This isn't a very conventional blog in the grand scheme of what Zach and I normally write about. None of this has anything to do with professional sports and is solely a reflection on the four-year soccer career at Anderson University (IN) that I finished up this afternoon. With my athletic career now over, I wanted to take time to type out my reactions, emotions, and overall experiences of what being a Division III athlete was all about for me.
I wasn't recruited out of high school for any of the sports I played. Soccer, basketball, and baseball were all sports that I played my entire life and, when it came time to choose which one I wanted to pursue in college, soccer was the sport I went with. I visited Anderson my junior year of high school and talked to the soccer coach, Scott Fridley, about joining the team. He told me they only had one goalkeeper on the team and that he would be happy to have me. I knew playing time would be hard to come by initially, but I was excited to have the opportunity to play a sport in college.
I didn't play a whole lot my first two years. I started a couple games, but was nowhere near the full-time starter. Nobody has ever been happy about a lack of playing time, but I take pride in the fact that I worked hard to try and get into the starting lineup. I took my spring and summer workouts very seriously and approached practice with a desire to get better every time I stepped on the field. That became my identity over the course of my time here at Anderson. A couple guys poked fun at me for how intense I was about working hard and winning and it became something worth joking about among some of my teammates. It didn't bother me, I knew that playing in college wasn't something that was a right, it was a blessing, and I wanted to take full advantage of that.
It wasn't until I was a junior that I moved into the starting spot. Our season ended with a loss in the semi-finals of the conference tournament, but we enjoyed success over the course of that season. We beat two top 25 teams in Ohio Northern and Thomas More, and even broke the school record for most shutouts in a season (9). I was blessed with a phenomenal defense that took pride in their roles and worked hard every single game to make my job as easy as possible. We were a tough team, and that season allowed me to take on a little bit of a leadership position before being named head captain by my teammates this past winter.
This season presented many different challenges than last year. It was a different group of guys, much younger than the year before. I believe we had 13 freshman, 10 sophomores, 1 junior, and 5 seniors which made the term "growing pains" more relevant than ever. To say we struggled would be an understatement, but I would not say that this season went by without experiencing growth both individually and as a team. I feel like this team taught me how to lead in different ways and I learned how to be patient through adversity. We ended the season with a record of 3-11-4 which, obviously, was not a goal I had in mind. But if sports have taught me anything it's that athletics teach you and leaves you with more than just the thought of wins and losses. We had good team chemistry, we worked hard, and we never stepped on the field thinking we were going to lose. That is what I will always cherish; the days of putting in the work at 6 A.M. before school started and the numerous off-the-field jokes that made this year one of the funniest I have ever had.
Over the years, I've heard a lot of people downplay the skill level of Division III athletics, as if it's not "good enough" for some athletes. I played with and against some of the most talented individuals I have seen these past four years and I can honestly say that there is nothing soft or embarrassing about being a D3 athlete. I played with All-Americans, I played against All-Americans, and I played against numerous ranked opponents. In fact, my team's non-conference schedule this year was the toughest in the country for Division III, ranking number one overall in RPI. On top of that, every night I played against guys that were playing the game solely because they loved it. There were no scholarships being handed out, though the time commitment is very similar to the higher divisions. When considering the schedule of a Division III athlete, the only thing I would venture to say is different than the higher divisions of college athletics is the distance traveled. Aside from that, I had countless three hour practices (sometimes four) to juggle with two on-campus jobs, class, chapel, and study tables. It was hectic, without a doubt, but it was manageable and I loved every minute of it.
It's hard to imagine my life without a practice to go to, a game to prepare for, or film to watch and break down. It's not a feeling that I think I'll adjust to over night, but as I now reflect on my athletic career, I realize how many people I have to thank for helping me make it this far.
To Coach Mark Howard: You helped turn an immature freshman high school kid into the starting keeper on the sophomore team. I'll always remember the days of you standing eight feet away from me, volleying ball after ball at my face and making me do push-ups for the ones I didn't catch. You had high expectations, expectations that at the time I didn't think were realistic. And yet here I am, a four-year letter man that enjoyed an overall successful career of college soccer. Thank you for pushing me long after I was done playing for you.
