Marquette University Athletics
My Last Entry
3/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
by Monica Frede
Well, as you all know, our season is over. We played Nebraska at the Al last week, and that is where our season ended. It was a very hard-fought game, but in the end, it wasn't meant to be. Lesley and I have concluded our careers, and everyone else has concluded their time in Conference USA.
Next year, it's on to bigger challenges, as the competition will be difficult in the Big East Conference. I know everyone is going to be ready for this. For as long as I have been a part of Marquette Basketball, I have been surrounded by people, not just teammates, but coaches and administration as well, that give above and beyond in everything involving women's basketball. It was a pleasure to have been around so many great people for three years.
It's always hard to say goodbye to the season, because the next one always felt so far away. It's especially hard this year, because now both Lesley and I enter a totally new phase in our lives. I'll miss the late night hang-outs that we had this year, reminiscing the horrible practices or the never-die phrases the coaches repeated, such as "NEW LIFE!" I'll miss the road trips when we would have sing-alongs on the bus and the white girls (ahem...) would try to rap. I'll miss our secret pre-game talks we had in the locker room.
I'll even miss writing these journal entries, because I always loved trying to explain the humorous and serious side of the 11 beautiful women and five crazy (haha) coaches I was around every day. It's hard to explain to people outside of our family what it was really like, and my hope is that I could give some kind of indication as to how great the people here are and to explain how much they love the game. As Terri has told us many times, it's not just a sport, it's a lifestyle.
Playing basketball, especially at this level, cannot just be a hobby. In order to succeed at this level, it is a huge commitment for every person, and a lot of sacrifices are made. Most of those sacrifices are made behind closed doors ? where we're yelling, sweating, and crying ? in order to do what it takes to be a champion. All of the things that no one else sees are what I'll remember for the rest of my life, and they are the things I will miss the most.
It's been a pleasure writing to all of you. Thank you for all of your support this season. Thanks to all of you who faithfully came to the home games (and some of the road ones as well). Thanks to the band. You were all so supportive. Thank you to the administration, for all of your care and concern. And of course, thank you to all of our families. You also know what sacrifices have to be made to let us have these four (or five) years to have a basketball career.
I wish my team the best of faith (after all, they don't need luck. Luck is for the unprepared.) in the upcoming season and seasons. Go get em' in the Big East. I am off to face the real world with a one-page resume and a novel full of growth and perseverance.
I am signing off, for the last time. Have a wonderful spring everyone!
P.S. Hi Colleen! You are a beautiful bride! Mom and dad... I did it - I really did it!
God Bless,
This is the 15th and last entry in a series of diary entries by senior forward Monica Frede. We wish Monica and Lesley the best of luck as they graduate from Marquette University.
