Dear former teammates,

We have all gone our separate ways over the years, and most of us never became those pro athletes we thought we could be. Most of us probably don't even play the sport we used to love so much anymore. But what we had as a team back then was really special and it made that part of my life so much more meaningful. It helped shape me into the person I am today and I thank each and every one of you for that.

New teams coming together can have multiple different outcomes. I have seen teams who are filled with so much drama that they can barely concentrate on the game, and I have seen teams that are so focused on winning that it takes all the fun out of the game. For us though, there seemed to be the perfect balance between focus on the game and creating a team chemistry that could turn into strong friendships off the court.

Going to high school as a freshman, I didn't know how the team would work out. First and foremost, I felt extremely nervous about making the team. But I was also nervous about getting along with everyone. However, after just the first few practices, I could tell that this was special. We had all come from different social circles and had different interests, but once we hit the court and got down to business, we could work really well as a team.

After being on the team for a while, we started to bond outside of practices and games too. We had countless sleepover, carbo crams and dinners after games. Bus rides were filled with inside jokes and plenty of laughter. Even after a loss we could still come back from it with a positive attitude. I'm not saying we were the best team out there as far as playing the game went. We definitely had some tough losses, but we also had some really exciting wins which we celebrated with pizza and other junk food.

I shouldn't forget to mention that our awesome coaches played a part in our success as a team. They worked well together and with us. They knew when to joke around and have a good time, but they also knew when to crack down and take practices seriously. They made the season that much more enjoyable and memorable.

So, here's to you, my favorite high school team. I hope you all know who you are, and know that I still think about that time in my life and how much fun I had with all of you. You set the bar for how teams are supposed to treat each other. We respected one another on and off the court, and even if we had some drama we knew how to end it and play the game we all loved. It is definitely a memory from high school I will always cherish.