Senior Days

Senior Days are always emotional for each athlete, family and teammates. You want to send your teammates out in style, as a senior, you want to play your best game to date on Senior Day, and as a parent your emotions are ________. (I'll let you know...) Today was the AQ Women's Lacrosse Senior Day, and I was so excited to see two of my housemates, and two of my former teammates get recognized for all of their accomplishments. I played lacrosse my first two years at Aquinas, and have been the team's statistician my final two years. Although I am not technically on the roster, I love the lacrosse team as if it was my own. I feel as if these girls are genuine, fun and competitors. Lastly, the lacrosse team's parents are phenomenal... I could go on and on about the Terebinski's, McCarty's, Flewelling's, Roger's, Barrett's, Morrow's, etc., etc., etc. On every team there is drama, but at the end of the day, it's all about being able to put it behind you and compete.

The AQWLax Team photo at half time of the game today!

The girls presented me with flowers and a gift card
for keeping stats for team. 

Don't get me wrong, I loved playing basketball at Aquinas, but the team's cohesiveness this past season was not something I was fond of. Actually, it irritated me and kept me up on numerous nights because I could not figure out how to get us all to click and be happy. However, I was extremely pumped and motivated on my Senior Day, because my best friend, Ben, was coming to my game and he hadn't seen me play since high school. My parents and brother were also coming. A lot of AQ friends were there as well, including my brother's old housemates, my housemates and other parents that I've bonded with throughout the years at AQ (Yes, the Terebinski's made it!!). Senior Day for basketball was a "win or go home" game. We ended up losing 81-75, but I was most happy that my team for the first time in what seemed like forever went out leaving it all on the floor. We finally competed and hustled after every loose ball. Personally, I just wanted to play like the old Clare used to play; reckless, tough and mean. Thankfully, I did, at least in the second half. Although we did not win the game, I was content to finish the game without any regrets, and I made my last shot (...Something I told myself I HAD to do. I did it in high school too!)

Senior Day with my parents and coaches

I was blessed to be able to play basketball for all four years in college. Now, I came in with four girls, Liza, Karp & Tae and in typical girls basketball fashion, all three have hurt their ACL's. Karp & Tae redshirted their senior season, but will be back next year for redemption.  I was blessed to have never seriously hurt myself in 16 years of playing basketball (one serious sprained ankle during the summer was it!) I was blessed to have the BEST parents, who never said a negative thing to the AQWBB coaching staff. I was blessed to have my parents, family, and friends at so many games that it added as an extra inspiration to play harder. Lastly, I was blessed to make my best friend, Liza. These four years of college would have been dreadful and uneventful without her by my side. So, thank you Coach Nash for bringing Liza and I into the women's basketball program because at the end of the day, playing four years of basketball was worth it. 

The Original Four at Nationals, 2010!

The Original Four, Senior Day, 2013!

When it's time for your senior day, or your last hurrah at whatever it may be, go out on top and end on a make because it will make the end bearable. Thank you, Aquinas College family for making my four years here better than what I could have ever expected. 

xx