A High School Sport Season ... It's What You Make It

Sports at Weston High School have been and continue to be a major part of my life. By the time I graduate, I will be lucky to say that after 12 unforgettable seasons in my three favorite sports I have accumulated nine varsity letters, three Booster Scholastic-Athlete awards, three captain titles and an appointment as a DCL All Star. But quite frankly that is all just bedroom wall decor. 

What will stick with me forever are not the awards, but the memories. If I'm being honest, not every season I've had has been one I've loved. There have been times when sitting in my last block class I'd wish the second hand would stop moving closer to practice time. But you see, that's why I used the word "unforgettable." Every season in any sport I know I won't forget because high school sports are an ephemeral gift. And by living these years always thinking about the positives, my memories will forever hold the brightest and happiest thoughts of whatever sport and whatever season. Those are the memories I cannot wait to recall when I'm old and wrinkly. 

High school teams are what you make it. I learned quickly with my older siblings how soon nostalgia will catch up with me once I leave my Weston uniforms for good. My siblings long to be where I am, so I do my best to charter each and every moment before I'm in their position, just sitting in the stands. 

Now I understand for fellow athletes out there reading this that this sense of 'savoring the moment' becomes challenging when the current season or team stymies any real joy. But being in that position before, I can say that when it was over, even that not-so-great season always had something good that will bring me back in smiles with the memories in the future. Take my brother's 0-11 senior year football record. He had basically no other teammates his age, but he led that team to the very end. Throwing the pigskin through the kitchen when he comes home to visit just shows his memories lay in good feelings, even if his career ended as harshly as it did. 

Setting off into my basketball season this year, I thought of the position that same brother held his senior year. I am the only senior on the girls' basketball team which is young and small and new with our first-year head coach, Mark Madden. I knew from the get-go that we were not going to be strong, and I can almost bet that same conception is the reason some girls left the program this year. Such thoughts, as well as the fact that basketball is not my forte (B-team eighth grade!), almost kept me from this, and I mean it, unbelievable season (record aside). Deciding to stay was one of the best decisions I have made in high school. 

The last few years in basketball, when I have not had nearly the role on varsity that I do now, I have seen enormous success come to the program. I felt honored to sit on the bench of a back-to-back DCL champion team last year, even though I didn't play. Like I said, every season has something memorable you never want to miss out on. 

So what about this year? With three games left in the regular season, we have not qualified for tournament and unfortunately have only three victories, all of which happened in away games. That, really, just kinda stinks. 

But I love this season, I love this team, coach, atmosphere. I love going to practice every day after a tough loss ready to go after it and work for a win. I love the camaraderie and the teamwork and the ability as a whole to be upset about a loss but not let it affect how we play the next time. But most of all, I love that we are all, more or less, in it. We're 'in it' for the long haul. We know it will take years for us to build back up, but that doesn't cut back at our present efforts. Even for me, who will never be part of those future successes, I am 'in it' because I know one day I'll look back and see a program, a family, that came long, long ways. That is what makes basketball this year worth it. That is what makes any sport in high school worth it, when you take what you get and juice every bit of joy out. 

I don't have younger siblings. Therefore, I guess, the youngsters on my team, whom I have driven around (to practice, qudoba, team bonding) in my 8-seat suburban more times than I can count, are like my little sisters. I can't wait to see them grow up and take on new challenges in the world (okay that's a bit ambitious ... we'll just say 'in the high school' for now) and say, "I knew you as a freshman." My only hope, however, is that they never take a season, a class, a teacher for granted in their time here in Weston. It took me too long to get into this (losing) season to make it a winning season in my heart and memories forever.

Teammates, please, be receptive to every challenge you get as you will regret not taking away the goodness you never thought was there when you could. I never knew this season would turn out so positively, and I am really glad I will always remember it as so. 

Take those chances, for you never know what sweet memories or friendships you are bound to make. 

Tonight will be the last time I play in my own gym. I never thought of basketball as my favorite sport, but with a season such as this, leaving it for good will be harder than I ever expected.