Dear Preseason,

My laces are tied up and sweat is starting to drip. Now after a hot day of moving into housing on campus I have realized preseason has begun. It may be a drag, but this is why you're the best season.

You've allowed me to be reunited with some of the best people and some of them are my closest friends. Even my coach is one of the people I am excited to be reunited with. I even swung by my trainers to show I was injury-free.

I was able to move in early and settle into my room before my roommate, (but since my roommate is my teammate there was some fighting over beds).

I may hate the fitness testing and all the work I have to do, but I know it will pay off in the end. Working hard will show results, and if all I want to do is win during the season then hard work in the preseason is worth it.

Preseason, you've allowed me to scout out the newbies. This helped me figure out how they play and the type of person they genuinely are. I am making new friends and taking some freshman under my wing.

I may hate the never-ending practices or the doubles we have to endure on hot days, but I've learned to understand why we have to do it.

Preseason, you've taught me to be a better person. You've given me strength I never knew I had, and I would push myself further than before.

Thank you, preseason. You've probably never heard that from me before, but I genuinely mean it. Without you, I never would be the player I am today.

So preseason, thank you for the never-ending practices. Thank you for the hot days and tired legs. Thank you for every bruise, even if I don't know how they came about. But most of all, thank you for letting me make the friendships I have and building the team I love.

Sincerely,
A Thankful Athlete