I’ve been a student athlete for about as long as I can remember, and frankly I can’t imagine my life any other way. As the years progressed and I made the leap into the world of collegiate athletics I found myself wrapped up in a something I couldn’t be more thankful for. For the better part of my athletic experience I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by some of the best people out there, and I’m not exaggerating. Any athlete could go on about the friends they’ve made through sports, so here’s my thank you to all the people who’ve blessed me with their presence.

Thank you for being my best friends, my support system, and my competitors. Each one of you have taught me something about myself, and have left me missing you after the season’s over. Thank you for rolling your eyes with me after our coach says something utterly ridiculous, and goofing around a little too often. The endless laughs and inside jokes aren’t something you just forget. Thank you for backing me up when I do something wrong and never letting me dwell on a mistake. There’s something to be said for picking up a teammate. Thank you for inspiring me to be better each and every day and pushing me past my limits. Nothing motivates me more than you, because at the end of the day, championship or not, you’ve still got your team.

Looking back on some of the best teams I’ve been a part of, I can’t help but smile. Some of my most cherished memories aren’t about winning championships, they’re about the memories we made along the way. It sounds cliche, but it’s true. The teams you won’t forget are the ones you did more than just run around on a field with.

So, as I reminisce on the old, and look forward to the new, I feel this strange mix of nostalgia and excitement. The times I’ve had are some of the best of my life, but I know there’s more to come. Just thinking about the next four years makes me feel giddy inside.

Thank you to my old teammates, my new teammates, and the teammates I’ll encounter soon. Thank you for the hard times, the good times, and the great times. Nothing seems to compare.