Mandy Bids Farewell

II am usually reading these Senior Salutes and it is weird to think that I am now writing my own. I have been playing soccer since I was eight years old and I can’t believe that this is it — all coming to an end. There are so many people and memories that I have made throughout my career playing soccer and I cherish every single one. To my parents: You guys have been there from the beginning and have always supported me. Mom, I cannot thank you enough for always driving me to and from countless practices and always cheering me on from the sidelines. I always get a chuckle from your cheering from across the field because you get into the game and don’t really know what you’re talking about all the time. Dad you are my mentor, motivator, coach and inspiration for the game. You are always there and ready to talk soccer after all of my games and give me advice on what I did well or what should have done. You have been a coach to me from the time I started playing. I love how dedicated you are to soccer. There are not too many daughters that still have a dad playing a competitive sport and not quitting till their knees fall off. Your dedication and commitment to the game keeps me motivated to keep playing even when I get frustrated. I love you both and thanks for always being there for me. To my sisters: Laura I love that you started playing soccer and I enjoy watching you play, and using your moves dad taught you. I also love to kick the ball around with you in the backyard. You will make an excellent soccer player. Jess I am really glad that you decided to come to Saint Mary’s and play soccer. I think that being able to play on the same team as you has helped us to grow even closer. I can honestly say that you are one of my best friends. To my coaches: Coach Halberg, you have been a great coach these past three years. I’m glad that you decided to come back and help coach. You have kept me motivated and have always supported me and told me good job or helped me with what I was doing wrong. Who can forget England, thanks for those lifelong memories. You have a love of the game and life that comes from the heart. Thank you for being such a great role model and coach. Coach Guinn, you are like a second dad to me. You are loving, yet stern. You have the most knowledge and dedication of the game than any other person I have met. You have truly turned this program around and have made playing soccer fun again here at Saint Mary’s. You truly care for each and every one of your players very deeply and it shows. Thank you for making my last couple years of soccer here enjoyable and pushing me to be the best player I can be. You really motivate me to be in the best shape I can be and to work my hardest everyday. Thank you both I will truly miss being coached by two of the best coached I have ever had. To the Trainers: Kevin, you always seem to know what is wrong with everyone, you are very knowledgeable in what you do and thanks for fixin’ up my nasty toe all year. Ambjor, thanks for driving all the way out to our Macalaster game and showing us your dedication to our team. To the Juniors: Kelli, Kim and JJ I love you all and are some of my good friends on the team. Kelli and Kim, I had a blast with both of you in England. Wandering the streets of London for long hours of the night was quite the memorable evening. JJ, you’re my hero and thanks for doing my dishes while having some great times in the Old. To the Sophmores: When all of you came in last year, you put the whole team in a different mentality. You helped turn the team around. You are all amazing players and friends and will do well in your last couple years. Maddy, I’m glad I got to know you and hang out with you, you are very sweet. I promise I will come and watch the OC with you soon. Amy and Kendra, I loved hanging out with you guys in the 119/120. Kendra and JJ, you are forever members of the bean dip club. I love all of you and will miss you next year. You guys will do well and only get better each year. To the Freshmen: You guys are an amazing class. You have a great spirit and sense of humor about you. Paulson, I’m glad that we have another punk rocker on the team. Nina and Louise, I don’t think I have seen you separated yet. I could go on about each and every one of you but I don’t have room for all of that. Instead I think that each and everyone of you have qualities that are valuable to the team. Good luck to you all in the future. To my fellow Seniors: I have loved every minute of our four years playing soccer. Not all of them have been easy, we all know. That is something we share and have grown from. We are the last standing of 8. We are the ones that stuck with it all four years. Court, you were one of my first friends here. We have had some great times in the Old, Gilmore and England. I know we don’t see each other much outside of soccer but I value your friendship. Suds, I remember first meeting you and hearing about your weekly boyfriends at team dinners. I’m glad to have gotten to know you over the past four years and I consider you one of my friends. I also want to thank the many alumni soccer girls for making my four years here amazing. I love and miss you all. D, Beth, Heidi, and who can forget Angi? I look forward to playing in the alumni games in the years to come. Soccer has been a huge part of my life. I have met some of my best friends through soccer. It’s hard to believe it’s all over. I’m glad to go out with the team that we have, we are something else and I think we all know that. I love how close our team is and I will truly miss that bond. It is what has kept me playing all these years. You girls are amazing and I love you all. Thank you.