“My success is the team's success. It's one of those things to a certain degree that it's effort and ability but also how I benefit from what my teammates do, and then it is up to me to perform.”
-Jason Babin

There is no secret in saying that once you’ve joined a sports team, you’re in it for the long run. As an athlete, your life revolves around constantly trying to find enough time for other things outside of practice, whether that may include time to do homework, sleep or even just have a moment to yourself. Being an athlete means way more than just getting out there in front of a crowd and performing, but spending every waking moment practicing to be even better than you already are. How much talent you have as an individual matters, but what matters even more is how you get along with the people who are right alongside you throughout the season.

Throughout my life I have been a part of many different teams, from middle school to high school, and even in college. Being apart of a team means so much more than the title that comes with it, and you learn that each and every time you walk into practice. My teammates have been some of my best friends that I’ve ever had the chance to encounter in my lifetime. Like I mentioned before, the most important aspect of a team is the relationship amongst everyone as a whole. As a group, you’re more likely to accomplish something together rather than alone. To that, I’d like to propose a thank you to all the teammates I’ve ever had. This one goes out to all the blood, all the sweat, and all the tears.

Thank you for allowing me to be myself.

After spending all our time together, I know I don’t have to pretend to be anybody or do anything to please anyone. I can be myself around the people who actually matter in my life, and that’s one of the most amazing feelings someone could ever have.

Thank you for believing in me.

Pushing me to be my best has taken me this far, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me in the future. Thank you for picking me up when I need it the most.

Thank you for not giving up.

Every time I look to my left and to my right, I see nothing but a hardworking group of athletes who want the exact same thing I do. Nothing comes easily, stress is almost always guaranteed, and there is always the chance of something going wrong. But the amount of trust we have in each other goes beyond saying that there isn’t anything we cannot accomplish together.

Most of all, thank you for being my second family.

After spending so much time together through thick and thin, there isn't anyone who understands me more than you guys. There are only so many people who I consider close enough to call family, but I will never second guess my decision to do so with my teammates.

There is no greater inspiration and motivation than walking into practice every night and having a group of people who are willing to work as hard as they can to achieve what we all came to do. It’s all thanks to personal sacrifices and dedication that creates success, and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.