To Coach Andy Stembridge: I think you know how anxious I was to hear that you were joining the BB coaching staff my sophomore year of high school. I only wanted to do workouts with Coach Howard and wasn't a fan of having a different coach. However, it didn't take long to realize just how helpful and influential you would be in my life. I have always had a good work ethic, but after going through your workouts and seeing how genuinely invested you were in me I can honestly say that you are quite possibly the biggest reason why I was able to continue to play in college. We worked out together for seven straight summers, and not once did I ever question how dedicated you were to helping me improve. To say I am thankful for all you have done would not do it justice but I am extremely blessed to have played for someone who cared about how I was doing even after I graduated from high school.
To Coach Rohan Robinson: I always had a great relationship with you. You trusted me to lead and had faith in me from the start. It means the world to me that you allow me to come back and help with camp in the summer and that you have stayed in touch all these years. I know we enjoyed some success when I played for you but I will always remember your encouragement before I remember any win or loss we experienced.
To Coach Alex Renchen: This season brought back a lot of memories of my senior basketball season. We were young and immature as a team then, too, yet you never let us throw in the towel. That season helped prepare me for this season I just experienced. My work ethic and expectations for my teammates improved because of the culture you instilled in your program. Whether it was diving on a loose ball, setting a screen, or cheering from the bench when I wasn't in the game, I learned how to do the little things correctly because of the way you coached me. It is because of you that I took pride in whatever role I had on a team, whether I was recognized for it or not. Thank you for demanding the most out of me and for pushing me to lead under any circumstance.
To Coach Adam Vogel: Not too many kids have the advantage of being able to use state-of-the-art facilities every summer. You run a tight, professional schedule and program at BB so I know it's hard to find time to allow the alumni to lift everyday. Thank you for making time for me to get in and do my workouts every morning before work. There is no way I could have returned to school in shape without your help and I appreciate your insight as I now focus on applying for grad schools. You contributed to my overall performance and, again, thank you for allowing me to use the weight room each and every summer.
To Jason Lisko: I don't know too many people that can call their high school athletic trainer a close friend. I can still remember the first time I met you and being an intimidated freshman. I spent plenty of time in your office over the past eight years, whether I was injured or just hanging out, and no matter what I've injured or where I've been enrolled in school, you've still taken care of me and done everything possible to make sure I'm in good health. Thank you for all the talks about sports, the unending treatment, and all the sarcastic, yet hilarious remarks that I still laugh at to this day. You do your job extremely well and I would have fallen apart without you, literally.
To Adam Crosby: I don't think I stepped foot in the training room for treatment more than maybe three or four times my first three years here. After a high school career loaded with injuries I somehow remained healthy until this year. It wasn't ideal to play with a badly strained quad over half the season but you continually checked up on me and did whatever was necessary to make sure I was ready to go for practice and games. I know you love what you do, but it can't be easy to juggle so many sports, so many athletes, and still be as organized and on top of things as you are. Thank you for taking care of me and keeping me as healthy as possible. I would have been sidelined for quite some time this year if it had not been for you.
To Coaches Scott Fridley, Mabuchi Kalua, and Bobby Holden: I wish you guys knew how much it meant to me that I had the opportunity to play for you these past four years. You gave me the chance to live out a childhood dream of playing in college while pushing me in practice every single day. It's not easy to be three hours from home, but you guys looked out for me and cared for me each and every day which makes me cherish those relationships beyond the soccer field. I know that I improved as a player, as a leader, and as a teammate during my four years and I cannot thank you enough for investing in me. I know this season wasn't how we pictured it, but you guys never gave up on me or my teammates, and that means the world to me.
And lastly, to my family: I'm not a natural athlete. I don't run fast, I don't jump high, and my feet aren't quick. You guys all made me the athlete I am by encouraging me to put in the time to improve. The support was unending and the love was unwavering. I never once questioned whether or not you guys were cheering for me and all of the pre/post game texts and phone calls were always appreciated. I know that you guys couldn't be at all of my games, but the fact that you would follow along on the internet and check in with me afterwards means more to me than you will ever know. I am extremely blessed by all of you and it was always an extra motivator when you guys were at my games. Thank you for walking with me through these past 17 years of athletics and for all of the money you spent on traveling and sports equipment. There is absolutely no way that I would have had the career that I had without you all and I am forever grateful for the positive Christian influence you guys have had on me.
I was blessed with great coaches and I am blessed with a terrific family. The list of people who have helped me and mean a lot to me goes far beyond those I mentioned above and I thank God for placing those people in my life. My athletic career is over, and though I didn't win as many games as I would have liked, I know that I was successful because of the lessons I learned and the relationships I built. That is what I will always remember and that is what I will take away from these past 17 years of playing competitively.
