Thoughts of a D1 Athlete

 First and foremost, I want to thank my family and all the coaches that have contributed to my success. Without you guys faith in me, I don't know how far I would have come. You all have shaped me into a young woman that is very passionate and hardworking for the things that contributes to my success.  It's hard to put into words the depth of what basketball has meant to me over the years. It has been more than just a game; it has been a constant companion, a teacher, a source of joy and challenge.   Me and the game have became inseparable. It has taught me discipline, perseverance, and the value of teamwork. Basketball has shown me how to push past my limits and strive for excellence. I've experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Through the highs and lows of my life, it has always been a steady presence that I could always turn to. I've forged lifelong friendships and memories that I will cherish forever. But as much as I love the game, I know it'

I want to express my gratitude to the coaches for encouraging me to be the greatest version of myself both on and off the court and for believing in me. I met this staff at the beginning of my sophomore year, around the time I had surgery, and they could have easily put me on the back burner. Rather, they were extremely kind and helped me with my entire recovery. Even though I was going through a lot, they showed me that they still had faith in me and only wanted the best for me.  I was fortunate to have the opportunity to develop so many long-term relationships with them. A big thank you to Coach Arm for being my life coach in addition to my basketball coach. Playing under her has taught me so much, and I can't say how lucky I am to have someone on my side who shared my vision and believed in it as much as she did. She has been there for me through some truly difficult times. So, thank you for always being there to lend a helping hand when I needed it. In summary, I express my gra

 All of my teammates have set out on a new journey, whether they choose to stay or go. I realize that there are certain people I will never see again after school ends. To help me get used to not seeing them every day, I try keeping my distance from them in order to filter off the emotions. That's my go-to coping strategy in situations like these for a very long time. It's unjust since I should want to see them as frequently as possible, but it also makes life easier. Although I've told myself it will be fine, I know in my heart that it will hurt in the end. The most comforting thing for me is knowing that no matter where they go—whether it's across the globe or only a few hours away—I will always be happy for them. I make an effort to have a good time with the ladies every weekend and take as many pictures as I can to preserve the memories. And that's exactly what we do! This is most likely one of our best off-seasons to date. I will always be appreciative of the w

 Callie Ziebell is the most recent student-athlete to join our roster of athletes who have entered the transfer portal! She received recognition from the MVC lately for being the recipient of the Third Team Scholar-Athlete Award and the State Farm Good Neighbor Award. Majoring in education, Callie enjoys working with younger students. Callie is a junior playing at the center spot from Sparta, Wisconsin (as she would say in her Wisconsin accent). When we came in together as freshmen up until now, I grew to know Callie and find her the sweetest. Whether it's her talking about the kids at her school, the well-known cheese in Wisconsin, her plants, or even her new nails for the week, I've always been intrigued. I hope her new destination keeps that big smile on her face and allows her to love the game again that she's been playing for many years. Gook Luck, Callahan.