To my teammates,

I have been on multiple teams in my life, some I stayed on solely because of my love for the game but even still, being on a team is where I feel complete. I love the feeling of support and togetherness that can only come from being on a team, something I missed before I met you at the beginning of this year.

Now, I can finally say that I absolutely love the game, and I absolutely love the players, too, the teammates that I am so, so happy that I can call my friends.

During the first few games when I was still getting the hang of it, I would watch you all play your hearts out, making tackles that shook the ground with force. I'd scream and cheer until my throat was raw and it felt like I wouldn't be able to speak for days. I would just feel so much pride that I was a part of this group of amazing women, of these incredibly strong girls that got up and kept getting up after getting knocked to the ground. You ended up with legs and arms covered in black, blue, and purple bruises that looked more like watercolor paintings than skin and say how much fun it was and how it was just a mere inconvenience that they were painful as we practiced for our next game.

I never once thought in my wildest dreams that I'd wake up in the morning and see huge bruises on my legs and laugh at them or want to show them off but here I am, just as crazy as all of you, and I'm so much better a person because of it. I cannot thank you all enough for helping me learn about my own potential and helping to shape me into who I am meant to be. Without meeting many of you, I wouldn't have taken as many chances or joined other things like I have done. I would not have realized what my life could be if I decided to do something for myself rather than trying to please everyone else around me.

Because of all of you, I've learned that I'm stronger than I thought I could ever be, and every day I look forward to seeing you and practicing with you so that we can remain the amazing team we are. I look forward to car rides with Katy Perry jam sessions, long bus rides to games, and I'm looking forward to this coming season and whatever it may bring because you are some of the greatest people I have ever met, and I know that no matter what I'll have the time of my life and remember my time on this team for the rest of my life.

Thank you so much for always encouraging me to do and be my very best, for being the best teammates I could ever ask for, and for always encouraging me to keep trying even when I'm having an off day. I love each and every single one of you, my Western Mass Trash!