I attend a small liberal arts institution in central Virginia, Lynchburg College. I chose to spend four years here for many reasons but there are a few very specific ones that are still important to me today. I am junior at LC, well at least I am for the next week and a half and then I officially am a senior. But anyway, one of the reasons I chose to come to Lynchburg was that I would have the opportunity to play tennis for the Hornets.
I remember having a racket in my hand when I was four years old, just swinging it around and around. There might have been a ball I was aiming for but at the time that was not my objective. I remember playing tennis with my family and friends on Sunday afternoons after church. There were countless Saturdays where we spent the whole day watching my brother and then my sister when she was in high school compete in matches. Tennis has always been a part of my life and I am happy to say that it will continue to be as well.
I also competed for all four years in high school and was excited to come in as a freshman and play on the Lynchburg College Tennis team. For the last three seasons, I have been a part of numerous victories and losses. More than anything, I have cherished the people who were role models to me my first two years on the team, who I try to emulate as the only upperclassman on the women's side this season. However, while the past is the past, this piece is about right now.
On this past Sunday afternoon, for the first time in my years on the team, we officially earned a spot in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament. We earned this spot by battling hard all season and more than anything, making a statement. A statement, that this is the beginning of our legacy. This is the beginning of a whole new era in LC Tennis. The articles online say that this is our best record since 1993 and that this is the first time we have had double digit wins in twenty years.
This is a letter to my team who has fought through doubt, sickness, injury, disappointment and close matches to get where we are today. I want to thank each and every member from the bottom of my heart for believing in our coach's goal that he set for us at the beginning of the season and surpassing it. I want to say thank you to these girls who have made my third year on the team so special, powerful and one I will never forget.
And we are not done yet, we have two more regular seasons matches and then we are off to the tournament. As our lifting coach told us yesterday, "You have the chance to really do something here, so buckle down and get it done." Truly some inspiring words to live by. I know my team, this team, our team is ready to fight. This is our chance, but it is definitely not the last one. This is just the beginning.
