As I walked onto the field I felt astro-turf springing up onto my legs and for a minute it felt as though I had never left. It felt as though I was stepping onto the field with my team again, like I would be lacing up my cleats and taping on my guards and preparing my self mentally for the next crucial 80 minutes of my life. For just a moment all my thoughts went away there was nothing going through my mind, just the smell of hot rubber and the warm air blowing on my face, I was finally here again, I was on the field. I quickly came back to reality as I heard my former teammates yell out, " ...is that Arnold?" and "Nicky what's up man !"
Hearing them yell my name in disbelief that I was standing on the field made me realize that I was no longer on the team. I was an alumni, as odd as that is. I didn't spend my entire summer alongside these guys, through the blood, sweat, and tears. I was a memory to some but to all the new freshman I was no one, and it was the oddest feeling I have ever had. Sure, I was certainly not the star player on the team throughout high school, but EVERYONE knew who number 36 was.
As I walked past my team --who at this point were warming up for the game-- I couldn't help but think of all the times I had complained about that same exact warm-up. I remember my lungs burning, and my muscles throbbing as I prepared for games, and in that minute I wanted nothing more than to be right there alongside my team doing it all again.
Lacing up my beaten-up cleats again brought back all the memories, good and bad, of all our games. I never thought that tying a shoe could hold so many crucial memories. Finally I stood up off the bench I had used many times before and I stepped over the line onto the field and up to the goal. I began taking shots with alumni who had graduated years before me and suddenly I became a part of a new team.
You see that is the thing with Madison soccer, we aren't just a team we are a brotherhood, and despite the time you have been graduated you can always find your home back on the field with your brothers.
When the game started and I faced off against the team I was so used to playing with I remembered all the alumni games I had played in while I was still in school and how much I looked up to the alums. It was in that moment that I no longer cared about the score, but I cared about what I was teaching the players below me.
1. Don't underestimate the need for practice. Seriously it was the most out-of body experience ever and everything felt foreign at first.
2. Running at practice really does help and you should appreciate the gasers because four minutes on the field and I already thought I was going to throw up a lung.
3. Be a leader, sure push yourself and others to be better but remember that a gracious leader is much more effective than a standoffish dictator.
All in all I am thankful to be moving on with my life and out of high school, but I wish I knew then ( as a high school athlete) what I know now. Sure, I knew I would miss soccer, but I did not realize just how badly I would want to go back to it.
