Northwestern University Athletics
"Be Proud What You Left on the Field" - By Sydney Supple
6/2/2023 10:04:00 AM | Softball
When the game is over, make sure you can lay your head on your pillow and be proud that you left your heart and soul out on the field. That was the message the coaching staff gave our team before we headed into Game 3 of the Super Regionals in Alabama…
While there were tears stained to the pillowcase, that is exactly what we did, we went to bed heartbroken but proud. There was no question that every person on our team gave it everything they had (and then some) to the game and each other.
Softball is this beautiful game that we all play and love so much, but at the end of the day, only one team gets to walk away as "winners" on record.
However, let me tell you something...
- I won every single day of this season being able to be surrounded by the most incredible people I have ever met in my life.
- I won by being able to spend the past how many years with a group of women who worked day-in-and-day-out for this program and will now forever have their names etched in the history books.
- I won every time I had the honor of putting my jersey on to represent a University that went above and beyond in supporting my team and making us feel so loved and cared for every step of the way.
- I won by being able to look up into the stands and see the most loving fans and families a girl could ever ask for.
- I won every time I stepped on The J and saw the number of people who showed up to cheer us on as we came together as a community.
- I won by being able to travel the country and play on the biggest stages in college softball with my very best friends.
- I won being coached under the most incredible women (and men) because they made me and us stronger, braver, and more confident human beings...
- I won because I was part of a team who, when it was us against the world, we still chose us.
The ending of this season tore our hearts into two, but I will continue to smile through the tears and tell every person just how grateful I am for what we did win. This team finished as back-to-back regular Big Ten Season Champions, Big Ten Tournament Champions, Regional Champions, and even more importantly, we bought in, believed, and gave 55 games everything we had.
In the end, friendship will always win because I get to have these women in my life forever. Now would I do everything in my power for just one more game with this group of players and staff? Yes, in a heartbeat. But in the meantime, while I mend a broken heart, I will smile at my favorite memory during Game 3 at Alabama. After they announced our names and we ran out to the line to high-five each other, there were countless "I Love Yous" from every person who went down the line spreading love to each teammate they passed. That is what this game and life are all about, finding people you love spending every day with. I can easily say I found that this season with this group.
Before I close this season up, I want to say a huge thank you to each and every one of you who were a part of this journey with us. None of this would have been possible without your support and love for us the whole way through. Whether you came to games, followed us on the television, said good luck to us when you saw us, or simply sent love our way, from the very bottom of my heart, thank you. As always, we did this together, Cats. I love you.
Sincerely,
Sydney #26
