Caitlin Dorsch ~ Co-Editor in Chief
On November 6, 2019, my collegiate soccer career at the University of Lynchburg came to a close, losing in the quarterfinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tournament by a score of 1 to 4.
To be completely honest, it was so weird for me the first few days that we were back from winter break. I did not know when I was going to see my soccer family again. I was worried about how much I would be able to see them since I know how busy the off-season spring schedule is for all fall student-athletes.
I constantly find myself thinking back to August 2016 when I moved in for preseason just a few days before my first semester of college started. I can remember the goose-bumps I had before running the timed-two mile, one of our fitness tests, and when I ran over to the practice fields for the first time. It is so different working out with a family you practically grow into by spending time with them and doing crazy teambuilding activities than when you find yourself working out by yourself without that extra sense of working hard for someone else. Perhaps the most important goal of Lynchburg Women’s Soccer is empowering women who support one another in a family atmosphere.
As a first-year student-athlete in 2016, I did not yet fully understand the extent to which this goal meant. It was not until the spring semester of my junior year where I began to actually understand the true meaning of this goal; this goal stands as a necessity for success in any collegiate sport. The importance of team bonding and family dramatically important for the success of any team. The members of the family include the players, coaches, athletic training staff, strength and conditioning coaches, athletic department as a whole, and sports networking team. Without the familial trust and face-to-face contact that one has with all facets of the athletics departments, the success of the team is put into question.
Throughout the semester, I will be continuing this writing about my experience as a student-athlete at the University of Lynchburg. The main goals of these pieces will be to spread awareness of the strength, confidence, trust, passion, and discipline it takes to be a Division III student-athlete.