I’m going to be honest, I have no idea how I could possibly put every experience from four seasons of three different sports into a thousand words or less. I also never expected sports to have such a huge impact in my high school career. Of course, I grew up playing softball and cheering, while also getting dragged to watch my brothers play football or baseball. I was really just following my brother around when I joined the football and wrestling team. It was the most intimidating situation I was thrown into. I was just this small freshman, shoulder-to-shoulder with two-hundred pound linemen. My job was simple: give the boys water. I didn’t think my job was too important until one of the seniors mentioned to their mom that we were always on top of things and were never messing around on the field. Football gave me the opportunity to experience the game in a whole new way and gave me friendships with people who I never would’ve known.  It wasn’t until the very last game when we were standing around the flagpole, arms linked with cheerleaders football team behind us, saying the final “Revere, Revere, Revere,” that I realized I was a part of something no one else got to experience the way I did.

Waking up at 6 am every Saturday was something I dreaded my freshman year. Attending a wrestling tournament for hours on end was exhausting. I barely understood how to take stats and did not feel comfortable without my coach having to constantly look over my shoulder and triple-check everything. It was frustrating not picking up on something that seemed so simple to everyone else. By the time senior year rolled around I couldn’t wait to get up at 6 am. Tournaments went by so fast and I was so excited when one of our wrestlers made it to the finals. I soon became the one looking over underclassman shoulders triple-checking their stats sheets. The thing about the wrestling team was that you could not help but become close with everyone. We were always together; we not only joked around constantly, but we’d go to Swenson’s at 11:00 at night because we hadn’t eaten all day. It wasn’t until I got off the bus from districts, and I got a simple, “Thank you for taking stats for me” from one of the juniors that I realized how important my job was and how many people I never would’ve met without being a part of the team.

Freshman year track season was intimidating. We were all isolated in the corner waiting to see the seniors who would walk into the locker room. Running our laps seemed like running four miles, agilities felt like we were going through the motions, and I was just eager to be down at the ring and practicing my event. Senior year, I got butterflies in my stomach. I couldn’t wait to go to practice and just be with my team, the people who have been together since seventh grade. Music began playing the locker room as everyone began layering their clothes and talking about what happened at school. Coaches began our team meeting with how the team had performed the meet before and mentioned all the individuals who placed and scored points. We wrapped up the meeting and put on hats and gloves to prepare to run our laps and do our agilities. After we split up into our individual events, I headed down to the throwing ring, joking around with the throwers and asking coach about the plans for the meet. It wasn’t until I got the form to get my senior banner that I realized every joke, memory, picture, and friendship would soon be just a memory.

It wasn’t until it was all over I realized what an impact these sports had on me. The people I met are unforgettable. Every moment with these sports gave me different experiences. I learned so many things about myself and the people who surrounded me. Sports gave me a chance to become a better leader and put myself in a better mindset. I cannot express how much appreciation I have for all the opportunities, relationships, and memories I have made. A good friend once told me that things are definitely going to be different, but it’s a good different.