I have always hoped to be able to lead a team like just as the great leaders of teams take the role of moving their team through hard times and good times. I have always idolized players that could take control of the game and the tempo and slow it to the pace that they can win from. I think the moment I was at my best was when I achieved this on our volleyball team in high school. I felt like I knew how to handle everything that was thrown at us that night.
We were playing in the third round of regionals on our way to state and there were only two games left stopping us from getting to state. I was a senior in high school and standing on the floor looking out at the sea of maroon and gold. I was ready to play and I was ready to lead our team on to the floor for the biggest game. I felt like it was my role to be there on the team and lead them to a victory because of my age and position on the floor.
I feel like this was when I was my best because it was the hardest game physically and mentally that I had ever played. I helped lead my team through the five games of the night, and we ended up losing by two points in the last game, but I had never left more on the floor than I did that night. I knew in the back of my mind that this was now or never and that everyone in the packed gym was waiting for us to finish the game. It was an intense atmosphere that helped give me the courage to take control of our team. I feel like I played my best the entire game, and that even though I can't change the outcome I have never been more proud to be standing with my teammates.
I feel like this is when I preformed my best during an athletic event because I knew what I had to do to get our team even to this event. I knew how much struggle we had gone through to even get there so there was nothing going to get in our way. I felt like stepping up to help the team made one of my dreams come true just because I never thought it would be possible to have people look up to me instead of me looking up to a leader of any other team.
I think this is an awesome post. I was in the same position for softball, although we didn't win many games, I was still one of the leaders that kept us going. This story makes me wish I could have been in the crowd watching your team play! Great job!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! Way to take charge and show the other team what you had! It's too bad you guys didn't win, but at least you put up a pretty good fight, right!?
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to hear that one of your proudest moments didn't end in victory. To me that says a lot about a person. If you can leave the field/floor/ect. with your head held high after a loss knowing that you left everything out there, you are walking away just as mush of a winner as the other team. There's more to life than winning, even though it's nice, and some people forget that. I glad to see your not one of those people :)
ReplyDeleteReally well written Maggie, I know what you mean about being in charge of the floor, looks like you were a great leader Maggie!
ReplyDeleteThe best feeling is knowing that you tried your hardest, even though it didn't work out you won't have to live with the regret of wishing you would have played harder. You should be proud that you were able to make it as far as you did and lead your team.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to you with my softball team this summer. This post made me about cry because I miss softball so much and we went through the same exact thing. We made it to the final round at state and were playing the number one ranked team and the senior girls and myself lead our team through that game but lost anyways. But, like you said I dont regret anything because I played my hardest and thats all we could do.
ReplyDeletei can definitely relate to the feeling of leaving it on the floor in your last game. we had a similar situation in our last basketball game my senior year.
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