Oct. 9, 2009
It is hard to believe my last moments in a Huskie uniform are gradually coming to an end. It seems like just yesterday I was playing in my first soccer game as a 4 year old, and within the next couple of months my soccer career will be ending. It's been a long journey, but without certain people in my past, especially the last four years, nothing would have been possible.
First and Foremost, I want to thank my two biggest fans. Thank you Mom and Dad for driving me to practices and games as a young kid, giving me advice in times of need, and most of all...believing in me. Without you I wouldn't be half the man I am today, and I most definitely wouldn't have survived half the challenges put before me as a Division I student athlete. With the qualities and skills I have learned through you guys, I have succeeded and will graduate within the next year. Mom, through your organizational skills, creativity, and caring personality, I learned to manage my time efficiently, be creative within my classes, and create many lifelong friendships. Dad, through your hard work ethic, patience, and never-give-up personality, I learned to give 100% no matter what, be patient in times of struggle, and never to quit anything I start. I owe everything to you guys, and I thank God each and every day for giving me parents that love and care about me so much.
Next, I want to thank my Huskie family. I consider each and every one of my teammates my brothers, and I honestly don't know what I am going to do without the team. I think our team is one of a kind. Although I have never experienced any other college soccer team, our team is the definition of unique. We are a group of people from all over the world with much different personalities, and we're not afraid to be ourselves around each other. It's hard to believe that next spring I won't be waking up at 5 A.M. for work outs and seeing my team, and it's hard to believe next year I won't be seeing my room mates who I have become closest too throughout the years.
I first want to thank my past team mates who I have already played with and who have graduated. They have influenced my character, shaped me into a hard-working NIU athlete with good values, and shown compassion and love towards me as an underclassmen. Next, I want to thank the underclassmen as of now. They have been great friends and people who have helped and inspired me in a number a different ways on the field, academically, and socially. It's hard to cope right now with the idea that after these last couple of months were not going to be as close as we have. Last, I want to thank my senior class: A.Z., Ben "Chocolate Thunder" Thomas, KK, D-Lo, Karsten, and LDLC. Each of you have defining characteristics of your personality, and I will remember and cherish each of those characteristics 50 years down the road. These past four years have been a treat, and I am glad we all stuck together through the ups and the downs. A special thanks to A.Z. and B.T. for being so close to me over the past few years. You have helped me grow as person, soccer player, student, and Christian. I thank God each and every day for placing this team and my room mates in my life.
Last, I want to thank my coaches, trainers, SASS advisors, and Athletic Director for all they do. A huge thanks to my past NIU coaches which include Coach Brown, Brooks, Stannard, and Simmons. I thank them for recruiting me knowing that NIU would be the best fit for me. Some schools only recruit good soccer players, but they recruit not only good soccer players but good people knowing that we will all mesh well together. It was good to be brought into a team that cares more about the team than themselves. Next, I want to thank Coach Luzzi. When I got recruited here, I didn't even know you, but now, I realize but if it weren't for you the past four years may have been completely different. Some coaches only pretend to care about their players for the good of themselves, but you actually do care. You are a coach that wants to not only coach us to be better soccer players, but inspire us to be better human beings. I will never forget the site of you glaring at me like I am an idiot when you see me rapping or saying something dumb. Also, I will never forget your cooking skills, your love for pretty much any kind of food, and most importantly, the things you have taught me on and off the field. I also want to thank the most recent coaches: Coach Donnelly, Biller, and Morawiecki. I have only experienced you guys for half of a semester and can already tell you are great coaches, and will fit in great here. I thank God each and every day for teaching me to be a better soccer player, student, and person through these men.
My final farewell I want to end with some advice to my fellow teammates and future Huskie soccer players: Don't take anything for granted. Your time here is short but sweet, and will fly by quicker than you imagine. Cherish your teammates, coaches, and years you have here because it will be gone in the blink of an eye.
