First of all, I just want to say thank you for an incredible first year and first season. You all were my first friends on campus, and I'm not sure what I would've done the first couple of days without our GroupMe. Thank you all for pushing me in your own ways every workout, but also being there to make me laugh and make my days in each of your own ways. As follows, I just wanted to say thank you for what stood out to me throughout the season. So here it goes:
Paige- Thank you for being an awesome roommate and dealing with my sporadic self. I don't know what I would've done without you checking to make sure I was awake, and always being a couple of feet away for me to vent about my problems or just to talk to.
Julie- Thank you for taking just as long as me in the locker room and always listening to me try to make a funny comment about it. You're one of the nicest people I've ever met and I'm glad we were on the same team this year instead of competing club teams.
Maggie Green- Thank you for having the same name as me (although that probably wasn't your choice), I do have to say it's pretty awesome. You're absolutely hilarious and always reliable for a good laugh. Thanks for being the "mom" of the team and looking out for all us underclassmen.
Emily- Thank you for also being one of the nicest people I have ever met and always putting in the work. You worked your butt off all season and girl it definitely showed.
Sarah- Thank you for pushing me through all of the toughest of sets and listening to me constantly complain about what we were doing. I'm so glad we could train together all season and I think it paid off for the both of us.
Abby- Thank you for always having popsicles and always being willing to bust out a dance move or two. Your kindness and humor does not go unnoticed, and you've definitely helped me smile on days I didn't want to.
Grace- Thank you for always working hard and pushing me to try (very hard) to keep up with you (most of the time it didn't work out too well). Your laugh can really lighten the mood in almost any situations.
Julia- Thank you for being so ditsy, but in the best of ways. Your unintentional clumsiness makes for quick reaction time training (is that a thing?) and a good laugh. You're always there to have a good, relatable conversation with too, whether that is class or how bad breaststroke kills that little tendon behind the knee.
Hannah- Thank you for being a princess (also in the best of ways). You know what you want and don't settle for anything less, whether that's getting what kind of food you want or putting in work. Thank you for listening to any problems I may be having and always offering good advice and being a friend first.
Sammi- Thank you for not getting too mad at me when I invaded what little space you got in the locker room and for being open to talk about the most random of things, and laughing at my jokes occasionally.
Abigail- Thank you for helping save my butt in psych, some days were just blanked more than others and you always went to class when sometimes I just had to do my laundry instead.
Emma- Thank you for rolling with the punches. I can't say I've ever seen you go through a practice or lift without busting a dance move, and our little 10 second conversations at the wall kept me thinking through some full practices. You're the wildest person I know, and don't ever change.
Destini- Thank you for being wild and always willing to talk about Iowa. Sometimes those little conversations about people we both know keep me from getting too homesick, and your dancing definitely keeps me light hearted. Thank you for sticking true to who you are and not being afraid to dance like nobody is watching.
JoJo- Thank you for always being positive and encouraging, no matter how hard the set is. Your quiet work ethic speaks volumes and really has helped push me through some crappy practices.
Linzie- Thank you for being my person and always being down for the craziest of adventures. Also thank you for comforting me after races and being there for me any time of day, under any circumstance.
This is the Augustana Inaugural Team of 2016-2017. I would not trade these girls for the world, and I could not thank them more for being the best group of girls to share this all with. I will see you in the pool soon enough!
