Sports

Mom put me in tap dance when I was in Kindergarten. A lady in our ward had a dance studio in her basement, so I went there. I hated it. I was so shy and never remembered any of the steps that we had practiced. When we'd actually perform at the 49th Street Galleria, I was too shy and would just play with my hands and "shuffle rock step." I remember thinking at the end of our dance routine, "When did we learn this?! Was I there?"

Needless to say dance didn't work for me.

A few years later one of my best friends, Melanie, was playing on a Jr. Jazz basketball team that her dad was coaching. They asked if I wanted to join, and I did. Apparently I was a natural at it. I had never played the sport and was doing awesome. I loved it. I loved excelling at something that came naturally to me. I beat all the boys in Lightning at recess, and after school we played Chris Romriell and Chad Oscarson and beat them, too. (Poor kids were teased the next day at school that two girls beat them).

I ended up playing softball with Mel's team, too--which I also happened to excel at. I actually excelled at most sports. I was always the first girl picked for soccer, dodgeball, kick ball, volleyball, etc. I went from a girly-girl to a tom-boy pretty fast.

I didn't stick with softball more than two years, though. I was great at it--hitting a homerun almost every time I batted (one time I hit the siding off of a house). In two years I hadn't even struck out. So when I actually struck out my first time, I flipped. (Yes, I was an arrogant, cocky kid). I chucked my bat and hit one of my fellow teammates (can we say, anger management issues!??!). I got ejected from the umpire. I was so embarrassed I didn't want to return. My coach called and visited and begged me to come back. I was stubborn and didn't. I regret it. I really could have gone far with it.

Luckily I stuck with basketball. I made an AAU team and we took second place in the state. When I was a freshman in middle school I made the high school team. Tenille used to be on the team, too, and would teach me the drills she learned at practice. I owe a lot to her for getting me so far. We would condition during the summer to help me prepare. (Tenille was on the team her fresh and soph years. Melissa played volleyball, Lance played Lacrosse. Spence DID play football, but wouldn't play at the high school level. Amazing how different we all were, huh? Especially considering my parents aren't exactly sportsy themselves...)

My junior year we took state, and my JV team was 23-0.

My senior year we had a target on our backs. We were the returning state champs, and I guess we just couldn't handle the pressure. We got out in quarterfinals and I was devastated. I took it really hard--banishing the sport and not even considering the scholarship offers I was receiving from small colleges across the country.

In college I missed it too much, and began playing again on city leagues, intramurals, and church ball. But it just wasn't the same.

I still miss it.