#usath

After a week of grueling games, my girls did it!  They beat Greenland to earn a bronze medal in the NorCa tournament- a strong enough finish to advance to the PanAmerican Championship in Cuba at the end of May!  

There’s one catch...which I’ve alluded to before...they have five weeks to raise $25,000 to fund the trip.  

Here’s the link to how you can quickly and easily make a tax-deductible donation towards their cause: http://www.gofundme.com/teamhandball

Leaving my teammates was wayyyy more difficult that I had imagined.  Full disclosure: I was a basket case at the end of my last practice!  The team became my family for six months...and looking back on it...even though everyone came from extremely diverse backgrounds, I’ve never been among a group of girls that had so much in common with me before!  For once, my level of intensity (that’s typically described as off the charts) was considered normal!  They, too, were always willing and excited about attending any and every athletic event- and even had the energy to play- anything and everything, at any time! 

Besides enduring the highs and lows of intensive training and competition together, when you share the crazy drive to drop your life to follow a dream, it turns out to be a unifying trait that creates a rather strong bond.  

So...about that team meeting...(or two)...turns out, my thoughts about the state of the program were spot on.  Coach played rather coy on Thursday night as he vaguely discussed the funding deficit while remaining confident the team would travel to Puerto Rico for NORCA (qualifier tournament for the World Championships) next weekend.  

The team meeting on Friday night was a completely different story.  Coach entered the room, phone on ear and laptop open in hand...he turned the computer around for us all to see Chief skyping in to speak to us from California.  Immediately, I knew, something was up- and sure enough, long story short, Chief was very forthcoming with us regarding the financial difficulties he had been dealing with and that he had convinced the federation to allow us to compete in Puerto Rico if we were able to self fund or fundraise the remaining balance due for the trip...

At this point, Coach took over to say that he would completely understand and support anyone who would rather not participate under these circumstances, which opened a discussion among the team...the general consensus seemed as if most were in and willing to self fund...then, realizing the quick math- teammate Kauna asked the question, “if all 21 of us agree to pay to play, but you’re only allowed to take 16...” 

Coach confirmed, “yes, in that case, I’d have to cut...anything else?”

And, although totally spontaneous, I felt that was my cue...I raised my hand- “Not to take this already difficult meeting and make it all about me, and I did not expect to tell you all this way...but I was hoping I’d have an opportunity to tell you all at once...uh oh, I’m getting choked up!...I’ve decided that it’s time to take a medical leave from handball...and I’m crying...with my long-term health in mind, I just realized that, even if I were cleared to play again, I’m really not willing to risk sustaining another concussion and even longer recovery time...I honestly could barely get it out- and for a little comic relief...so, I’m a no!”

The team laughed, but were also filling up with tears, and the meeting adjourned on that note.  Heading straight into practice, the girls were so warm and understanding of my decision.  I then stayed behind to speak with coach- I approached him apologizing for the surprise- I had intended on scheduling an individual meeting with him to discuss my thoughts before announcing it to the whole group.  Coach was in complete agreement that the decision I was making was the wisest one and he assured me I had his full support.  He was extremely complimentary of my character and contributions the team and even mentioned that goal I scored in international competition- I remember too, coach! ;)