What do you say to the sport that has given you everything for the past 12 years?
I am trying to figure that out as I am writing this letter. This season shutting down early has been tough. I had to say goodbye to a young team that had something to prove. I had to say goodbye to a coach who I played for four years and has helped me grow more as a person than as a player. I had to say goodbye to a coach who took me in when he was a senior and I was a homesick freshman crying on his couch at his house. I had to say goodbye to a coach who I played with for three years and was lucky enough to play for my senior year. The hardest goodbye was to my other five seniors, three of which helped contribute to some of the best defenses this school has ever seen.
While these are goodbyes, I still get to see them and talk to them and hangout with them. I did not lose these people forever; I only lost the thing that pulled us all together. I knew that I couldn’t play lacrosse forever. The wear and tear of the sport on my body shows every day, or anytime I have to walk up a flight of stairs. While I knew that it wouldn’t last forever, I didn’t think I would only have six games with this team this year. I have been forced into a lot of reflection lately, some of which has been really challenging, but I really have had the best four years of my life at Concordia as a student-athlete.
To Coach Fahey, Scarcello, Fuqua, Asmundson and Pallex...
Thank you for believing in me and teaching what it means to be a leader. Thank you for the tough love, honesty and sacrifices you have made to help me grow into the person I am today. You have all shown me what a coach does to help their players. It goes far beyond practice film and meetings. You have all shown me what it means to give back to the game and I am excited to take what you all have taught me and bring it into the next step of my lacrosse career which will be coaching.
To Ryan, Jake, Ben, Taitum and Warner...
I know that this doesn’t really seem real and that this has been tough on all of us, but I will never forget this season and the past few years together. The time we spent together outside of practice made practice that much easier. From our ice cream parties at the cafeteria, to just hanging out in the locker room, every time we were together it was a good time and one of the favorite parts of my day.
To the rest of the team...
It has been crazy to think that I will never be able to play in another game with you again, except for the alumni game which we will be winning next year! I want you to know that I am proud of all of you for going through this and I hope it opens your eyes to how fragile this game is. Enjoy every minute of it. Enjoy the 6 am lifts, the conditioning with Rustin, the bus trips and spring break trips, enjoy it all because those are the memories you will keep. Juniors, I want you to play every game next year like its your last and to play for the seniors that didn’t get a chance to go out on top.
To the Athletic Training Staff...
Thank you so much for taking care of me and giving me the best chance to be successful out on the field. I know I was in the ATR pretty consistently for the past few years and I wish I could tell every staff member and student thank you for everything you do for all athletes.
To my professors...
I want to thank all of the Education Department for accepting me with open arms after switching my major. Every class I have had has shown me that I was made to be a teacher, and all of you gave me the confidence that I can teach and lead young minds. I know that going through student teaching online is going to be tough so I want to thank you now for your continued support through out the rest of my senior year.
To the Athletic Communications Department...
I want to thank you for giving my family and friends the ability to watch me play from over 2,000 miles away. I knew that I always had the support of the city of Beaverton (Oregon) behind me every game and that would not be possible without your hard work. I also want to thank you for growing the game of lacrosse and the time and resources you have put into showcasing the beautiful game I love so much.
To my family...
I know that this isn’t how we imagined my college career ending. I know that as I am writing this letter you were supposed to be coming to our game against Monmouth for senior day. I wish I could play in front of you all one last time, but like you have taught me “everything works out, always.”
To Lacrosse...
You have given me so much in the past 12 years. I would not be in college without you. I would not have my best friends without you. I would not have my second family and I would not have seen all the amazing parts of the country without you. I miss you and you will always be my first love and I am so excited to give back everything you have given me to the next generation of lacrosse players.
Sincerely,
Nate Oekerman
Credits:
CUWFalcons.com