Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

I am so grateful for my experience at Saint Mary’s. Attending Saint Mary’s allowed me to go to school while meeting some of my best friends along the way. The memories I have made here are ones I will never forget. The opportunity to play a collegiate sport is one of the best opportunities Saint Mary’s could have given me. It gave me the chance to continue playing the sport I love, while pushing me to grow as an individual. Playing college softball shaped me into the person I am today. Words cannot describe the gratitude I have for everyone who played a role in my softball career here at Saint Mary’s, but here is my attempt to thank those people.
    
Mom and Dad: I want to thank you for the years of endless support in everything that I did. Whether it was in softball or any other part of my life, you are my biggest supporters and words cannot express how much I appreciate everything that you both do for me. I will never be able to repay you for the time, money, and sacrifices you have made in order for me to be successful. I would not be who I am today if I did not have parents like the both of you to support and believe in me.
    
Austin, Justine, and Aaron: Although you were unable to make it to a lot of my games here at Saint Mary’s, I always knew you were supporting me and rooting for me from home. Thank you to my brothers for showing me tough love when I was younger. I may not have appreciated it at the time, but this pushed me to grow not only as a player, but as a person. Justine, thank you for being the sister I never had. You are my go to for advice and I look up to you for all you do for our family.
    
Parker and Aubrey: To my niece and nephew, thank you for keeping me on my toes and brightening up my days. I always look forward to the next time I get to come home so I can spend time with the most adorable kids I know.
    
Family: Thank you to the rest of my family for their support and the time they all took to come to my games throughout my softball and sports career.
    
Coach Miller: Thank you for making me feel at home here at Saint Mary’s and for shaping me into the player I am today. You have taught me so much about this sport. You are so dedicated to this team and this school, and the sacrifices you make in order for this team to be successful are greatly appreciated. Best of luck in seasons to come.
    
Coach Sam: Thank you for being a role model on and off the field. You have taught me so much about being a better player as well as a better person. It was a lot of fun being your teammate for three years and I am so grateful to have gotten a fourth year with you as a coach. Thank you for all the time over the past five years that you have given to this team. Love you to pieces Coach Sammel!
    
Coach Kayla, Coach Mel, and Coach Cassie: Thank you for all you have taught me over the past few years. I appreciate how much you all care for this team and as the players as individuals. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to make this team better.
    
Coach Sagar and Jill: Thank you for pushing me to become stronger, faster, and healthier. I’m not sure my old body would have been able to make it through all these years of softball without the two of you looking out for me. Thank you for showing me that you cared about me a person and not just an athlete.
    
My Professors: I really appreciate how understanding each of you was of my schedule and the conflicts I had because I was involved in a sport. I would not have been able to be the student-athlete I am today without the support and cooperation from each of you.
    
Mic and Kelly: Thank you for making my senior year a year to remember. Living with the two of you was a blast and I will never forget the memories we made. Thank you for being there for me when I needed to vent and for being goofy with me when I needed that too. You guys are the greatest, love you.
    
To my Seniors: Mariah: Well Ri, this is it! We both made it. From the start in Saint Ed’s, you were my first true friend at Saint Mary’s and to be able to play a college sport with my best friend is an experience I will never forget. I cannot express how much our friendship means to me. You were my go to and I knew that I could count on you to always be there for me. Thank you for putting up with me for the past four years. I’m going to miss living with you and getting to see you everyday. Thank you for all the crazy, fun memories that I will never forget. I know you will be successful in any direction life takes you and I can’t wait to see where that is for you. Love you so much!
    
Katie K.: I am so grateful for the time we had together as teammates. You are such dedicated and compassionate teammate and I will never forget all you did for this team. I am so happy that over the past four years we have grown together as teammates and friends. Good luck in your adventures after college, and I am looking forward to hearing of all the success life brings you!
    
Jess: Thank you for being a great teammate and manager. I appreciate all the time you put in to help out this team. Best of luck in your life after college. I’m excited to see all the success life brings to you in the years to come!
    
To my Juniors: Words cannot explain how much I am going to miss this crazy loving group of girls! Ashley and Kathi: You two, I don’t even know where to begin! If it wasn’t for the both of you I don’t know where I would be today! You guys showed me so much more in life then I could have ever imagined! We have made so many great memories in the past three years here at Saint Mary’s. I am so proud and honored to call you both my best friends! Knowing that our friendships will be everlasting makes me feel better knowing that when we leave here at Saint Mary’s, we will always stay close. Even though I know saying goodbye is going to be extremely hard, I am excited for us all to move on into the real world! Love you both soooooooooo much! Gabby, Toni, Alexa, and Molly: Thank you all for the wonderful memories. I am so grateful to have gotten to play with you guys for three years. Your senior year will fly by so make the most of it! I love you all so much and will miss each of you.
    
To my Sophomores: Thank you for being great friends and teammates. Stanzy, Kali, and Jordyn: Future roomies, I am so excited to take the opportunity to be at Saint Mary’s for one extra semester with you three! I know there will never be a dull moment with us four and I can’t wait to make more and more memories! Lets make my victory lap one to remember! Love you guys! (Oh yah and Stanzy, just remember that our trade is for sure one to remember!) Allie, Brittney, and Abbey: I will miss stepping on the field with all of you and your sense of humors. I will always remember the passion you all brought into our games and I know you all will continue to bring it with you in your last two seasons. Love you guys and kick some serious booty!
    
To my Freshmen: It was great getting to know all of you this year and I wish we had more time together as teammates. Mia: MiMi Lloyd, one thing that is for sure is that you are always surprising me with something new every day! I am going to miss your amazing personality and all the joy you bring to me! I am so happy that we have became so close in this past year! Thank you for always being here for me and please keep up your handwork because it will get you so far in life! Love you buddy, you are truly an amazing friend! Tessa, Mel, and Amber: Thank you all for laughing with me and making my senior season one to remember. Your time here at Saint Mary’s goes by fast so take advantage of every opportunity you can and take nothing for granted. Best of luck to you all in the remainder of your softball and college careers!
    
Thank you again to these people for making me who I am today, and to any of those I may have forgotten. The past four years have given me some of the best memories of my life. Choosing to attend Saint Mary’s was one of my best decisions as it led me to meeting the people I now call my best friends and allowed me to continue playing the sport I love. I am sad that it must come to an end; however, I am excited to open a new page of my life and to hear about all the success the new members of the team will have in the future. I am honored and grateful to have been a part of this Cardinal Fastpitch family.