You may remember The Hat. Last winter, I talked a whole lot of people into modeling it for me.
At first, they laughed…
Until they put it on and discovered that ohhh laaaa laaaa…the hat was warm…
Well, this soccer season, I pulled out the hat again.
The hat traveled with me everywhere. I dared not put it away in fear that I would leave it behind and, thus, freeze my ears off.
The season began in October.
Chicky’s team began on a rough note, losing its first game to the team that had defeated it during last year’s Regional Semi-Finals.
The team had lost several seniors from the year before, so it was expected that adjustments were in the works.
The team went on to win all of its games during the next several weeks and prepped for a December tournament.
The results were as poor as the weather, with the team losing both of its games. Nobody could believe it. This was the team that had won the entire competition the year before.
We went home…spirits low.
However, the girls had other plans. They picked themselves up and worked hard, winning all of their remaining regular-season games.
Woo Hoo! The team went to Districts, where it had to beat a team it had previously played (and beaten) two times. This was a rough team, so we knew it would not be easy.
It was also Chicky’s birthday.
The weather was dismal (why didn’t Chicky play an indoor sport?). The girls worked hard and WON! They sang Happy Birthday to Chicky and jokingly told her they had gotten her the trophy for a gift. She was allowed to take it home for the weekend.
Such a sweet victory.
The work was only beginning. Regionals loomed on the horizon.
The first game was against a fairly physical team. I dreaded it, but I shouldn’t have. The girls won.
Next up was Regional Semi-Finals…against the team it had beaten for Districts. How could this happen…for the second year in a row? The media didn’t hesitate to remind viewers that it was a repeat scenario from last year. We hoped that the outcome would be different.
I was nearly physically sick the night before and day of the game. The team would play a very physical game, and I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.
As I stood in the stands for the Star Spangled Banner, I shed a few tears. This could, quite possibly, be Chicky’s last high school game. It was a bittersweet moment.
The girls stepped up, though, and beat its opponent soundly, sweet redemption from the year before.
We celebrated like nobody’s business.
On to Regional Finals, where the team we were playing was said to be tres excellent. A couple of Chicky’s travel teammates were on the other team, so we knew the game would be tough. We were fortunate, though, to be playing at home.
When the other team arrived, I saw one of the moms, who told me that the other teammate would not be there that night.
Whew! I breathed a small sigh of relief, but I still held my breath.
Strangely, I was calm. I can only attribute it to God.
The stands were full; our school’s student body attended in full force.
It felt like a regular football game. Kids were dressed in school spirited attire. Students had made homemade signs and decorated t-shirts.
When we scored our first goal, the cheer was loud. The second goal, a header off a corner kick, led to even louder cheers.
And then we scored our third goal.
My mouth dropped open, and I covered it with my hand…shocked.
With every goal, the crowd cheered louder.
Five goals later, the other team still had not answered back.
I turned off my camera to conserve my battery.
That’s when I heard people hollering Chicky’s name. Coach had moved her from her defensive position to forward.
How had I missed this?
And she had the ball, passed from a teammate, and she was dribbling down the field.
The goalie came out, and Chicky went around her, shooting and scoring!!!!
The crowd went wild. I stood in shock and joy.
My baby had scored, and I had missed getting it on camera (a teammate’s father got it on video though).
A few minutes later, the game ended.
We had won…6-0.
Nobody expected this…completely anyhow.
We were now going to Final Four…almost unheard of in our part of the state, and a record for our high school.
That was on a Friday night.
The soccer booster club scrambled and called an emergency meeting the next morning.
We determined that we would need $4,000 to cover the cost of a chartered bus, lodging, and meals for the trip.
Oy!
It seemed insurmountable. I was confident, though, that we could reach our goal. I had just witnessed 23 ninth graders raise almost $300 in spare change in five days. They were my inspiration, and God had used them to show me that He will provide.
The others looked doubtful, but my enthusiasm caught on.
We quickly made plans, each person taking on one or two tasks.
What happened over the course of the next four days is, quite simply, a miracle.
We blitzed the media and canvassed businesses, asking for donations. We had three fundraisers, two at restaurants and one at the school (wear your favorite shirt for $1). I arranged for a couple of players to be on one of the local morning news shows and drove them there at the wee hour of 6am. God had provided a cancellation that enabled us to have this airtime. The producer said it was “weird.” I told him “it was God.”
By Monday, we had determined that the first estimate was too low. We needed about $4,700. Almost $1,000 more than originally stated.
Still, I was confident.
By Wednesday, we had enough money to cover the trip. I was not altogether surprised because I had known all along that God would provide.
The outpouring from the community, despite the economic conditions, had enabled us to pay the bills. The girls were going to Tampa debt-free.
We had a huge send-off party with the school’s drum line (in which Rooster is a part) escorting the team around the school playing a beat along the way. Parents followed, slapping high fives to the students.
And then they were off…parents following behind in their own vehicles.
The weather was expected to be bad. I prayed, but God chose to allow the rain to arrive. All high school Final Four games (1A-6A) were being played at the University of Tampa…
The girls played hard against a formidable opponent.
The rain came down…hard and fast…
The score remained tied at 0-0 through regulation time.
Ugh.
Overtime.
It only took a couple of minutes before the other team scored.
Game over.
I did not expect it, and I think the girls were surprised as well.
Chicky was very upset. She wanted this…had come so close two years in a row.
Fortunately, Guy Friend had skipped his college classes that day to attend the game, and his presence cheered her up.
Everyone went back to the hotel. We would be staying the night and leaving early the next morning.
I sat in the car a few minutes, tears flowing. I felt a mixture of gratitude, sadness, and relief, along with a touch of disbelief that Chicky had just played her last high school game.
As I sit here reflecting on the last couple of weeks, I cannot help but be amazed at the way my community came together. One rival school had a message of good luck on its marquee… UNHEARD of for cross-town schools. We received a substantial donation from another rival school’s graduating class. Businesses donated chunks of money, and restaurants donated gift cards (thanks, Beef O’ Brady’s) and proceeds from “share nights.”
Some of the students at school threw five-dollar bills in the girls’ buckets as they collected for t-shirt day. These kids were still in dress code, wearing school approved t-shirts and polos. They wanted to contribute to the cause.
Although it’s sad that the team did not make it to the final game, I sit here full of joy and thankfulness. What an honor to have witnessed 21 girls come together. What a privilege to work with a fantastic group of parents…a group that stepped up when the need arose. Nobody complained (except about the horrible bus driver). Everyone pitched in, helping sort the laundry and tote the players around when the bus driver refused.
I love this sport. I love these kids. I love these parents. I am thankful for the support of students..many of whom had parents drive them down to Tampa or rode the church bus (thank you N and T for arranging this) to cheer on the girls. The administration pulled out all stops to make this a special experience for all involved.
Stinky shin guards, chili, and portable heaters are the things that helped us bond (along with our girls); memories will keep the ties intact. We will never be able to hear each others’ names without smiling and remembering how sweet the journey was.
Through it all, God was glorified. He is amazing, and I will always give credit to the One who made it happen.
Meanwhile, the hat is going into retirement. I’m sure, like Michael Jordan and Brett Favre, it will “un-retire” to make a visit at a few high school games next year (I can’t totally cut the umbilical cord).
Until then, I plan on catching a few Zzzzzz’s…at least for the next few days…to catch up on some much-needed rest. This was an exhilarating, exhausting week. God provided the fuel that kept me going. Now, I trust He’ll provide the rest that’s needed by all, Chicky, teammates, and parents included.
Filed under: soccer | Tagged: fhsaa, final four, high school, soccer, sports | 1 Comment »
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