on and off the court and although it sucks that I didn’t get to spend the end of my senior year playing with you on the court, I can’t thank you enough for the years we got to play together. Your work ethic, determination, and love for this team is truly admirable. I know you are going to come back stronger and better than ever next year and I can’t wait to cheer you on!
    
Nat: I know this year was tough for you, but keep your head up! You are the strongest person on this team physically and have so much character. You are so talented and are going to do great next year!
    
Haley: First of all, thanks for being a great niece, I know this year has been tough for you without mama court, but as your aunt I was able to step in as replacement. Second, you have the most enthusiasm and spirit on this team, which I admire greatly. I can always count on you to make me feel better with your contagious smile and positive attitude. Lastly, if I got to vote for most valuable player on this team, hands-down it would be you. I am going to miss you and puppy bunches!
    
Micaela: I have come to the conclusion that no matter how hard I try, I will never be able to beat you. You are so fast! Also, how you can play with a constant smile on your face and look great in every single action shot is beyond me. Thanks for being the best warm-up assist there ever was! I am so proud of how far you have come just this year. When we needed someone to step-up you were always there. Keep working hard and I can’t wait to see what you will do for this team next year!
   
Sophomores:
    
Sam Balla: Its up to you now to represent the good ole WB. You have an amazing work ethic that will take you far. Although I won’t miss the countless bruises from those boney elbows of yours, I will miss playing with you. Keep working hard and I can’t wait to see your improvements next year and be able to cheer on my fellow white bearian!
    
Aude/Brigey: My first cardinal buddy. When I first met you I thought you were quiet and shy…boy was I wrong! You are the sassiest and most sarcastic person I know, although I’d like to take full credit for that since you have learned from the best (aka me). Keep working hard and taking those charges!
    
Jessica: You have the biggest heart on this team. The love you have for this team is incredible; you would truly do anything in your power for anyone on this team and I honestly think you are the glue that holds this team together and I am so grateful for you. You are always there to talk to and have the best advice. I know you would give anything to be on the court playing with us this year but keep your head up! Next year I know you are going to be killing it on the court! Never lose your love for the game and for this team.
    
Emma: How you stay so calm, cool, and collective while you play I will never know, but I wish that would have rubbed off on me. You are such a talented player and we could always count on you to weave in and out of 5 defenders and still end up scoring, all while not showing a single emotion on your face. By far, you have the best stories on this team and are one of the funniest people I know. Also, I have to give you major props on having one of the cleanest lockers this year; you have come a long ways from last year already. I can’t wait to come back and watch you dominate next year. Also, your mom was coming in clutch this year with those snacks.
    
The Freshies:
    
Molly: My current cardinal buddy. Although Aude makes me say that she was the best Cardinal buddy I had, I couldn’t have asked for a better second buddy. I wish I would’ve had more years to play with you. You are a great competitor and are extremely talented. Stay positive and keep working hard. I know you will do amazing next year and I can’t wait to cheer you on and see your improvements year after year. Make me proud next year Cardinal buddy!
    
Lex: YES LEX!!! I’m so glad I got paired with you for a motivation partner! You are just the cutest most innocent person and say the darndest things sometimes. Thank you for constantly making me laugh with your funny comments and for being the best motivational partner ever! You are an extremely talented player and I can’t wait to see how great you do next year. I remember I know how good of a 3-point shooter and driver you are…
    
Kayla: I’m going to miss your sneaky little sarcastic comments that never fail to make me laugh. Although, I won’t miss trying to have to box you out at practice because you are one strong lady. You stepped up for us big time this year in the post and you’re only a freshman-I can’t imagine how good you will be next year! Keep working hard and I know you will do big things.
    
Thanks for all the great memories. I am truly going to miss each and every one of you and I can’t wait to be able to cheer all of you on next year. I am forever grateful to be a part of such an amazing program and school. You ladies will forever be my Cardinal Basketball Family and I wouldn’t change a single thing about these past four years. Love you guys!