We are Valkyries
Hard work, commitment, team work, early mornings, late nights, running, time management, prioritizing, weight lifting, competition, wins, losses, success, failure,leave it on the field, mental, physical, offense, defense, catch, throw, shoot, sacrifice, speed, being healthy, needing sleep, sweaty high fives, double-teams, interceptions, dodges, checks, fouls, 8 meter shots, composure, work ethic, not quitting, not giving up, mental toughness, no regrets, life. Those are just a few words that come to mind when I think of the game I’ve been playing for the past eight years. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to play lacrosse in college but I do. I play division II lacrosse for the Converse College Valkyries. And yes, there are times I ask myself “Why am I playing a college sport?” but the scarier more worrisome question is “What am I going to do when I’m done playing lacrosse?”.
I guess you could say this blog is an ode to my team. To thank them for all their hard work and dedication. So team: thank you all for sticking it out through fall ball and Jan term because we’re almost to game time! February 24th to be exact. The truth is, even if you don’t think this at the time, your team becomes your family and you’re stuck with them for life. Sports in general are a good way to make those relationships with people that really matter. At the end of my college experience I’ll leave to embark on a future of uncertainty. One thing I can be certain of, however, is that I’m leaving college with a group of friends that have been with me through thick and thin. This sounds weird but going through all the sucky parts of being a college athlete brings us closer. Unless you’ve been on a team, you couldn’t possibly know the feeling of just finishing an impossibly hard conditioning practice and being able to congratulate and praise everyone like we’ve just survived a catastrophic event. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to smile and have a good time like that while been incredibly exhausted at the same time.
It’s not just the tough parts that make us so bonded though. We have fun in other ways too. . .
This is a picture of my group after a scavenger hunt
At our Christmas party
So the words I wrote above, they all have something in common, other than they reminded me of lacrosse. Those words are my way of telling you how college lacrosse can make you a better person. In the long run the experience you gain from being a part of a team like this reaches beyond just a game or just a sport. Oh the things you learn… whether it’s the hard way, the right way, the wrong way, or whatever, you will grow so much as a person. It’s hard to believe I only have one more season after this.
Other than thanking my team, I’m going to take this blogging opportunity to invite any Converse College undergrads to come out on Wednesday January 18th at 6:30 pm for open try-outs. Just make sure you’ve had a physical within the last year and have evidence of that to give to our athletic trainer, prior to trying out. If you have any interest in joining us at all you should come down and see what it’s all about for yourself.
Also, this is our amazing Coach Buikus!