How many of you can claim to be ‘State Champions’? It doesn’t matter what the sport, the event, the competition… How many of you are winners at the state level? Whenever I hear, “Lets win STATE” or “State Champs”, etc… I think of Texas High School Football. It was the ultimate dream for young men to go to state and win the whole thing. You kinda get a little flutter feeling in your gut when you think of the chance.
Well, the chance has been given to our oldest daughter, Rebecca. This past weekend her Rush Soccer Team won the district level tournament and were invited to compete with 3 other teams for the title, “STATE CHAMPIONS – U14 Division 3 Soccer”. Funny how things work out.
For years Rebecca has been on a division 1 soccer team with Challenge Soccer Club. She nor her team has ever had a sniff of the state championship. We battled, we cried, we bled, we won a few but most of all Rebecca learned what teamwork, hardwork, dedication to a goal and grit means. She is the ultimate teammate. I am not sure if Challenge ever recognized it but she is a quiet leader… The quiet assassin on the soccer field.
Truthfully, we were excited to end the season with this Division 3 team. Her goal in joining this team was to keep up her skills waiting for Magnolia High School soccer to come. She never really had plans to commit to the team. She knew she was the best athlete/soccer player on the team. We had many talks around the fact that she needed to be a leader. Be nice to these girls, show them how training, practice, and game play should be done. Never be arrogant (this is opposite of everything I am!) and show up every day ready to do the job on the soccer field. A funny thing happened along this journey; Rebecca began to make friends on the team, she began to enjoy imposing her will on the field, she gained in self confidence. This was something that Challenge never bothered to teach her. Rebecca was even having second thoughts going into the regional tournament. She thought that this past weekend would be her last game EVER with Rush and she would be able to walk away. She had no plans on going to the state tournament. She thought she should go to a field trip with the choir members at her Junior High.
After winning the regionals, Becca and I started talking about a chance to win a state championship. I simply asked her, “how many chances in your life do you think you will be given to be a state champion?” I told her that I had never had the opportunity. Regardless of the fact that it is division 3, regardless of the fact that your Challenge team was at a different level. You have worked hard, you have created friendships, your have battled on the field with a group of girls to create a unique opportunity. Everyone on her team knows that Becca is a D-1 player. They count on her, they need her, they want her to help them accomplish the title. Leadership is created and tested on even the quietest of leaders. I have never been more proud of my daughter, the Silent Assassin.
Lets all hope Becca and I return from San Marcus next weekend claiming the title of “State Champion”
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