Homecoming With A Twist

Being now an alumni of Thornapple Kellogg, it always has became a tradition to relive memories around the old stopping grounds of Middleville. Homecoming is a big deal filled with a main street parade, tailgating with family and friends, and Friday night football. This year of football got a new coach with new expectations. A close mentor and teacher Jeff Dock took over the football team with hopes of changing the team dynamics. I admire him for always taking a challenge and going head strong into them. Since in Michigan, the first day of fall was a high of 90 degrees, shorts and a tank top became an essential for the heat. I wore a simple orange tank top/crop top that I bought from a local consignment store in Grand Rapids and white boardwalk pull-on shorts from J.Crew Factory. These shorts are very comfortable and versatile to wear. My tank top was long enough to not show off my stomach but covered the hemp of the shorts. I accessorized with a J.Crew Factory layered circle necklace, my Relic watch, a pearl bracelet and a couple Pandora rings.

Unfortunately Friday morning, in a simple soccer drill, I rolled over the ball, heard a "pop" and down I went clutching my ankle. As being a soccer player, my ankles have always been an issue but this time was different. My ankle swelled up like a baseball ball instantly as Matt (our trainer at Aquinas) quickly made me ice my ankle. I have honestly never seen my ankle get a large as it did. Matt quickly went back to the athletic training room (that was across campus) to grab a walking boot and crutches to stabilize the ankle and be my transportation for the next couple of days. Three days later, there is still swelling in my ankle but hopefully can get X-rays by today or within the week.


Homecoming at Aquinas was over this weekend as well. Since we don't have a football team, many fellow alumni, current students and teachers come out to the soccer games on Saturday while enjoying the beer tent and other activities around campus. As I stated before the temperatures were near high 90's which meant on the turf was ten degrees hotter. Our game was originally suppose to be at noon but the heat index was low 100's so we had to make a quick decision to delay both the men's and women's games to later in the evening. Our game got delayed till five in the afternoon, when we arrived the field was still in the high 90's and we delayed it for thirty more minutes. We finally had our game and lost 1-0 to the third ranked team in the NAIA. It was difficult to sit on the sidelines but it was awesome to see other teammates step up to the plate when time was needed.

This homecoming was definitely one for the books as I have never hated crutches this much in my life. The ankle is still on the mend as there is still some swelling but I still may need X-rays. I hope everyone's upcoming week into October goes great!

It Was A Grand Slam!

Spending your Saturday around a baseball diamond doesn't get any better when your seats are near the third baseline and three rows up. Luckily no fly balls came around our section but being so close to the diamond was amazing. With the heat being in the high eighties, Joey and I did get a little sun burnt but it was a blast to get out of town and enjoy ourselves. I decided to wear a navy blue striped dress that was very comfortable to move around in, accompanied with a classic navy "D" baseball cap with killer baseball themed Keds. Tons of little kids idolize these MLB baseball players for inspiration within their sports.

Yes, the Tigers did have a double header and won the first one. The experience was worth it. Even after we giggled about our tan lines! It was a hit out of the park!

Daily Life of A Student Athete

People ask me "How do I have to manage being a student athlete?" During the fall, my schedule is completely crazy and full of soccer and school. Times get stressful when it seems like all due dates come together with barely any time left to finish them while having soccer games once a week then one on the weekend. In the fall, soccer become my full time job along with being a student.

I start the morning off with practice from 9-11am, then classes start at 1-4pm, along with finding time to eat and study turns to a long day. When the game during the week, especially away games can become stressful as the possibility of missing class becomes an issue. At Aquinas, our coaches always believe that school comes first as that was the reason we came to this school to further our education.

During season, I'm constantly staying in contact with my professors of my schedule for the week. Emailing back and forth of assignments that I may possibly miss if our bus time is during class. Professors are typically understanding of college athletes and their schedules but also hold us to a higher standard to complete papers, assignments, or to know the material that would be missed during lecture. Professors will respect you more when you continue to make the effort to communicate on your conflicts and questions.

I live by organizing my life into my Lilly Pulitzer agenda where I write down all the assignments, paper due dates, test dates, along with my soccer and work schedule. My agenda becomes my best friend especially at night when figuring out the next day. I don't know how some people can just remember what assignments are due when they don't write anything down.

As a commuter (I will be living at home for the year), I have tried to organize my schedule to only have classes on certain days to give the rest of the weekdays to catch up on homework. Also it will give my body take a break from the craziness.

If my body is beaten up or strained from game day or practice then I will often go visit our athletic trainer's room to do slight physical therapy, to get rolled out before and after practice, or to get taped on whatever muscle needs it (I have terrible ankles and had knee surgery December of 2015). Our athletic trainer for soccer knows many of the soccer girls really well as we basically live in the trainer's room.

Being a college athlete is a blessing as I met amazing women who have the same amount of passion to commit on playing college soccer. Playing a college sport has taught me life lessons of patience, commitment, and toughness (mentally and physically). I seriously don't know how we (student athletes) survive on most days. It's a miracle.